Welcome to the electronic newsletter from
Grand Haven Charter Township!

Stay informed on what is happening in the township. This newsletter will deliver up-to-date information including upcoming meetings, development news, township services and more!

You can always find more information on our website or Facebook .
Spring Yard Waste
The Spring Yard Waste Drop-Off Program began on Monday, April 8 th and will continue through Sunday, April 28 th at the drop-off site located behind the DPW Building, at 13300 168th Avenue. 

The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m. 

The drop-off is only meant for leaves, grass and similar yard waste. There is no dumping of wood, limbs or brush allowed. 
Hazardous Waste
Grand Haven Township residents may dispose of their household hazardous waste at no charge at the Ottawa County Resource Recovery Service Center located at 16850 Comstock Avenue – between 168 th Avenue and 172 nd Avenue.

This location is open on Monday and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Also, the facility is open every fourth Saturday of the month from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

For more information, call (616) 393-5645 or email environmentalhealth@miottawa.org or visit: https://www.miottawa.org/Health/OCHD/hh_waste.htm 

Report a Pothole
To report the location of a pothole on a local road or ask questions about road maintenance, call the Ottawa County Road Commission at 616-842-5400 or use the online service request form by visiting:


Neighborhood Impact Program
Eligible homeowners can access up to $7,500 for home repairs! 
Open to single-family homeowners in:

•    City of Grand Haven
•    Grand Haven Township
•    Spring Lake Township
•    City of Ferrysburg

If you have been a homeowner in one of these communities for more than six months, your name is on the deed, and your mortgage is current, you may be eligible. Income restrictions apply.

Funds are limited and available for only a short time!

Contact Neighborhood Housing Services for complete eligibility requirements by calling 616-935-3270.
Online Park Reservations
The Township maintains five (5) parks and four (4) public accesses totaling nearly 600 acres of property, one (1) boat launch and more than 30 miles of non-motorized pathway.

Facilities such as a shelter, ball fields, or soccer fields may be reserved for exclusive use for varying blocks of time. These facilities are generally available for reservation April 1 st through October 30 th , 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. each day.

By  clicking here  you will be taken to the reservation system which is hosted through a collaborative effort with Ottawa County on their website. All questions or concerns regarding reservations or payments should continue to be directed to Grand Haven Charter Township at (616) 842-5988.

During your park visit, please observe the park  Rules & Regulations .
2019 Road Paving Projects
In addition to the road maintenance projects that are funded by the Ottawa County Road Commission, the list of road paving that is funded through the Township for 2019 includes the following:

Prime and Double Chip
1.    Warner Street from railroad tracks west to 168 th Avenue
2.     Warner Street from US-31 east to 160 th Avenue

Bituminous Asphalt Resurfacing
1.       Coleman Avenue ( Mercury Drive to Robbins Road)
2.       David Avenue ( Robbins Road to Mercury Drive)
3.       Pine Street ( Robbins Road to Mercury Drive)
4.       Ronny Road ( Mercury Drive north to cul-de-sac)
5.       178 th Avenue ( Brucker Street to Comstock Street)
6.       Dewberry Place ( 178 th Avenue west to cul-de-sac)
7.       Shore Acres Road ( 178 th Avenue east to end); and,
8.       Tamerak Lane ( Lakeshore Drive west to cul-de-sac

All of these paved roadways were rated a “4” on the 10-point PASER scale ( i.e., are at the lower end of “fair”) and total about 2.39 miles for bituminous paving. 

The gravel roads that will receive a prime and double chip treatment total about 0.97 miles in length.

Based upon the OCRC bid price, the Township may add additional streets at a later date.  
Fire/Rescue First Quarter Numbers
First quarter ( i.e., January through March) emergency calls total 354 – an average of almost four (4) calls per day with the vast majority being medical.

Two of the largest call sources are the Village at Rosy Mound (VARM) senior housing facility with 15 emergency calls during the first quarter and Health Pointe with 19 calls. ( As the VARM facility reaches tenant capacity – this will likely become the largest single source of emergency calls.)

So, what do these numbers indicate? It appears that 2019 emergency calls will increase↑ by over 14% compared to record number of calls in 2018. This has some long-term implications on staffing and operational costs that the Fire/Rescue department will address through both capital and strategic planning.
Hiawatha Drain Project Wins Award
Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner Joe Bush was recognized for the Hiawatha Drain project located in Grand Haven Charter Township. This project won the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners (MACDC) Innovation and Excellence Award (2019). The project will be also featured in the first quarter 2019 issue of Pipeline Magazine.

Recall that the Township petitioned for this new drain district after flooding in the Hiawatha Drive area of the Township in 2009

Kudos should also be offered to Prein & Newhof who were the engineers and project manager for the drain work.  
New Zoning Ordinance Released
The proposed new Zoning Ordinance has been released to the Board, Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. 

A special joint meeting of these three Boards will be held on April 18 th to review and discuss the draft. Afterward, a “Community Open House” will be scheduled to receive feedback from residents, developers, business owners, etc.

By consolidating, simplifying, and crafting a “common-sense” approach, the new Zoning Ordinance boasts two fun facts:
  • The new Zoning Ordinance is 100 pages less↓ than the current ordinance; and,
  • The new Zoning Ordinance has 10 fewer↓ chapters than the current ordinance.
(616) 842-5988   | info@ght.org | www.ght.org