Gypsy Moth Spraying Tuesday

The Gypsy Moth spraying will be commenced next Tuesday, May 15th in Cascade.  A total of 393 acres will be sprayed.  If you wish to view the map of the spray areas, please go to the Spring, 2012 Township Newsletter found on the Cascade Township Website (www.cascadetwp.com).

Spraying is expected to commence shortly after sunrise.  Weather is always a factor.  If it is raining or windy, the spraying will be postponed.  I will alert you on this blog if it needs to be rescheduled.

Bill

Cascade Township Board Deliberates Issuance of a liquor license

The Cascade Township Board (last night) discussed the method by which a liquor license would be issued in the Township.  Cascade qualified for an additional license as a result of the 13% increase in population reported in the 2010 Census.  A request for applications resulted in three entities showing interest in the license:  Osaka Shushi restaurant planning to move into the building that housed Carlos O'kellys on 28th Street, Drury Hotels planning to construct a hotel on the site of the former Knights Inn on 28th Street, and the existing Euro-Bistro on 28th Street near Thornhills.  The Board determined that they needed to define their process a bit more to be able to allocate the license that would maximize the economic development opportunities for the Township.  It is expected that this item will be discussed further at the April 11th Board meeting. 

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!!!

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!

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

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. 

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!!!