Thursday, March 15, 2012
Cascade Saving Money
The Cascade Township Board took action last night to authorize staff to call-in two bonds - one from the 2002 Tassell Park Construction Project and one from the 2003 Pathways Construction Project. Paying off the $785,000 balances four years early will save $82,000 in interest payments. Both funds (General and Pathways) have fund balances to cover the payments making this a nice savings for the residents of the Township. A good night!!!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Presidential Primary Election Tuesday
The Presidential Primary Election is set for next Tuesday, February 28th (7am - 8pm). All Cascade Precincts will be open and staffed. Ballots for both major parties will be available for you to use. You will be required to identify the party you wish to vote for.
The Republican candidates are:
Fred Karger
Ron Paul
Rick Perry
Buddy Roemer
Mitt Romney
Rick Santorum
Michelle Bachmann
Herman Cain
Newt Gringrich
Jon Huntsman
Gary Johnson
Uncommitted
The Democratic candidate is Barack Obama (Uncommitted is also a chioce).
The Township Office will be open tomorrow (Saturday, February 25th) for absentee balloting from 8am to 2pm. The office is located at 2865 Thornhills. If you have a last-minute reason why you can't make it to the polls Tuesday, you can take care of this tomorrow.
Goog luck!
The Republican candidates are:
Fred Karger
Ron Paul
Rick Perry
Buddy Roemer
Mitt Romney
Rick Santorum
Michelle Bachmann
Herman Cain
Newt Gringrich
Jon Huntsman
Gary Johnson
Uncommitted
The Democratic candidate is Barack Obama (Uncommitted is also a chioce).
The Township Office will be open tomorrow (Saturday, February 25th) for absentee balloting from 8am to 2pm. The office is located at 2865 Thornhills. If you have a last-minute reason why you can't make it to the polls Tuesday, you can take care of this tomorrow.
Goog luck!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Township Board Meeting February 8th
The Township Board was unsual in that three of the seven Board members were away from the Township and asked to be excused from the meeting. Absences rarely occur; thankfully, the agenda was light last night.
The board approved the monthly reports from the Fire and Treasurer's department. They also approved a request for a repair of the storm drain basin in the street at 3528 and 3517 Goodwood Drive. This area has become covered with water and ice most of the winrter due to the basin not operating properly. the $75,000 repair (township pays 1/2) will be done this summer.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:41pm
The board approved the monthly reports from the Fire and Treasurer's department. They also approved a request for a repair of the storm drain basin in the street at 3528 and 3517 Goodwood Drive. This area has become covered with water and ice most of the winrter due to the basin not operating properly. the $75,000 repair (township pays 1/2) will be done this summer.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:41pm
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Township Board Meeting January 25th
The Township Board, in a 30-minute meeting last night, approved the following items:
- Continue to provide $400,000 from the General Fund annually to the Fire Fund as resolved by the Board in 2004.
- Continue to pay-off the unfunded mandate in MERS (employee retirement fund) over a 28-year period.
- Resolve to support the Kent County Road Commission in its efforts to obtain Federal funding for road improvements in the 52nd & Kraft area (upgrade the road to a Class A road).
- Abandon a short portion of the Patterson Drain (unused) east of Kraft (north of 28th St) to provide for development of the site (future Goodwill Store).
- Receive the monthly update from staff on the Strategic Plan.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Right Place - 2011 Annual Report
The Right Place, at a special meeting today at the Amway Grand Hotel, presented an in-depth review of its progress on the five-year strategic plan it created in 2008. The Right Place promotes economic growth in the region by developing jobs through business retention, expansion and attraction of new businesses to West Michigan. The Right Place committed to bring $500,000,000 in Capital Investment to the region from 2008 - 2013. At the end of 2011, investment totalled $447,173,183. They should easily exceed the goal for this item. Two goals have already been surpassed: Created jobs - the total is 7,417 (goal was 5,000) and $259,203,106 in new payroll (goal was $175,000,000). So far, 4,115 companies have been assisted toward a goal of 7,500. Considering the rough economy the past few years, these numbers are remarkable!!! I was honored to represent Cascade Charter Township on the 2011 Right Place Board of Directors. The Right Place is chaired by Doug DeVos, a resident of Cascade! A number of businesses have received assistance from the Right Place to help them grow or locate in the Township. The Right Place is a very important part of economic development in West Michigan. Look for more positive results in 2012!!!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
DDA MOVING CASCADE FORWARD!
The Cascade Downtown Development Association (DDA) Board met last night in the Wisner Center for a very exciting meeting! The DDA reviewed the successful purchase and display of new holiday lights in the Village District and determined that the display should be slightly enlarged. Look for an even more impressive display next Christmas!!
Mr. Jeff Hundley stood before the Board to discuss his plans for the newly vacant Family Fare grocery store. He is in discussions that should bring a new grocer to the center - he was entergetic about the possobilities!!! He let the Board know he is also working on creating a new restaurant space with outdoor seating in the center. I can't wait to see the changes made and the new tenants move in!
The Board took some time to discuss their next projects - the boulevard on 28th Street is complete and the lights, landscaping and sidewalks are installed on Charlevoix and Foremeost. They talked about adding more sidewalk further south on Charlevoix to Orchard Vista then back to Foremost, or south on Charlevoix to Tahoe, then east to Lucerne, then back to 28th Street. Also discussed were the creation of a 'sound garden' and a 'children's garden' in the area near the library. The DDA will meet next on March 20th to discusss these projects (and others), then decide on a course of action. Great stuff!!
Finally, the DDA was briefed on the new liquor license awarded to the Township due to our increase in population as a result of the 2010 census. The DDA directed Sandra Korhorn, the DDA Director to notify Jeff Hundley and other developers that there was a license available. The Township Board had set a 60-day waiting periond for applications to be sure existing businesses are aware of the license.
Mr. Jeff Hundley stood before the Board to discuss his plans for the newly vacant Family Fare grocery store. He is in discussions that should bring a new grocer to the center - he was entergetic about the possobilities!!! He let the Board know he is also working on creating a new restaurant space with outdoor seating in the center. I can't wait to see the changes made and the new tenants move in!
The Board took some time to discuss their next projects - the boulevard on 28th Street is complete and the lights, landscaping and sidewalks are installed on Charlevoix and Foremeost. They talked about adding more sidewalk further south on Charlevoix to Orchard Vista then back to Foremost, or south on Charlevoix to Tahoe, then east to Lucerne, then back to 28th Street. Also discussed were the creation of a 'sound garden' and a 'children's garden' in the area near the library. The DDA will meet next on March 20th to discusss these projects (and others), then decide on a course of action. Great stuff!!
Finally, the DDA was briefed on the new liquor license awarded to the Township due to our increase in population as a result of the 2010 census. The DDA directed Sandra Korhorn, the DDA Director to notify Jeff Hundley and other developers that there was a license available. The Township Board had set a 60-day waiting periond for applications to be sure existing businesses are aware of the license.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Video/Cable Complaints
I occasionally receive calls regarding the quality of a resident's cable access. Some calls involve billing; others are about outages; and others are about content. Cascade Township is the franchise holder for the cable companies operating in the Township (at least those with wires on poles or undrground). However, the Township does not have much pull to get those complaints resolved. However, there is a department at the state level that can help you to get a complaint resolved.
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is charged with the responsibility to handle complaints regarding cable complaints. They ask that you follow the steps below if you have a complaint about your service:
1. Contact your video/cable provider and attempt to resolve your dispute. Here the Township can help, as we have contacts that have been very willing to help resolve issues when the 'normal' channels are not working. If your issue is not quickly resolved by calling the local or "800" number, give me a call - I will try to help.
2. If you are dissatisfied with the provider's response to your complaint, you may file an informal complaint with the MPSC. The phone number to call is: 1-800-292-9555. Or you may contact the MPSC by email (www.michigan.gov/mpsc) or in writing at: MPSC, Service Quality Division, Attn.: Video Franchising, 6545 Mercantile Way, P. O. Box 30221, Lansing, Michigan 48909. It will take a couple of weeks for the MPSC to review and act on your complaint.
3. If the issue is still not resolved, then you can file a Formal Complaint and request a hearing (Note - The MPSC will require that you completed steps 1 & 2 before taking your formal complaint). To file a formal complaint, send the MPSC a letter of complaint that explains the problem and the failure for it to be resolved informally. The letter must contain your name, address and telephone number; The name and adress of the provider with whom there is a disagreement; The location/address of the disputed action; The times and dates giving rise to the dispute; and, a description of exactly what happened - dates, who was contacted, what was said, and what resolution (including costs) you are trying to achieve. You should note what section of the State law pertaining to cable companies is being violated (go online to the Michigan Public Acts, # 480 of 2006 to view a copy of the law).
The MPSC will investigate the complaint and attempt to bring it to a resolution. If they cannot resolve it, they will inject mediation to the issue. At this level, things can really get complicated with parties hiring lawyers and formal hearings and such. If you get to this step, you may find it easier to hire a lawyer rather than trying to manipulate the system alone.
Lastly, if you have a complaint about video providers not covered by state statutes (for example - satellite companies) contact the Federal Communications Commission (1-888-225-5322 or fcc.gov) to submit your complaint.
Good luck - may you never have a problem!!
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is charged with the responsibility to handle complaints regarding cable complaints. They ask that you follow the steps below if you have a complaint about your service:
1. Contact your video/cable provider and attempt to resolve your dispute. Here the Township can help, as we have contacts that have been very willing to help resolve issues when the 'normal' channels are not working. If your issue is not quickly resolved by calling the local or "800" number, give me a call - I will try to help.
2. If you are dissatisfied with the provider's response to your complaint, you may file an informal complaint with the MPSC. The phone number to call is: 1-800-292-9555. Or you may contact the MPSC by email (www.michigan.gov/mpsc) or in writing at: MPSC, Service Quality Division, Attn.: Video Franchising, 6545 Mercantile Way, P. O. Box 30221, Lansing, Michigan 48909. It will take a couple of weeks for the MPSC to review and act on your complaint.
3. If the issue is still not resolved, then you can file a Formal Complaint and request a hearing (Note - The MPSC will require that you completed steps 1 & 2 before taking your formal complaint). To file a formal complaint, send the MPSC a letter of complaint that explains the problem and the failure for it to be resolved informally. The letter must contain your name, address and telephone number; The name and adress of the provider with whom there is a disagreement; The location/address of the disputed action; The times and dates giving rise to the dispute; and, a description of exactly what happened - dates, who was contacted, what was said, and what resolution (including costs) you are trying to achieve. You should note what section of the State law pertaining to cable companies is being violated (go online to the Michigan Public Acts, # 480 of 2006 to view a copy of the law).
The MPSC will investigate the complaint and attempt to bring it to a resolution. If they cannot resolve it, they will inject mediation to the issue. At this level, things can really get complicated with parties hiring lawyers and formal hearings and such. If you get to this step, you may find it easier to hire a lawyer rather than trying to manipulate the system alone.
Lastly, if you have a complaint about video providers not covered by state statutes (for example - satellite companies) contact the Federal Communications Commission (1-888-225-5322 or fcc.gov) to submit your complaint.
Good luck - may you never have a problem!!
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