Newsletter
Park Township News – Fall 2009
Fall Leaf Collection Schedule
Disposal of leaves brought to a collection site will again be provided in cooperation with Holland Township.
Those wishing to use this service may bring leaves to any of the sites listed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the dates indicated.
LEAF Drop Off Only. No Branches or brush will be accepted.
Fairgrounds
Ottawa Beach Road
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
Dunton Park
Howard Avenue
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
Maatman Center
Harrington Avenue
October 24
October 31
November 14
If leaves are brought to the drop off site in plastic bags, you will be asked to empty the leaves out of the bags into the disposal bins. No plastic bags are accepted. However, paper bags may be used.
Park West Drain
The Board of Trustees recently approved a plan to construct a storm sewer system that will greatly help to reduce the problems of high ground water that have plagued portions of the township over the past years. This drain, known as the Park West Drain, will be constructed by the Ottawa County Drain Commissioner and will begin near New Holland and 160th and run south down 168th and discharge into Lake Macatawa.
The plan is a result of a thorough study by the Drain Subcommittee, appointed by the Board earlier this year. The subcommittee analyzed the causes of high water, reviewed many options, possible solutions, and made a series of recommendations to the Board.
Members of the subcommittee include Trustee Jerry Hunsburger, the subcommittee chair, John Barwis, Bill Cole, Julia Johnson, Chris Overbeek, Doug Wehrmeyer and Doug Yonker. Township Clerk Skip Keeter and Trustee Mike Toscano also served on the subcommittee. Professional engineering services were provided by Bill Chappell and Arne Larsen from Driesenga and Associates from Holland.
When completed, the system is designed to help alleviate flooding issues for more than 5,000 acres and for more than 3,000 parcels. Our thanks to the subcommittee for their hard work and diligence in dealing with this issue.
For more information, including the report and related maps, please visit the Park Township Website at www.parktownship.org.
From Our Deputy
I am Eric DeBoer, your Park Township Community Policing Deputy. I have been assigned here for just over six and a half years and am also a resident of Park Township. In my time here I have seen one reoccurring issue more than anything else and it is, for the most part, easily avoided – Theft.
Park Township is, for the most part, a nice quiet place to live. However, throughout the year we have constant issues with thefts from cars and garages.
Commonly known as “garage hopping,” these calls account for a lot of my call volume. Kids, out after dark and looking for easy alcohol, walk through neighborhoods trying service doors that many of us keep unlocked. Once they find an open door, they help themselves to most anything they may be able to use, sell for a quick buck, or consume for a buzz. These kids can be easily thwarted by simply locking your service door and closing your garage door at night or when you are not outside.
Along with the garage hopping, thefts from motor vehicles are a recurring issue. Again, kids walking the neighborhood check driveways for unlocked cars and go through them looking for money and valuables. This can also be avoided by locking your vehicles and taking valuables inside the house at night.
For the most part criminals are people of opportunity. If we can take away opportunities by keeping our doors locked, we will go a long way toward cutting down on crime.
On a somewhat unrelated note, I am attempting to bolster communications with established neighborhood associations as well as foster new ones. If you are a president of a neighborhood association, or are in the process of starting one, please send me an email at edeboer@miottawa.org so that I can start a list serve to send out notices of ongoing problems or requests for information. You as neighborhood associations are my greatest tool in addressing problems within the township.
From The Fire Chief’s Desk
As I reflected over the last months while trying to decide what to write, the one event that kept popping into my head were the violent storms of June 19 and 20, 2009. These are my thoughts and what I have learned from those days.
The Storm Itself – the Park Township Fire Department responded to 38 calls in less than eight hours, versus 22 calls in an average month. During these hours our firefighters responded to continuous calls for help during the destruction, while their own homes were being flooded and ruined – they were not at home to lead their families. They were tired, hungry and uncomfortable yet they continued to handle each emergency as it came in. I am very proud of our personnel and how each and every one of them responded above and beyond the call of duty.
The Park Township Manager, Board Members and Office Staff – on Saturday morning, June 20, Jerry Felix, our Township Manager of one month, called an emergency meeting at the fire station and laid out an action plan for that day and the week to come. What a way to start out a new job – he only knew some of the streets and people and yet he had a plan. He was faced with difficult decisions, distraught residents, destruction everywhere, and he handled it with grace and authority. Several Board members and many of the Office staff assisted with damage assessments on Saturday and in the following week – the Fire Department could not have done this without their help. Thank you for your hard work.
The Park Township Residents – up to this point in my career in the fire service I have never witnessed damage like these storms produced. Thankfully I have not heard of serious injuries. This is what impressed me the most as I was doing damage assessments and talking to residents: neighbors helping each other pump basements, cutting trees, making food, offering words of encouragement and being there to help each other the best they could.
This is one of the many reasons I enjoy working and living in Park Township – a place where people come together as a community. I thank each and every one of you for the wonderful human spirit you displayed in this crisis. You make Park Township a great place to live.
Have a great fall and let’s not meet by accident. Chief Scott Gamby
Jerry Felix Named Township Manager
Residents will remember that in 2008, the Board of Trustees voted to change our form of government from a full-time Supervisor, to a hired Township Manager and part-time Supervisor. With this new government structure, the Township Manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of the township, while the Supervisor and Board role is now policy making. The board asked Stu Visser to act as Interim Township Manager from November until a permanent manager could be hired.
After an extensive search and interview process, the board extended an offer to Jerry Felix and he accepted. Jerry began his new position in May of this year and has quickly learned the township and with his skill set has already contributed in a valuable manner.
Jerry was the assistant to the Wyoming City Manager; Greenville, Michigan City Manager; Harbor Springs, Michigan City Manager; and Executive Director of the Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC). GVMC is the transportation planning organization for the 31 units of government in the Greater Grand Rapids Area. Jerry’s public sector experience is supplemented by several years in the private sector.
If you find yourself at the Township Hall, please make a point to meet Jerry. He can be contacted at 738-4229 or jfelix@parktownship.org.
New Trustee
In June, former Clerk and current Trustee Jeff Ebihara informed the Board that he had accepted a new position in Raleigh, North Carolina and resigned his position effective August 13, 2009. The board advertised the vacancy for the position later in June inviting citizens of the township to apply for the position. There were nine applications submitted.
On July 23, the board held interviews for the position and selected Robert Ellis as the new Trustee to replace Jeff Ebihara.
Bob was an executive with Prince Corporation and Johnson Controls for 22 years, most recently serving as Vice President of the Ford Business Account, vice President of Marketing and Brand Management, and Vice President of Leadership Development for the International Automotive Group. He currently has his own consulting business, RVE Consulting, focusing on strategic planning. Bob is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hospice of Holland Board, is a mentor and basketball coach for Barnabas Ministries, is on the Steering Committee of the Ready for School Early Childhood Education Initiative of the Holland Zeeland Area Community Foundation, and is an associate chaplain at the Ottawa County Jail.
Retirement Open House
Come join us to celebrate the retirement of Alton (Al) Harrington. After fifty years of continuous service to the Park Township Fire Department an open house, in his honor, will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2009, 4pm – 7pm, at Station #2 in north Park Township (12 S. 160th Avenue, Holland, 49424).
Parks & Recreation
Pine Creek Trails, a wetlands area sandwiched between Ottawa Beach Road and Lakewood Blvd., west of 144th Avenue, is now called the Stu Visser Trails. After nearly a 23 year career at Park Township, the Board of Trustees wanted to honor Stu’s dedication to the township and renamed the park in June.
Our newest destination park, the David L. Dirkse Skate Park, is now open. Many kids and adults have enjoyed watching and skating since June. A huge “thank you” to Dave Dirkse, the lead fundraiser and donor; Jeff Compagner, Skate Park Action Committee chair; Scott Nykerk, from Lakewood Construction and our skate park site supervisor; and the Park Township Board of Trustees for their support.
Barb Burmeister, Parks and Recreation Director
Taxes
Due to February 14 falling on a Sunday, and Monday being “President’s Day”, the 2009 Winter Tax Bill will be due on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.
For you convenience, a drop box located inside the main entrance of the township office building may be used for after hour payments.
You may pay by credit card by calling 1-800-272-9829, use code 7003, or log on our website at www.parktownship.org, click on the “Departments” button, then “Treasurer”, and “Credit Card Payments”. PLEASE NOTE: Official Payments Corporation will charge your credit card a fee of 3% of the payment amount for this service, with a minimum fee of $1.00 charged.
Celebrating Tot Time’s 35th Anniversary!
2009-2010 marks Tot Time’s thirty-fifth year. According to the dictionary, the modern gift for the thirty-fifth anniversary is JADE. The first dictionary definition of JADE is that it’s “highly esteemed.” What could be more applicable to Tot Time? Over the years, we have expended our best efforts toward Tot Time’s continuing excellence. The teachers, the curriculum, the facility, the helping parents, and the enrollees–both current and past–are highly esteemed in professional, community, and family circles!
We work hard to avoid the pitfalls of the second dictionary definition of JADE: “to become dull, worn-out, or weary from overuse.” Not resting on our laurels as each new school year begins, we re-charge, review, and renew our instructional and classroom management techniques so that the very best interests of the enrollees and Tot Time will be served. Following the summer respite, “dull,” “worn-out,” and “weary” are words not in our vocabularies! Such negatives never surface during the school year. A “dull” moment in a classroom of twenty to twenty-four preschoolers?— NO WAY!
Tot Time has a few openings in the 2009/2010 Monday/Wednesday a.m. session for children who will be four by December 1. Tuition for the class is $130 per semester plus an annual activity fee of $25. To register for this year or next year, please call MaryAlice Ritsema at 269.857.2353, email me at mritsema@parktownship.org, or mail or fax the registration form which is available at www.parktownship.org/services/tot-time-registration.
Recycle Cell Phones
THANK YOU to the many residents who have donated their used cell phones for a good cause. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the 911 Cell Phone Bank provide emergency communications to seniors and victims of abuse in our community.
A RECYCLE IT box is located at the Park Township Office. All brands and all models are accepted.
If you are an Ottawa County senior or a person-in-need, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office can assist you in obtaining a cell phone capable of making emergency 911 calls from your home, car, or anywhere you have an adequate cell phone signal. Please contact the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department at 616-738-4000.
Cemetery Clean Up
Fall Clean-Up at Lakewood, Lakeshore, and Ventura Cemeteries begins October 20. All metal floral baskets must be removed before that date. Baskets not removed by then will be stored at the cemeteries. Also, please do not place anything on monuments during the winter months.
For more information, please call Cemetery Sexton, Lee Harris, at (616)405-1900.
