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

Meeting Info

TOWNSHIP UPDATES

MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS

AMBUCS PARADE: Monday, May 27 @ 9AM

The parade travels along Baldwin Street from the corner of 20th Avenue to Cottonwood Drive. To participate in the parade, please complete an application prior to May 23. Parade line up will start 7AM at Baldwin Street Christian Reformed Church (2101 Baldwin Street).

AMBUCS 5K RACE: Monday, May 27 @ 8AM

The race begins at the Honor Credit Union (1963 Baldwin Street). Registration is $35 and can be done online.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Monday, May 27, following the parade

A memorial service will be held at the Georgetown Township Cemetery (located on 28th Avenue just north of Port Sheldon Street) following the parade. Please bring your own seating.

ELECTION UPDATES

There will be a Special Election held May 7, 2024, with proposals for Hudsonville and Jenison School districts. There will not be any early voting for the May 7, 2024, Special Election as it is not a State or Federal Election.

View a sample ballot here (select your precinct)

The Permanent Absentee Voter Application List will be discontinued at the end of 2024 and replaced by the Permanent Absentee Ballot List. Voters must request to be placed on the new Absentee Ballot List, even if they were already on the Permanent Application List. The request form is available on the Georgetown Township website or at the Township office. Click here to be taken to the online form.

Once you complete the form, it needs to be returned to the Georgetown Township Clerk’s Office. There are a few ways you can do this:

You may email the form to the Elections Director at: areagan@georgetown-mi.gov
Drop off the form at the Township office, or in the office dropbox located on the south face of the library building.
Mail the form to the Township office at: PO Box 769, Jenison, MI 49429-0769

ROAD RESURFACING

At their April 22nd meeting, the Township Board approved the finalized list of subdivision streets that will be resurfaced in 2024. With an original estimate of $4.9 million, through competitive bidding and economies of scale, the amount was reduced to $3.7 million. After applying $1.6 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, the final cost will be $2.1 million.

2024 Road Projects

ASSESSMENT NOTICE

New Homeowners: Principal Residence Exemption Deadline is June 1st

New homeowners must own and occupy their property (among other qualifications) by June 1^st to receive the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) for the 2024 year. PRE exempts homeowners from paying school operating millage on the summer tax bill. For new homeowners who purchased an existing home or a completed new build, the PRE form is almost always filled out at your closing and mailed to the Township by your title company. However, for homeowners who purchased vacant land and then built their new home, completion of the PRE form is often missed. Residents can easily check to see if they filed a PRE form by reviewing the Change of Assessment Notice that was sent to you in February or by going to our website, Georgetown-mi.gov, click on “Property Info” and then search for your address. On your property’s page, scroll down to the Principal Residence Exemption Information section and verify that it shows 100% for June 1^st. Below is an example of a property that has 100% PRE for 2023.

RIGHT-OF-WAY PROJECTS

County roads are located on land that is considered road right-of-way (typically 66 feet wide). This gives the Ottawa County Road Commission authority to regulate work, such as utilities work, done on and around county roads. While the Township cannot regulate the companies that do utilities work within the Township, we are committed to assisting property owners in ensuring their property is restored following construction. If you own property in Georgetown Township and have had no success in achieving property restoration through communication with the utilities company, please complete the “Right-of-Way Project Complaint Form”.

Right-of-Way Project Complaint Form

LIBRARY EVENTS

Library Newsletter

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. Summer Reading starts in June!

Fun Times for Kids:

5/2 (10:30AM): Preschool Bingo

5/3 (10:30AM): Purposeful Play

5/6 (7PM): Lego Club

5/13 (10 & 11:15AM): Play N Learn

5/13 (7PM): Pokemon Club

5/16 (10:30AM): Play-Doh Club

5/8: Composting for Beginners (6:30PM): Join Wormies Vermicompost as they share everything you need to know to begin composting at home. After setting the stage with composting basics and why composting is important, they’ll highlight what are considered acceptable scraps, how to maintain your compost, when and how to harvest your compost, and how to best use it.

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

5/8 (1:30PM): The Women

5/15 (1:30PM): The Great Railroad Revolution

5/20 (1:30PM): The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

5/28 (1:30PM): All American

JENISON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

MAY EVENTS

The Jenison Museum will be open on Tuesday, May 7 from 10AM-12PM and on Saturday, May 18 from 2-4PM.

We are excited to announce that the wood etchings that were commissioned and hung in the former Union Bank Building are now hanging in the hallway outside our Local History Room at the Georgetown Township Public Library. These etchings portray scenes from Jenison's beginnings.

GT CONNECTIONS

Connections Newsletter

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.

5/6: Good Medicine Band (7PM): These non-professional musicians representing all walks of life come together to play music of a golden era (20's, 30's and 40's) and bring back memories for those they entertain. It is Good Medicine for the listeners, and also Good Medicine for the performers, because live music is the best music! Sponsored by The Oaks of Byron Center $3

5/14: Lunch & Learn: Planning with Cook Funeral Home (10AM): Cook specializes in planning personalized funeral services and takes the time to customize final arrangements to celebrate each life. Jola will help with pre-planning, ensuring a memorial exactly as you envision it while easing the emotional and financial burdens of those closest to you. Please note the seminar is BEFORE lunch. Soup and Salad Bar lunch provided from 11:30AM-12:30PM for the 1st twenty-five to sign up.

5/14: Humor in the Courtroom (2PM): Have you heard the saying “truth is sometimes stranger than fiction?” Sometimes what actually happens is more bizarre and humorous than anything that could have been imagined. Come hear real-life stories Judge Smolenski has experienced through the years as a Michigan Supreme Court judge. A native of Grand Rapids, Judge Sara Smolenski was first appointed to the 63rd District Court of the Michigan Supreme Court in 1996 and has been re-elected every six years since.

5/16: Implications of Menopause on Your Health (12:45PM): Join us for an interactive discussion about how menopause affects the health of our bones, muscles, heart/cardiovascular system, urinary/bowel movements, cognition, and libido. You will learn ways in which you can keep your body in optimal condition to avoid osteoporosis, fractures and injury, falling, heart problems, urinary and bowel leakage, dryness along with suggestions for keeping your mind sharp and libido strong. Suggestions for exercise and diet will also be shared. Education is power. Learn how to remain physically and mentally strong before, during, and after menopause. Bring your daughters, granddaughters, and friends. Appropriate for ages 30 to 130!

5/28: Your Body, the Missing Manual: Cardiovascular Health (12:45PM): Dr. Bruce Gardner will discuss how the cardiovascular system is built and how it works. He will also get into various diseases and what can be done about them.

FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

GRASS CLIPPINGS REMINDER:

As spring brings about lush green lawns and the joy of outdoor activities, it's crucial to remember that even seemingly harmless materials like grass clippings can pose a fire hazard if not handled properly. To ensure the safety of your home and community, here's a fire safety message on the correct disposal of green grass clippings:

Avoid accumulating grass clippings near structures: when mowing your lawn, refrain from leaving large piles of green grass clippings near your house, garage, or shed.

Disperse the clippings evenly: instead of leaving clumps of grass in one place, distribute the clippings evenly across your lawn. Spreading out the clippings helps prevent the formation of concentrated piles that can easily ignite.

Allow clippings to dry thoroughly: if you plan to dispose of the grass clippings, ensure they are completely dry before putting them into a garbage can. Damp or moist clippings are more likely to heat up and generate heat that can lead to spontaneous combustion.

Contact your local waste management for their regulations on yard waste disposal.

Consider composting or recycling: composting not only helps reduce waste but also provides valuable nutrients for your garden.

Never burn grass clippings: burning grass clippings can be extremely dangerous and is generally not recommended.

Remember, fire prevention begins with each one of us. By taking these simple steps to dispose of green grass clippings safely, you can contribute to a fire-resistant environment, reducing the risk of potential fires.

When asked to look back over my years of service, I can’t help but think about the differences between 1974 and today.

My first turn-out gear was a rubber coat with rubber pull-up boots and red rubber gloves for firefighting. Today we have gear that is non-flammable and has cancer-protective properties to keep us safe while on the scene.

Engines and equipment have improved by leaps and bounds, as well as the intense training aimed at protecting ourselves and the public. When I started, our whole goal was just to get to the fire and get the water flowing, which included jumping on the tail end of fire trucks and holding on for dear life. Lost a good pair of glasses doing that! When additional money was needed to get our first E-unit, we went door to door or had a boot drive and stood at the intersections of Jenison asking for donations. I started on Georgetown’s first dive team when we were a part of the Ottawa County Sheriff Department, and it’s been exciting to watch our dive and rescue equipment improve over the years.

As we’ve been called to many different emergencies over the years, we added training in various areas to prepare us. Today, we have a low angle rescue team which deals with extrications from many dangerous situations. We conduct active shooter drills to keep our schools safe. It is a different world today, but we are prepared for it.

Medical calls were limited back in the day with 2-man CPR and med bags. Now we have a LUCUS tool to deliver chest compressions for cardiac arrest patients and we can administer life-saving assistance with NARCAN nasal spray.

Communication once amounted to pagers and hand signals. I was given a mammoth “breadbox monitor” for emergency calls. We still carry pagers, but we’re also notified of emergency calls using phone apps and a portable radio.

One thing that has not changed: we have always been a brotherhood. We had picnics, softball games, and breakfasts to support the Honor Guard. If a fireman was moving, there was always help; a new roof was needed, there were volunteers. When one family was struck with illness or tragedy, we all felt it and supported them. The care and commitment we developed for each other was extended to every firefighting family.

Joining the fire service is a big commitment which cannot happen without the understanding and support of our fire families. I remember back to Christmas presents that could not be opened, birthdays that were missed, and coming home to my wife sitting on the floor praying for my safety when fighting the Rosewood Elementary fire. If not for my family’s support, I could not have remained dedicated to firefighting.

I started firefighting as a hobby interest and have enjoyed it thoroughly for 50 years. It has given me a sense of community pride, camaraderie, and the support of firefighter to firefighter and family to family that will never be forgotten.

Once a firefighter, always a firefighter.

Apply to Become a Firefighter

﻿TOWNSHIP UPDATES