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 .
Fire/Rescue - Chief Gerencer Announces Retirement
Fire/Rescue Chief Gerencer officially announced his retirement with his final day being Friday, July 10 th .

Chief Gerencer has provided 27 years of service to the Township since he started in 1993 as a firefighter. He was promoted three years later to a Lieutenant; was promoted, again, five years later to Captain; and, was selected as the Fire/Rescue Chief in 2007 .

During the Chief’s tenure, the department went through tremendous changes ( such as becoming the only ALS certified department in West Michigan ) and enormous growth ( as seen with the 1,398 emergency runs during 2019 ).
The Chief plans to start a new career as a substitute teacher at Grand Haven Area Public Schools and find more time to pursue his passion for writing “young adult fiction”.

With a six-month notice, there will be a more than adequate time to widely advertise the opening, review resumes, interview candidates and ensure a process that finds the best candidate for the Township. 
Fire/Rescure - 2019 was a record year
2019 was another record year for the Fire/Rescue department in terms of emergency responses – with a total of 1,398. This is a 11.4% increase↑ over the previous record from 2018. 

Health Pointe accounted for about 7% of the emergency calls ( i.e., 98) followed by the Village at Rosy Mound accounting for about 4.5% of the calls ( i.e., 62).
$51+ Million in New Construction
2019 was a very good year for builders and contractors with over $51 million of new construction within the Township. The majority of the construction was residential ( i.e., single family homes, apartments and mobile homes) with 279 new residential units permitted.
Christmas Tree Drop Off
Christmas Trees can be dropped off at the Township Hall until January 27 th.
The area is located behind the Fire/Rescue Building near the Ferris Street entrance…just look for the signs!

PLEASE limit this to natural Christmas trees only. All lights, hardware, and stands must be removed.
Fire Hydrant Snow Removal
If you have a fire hydrant near your home, please take the time to ensure it is accessible. 

A few minutes of time clearing the hydrant can make a significant difference when fighting a home structure fire.
Pathway Snow Plowing
Grand Haven Charter Township has over 33 miles of paved pathways.
The Township works diligently to keep the paths in good condition – and budgeted over $950k during 2020 on the pathway system. 

During the winter months, the Township begins to plow when snow accumulates more than three (3) inches on the pathway.  Although the Public Services staff try to keep all pathways cleared ( i.e., leaving about 1” of snow after plowing or snow blowing), the most populated areas and school zones take priority. 

If your property abuts the pathway, for efficiency and safety, please keep bike paths in front of your home cleared of debris. Do not pile snow or leaves on the pathway and do not place garbage cans on the pathway for pick-up.
Winter Tax Bills
You should have received your 2019 winter property taxes. The due date is Friday, February 14 th for payment without interest or penalty. However, the Township will accept payment through March 2 nd; but, taxes paid after February 14 th are required by state law to add interest and penalty. 

Winter taxes paid after March 2 nd will have additional costs and pursuant to state law must be paid to the Ottawa County Treasurer.

If you choose to pay in person, the Township Office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also mail your payment or use one of two Drop Boxes – one is located across the driveway from the Township office 's main entrance while another is located within the foyer of the offices. Postdated checks will not be accepted. All checks will be cashed when received.

If you choose to pay by credit or debit card, please note that Point and Pay LLC will charge your credit/debit card a fee of 3% of the payment amount for this service. 

For more information, please use the following link: http://www.ght.org/i-want-to/#bill

Road Commission Winter Maintenance
Which roads are plowed first? Winter maintenance operations are conducted in accordance with the established priority system based on traffic volumes, road classification, and location. The priorities are as follows:

1 - State Trunklines
2 - Multi-lane Primary Roads
3 - Primary Roads
4 - Local Paved Roads
5 - Subdivision Streets
6 - Local Gravel Roads
7 - Dead End Streets and Cul-de-sacs
 
If a mailbox is damaged by Road Commission equipment or snow thrown from Road Commission equipment during winter maintenance operations, the property owner may receive a new standard mailbox and/or a single 4"x 4" wood post at one of their garage locations.

The property owner is responsible to remove the damaged mailbox/post and to install the replacement mailbox/post. The property owner shall provide either the actual damaged mailbox/post or a photo of the actual damaged mailbox/post before a new standard mailbox and/or a single 4"x4" wood post can be issued. Upon receipt of a new mailbox and/or post, the property owner shall sign a register and provide the property address.

A tip when shoveling your driveway. Snowplows operate by pushing snow to the right. Piling snow to the right of your driveway and mailbox ( as you face the road) will help reduce the amount of snow pushed into or in front of your driveway and mailbox. Snow must be piled as to not obstruct motorist's vision.
For more information from the Ottawa County Road Commission go to http://www.ottawacorc.com/ or call 616-842-5400.
(616) 842-5988   | info@ght.org | www.ght.org