The Genoa Township Board approved $115,000.00 for construction of a bike/walk path to be built along Brighton Road from the Brighton City limit to the entrance of the Rolling Meadows Subdivision that is located just west of Maltby Middle School. The Township Board approved the funding for this worthwhile project through the township general fund. The project was bid early in January. The low bidder, Summit Construction located in Brighton, will begin work this spring. The pathway will be constructed almost entirely within the road right-of-way, approximately five feet from the edge of the curb. It will allow easy access for our children and families to our local schools, churches and neighboring subdivisions along Brighton Road. In addition residents will be able to access the downtown area of Brighton without having to drive there. The plans for the Brighton Road bike/walk Path were completed compliments of Boss Engineering and Dan Boss, saving the Township an estimated $20,000.00 in engineering costs. Peter Finkbeiner who worked closely with Rick Little and Mike Craine of the Livingston County Road Commission to provide an affordable project to the township completed the extensive design work. On behalf of the Township a sincere thank you goes out to Boss Engineering, Peter Finkbeiner, Rick Little and Mike Craine. This initial project is part of a much larger picture called the Southeast Livingston Greenways. The Brighton Road bike/walk path is just the first step of many pathways that hopefully will be constructed across the township in coming years. The Township is applying for grant money to construct other phases of the Greenways bike/walk path with the help of Tetra Tech - McNamee Porter & Seeley. We appreciate their effort in our behalf.

Fire Service - It's a Hot Issue by Polly Skolarus

Genoa Township does not have a fire department, but we have provided excellent fire service to our residents through contracts with the Cities of Howell and Brighton. This past year we joined in an equal partnership with two of our neighbors. The Township joined forces with Brighton City and Brighton Township to create a joint fire authority. As part of that agreement, the township purchased two acres of land from Howell Public Schools at a cost of $60,000.00. The property is located at the corner of Crooked Lake and Nixon Roads. A new fire sub station will be built on that site. In addition a fire truck and other essentials necessary for emergency fire service will be purchased to provide even better service to our citizens. This endeavor is expected to cost nearly one million dollars with all of those expenses being paid out of the township general fund. As we continue to grow the cost for fire service will continue to escalate. Unfortunately, the general fund of the township is reaching beyond our means to continue to pay for that service out of the general fund. Today, the township collects less than one mill in property taxes while Brighton City and Howell City levy approximately 16 mills for services. Residents of our neighboring communities of Brighton Township and Hamburg Township have supported additional fire millage within their communities for many years and established their own fire departments. We know the importance of providing good fire service to our community and we will continue to financially struggle to provide that same service through the new joint fire authority. We may be asking your financial support some day in the near future and just want you to be aware of all the facts before making any decision.

Recycling Options Still Available

Residents who do not participate in curb-side recycling can recycle their trash at Recycle Livingston, located North of Grand River at the eastern edge of the Howell City limit (behind CVS Pharmacy) 170 Catrell St. The cost is $2 per load of recycled material. Recycle Livingston is a nonprofit organization, and receives no government subsidy. Membership at Recycle Livingston is available for $20/year, which allows for unlimited recycling and membership privileges. Basic rules for recycling at the facility are: „h Each category of material-paper, plastic, glass, metal and Styrofoam-must be kept separate. „h Large, sturdy pieces of Styrofoam are accepted, but packaging peanuts are not. „h Only plastics with a No. 2 label are accepted. (Recycle Livingston requests that all containers be rinsed.) „h Newspaper should be separated from other forms of paper. „h All colors of glass bottles and jars are accepted. Recycling may be dropped off the first and third Wednesday of every month, from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., and every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. These hours are effective November 1st through March 31st. Summer hours are effective April 1st through October 31st. In the summer, the facility is open every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. and every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A Letter from the Supervisor by Gary McCririe

Dear Residents, As I enter my sixth month in office I would like to update you on projects going on within the township. We have been trying to reduce the amount of sodium and chloride levels in our wastewater treatment plants, which are by-products of water softeners and sump pumps. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has severely curtailed the amounts of these substances that we may discharge from our plants. To that end we have been conducting water softener and sump pump inspections in the various sewer service areas to make sure that they are no longer discharging into the sewer lines. The response has been very positive and we appreciate your patience with us through this arduous process. We undertook this project only after careful consideration and consultation with experts to find a reasonable solution to our wastewater discharge problems. I am excited to report that the sodium and chloride levels are being reduced. The township engineers will continue to monitor the situation and take the necessary steps to bring our plants into compliance with MDEQ’s requirements. We want to do whatever is necessary to bring the numbers to acceptable levels before our system receives any fines for non-compliance. We are in the process of expanding and changing two of the sewer plants that serve the township and bring softened water to the areas along Grand River. The Lake Edgewood plant is almost completed and the Genoa-Oceola plant is getting ready to begin a project to go from ground water discharge to a surface water discharge system. This will allow us to comply with the requirements of the MDEQ for water quality and provide our residents and customers with the best system to accommodate our water and sewage disposal needs well into the future. I will try to keep you informed as to what we are doing to serve you and I want to thank all those who have given me a great welcome and made me feel at home in my new position. Genoa Township has a great staff of professionals at the township hall and I am thankful for their professionalism and the great job they do every day. I am available to speak to all of you whenever you have any concerns or comments. You may e-mail me at gary@garymccririe.com or call me at the township offices, 810-227-5225.

The Southeast Livingston Greenways

The Genoa Township Board recently approved the final draft of the Southeast Livingston Greenways Plan and incorporated that plan into the Township Master Plan. The Greenways Plan is part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy and represents the culmination of a two-year collaborative partnership in planning involving Genoa Township as well as other local units of government, county planning, state agencies and other local organizations. The Plan is a vision for a system of protected open spaces and trails that will connect people with each other and preserve the natural features and character that make our community unique. The Greenways Plan is a way to unify that open-space and at the same time provides important non-motorized links that offer attractive alternatives to the automobile. It will eventually connect Genoa with the Cities of Brighton and Howell as well as Hamburg Township, the Lakeland Trail and the Huron-Clinton Metro Parks.

Bordine Nursery, Investing in Genoa

Bordine Nursery recently purchased Telly's Garden Nursery located at 6347 Grand River Ave. in Brighton. On May 2nd a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the newly acquired property. Township Manager Mike Archinal was there to represent Genoa Township. Mike was surprised with a check signed by Corey Bordine for $5,000.00 toward the purchase of nursery stock for community beautification. Township Officials were pleased to be included in this auspicious event and to be the recipient of such a generous donation. This wonderful gift will be used to enhance the grounds of the new township hall. A sincere "Thank You" to Bordine Nursery and the Bordine family on behalf of Genoa Township and our residents.

Livingston County Health Department Disposal of Effluent from Regenerating Water Softeners,Livingsto by John Wilson,John Wilson

A regenerating water softener can produce between 30 to 70 gallons of effluent (wastewater) during each regeneration cycle. If the effluent is discharged into an onsite septic field it can often accelerate the failure of these systems. Septic fields are designed to treat and dispose of wastes that have the potential to transmit disease, such as toilet, laundry and kitchen wastes. It is unnecessary and an added burden to an onsite septic field to accept discharges from regenerating water softeners. „h As of January 04, 1993, the Livingston County Health Department does not allow water softener lines to be connected or discharged into an onsite sewage disposal system. For homes that are currently connected to or will soon be connected to a municipal sewer system, the effluent from your regenerating water softener cannot be discharged into the sewer line. The Michigan Department of Environment Quality (MDEQ) sodium and chloride regulations prohibits the discharge of water softener effluent into most municipal sewer systems. Water softener effluent should be discharged into a separate disposal system. The construction of a system for onsite disposal of water softener effluent does not require a permit from the local health department or municipality. The Livingston County Health Department does recommend the following. „h To prevent back-siphonage, a 2-inch (minimum) air gap is required off the water softener discharge line into the disposal system. „h The water softener effluent should not be discharged near water well; property owner's rights on adjacent properties must be observed. LCHD strongly recommends maximizing the isolation between wells and water softener discharge areas.

Please Join us - Native Planting, Pruning & Mulching - Saturday May 10, 2001 9:00am-1:00 pm

„h Join employees, friends and neighbors for the third spring planting at the Genoa Township Hall. „h The Hall is located at 2911 Dorr Road (between Grand River and Challis Road). „h The time is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday May 19th. „h Coordinators of the Genoa Township Memorial Park, Irene McDonnell Cahill and Karleen Shafer will be on hand with a bevy of Volunteer Groups. „h Brighton Boy Scout Troop 347 and Howell Troop 362 will be working towards their Environmental Science Badges. „h Howell & Brighton High School students as well as volunteers from the Howell Nature Center and staff of Genoa Township will lend a hand. „h Refreshments and bathrooms will be available throughout the day. Spend time outdoors and learn too. „h Funding for this important project has been received through State Grants and Genoa Township. „h For more information E-mail Irene Cahill at icahill@ismi.net or call Genoa Township (810) 227-5225.