Laketown News Summer 2014

Terry Hofmeyer, Laketown Township Supervisor

Volume 27, No. 3

Laketown Calendar

August

5 - Election Day

6 - Board Workshop, 4:00 p.m.

6 - Planning Commission

13 - Township Board

20 - Parks and Recreation

25 - ZBA

27 - DDA

September

3 - Board Workshop, 4:00 p.m.

3 – Planning Commission

10 – Township Board

17 - Parks and Recreation

24 - DDA

29 - ZBA

30 - Holland Hospital Health

Services Flu Shot Clinic at

township hall

October

1 - Board Workshop, 4:00 p.m.

1 - Planning Commission

8 - Township Board

15 - Parks

22 - DDA

27 - ZBA

All meetings at 7:00 p.m. at

the township hall unless

otherwise noted

New Trustee - New Recreation Area -

New Election

Recently, your township board interviewed six people - Todd Szakacs, Jim Lorence, Lee Britton, Udellus Kuipers, Linda Howell and Randy Becksvoort - for the position of Trustee to fill the unexpired term of Bob Scanlan. At our June meeting, the township board selected Linda Howell to serve as your new trustee. Linda is a twenty year resident of Laketown Township and has served on both our Parks and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission. Linda is an attorney, employed by Kent County. I believe that she will be a quality addition to the board! I also wish to thank each of the other candidates for applying for the position as they brought a wide range of qualifications for consideration by the board.

I’d like to suggest, if you have not already done so, to drive by the township office on Beeline Road for a look at our newest recreation area. We are currently constructing a new softball field, soccer field and covered gazebo. The Parks and Recreation Commission secured grant monies for the improvements and we all look forward to its completion later this summer. Laketown Township is blessed with nearly three hundred acres of quality recreation areas and I encourage you to enjoy each of them. A description of each area is available on-line or in pamphlet form at the township hall.

I want to personally encourage you to vote on the August 5th Primary

Election. There is information regarding the election at many locations including the township office and website. Primary elections do not normally draw a large number of voters, but they are important if you wish to make your voice known. In addition to elective offices, Laketown Township has a millage renewal proposal on the ballot and like any decision, you should study it seriously.

Finally, a very sincere THANK YOU to the Graafschap Fire Department for another

well attended pancake breakfast and 4th of July events! You each do a great job and it is appreciated by everyone!

PRIMARY ELECTION –

AUGUST 5, 2014

You will be voting for State,

Congressional, Legislative,

County Commissioner, and

Delegate to County Conven-

tion and one State, two coun-

ty, and one township pro-

posal. A sample ballot is en-

closed for your review. If you

find it helpful, feel free to

take the sample ballot with

you on Election Day.

Voting: Please note, you will

not be able to “split” your

ticket (i.e., vote in more than

one party column) when vot-

ing in the Aug. 5, primary.

Voters participating in the

Aug. 5 primary must confine

their votes to a single party

column. The polls open from

7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Photo ID: When you arrive at

our polling place to vote, state

law requires you to either

show picture ID or sign an

affidavit attesting that you are

not in possession of picture

ID.

Absentee Ballots: Absentee

ballots can be obtained at the

Township Hall. Applications

for absentee ballots are also

available online at laketown-

twp.org. If you have any ques-

tions, feel free to call the

office 616.335.3050.

Clerk’s Corner Wendy VanHuis, Clerk & Jenifer French, Deputy Clerk Page 2

Treasurer’s Trove Laketown Township Treasurer, Gary Dewey

We all have been enjoying warm weather after the brutal winter we had. Not only was the weather somewhat unpleasant for Michigander's but it also took its toll on some fruit trees and shrubs. From what I understand many peach trees died as a result of the harsh winter. Many trees and shrubs in home landscapes also died or had a lot of winter kill. On the positive side we enjoyed a great Tulip Time and many plants are in full and glorious bloom right now. Enjoy!

Our fall tax due date is Monday, September 15th as the 14th falls on the weekend. Remember, postmarks are not honored as payment date. We are now required by law to make notice on the summer tax bill to taxpayers whose taxes went delinquent on March 1st and sent to the Allegan County for collection. Any taxpayer whose 2013 delinquent taxes were still unpaid as of June will have the notice on their summer bill. Please contact the Allegan County Treasurer at (269) 673-0260 for current payoff amount, mailing instructions, or questions regarding delinquent taxes.

Hamilton School District taxes continue to only be collected in the winter as requested by the school district. Residents in that district will have a larger winter tax bill.

Taxes for Laketown may be paid online or by credit card via Official Payments. To make a payment by phone, call 1-800-272-9829 and use Jurisdiction Code 7072. Electronic check payments are also

accepted online. Additional fees are applied to all electronic payments. Please visit our website at www.laketowntwp.org for additional information.

Some residents may be eligible for deferment of tax payment or qualify for a hardship exemption. Application for deferment must be made annually for both summer and winter taxes. Hardship exemptions are granted by the Board of Review and application must also be submitted annually. Forms are available at the township office or online at www.michigan.gov/treasury. Please call the township office at (616) 335-3050 with questions.

There is a lot of new home construction in Laketown this year which indicates the economy has improved. All construction meets our planning and zoning ordinances and we are thankful for the building that is taking place to keep contractors busy. With growth comes an increase in our tax base, which in the future will improve our bottom line.

Enjoy being outdoors and all the family activities that happen during the summer.

The market is turning around! We are getting more

inquiries from people doing their research before making

decisions to purchase existing homes or lots to build on.

Comparing the first 6 months of 2013 to the first 6 months of

this year:

Note: we excluded 1 sale with Lake Michigan frontage that

sold for $3.2 million which skewed the average sale price.

So, both the number of sales and the average price

is up and the sales of the bank-owned (foreclosed) homes is

down. It’s very likely that the sales for the current year were

impacted by our unusually harsh winter so these may show

continued improvement over last year. A recent Wall Street

Journal article suggested that short-sales could also be

curtailed because the provisions in the tax code that allowed

short-sale sellers to avoid paying taxes on the bank

forgiveness in their mortgages has expired. As a result more

folks are likely to stay in their home even if they’re

underwater on the mortgage because selling would just be

too expensive.

Taking a look at building permits:

During the first six months in 2013 we issued 8

building permits for new homes

with an average value of

$382,525. This year so far there

have been 12 new homes

permitted with an average value

of $403,833. (note the 1st couple

months of this year we had just

one permit pulled for new construction). We also have a

number of major remodeling/additions going on. Overall,

we are experiencing more new construction than we’ve seen

in the past few years.

There are several new developments going in as

well. Arbor Trail is South off 147th East of 64th St. with nine

lots. Rymore Wood runs East off Beeline Rd. South of 142nd

Ave. with 8 lots. Phase 3 of Sandcastle Estates is going in

North off 138th Ave. just West of 64th St. with 6 lots available.

So, that’s a snapshot of this year compared to last

year. Things are looking up.

From The Assessor Paul Smith, Assessor Page 3

Year Sales of existing Homes

Average Sales Price

Sales to/From Lend-ing Institution

Average Sales Price

2013 47 $248,500 8 $88,769

2014 49 $264,011 3 $68,067

This is the season for grilling outdoors. Here are

some tips for both safe grilling and storage of your grill and

LP tanks.

Each year thousands of people fire up their

LP or natural gas grills at the start of the “barbecuing sea-

son.” Before starting your grill here are some safety precau-

tions to keep in mind. By following these tips, you’ll help

prevent a possible gas explosion or fire.

TIPS FOR SAFE GRILL USE:

Make sure there are no lighted cigarettes, matches, or

open flames near a leaking grill.

Never use a grill indoors due to carbon monoxide and

fire hazards. Always use the grill at least 10’ away

from your house or any building. Do not use your

grill in the garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or

under a surface that will burn.

Always follow the instructions that came with your grill.

Never leave your grill unattended.

Keep children away from the grill. The outside surface

of the grill gets very hot and can cause burns if

touched.

Keep a kitchen fire extinguisher nearby.

LP GAS CONTAINER TIPS:

WHEN STORING:

Always keep container upright.

Never store a spare LP gas container under or near your

grill.

Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline, near

the grill.

Never use or store an LP gas container indoors.

WHEN TRANSPORTING:

Transport your container in a se-

cure, upright position.

Never keep a filled container in a

hot car or car trunk.

WHEN REFILLING:

Have the container refilled by

your LP gas dealer or by a

qualified service station oper-

ator. DO NOT FILL THE CONTAINER YOURSELF.

Consider using a cylinder exchange.

WHEN CONNECTING:

Remove the container plug from the valve.

Thread the container connector securely into the con-

tainer valve outlet (turn counterclockwise).

Tighten, but do not use excessive force.

After connecting tank, check for leaks. A spray bottle

with a soap/water solution sprayed on the connec-

tions should show any leakage.

WHEN DISCONNECTING:

Before disconnecting, turn off the grills burner valves

and the container valve.

Disconnect the container (turn clockwise).

Place the container valve plug securely into the valve

outlet.

Grilling with the family and friends is a great way to enjoy

the summer season. Please do so safely!

From the Fire Department Fire Chief , Cal Haverdink

Page 4

As you drive by the Felt Estate this summer, you will no-tice a few changes once again taking place. “We are creating a band shell and small concert venue adjacent to the carriage house,” said Pat Meyer, director for the Estate, “With that, we will be able to host summer concerts and attract more people out to the mansion during the week.”

In the next few months, visitors will see a new brick face on the foundation, a new door into the carriage house, and some landscaping. This will help to beautify that area, and also make it functional. “Our hope,” continued Meyer, “is to eventually restore the interior of the carriage house as well, installing new restrooms, and creating a meeting venue that will serve our rental event and community needs.”

Summer of 2014 promises to be another busy one at the Felt Estate! Not only are many weddings, family, and corporate events planned for this summer, but we are already booking for 2015. If you are interested in the Felt Mansion as a venue for your event, be sure to call Staci at 616.335.3050 soon to reserve your date.

Summer at the Felt Estate

See You In The Parks Linda Howell Page 5

A Laketown Summer

Hopefully you have seen the great progress on your new backyard park. The grading is done; the fences are go-ing in, the cement for the picnic shelter will be poured by the time you read this; and the shelter is taking shape. Grass seed will be spread in September so that it can get a start this year for opening day in 2015. The idea of the backyard park has been part of the parks master plan since at least 2003. It is very exciting to see it come to life. We are waiting for the results of a grant application submitted to Major League Baseball for the funds necessary to install a full irri-gation system. If this park gets as much use as our other parks, we’ll need more bleachers.

The amount of use seen in our other parks confirms that those of us in Laketown love the outdoors. On any day the most casual observer will see scores of people enjoying all the parks and outdoor options: walking, biking, skating, hiking, running, disc golfing, mountain biking, and we can’t forget fun in the sand and surf at the beach.

For those of you that haven’t tried the mountain bike trail at Shore Acres, check out the video of our moun-tain bike trail at https://www.youtube.com/embed/zlhUttQ1BuM?rel=0. It’s a great video that puts you right on the trail - Don’t watch at work since you may start talking to

the screen telling the rider to miss the trees that are straight ahead. One other great thing about this video is that you will see other people using the park for other activities at the same time. With our Laketown trait of mutual respect and common curtsey, there is plenty of room for all to enjoy the park.

Finally, I want to tell you about a shift in the Park Commission. I will be leaving the Parks Commission to join the Township Board. I will continue to work with the other fantastic members of the Parks Commission to hear what you want from your parks and do what we can to make those desires a reality. Your acting Parks Commission chair is long-time Parks Commissioner Michelle Sall. I know she will do a great job as she’s done a great job for years and she has a group of commissioners that have a true passion for your parks and the entire Township. I want to personally thank each of them for their commitment and support: Michelle Sall, Chuck Strabbing, Karen Simons, and Bill Snyder. And thank you for the honor of being a Parks Com-missioner in this wonderful Township where others come to vacation but we all call home every day.

Now, let’s get outside and play.

It’s not too late to join in on the fun at The Third Thursday Concert Series! This summer The Felt Estate is the setting for five summer concerts – the Third Thursday of each month.

There is a unique variety of bands along with food and drink. Enjoy summer evenings at the Felt Estate and the new Carriage House Stage! (In case of rain, concerts will be held either in the mansion or in a tent on the premises). Our concerts will be May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, and September 18, 2014. All concerts are held rain or shine.

ADMISSION TO ALL CONCERTS IS FREE All concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. There are two concerts remaining this year:

Aug. 21 – Zion Lion (reggae) Sept. 18 – Madcat Midnight Blues Journey (Blues)

Food and Drink Available During Concerts - Fabulous food by Salt of the Earth, Craft Beer from Saugatuck Brew-ing Company, Fenn Valley’s Lakeshore Ruby Red Wine and Lakeshore Demi-sec White Wine, and other beverages – all available for purchase. Concerts begin at 7:00

PLEASE no pets.

No coolers

FREE parking adjacent to the venue.

Picture ID is required in order to purchase alcohol.

Summer Concerts At The Felt Estate Carriage House

Holland Hospital Home Health Services will be at

the township office on Tuesday, September 30 from

10:00 a.m.– 11:00 a.m. for the annual Influenza &

Pneumonia Clinic.

No appointment is necessary.

For more information please visit

www.hollandhospital.org

Zion Lion

Laketown Township 4338 Beeline Road

Holland, Michigan 49423 Phone: (616) 335-3050

Fax: (616) 335-5459

www.laketowntwp.org

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Laketown Township Board

Township Office - (616) 335-3050

Supervisor - Terry Hofmeyer

Treasurer - Gary Dewey

Clerk - Wendy Van Huis

Trustee - Linda Howell

Trustee - Ed Stielstra

Planning Commission Chair - Bob Cook

Zoning Board of Appeals Chair - David Weishaar

Parks and Recreation Acting Chair - Michelle Sall

Township Staff

Manager - Al Meshkin

Assessor - Paul Smith

Administrative Assistants: Kathy Stoike, Charlene

Fields, Jenifer French, Diane Ybarra, Staci Veldt

Facilities Operations - Dan Williams

Graafschap Fire Department - (616) 396-4060

Building Inspector - Al Ellingsen - (269) 214-2382

Mechanical Inspector - Bob Modreske

(616) 477-4940

Electrical Inspector - Gordon Bosch - (616) 396-1448

Plumbing Inspector - Gary Raak – (616) 399-6924

Allegan County Directory

County Commissioner - Dean Kapenga -

(616) 218-2599

Animal Control – (269) 673-0519

Central Dispatch – (269) 673-3899

County Clerk – (269) 673-0450

Drain Commissioner – (269) 673-0440

Health Department – (269) 673-5411

Register of Deeds – (269) 673-0390

Road Commission – (269) 673-2184

Senior & Veterans Services – 877-673-5333

County Treasurer – (269) 673-0260

Streets Lights – contact Consumers Energy 800- 477-5050 or email at customer@consumers.engery.com

State Representative Bob Genetski - (517) 373-0836

State Senator Rick Jones - (517) 373-3447

U.S. Congressman - Fred Upton – (269) 982-1986