To the editor:
As the new year begins, the township staff thought it would be useful to know what the Township Board, Fire Department, and staff have done in 2007. Growth this year has had a dramatic drop; four new homes in 2007.
This year:
nContinued financial support to Brandon residents- $15,000 annually
n Supported Holly and Ortonville Youth Assistance. (Special thanks to Trustee Diane Howell for her involvement)
nContinued to support Haven, OCEF, and Neighbor to Neighbor
n Continued financial support for senior citizen van program in Holly and Ortonville
nReopened Township master plan; update to be complete in 2008
nContinued swim classses at Groveland Oaks County Park
nUpgraded software to cable channel; channel is moving to 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Jan. 15
nUpgraded Building Department software- networking office and saving maintenance fees.
Fiscal responsibility:
nContinued our Township tax rate at 1 mill for the Township and 3.5 mills for the Fire Department. These rates have not changed since 1981
nContinued cost recovery through the Fire Department
nObtained ISO rating of four that substabtially lowers homeowners? insurance premiums. (Special thanks to Chief McGee and his team)
nCompleted government OPEB evaluation and set up funding vehicle ahead of schedule
Public safety:
nHeld fifth No HAZ (household hazardous waste) Clean-Up Days:
nContinued West Nile virus tire clean-up
nActive participant in North Oakland County Haz-Mat team
Roads:
nApproved funding for paving approach at Brandt Rd. to Grange Hall Rd. (Pending engineering for completion date)
nContinued to gravel three miles of road
nContinued to chloride all public roads
Miscellaneous:
nPurchased new grass truck through grant
nExpanded township hours through lunch hours Monday through Thursday
nContinued free Dumpster services at Township mining site- thanks to Bedrock Express
nUpdated the training center at Fire Station number one (Special thanks to Fire Department team)
nReduced office staff by 25 percent due to revenue cuts
nPurchased fireproof files to protect valuable township papers
Future Plans for 2008:
nFinish master plan update
nContinue to meet the needs of the township while facing revenue cuts
nThis year our efforts will be focused on trying to get the township property and surrounding area developed to the township’s Master Plan and not other undesirable uses.
Robert DePalma
Groveland Township Supervisor