Did you miss any of the January Board meetings? You can view the recordings online anytime. Upcoming meeting dates & agendas for Board and Committee meetings are also available online.

Georgetown Township collects taxes that are then disbursed to Ottawa County, local public schools, and the Township itself. The chart to the right shows where those tax dollars go.

Did you know that the library offers book groups, movies, exercise classes, craft groups (and more!) for various ages? Below are just a few of the upcoming programs. Please visit our Events Calendar for a full listing.

2/1-3/15 IditaREAD Winter Reading Challenge: Join our winter reading program for kids ages 3-12! This program is modeled on the Iditarod sled dog race through Alaska. Kids will read their way through each checkpoint on the race route. At certain major checkpoints, kids receive a small prize. Tracking for this program will be on paper logs, available at the library or on our website to print at home. To sign up, stop by the circulation desk to collect and decorate your dog. It will be placed at the starting line when you register and you can move it along the route each time you reach a new stop.

2/1-2/22: Community Quilt Contest: The contest is open to amateur quilters of any age. Each participant may submit one quilt; a total of 30 quilts will be accepted. Quilt submissions will be accepted February 1-22 and displayed throughout the month of March. Pick up an entry form at the library when you drop off your quilt. Voting will be done by library patrons throughout the month of March and winners will be announced April 4. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Field's Fabrics. 

Book Groups: GTPL offers a variety of book groups each month. Books for each group are available at the library while supplies last:

2/7 (1:30PM): The Secret Book of Flora Lea

2/19 (1:30PM): The Summer House

2/21 (1:30PM): King: A Life

2/27 (1:30PM): Out of Esau (with Virtual Author Visit)

Are you 55 or older? Be sure to check out Georgetown Connections! Cost is just $15 for Georgetown Township residents and $35 for non-residents. GT Connections Transportation is meeting the transportation needs of those living in the Township who are at least age 55 and/or have a disability.

2/1 & 2/8: Bruce Gardner is Back by Popular Demand (1PM): Dr. Gardner is back to share more fascinating stories of his experiences in both Nepal and Antarctica. FREE 

February 1: Learn about Dr. Gardner's experiences in the high Himalayas in Nepal where he attended to the medical needs of the Sherpa people without the benefit of electricity or running water. 

February 8: Dr. Gardner returns to share his experiences of working on ships in Antarctica. Join us as we travel with him to our southernmost continent. 

2/15: What Happens When You Tickle an Elephant's Toes (1PM): Although some Asian elephants still live in the wild, the species is fast dwindling. Domesticated elephants, often misunderstood, can endure tragically difficult lives. At the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand, 34 elephants have found sanctuary, rescued from lives of abuse and neglect. This small Eden is where they roam freely, living out their days. Kate had the distinct honor of living at the park and volunteering for two weeks in 2006—feeding, bathing, and walking with these grand creatures. Come learn how very precious and sensitive these splendid animals are and what’s being done to help them! Kate Dernocoeur has a special love for animals, the natural world, and remote settings. She has had the chance to explore many unique places, but her two weeks among the Thai elephants stands as a true favorite. This event is sponsored by The Oaks of Byron Center $2

2024 Personal Property Tax documents have been mailed out to business owners that own or lease business personal property (e.g. furniture, equipment, electronics, etc.) located in Georgetown Township. Business owners are required by the State of Michigan to complete these documents and file them with the local municipality. If you operate a business within Georgetown Township limits, please file any and all personal property paperwork with us before the due date of February 20, 2024 (listed on the form). Many business owners qualify for the Small Business Property Tax Exemption. However, the exemption can only be granted if you are eligible for it and apply for it.

As always, Change of Assessment Notices will be mailed out in February. These notices illustrate the tentative change in a property’s 2024 Assessed Value (the assessor is required to set the assessed value at 50% of the usual selling price or true cash value of the property) and Taxable Value (the value used to calculate your property taxes). Change of Assessment Notices also detail the dates and times of the 2024 March Board of Review meetings. The March Board of Review is tasked with looking at the current year assessment roll, and is available to meet with residents to discuss their 2024 Assessed Value. Please understand that in most cases the Board of Review has no authority to act on tentative taxable value.

The meeting dates for taxpayers to appeal to the 2024 March Board of Review are:

        Monday, March 11, 2024 from 9AM to 5PM

       Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 1PM to 9PM

In an emergency situation, every second counts. That is why the Georgetown Fire Department is encouraging residents to participate in the Smart911 program. The Smart911 national registry is a free service that allows individuals and families to share pertinent information with emergency responders, including: emergency contact information, medical history (medications, medical conditions and mental health history), property details (access points, gate codes, etc.), and number of people and pets living on the property.