Better known as Purple Loosestrife, it has been blooming in and around wet areas of the county for many years and the problem is that it looks great. Residents are transplanting this exotic plant that looks so great creating a severe problem, not only to our wetlands but also to our precious wildlife habitat.

Purple Loosestrife is not native to Michigan and will choke out our native species of water plants that provide feeding, nesting and breeding areas for fish and waterfowl.

The MSU Extension of Livingston County has been aggressively trying to eliminate this perennial plant biologically. Galerucella beetles have been released in many of the infested wetlands. They feed only on Purple Loosestrife, but the success of this program will not be determined for years.

Purple Loosestrife grows 6-7 feet in height and blooms from July to September with reddish purple petals. A mature plant can produce 2.7 million seeds in just one season. Please report areas of infestation to Matt Bolang at MSU Extension Livingston. He can be reached at (517) 546-3950.

New Precincts Established
Voter Cards to be mailed early in November by Paulette A. Skolarus

The Genoa Township Board approved combining some precincts for the Township at its September meeting. This action results from an effort to reduce cost in the purchase of new voting equipment called Accu-Vote. The Accu-Vote will eliminate the old punch card system of voting put into service nearly thirty years ago.

Hartland School (Precinct 3-B) residents will continue to vote at Community Bible Church, and Pinckney School (Precinct 5-B) residents will continue to vote at Chilson Hills Baptist Church. Maltby Middle School will no longer be used as a polling place. Instead Brighton School residents will use Brighton Church of the Nazarene.

Schools have always been gracious in allowing us to use their facilities. We have experienced tremendous growth in the last few years. Limited parking as well as the inconvenience we cause the school children is not worth continuing the use of Maltby Middle School as a polling place.

With the Accu-Vote system voters will receive a sheet of paper with the candidates’ names and possible ballot questions. It will be a ‘fill-in-the-blank’ form. The voted document will be scanned into the Accu-Vote equipment. A slip of paper, similar to an adding machine tape, will provide the tabulated results of all votes cast at the end of the day. This information will be delivered to the County Board of Canvassers.

Residents 60 years of age or older may be placed on an absent voter list. Each election your ballot will be mailed once the application is received. No need to wait in long lines. Vote in the privacy of your home.

Leaking Toilets

If the water in your toilet is running when it is not being flushed you may be paying higher utility bills. In the typical single-family home, water leaks accounted for nearly 13% of indoor water use last year, according to the American Water Works association. A leaking toilet is often the cause. To check for problems in your home, place a couple drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If, without flushing, the colored water seeps into the toilet bowl, your toilet is wasting water.

Often you can fix the leak by replacing the flush valve, the plastic or rubber disc connected by a piece of chain. When the seal is tight, water cannot enter the bowl unless it is flushed. If your problem is bigger that this it may be necessary to hire a plumber. Today’s low-flow toilets which use about 1/4 to 1/3 the water of an old model could save you big bucks on your utility bills, if you decide to make a change.

We may be "TONING" you!

Extensive telephone disruptions have occurred in the township, which cause the MIUs (Meter Interface Units) to de-program. (The MIUs call in your water/sewer usage to our Utility Department by telephone.) Our best solution is to try to "Tone" (or re-program) your meter by calling your telephone - We use a "BEEP" or "TONE" to do this. So, please bear with us until we solve this problem - You may be hearing from either Janice or Barb in our utility department sometime soon.

Lower your Water Bill

Residential property owners may purchase a second water meter for outdoor water use at a cost of approximately $250.00.

This meter would allow a separate reading for water used for irrigation. The sewer fees related to this billing would not be charged for the outdoor water usage, hopefully lowering your utility bill.

Stars Light Slowly Diminishing

Have you done any star gazing lately? If your answer is yes you’re one of the lucky few. For most people the dark skies lit only by stars are disappearing along with the wishes we used to make on shooting stars. The problem is urban sky glow (light pollution) from too much bad lighting. Not only is this lighting unattractive; it is a waste of energy and our natural resources. Neither astronomers nor you or I should have to deal with the lessening of the beauty of our night sky.

Genoa Township has a very strict ordinance in place that limits light pollution from commercial and industrial development. In these districts lighting used for external illumination must be shielded and directed downward with landscape trees absorbing reflective light.

In residential districts lighting should not be any greater than necessary to provide safety and security. The light from your residence should also be shielded and directed downward. Trees should be used to absorb reflective light. The limit of light intensity should be restricted to not more than 0.5 foot-candles at a residential property line. In other words, the light from your home should not illuminate your neighbor's property. Flood lights and halogen lights-should be temporary and used discriminately and only for emergency. Help us keep the stars light shining and save money on your light bill while saving our precious energy. Just dim those outdoor lights and make sure they don’t shine skyward.

NOTICE Oak Point and Lake Edgewood Utility District

Salt may not be used in any water softener that is hooked up to one of the township’s sewer facilities. Residents may use potassium chloride products such as K-Life; however, it must be discharged into a dry well or sump.