2012 Board of Review Schedule

March 12, 2012           8:00 am ~ 5:00 pm
March 13, 2012           1:00 pm ~ 9:00 pm
March 14, 2012           8:00 am ~ 5:00 pm
March 15, 2012           As Needed

2012 Township Board Meeting Schedule

Feb. 13, 2012  ~  March 12, 2012  ~  April 09, 2012  ~  May 14, 2012  ~  June 11, 2012  ~
July 09, 2012   ~  Aug. 13, 2012    ~  Sept. 10, 2012 ~  Oct. 08, 2012  ~  Nov. 12, 2012  ~
Dec. 10, 21012

2012 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule

The Planning Commission will meet at 7:00pm at the Gaines Township Offices on the following dates:

Feb. 23, 2012  ~  March 22, 2012  ~  April 26, 2012    ~  May 24, 2012  ~  June 28, 2012  ~ 
July 26, 2012  ~  Aug. 23, 2012    ~  Sept. 27, 2012   ~  Oct. 25, 2012   ~  Nov. 15, 2012 ~
Dec. 20, 2012

February 2012 Newsletter Article

     A portion of the Supervisor’s responsibilities is to continually review services being provided to our citizens. As I look to the future in an attempt to determine the needs /requirements normally funded through the annual Township budget, I almost wish that a crystal ball could truly be a reality. Obviously many ideas come to mind. However, with these ideas comes the reality that most of them come with a price tag attached. As township taxpayers we have come to expect a number of services ~ roads, parks, trails, police, fire protection~ services we rely on for both safety and enjoyment.

     During the mid 2000’s, the Township experienced significant population growth, much like that which occurred in the 1990’s. About that time, it became clear to me that we needed to address future public safety for our citizens. Enhancements to our Fire Departments and additional Sheriff Deputies needed to be seriously considered. I recommend to the Township Board members that a citizens committee be established to review future trends and to establish a recommendation for a funding mechanism. After receiving Board approval, I appointed a public safety committee comprised of several Township citizens. This committee met several times, gathered information from surrounding communities and interviewed several individuals; including Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma. In 2008 the committee presented its findings and recommendations to the Township Board. Although for many years we have contracted with the Sheriff Department for a dedicated car patrolling the township streets and roads around the clock, 365 days a year, the citizen’s report concluded adding additional patrol(s) and improvements to the Dutton Fire Station were extremely important. The committee suggested that their recommendations be funded by asking the Township voters to approve additional millage, to be set aside and used specifically for police and fire budgets. Even given the fact that at .88 mills, Gaines Charter Township has one of the lowest millage rates in the area, the Township Board decided to explore other ways to finance any contractual increase with the Sheriff Department.

     In December 2010, The Township Board members engaged in a strategic planning seminar. They emerged from those sessions with four goals; one being the increasing of public safety. An application for a Community Policing grant from the Federal Government was submitted; however this attempt at funding was unsuccessful. Recently another opportunity came about. Earlier in this article I mentioned population increases from the 90’s and also during the last decade. During the 2000’s our population increased by 4,000. This increase brought our population count to 25,146; which in turn increased our state shared revenue by approximately $400,000.00. (State shared revenue is money returned to a local unit of government based on a constitutional formula)

     Based on the 2008 report, and the results from strategic planning, the Township Board members decided to use the additional state shared revenue funds to contract for an additional 12 hours, 365 day a year Sheriff Department patrol. The cost is approximately $225,000.00 and includes the patrol car, equipment and officer. The Township also contracted for a 40 hour per week Community Policing Officer. This officer is also a Deputy from the Sheriff Department, but will concentrate his efforts working with citizens groups, business owners, school administrators, youth groups, and others to offer his expertise in preventing crime from occurring in the Township. The cost for this officer is approximately $100,000.00 per year, which includes his car and equipment. The total amount budgeted for law enforcement in 2012 is $780,000.00.

     As we move forward through 2012, we as Township citizens can do so with the peace of mind, knowing that our Township Officials are addressing our protection and safety as a number one priority.



"Fix a Leak Week"

 The EPA is offering tips and information that is very useful. Visit The EPA Website

April Is National Digging Month

                                              

Did you know?

•  More than 256,000 underground utility lines are struck each year in the U.S.?
• 35% of all U.S. digging damages result from not calling before digging.

Utilities are buried only a few inches underground, making them easy to strike even during shallow digging projects.

                                         Know what's below ~ CALL before you dig !
                                                            www.call811.com

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

          CANCELED - NO SNOW!

      DUTTON SNOWMAN FESTIVAL
                              February 11, 2012
                                 10 am to 3 pm
       Cash prizes for 1st & 2nd Place in Two Categories:
                          Snowmen and Snow Art

Registration and contest information can be picked up at Carmelo's Italian Pizza, Chemical Bank (Dutton Office), Cook's Drive-In, Dutton Mill Village, Gaines Charter Township Office, PJ's Grill and PNC Bank at M6 and Kalamazoo Ave.  Need more information, call the Chamber at 616-890-1378.