2010 Census Numbers for Cascade Townhsip

The 2010 Census data for the State of Michigan stated to be released today.  The official 2010 population for Cascade Charter Township is 17,134, up by 2,027 from the 2000 Census.  That is a 13.4% increase in 10 years.  The effect for Cascade is that we will see an increase in our Constitutional Revenue Sharing (per capita) from the State of Michigan.  Yea!

Complete Census data for the State of Michigan can be viewed at

http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,1607,7-158-54534_51713_51716-252541--,00.html

Construction Season is Here! I-96 & 28th Street Work starting this week!

1.    The bridge work on I-96 at 28^th Street is expected to start on March 24^th.  It will be a messy, fourteen-week project.  The freeway will be reduced to one lane each way starting in April (they need to pave the crossovers first), shifting all travel to one bridge so they can work on the other one.  Then in May, switch bridges.  When the west-bound bridge is closed, the west-bound exit to east-bound 28^th Street will remain open.  To go west on 28^th, a driver will have to go to Cascade Road, exit, re-enter the freeway going east, then exit at 28^th Street.  When the east-bound bridge is closed, the east-bound exit to west-bound 28^th street will remain open.  This exit will be revised at the light so that cars can turn BOTH left and right onto 28^th Street.  The bridge closures are expected to take up ½ of the project.  The bridges (and all of our sidewalk retaining walls) are expected to be painted (MDOT Beige) during the project.  We are told that 28^th Street will maintain two-lane travel each way during the project, but the left-turn lanes may be eliminated (during the project).  This should entice more people to take the back-ways (36^th & 33^rd and Burton St.) to get to the shops in the Costco/Target/Smoky Bones areas.  The project is expected to be completed by June 30^th.       

LOTS OF SNOW!

We are still cleaning up the snow on pathways and sidewalks from last Wednesday's storm!  The pahtways and sidewalks closest to the roads have been extremely difficult as the snow is much heavier as the road plowings are thrown onto the snow on the paths.  Our plow trucks are not able to move that heavy of a snow-pack, and our snowblower has not been working as it should (it is at the repair shop as we speak!).  We have brough in outside help and have most of Cascade Road opened up now.  Be patient, we will have all the paths and sidewalks cleaned up soon!

   

Park Benches - Coming soon to the open space parks

The Township will soon make a decision on the style of benches to install in the Peace and Burton Parks.  Benches will be placed along the trail from the parking lots uphill to the “meadow” area in Peace Park so those in need of a break while traversing the hills will have a place to sit.  Benches will be installed in a few areas of Burton Park so visitors can enjoy the solitude of the park during a walk.

The benches will be able to be purchased by a resident and marked as a memorial for a loved one with the placement of a plaque or engraving on a bench.  The cost of the benches has not been finalized, but will most likely be in the $400 - $1,000 range.  Call the office at 949-1500 if you are interested in purchasing a memorial bench in honor of a loved one.

House Moved - Wind Generator in Place

The caretaker house in the Burton Park was finally moved to its new location at the top of Windcrest last week.  The house (now at 7000 Windcrest) made the trip over a two day period.  It is now sitting on the new foundation.  The old basement has been filled in, and will need to be regraded when the frost is out of the ground this spring (careful, the ground is pretty rough in this area now!).  The "meadow" area really looks big without the house in the center of it! 

The log awaited wind and solar generator at the Library was also put up last week.  The generator is operating and is connected to a display in the Library indicating the amount of electricity being produced.  The project (initiated by Township Clerk Ron Goodyke) will provide a wonderful resource for students studying the effects of wind and solar energy on our daily lives.    

Caretaker House to Move this Week

The long-awaited action to move the caretaker house out of the Cascade Burton Park is finally upon us!  The house moving company is expected to arrive tomorrow (Wednesday, January 12th) to start the procees to lift the house off the foundation and move it to its new resting place at the top of Windcrest Street (just outside the park).  The buyer has the new basement poured and ready to accept the house.  As soon as it is moved, the old foundation will be filled in and become part of the meadow in the center of the park.