ELECTRONIC MEETING INFORMATION & INSTRUCTIONS

Pursuant to Executive Order #2020-75, issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at 6:30 pm will take place electronically due to health concerns associated with COVID-19 and Executive Order 2020-77.

WHERE TO WATCH THE MEETING

The meeting will be available to view live on YouTube which can be easily reached by visiting https://youtu.be/cE6iM1Yp5dI or from a live meeting link located on the Genoa Charter Township website at https://www.genoa.org/government/boards/planningcommission the day of the meeting. 

PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BY ELECTRONIC MEANS

Under Executive Order #2020-75, there must be full opportunity for both the general public and the members of the Planning Commission to hear and be heard at appropriate times during the meeting. Public participants will be muted upon entry to the meeting but will have a chance to speak during public comment.

Members of the public wishing to participate in the electronic meeting may do so by using a telephone to call in.   Please check back to the Township website at www.genoa.org on the day of the meeting for information regarding access to the meeting via telephone. 

Participants may also choose to submit written comments that will be read into the record during public comment.  Submit any written comments via e-mail to Kelly@genoa.org by Noon on the day of the meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Applications for our “standing absent voters” have been mailed.  Residents may complete them and return to Township in drop boxes or by mail with one stamp. Ballots will be mailed as soon as they are received around the end of June/beginning of July. That application will cover them for the August and November elections.  

As a result of Governor Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order (EO 2020-21), the following Township meetings have been CANCELLED:

June 1st, 2020        Board of Trustees Meeting

Please contact Township Offices at 810-227-5225 if you have any questions.

Our Spring Yard Waste Collection program at the Township Hall has been postponed indefinitely. Future dates will be announced as soon as they can be scheduled.

Beginning this Monday May 4th, Advanced Disposal is resuming its subscription yard waste service for residents. Pick-up will be on a twice a month basis with a limit of 15 bags per pick-up. Please contact Advanced Disposal at 810-201-5576 now to set up service.

As of April 28, 2020, Genoa Township will no longer be under the Burn Ban that was issued in late March.

The Brighton Area Fire Authority asks that you obtain a copy of the Genoa Township Burn Ordinance here. Please ensure to review the Ordinance prior to burning.

The lifting of the burn ban does not prevent an individual from calling 911 regarding your burning.  Please follow these recommendations to ensure you are burning as safe as possible:

1. Be sure to burn only in low wind conditions.
2. Ensure you have a means to extinguish the fire nearby.
3. Fire must be attended at all times.
4. Ensure you are a safe distance away from structures.
5. Keep fires to a small manageable size.

If you have questions or concerns regarding burning, please contact your local fire department.

Livingston County residents are working hard to remain at home and practice social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19. As the weather warms, leadership across the county is encouraging residents to continue doing their part, as Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order until April 30. There are a few important additions under the new Executive Order:

• Under the new order, all public and private gatherings among persons outside a single household remain temporarily prohibited.
• You may leave the house to get groceries or needed supplies, but the new order encourages people to limit the number of household members running errands to the maximum extent possible.
• A new section of the order imposes restrictions on stores in an effort to reduce crowds. Stores must set new limits on the number of people inside at one time and establish marked lines outside for customers to stand at least six feet apart while waiting.
• Large stores must close areas dedicated to carpeting, flooring, furniture, garden centers, plant nurseries, or paint.
• Livingston County Emergency Management Department
• Travel between two Michigan residences is now prohibited. You can still care for a family member, a family member’s pet, minors, and the elderly in another household.
• As before, people may engage in outdoor activities, as long as you remain at least six feet from people not in your household.

To read the full Executive Order please visit http://ow.ly/LhC650zblOd. Thank you for doing your part to help slow the spread of COVID-19. We’re all in this together.

Genoa Township is committed to keeping community members safe, healthy and informed. The Township is not taking the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) risk lightly and is focused on our residents' and staff’s well being.

To avoid exposure and potential spread of the disease, the Township has implemented community mitigation strategies. As a result, the Township office will be closed to the public effective Tuesday, March 17 until further notice.

Residents attempting to make a utility bill payment can do so online, by phone or via the drop box located just outside of the front doors or at the curb in the parking lot. Common applications and forms can be found at our website at https://www.genoa.org/government/forms

Those with questions or needing to conduct other Township business, including obtaining permits are asked to call (810) 227-5225 or email info@genoa.org between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and staff will direct you to the appropriate department.

Save the Bees

Township resident Jim DelCamp recently addressed the Genoa Township Board asking the board to develop policies to conserve the natural habitat of bees in the township.  He provided the following information for our residents:  There are 460 wild species of bees in the Michigan and 16,000 species worldwide.  Honey Bees have been declining at a rate of 40% each year according to Michigan State University and the loss will have devastating effects on life in general since bees pollinate our crops and flowers. 

Pesticides are a big problem since they damage bees and harm their ability to forage.  In recent tests 100% of ground-nesting bees were killed as a result of pesticides. Please limit the use of pesticides where bees are present even though they are a nuisance.  Bees help more than they hurt.

Planting wildflowers will support bees. Many wild bees are solitary as well as ground nesting and they need suitable habitat. Leaving small plots of ground in their natural state such as deadwood, brush piles or fungi will help where ground nesting bees can flourish.  Others could use bee hotels to safeguard them during the winter. Bees are important for pollination since 1/3 of all plants and flowers depend on them for life.

A bee feeder, using sugar water with a drop of mycelial extract, will enhance their health and allow them to live longer.  Mycelium has been called natures ‘world wide web’ under our feet.  Of an estimated 10 million multi-cell life forms, half are fungi and they have been evolving to combat viruses.  Bees don’t just pollinate they spread mycelium as they forage. They dig into the soil where mushrooms grow getting mycelium all over their fuzzy bodies and spread it every other place they touch.

Livingston County can become a refuge where bees, mycelium, birds, butterflies, helping all of nature to thrive. So save that natural site, feed those bees, plant wildflowers and minimize your use of pesticides. With proper understanding and education we can improve our health and enhance the ecosystems of this earth.

Polly Skolarus, Clerk
Genoa Charter Township

The 2020 Census Is More Than A Head Count!

• Your response to the census helps shape many different aspects of Livingston County.
• From hospitals, schools, even roads and highways, your response helps shape our future.  Your response is critical!

When & How Can You Respond?

• In March 2020, households will receive an invitation to participate in the census. You'll then have three options to respond: online, by phone, or by mail.

• Census Day is April 1, 2020. This is a key date for the 2020 count: When completing the census, you'll note where you and your family are living on April 1.

The 2020 Census directly impacts how much federal funding the State of Michigan will receive over the next decade. Failure to obtain a complete and accurate census count may lead to Michigan losing millions of dollars in federal funding that supports programs that benefit Livingston County residents.

• Every year, the federal government allocates more than $675 Billion in funding based on census data.
• Every Michigander not counted costs the state approximately $18,250 over 10 years (based on historical U.S. Census undercount).
• Census data is used to plan new homes and businesses and improve neighborhoods.
• Census data is used to determine federal funding for programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (SNAP/WIC), Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and highway and transportation projects.

For more information, you can visit the Livingston County 2020 census page or the US Government's Census 2020 website.

 In order to assist our refuse hauler in keeping their personnel safe and functioning during the Covid-19 pandemic, consistent with Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-21, bulk item pick-ups are suspended until at least April 13, 2020. 

It is important that refuse materials in curb carts be bagged.  Loose garbage in curb carts and bulk items require direct contact.  Keeping Advanced Disposal personnel in their trucks utilizing automated collection limits their contact with potentially infectious materials.  Cooperation is appreciated and necessary to maintain refuse collection service.  

Questions regarding this information can be directed to Advanced Disposal at 810.201.5576 or the Township Manager, Mike Archinal at 810.227.5225 or email:  mike@genoa.org.

Pursuant to the Michigan Governor's Executive Order 2020-09, the Genoa Township Pavilion and Playground are hereby closed to the public indefinitely.  The closure is to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. 

The park trails and other amenities may continue to be used by residents and patrons who are encouraged to use social distancing and other protective measures.

Monday, March 2, 2020 was the last day to pay 2019 Summer & Winter Property Taxes. 

2019 Property Taxes become delinquent as of Tuesday, March 3, 2020.  All payments must now be made to the Livingston County Treasurer’s Office.

Tax payments cannot be accepted at the County between March 3rd and March 15th 

Please contact the County Treasurer’s Office at 517-546-7010 after March 15th for a total amount due.

The Brighton Area Fire Authority has released its 2019 Annual Report.

The BAFD is responsible for responding to emergency incidents here in Genoa Township as well as the City of Brighton and Brighton Township.

The report is attached below.

2019 Brighton Area Fire Authority Report

The Township Budgets for the next fiscal year beginning April 1, 2020 and ending March 31, 2021 are available for review.  If you should have any comment or suggestion with regard to Township revenue or appropriations, please contact the clerk at polly@genoa.org

Genoa Township Proposed Budget

Click here for a list of days the Genoa Charter Township offices will be closed.