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Saugatuck Township - UpdatesNew Drinking Water Testing Ordinance To review the ordinance, CLICK HERE. Laboratories certified for testing parameters of regulated volatile organic compounds Many labs are capable for limited wet chemistry testing such as for fluorides, nitrates, and sulfates and some testing for organic compounds. The Saugatuck Township Ordinance requires that wells be tested for regulated VOC’s. There are 3 certified labs in the area KAR Laboratories, Inc. 4425 Manchester Kalamazoo, MI 49002 Phone (269) 381-9666 Trimatrix Laboratories, Inc. 5560 Corporate Exchange Court, S.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49512 Phone (616) 975-4500 Prein & Newhof 3260 Evergreen Drive, N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Phone (616) 364-7600 The State of Michigan Department of Environment Quality also tests for most compounds, inorganics, and organics, including VOC’s. MDEQ-DWRPD-Water Analysis 3500 MLK Blvd. Lansing, MI 48909-8130 Phone (517) 355-8184 Saugatuck Township does not recommend a certified lab for testing, and all property owners are free to use either labs listed herein or another of their choice. It is anticipated and known that some people are interested in having their well water tested for no other reason than verification that their drinking water is safe. Property owners with shallow wells might be advised to have their water tested.
For those who wish for a convenient and timesaving test procedure, the Township has made a special arrangement with Prein & Newhof who have a Grand Rapids lab and Holland office.
The Township office also has a supply of test bottles available for property owners to use and return, but would prefer if the test samples were sent directly to the Prein & Newhof Holland office. Please note that some testing must commence within 24 hours of taking the sample. The Holland office will deliver the test bottles to their Grand Rapids lab on the same day of receipt. There is set of four bottles with written instructions regarding the proper method for taking samples. One bottle is for testing total coliforms, one bottle for nitrates and nitrites, and two bottles for VOC’s. The cost for all of the above is $140.00. The Township is also informed that The Water Factory Inc. at 237 Center Street in Douglas (In the Douglas Super Value Plaza) provides complete water testing services using the Prein & Newhof Laboratory. The Water Factory has trained personnel to properly draw sample vials. A representative will come to your home – draw the samples, and transmit them to the lab in the prescribed time frame. For a description of services and fees contact The Water Factory at (269) 857-1342. 2004 Recycling Dates Curbside Recycling Collection All homes within the Village of Douglas and township residences west of Blue Star Highway are serviced on Tuesday. Township residences east of Blue Star Highway are serviced on Wednesday:
Tuesday Wednesday January 6,20 January 7, 21 February 3, 17 February 4, 18 March 2, 16, 30 March 2, 16, 30 April 13, 27 April 14, 28 May 11, 25 May 12, 26 June 8, 22 June 9, 23 July 6, 20 July 7, 21 August 3, 17, 31 August 4, 18 September 14, 28 September 1, 15, 29 October 12, 26 October 13, 27 November 9, 23 November 10, 24 December 7, 21 December 8, 22 * Collection is one day later due to a holiday Set out materials by 7:00 a.m. or the night before. Bags are available at the township offices. Download the Resource Recovery brochure HERE Download the Hazardous Waste Collection brochure HERE 2003/04 Saugatuck Township Millage Rates
2003 State Education Tax Collection Changes
May 16, 2003
Dear Taxpayer: As a service to residents, I would like to make you aware of a recent change in the property tax collection process, which will impact all future property tax bills. The State of Michigan passed Public Act 243 of 2002, which requires the State Education Tax (SET) on all property in the state to be collected on a summer property tax bill. As a result of this law, all taxpayers will be receiving a summer property tax bill every year starting in July 2003. The SET is the 6-mill tax that was created in 1994 as a part of Proposal A. The tax, while collected locally, is actually a state tax used to support the school systems in the state. For 2003 only, the tax rate will be reduced from 6-mills to 5-mills. In 2004, the rate will return to the usual 6-mill rate. While the SET will be paid in the summer, the early collection of the SET will not change the overall amount of property taxes paid each year. Beginning in 2003, the SET will not be collected on the December winter tax bill as it has been in the past. Summer tax bills are sent out July 1 and the bill must be paid by September 14 in order to avoid any interest penalty. Under MCL 211.51, property taxpayers may defer until February 15, without penalty or interest, the due date of their summer taxes on their homestead, if their household income for the preceding calendar year did not exceed $25,000 and they are: • 62 years of age or older, including the unmarried surviving spouse of a person who was 62 years of age or older at the time of death; • A paraplegic or quadriplegic; • An eligible serviceperson, eligible veteran, or their eligible widow or widower; • A blind person; or • A totally or permanently disabled person. Property that is classified or used as agricultural property may qualify if the gross receipts of the farming operation are not less than the household income of the owner. Persons applying for a deferral must certify that they qualify for the deferment on a form available through my office in order to receive the deferral. The form must be completed each year in order to have taxes deferred without penalty in any given year. The form must be filed with my office by September 14 to receive deferral. I appreciate your understanding regarding this change in state law. Sincerely, Patricia K. Knikelbine Saugatuck Township Treasurer
Jane Wright receives certification Saugatuck Township Clerk Jane A. Wright was awarded the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. Wright has been employed with the township since July 2000. She obtained the designation through completion of the Municipal Clerks Institute Program conducted by the State and Local Government Programs by Michigan State University. The program requires 100 student/instructor contact hours of in-depth courses in managerial and leadership skills, social and interpersonal concerns and technical training. She is now one of 219 clerks with the designation. Road Millage Renewal Election A special election was held August 5, 2003 to renew the current Township Road Maintenance Millage. The renewal passed successfully, and the second millage renewal will be placed on a ballot for renewal in 2004. Free Notary Public Services The Township Office can notarize documents, etc. free of charge for all Saugatuck Township residents. "A Bird's Eye View of Michigan Local Government at the End of the Twentieth Century" was originally published in 1999 by the Michigan Municipal League Foundation and was written by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. The Michigan Townships Association (MTA) has published a rebuttal to this "working paper" that glossed over the value of Township Government in Michigan. CLICK HERE to read the MTA response to this document.
Lower Fire Protection Rating Could Provide Insurance Savings Parts of Saugatuck Township have had the Fire Risk Rating by Insurance Risk Offices lowered from 9 to a 5, which could result in lower insurance costs of up to 20 to 30%. The rating reduction would not have been possible without the joint water agreement with Saugatuck city and Douglas village.
Michigan's Land, Michigan's Future: Final Report of the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council The Michigan Land Use Leadership Council was created, through executive order, and charged with (1) identifying the trends, causes, and consequences of unmanaged growth and developement and (2) providing recommendations to the governor and legislature to:
Download this report, published August 15, 2003 HERE |