Township Newsletter - June 2018


Here's What's Coming Up......

 

 (Click on the title above to go directly to a specific section)
 


Parks & Recreation Board and Downtown Development Authority:
Members Needed


Are you a resident of Northfield Township?  Do you love your community and want to do more to help our township prosper?  Well, we may just have the opportunity you're looking for!  June 30th marks the end of some member's terms on various Township Boards.  Now is your opportunity to get involved.  If any of the following openings are of interest to you, please submit your application and letter of interest by clicking on the links provided at the bottom of this page.  Please turn in your submission by June 15th.  The Township Board will be looking to fill these openings at an upcoming board meeting.

  • Downtown Development Authority (DDA):  The DDA has 3 terms expiring on June 30, 2018.  The mission of the DDA is to undertake public improvements and activities that have the greatest impact in strengthening the business district, and attracting new private investments.  In the upcoming years, the Downtown Development Authority will be leading the way in the creation of the Downtown Master Plan and development of the North Village (former Van Curler property).

    Members of the DDA are persons having an interest in property located in the downtown district, or officers, members, trustees, principals, or employees of a legal entity having an interest in property located in the downtown district.  The DDA typically meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00pm.  DDA members serve a 4 year term and are appointed by the Board of Trustees.
     
  • Parks & Recreation Board:  The Parks & Recreation Board has 2 terms expiring on July 1, 2018.  The Parks & Recreation Board is a dedicated group of residents and business owners working to establish a vision for future parks and recreation opportunities in Northfield Township, and developing projects that provide a tangible benefit to our community.  Two of the most recent and most noticeable projects resulting from the hard work of the Parks & Recreation Board are the Bark Park and the Community Garden.  Upcoming projects will be in accordance with the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, established in 2016.

    Members of the Parks & Recreation Board  are members of the community.  Members are appointed by the Board of Trustees by recommendation from the Parks & Recreation Board, and each member serves a three year term.  The Parks & Recreation Board meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm.


Click here for the Application for Northfield Township Boards & Commissions
Completed applications and letters of interest can be dropped off or emailed to the township office.
 

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Boat Launch Open This Weekend!

The Whitmore Lake Public Boat Launch will re-open Saturday, May 26th at 8:00am.  The paving has been completed, and at this time the DNR is not expecting any more extended closures. 
 

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Memorial Day: Offices Closed

The Northfield Township Offices will be CLOSED on Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day.

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May Sewer Bills

Sewer Bills were mailed at the beginning of May.  The May bill covers service from February 1st through April 30th.  Payment is due May 31st.  Any payment received after the due date will accrue late fees. Failure to receive your bill does not waive the past due penalty.  Sewer bills can be paid by cash, check, credit/debit card*, or money order.
 
Option A: You can pay your bills at the Township Office:

  • in person during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. (Please note we are CLOSED on Monday, May 28th for Memorial Day)
  • by using the 24 hour drop box in the office vestibule.
  • by mail - payments by mail must be received in our office by the due date listed on the bill in order to avoid late fees.  We are not responsible for delays in mail delivery, and DO NOT accept post marks as payment date.  Mail payments to:

    Northfield Township
    8350 Main St.
    PO Box 576
    Whitmore Lake, MI 48189
     

Option B: You can pay your bill on-line with a credit/debit card* (listed as "Utility Billing Payments" on the left side of the page)

Option C: You can pay with a credit/debit card* over the phone by calling toll free (800) 272-9829, use our township code 3241.
 

**There is a $2.75 service fee for credit/debit card payments for utility bills when paying on-line 
There is a $3.95 service fee for credit/debit card payments for utility bills  when paying over the phone**
This fee is charged by the credit card processing company, not Northfield Township

 
If you have any questions about your sewer bill, please contact the Clerk's office at (734) 449-2880 ext. 14

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DDA May Meeting Rescheduled

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will be rescheduling their May meeting.  Please join us on Monday, June 4th at 7:00PM at the Northfield Township Public Safety Building, 8350 Main St., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.

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Historical Society Spring Membership Meeting & Potluck Dinner

The Northfield Township Historical Society will be hosting their Spring Membership Meeting & Potluck Dinner on Thursday, June 7th starting at 6:00pm The dinner will be held at the Public Safety Building, 8350 Main St., Whitmore Lake followed by a presentation on Centennial Farms.

Public Welcome!  Bring your own plates, napkins, flatware and a dish to share.  Beverages will be provided.  After dinner, we hope you enjoy our presentation: Northfield Township's Centennial Farms - Part 2. This presentation will focus on the Devereaux and Kempf family Centennial Farms.

For more information, click here to read our Historical Society Spring 2018 Newsletter

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County Clean-up Day

Northfield Township is hosting it's 5th annual Clean-up Day, Saturday, June 9, 2018 from 9am-2pm at the Northfield Township Public Safety Building.

What to bring:

  • Traditional recyclable materials (glass, cardboard, plastic, paper, scrap metal)
  • Appliances (refrigerator, dryer, a/c unit, etc.)
  • Household hazardous materials (paint, pesticides, cleaning supplies, oil, etc.)
  • Tires
  • Electronics (TV, computer, etc.)
  • Bulky household items (mattress, furniture, etc.)
  • Construction and demolition waste (drywall, wood, bricks, etc.)

Suggested donations:

  • Please consider a minimum donation of $10.00 to help support this effort.
  • Bring 4 tires for free. We request a donation of $5 for each additional tire.
  • Bring 1 TV, computer or appliance for free. We request a donation of $10 for each additional item.

This event is for Washtenaw County residents. Sorry, but we can’t accept materials from businesses or out-of-county residents.

Call 734-222-3810 or visit http://recycle.ewashtenaw.org for more info!

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KaBOOM! Play Everywhere Grant

Northfield Township recently submitted an Idea Form to the “KaBOOM! Play Everywhere” grant committee.  Our idea was to transform the Barker Road Non-Motorized Path into the “Barker Road Play Path”.  Our vision for the Barker Road Play Path is to incorporate hopscotch and other sidewalk games painted onto the path, signage for talking and walking games, small play installations to engage in play along the way, community murals, etc.  By enhancing the path, it would engage families in play while walking the path and would encourage use by all of our residents by making it a fun family experience, not just a way to get from here to there.

We are excited to announce that our Idea Form was selected as a finalist in the award process!  We have been invited by the KaBOOM! grant coordinators to submit a full proposal to them by June 15th.  The Play Everywhere Challenge will award $720,000 in grants, ranging from $10,000 to $80,000, to winners with great ideas that integrate play into everyday life and unexpected places.  KaBOOM! will announce the grant recipients in August.  We are so excited for this opportunity, and welcome any ideas that will make our pathway the most fun Play Path ever!
 

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4th of July Parade Registration

Did you ever have a childhood dream of being in a parade? Let that dream come true this year in the Kiwanis 4th of July Parade. Be a clown, ride your pony, promote your cause, or toot your own horn! The Kiwanis 4th of July Parade has a spot for you...see the registration form for more details. If you want a registration form emailed to you or if you have any questions, please email at whitmorelakeparade@charter.net.

Click here for the Parade Registration Form
 

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4th of July Fun Run Registration

Registration is now open for the 4th of July Fun Run sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Whitmore Lake, Whitmore Lake Community Recreation, and Regency at Whitmore Lake. Register by June 18th to get a free t-shirt! Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/WhitmoreLake/WhitmoreLakeRaces
 

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Movies Under the Stars

Bring your family and friends!  Bring your blankets and chairs!  Enjoy a family movie under the stars!  Watch from shore or from your boat on the lake!  

All movies begin at DUSK.  

This is a FREE Event! Concessions are available for purchase!  

Featured Movies:  June 19 - Paddington 2
                              June 29 - Sing!
                              July 27 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
                              August 10 - Ferdinand
                              August 24 - CoCo

Location:  On the lakeshore across the street from the Post Office & the Community Park

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Library Community Picnics

Kick back and enjoy a summer evening with your neighbors on the lawn with music, games, and laughter. Whitmore Lake Public Schools will be hosting a storytime for elementary aged kids, and they will be giving away books for the kiddos to add to their home library. This is a BYOM (bring your own meal) event. The Library will provide lemonade and water.

Community Picnics will be held from 6:00PM-7:30PM on the following dates:  
     - Friday, June 15
     - Friday, July 20
     - Friday, August 17  

Location: Northfield Township Area Library
              125 Barker Rd.
              Whitmore Lake, MI 48189

The Northfield Township Area Library has many fun events planned this summer, including their annual kid's Summer Reading Club.  Check out their website for a full calendar and details.

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Reporting a Road Issue

We have been getting many calls about the conditions of the roads, potholes, flooding, etc.  We are keeping record of your concerns and have been in contact with the road commission about these issues.

Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) is responsible for road maintenance on all public roads located outside of city and village limits.  By law, WCRC can only provide 50% of the funding for improvements on the 1,060 miles of local roads in Washtenaw County.  The remaining funds for maintenance of our roads comes out of the township's budget with approval from the Board of Trustees.  On May 8th, the Board committed to a contribution of $125,000.00 to go toward our roads which includes: 

  • 3 brine applications for dust control;
  • Roadside berm removal, ditching, culvert installation, reshaping the existing surface, and placement of limestone on parts of Kearney Rd., Dixboro Rd. and Spencer Rd.; and
  • Limestone resurfacing projects on roads yet to be determined. 

The brine applications were increased to 3 applications last year and we are committing to that again this year. Additionally, the Township Board is currently reviewing our budget for the next fiscal year (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019) and are looking to see if there are any additional funds available to put toward roads.


In the meantime, potholes and other county road issues can be reported to the Washtenaw County Road Commission at http://www.wcroads.org/residents/report-an-issue/  or by phone at 734-761-1500.

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June Meeting Schedule

June 4 - DDA
June 6 - Planning Commission
June 12 - Board of Trustees
June 14 - Land Preservation Committee
June 18 - ZBA
June 20 - Planning Commission
June 21 - Parks & Recreation Board
June 26 - Board of Trustees
June 25 - DDA

All meetings are held at 7:00pm (unless otherwise noted) at the Northfield Township Public Safety Building, 8350 Main St., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.  Please visit our website for a full calendar of events.