Township News Bulletins

February 11, 2020

2019 Winter Tax Information

The 2019 Winter Tax Bills were mailed to all Genoa Township property owners on Wednesday, November 27, 2019.  Winter taxes are due on February 29, 2020. Since the due date falls on a Saturday, any payments made in person on Monday, March 2, 2020, will be considered on time.

Winter tax amounts are available on our website.

Please contact the Treasurer's Office at (810) 227-5225 if you did not receive your bill.

February 11, 2020

March 10 Presidential Primary Application for Absent Voter Ballot

Persons wanting to vote Absent Voter Ballot for the Presidential Primary scheduled for March 10, 2020 click here for an application. Applications may be dropped at the Township Hall or mailed to Polly Skolarus, Genoa Township Clerk, 2911 Dorr Road, Brighton, 48116 or fax to (810) 227-3420.

February 6, 2020

Winter Sledding at the Township Park

Snow is in the forecast so come enjoy the fresh snowfall at the Genoa Township sled hill!

The sled hill has a vertical drop of approximately 40-feet and a run length of over 200 feet and is fun for all ages.

Benches have been installed at the top for parents and those waiting to sled. There are heated bathrooms and a warming area at the Township Park Pavilion. There is a parking lot across the Township driveway from the sled hill where parents can sit and watch their sledders in the comfort of their vehicles. Last but not least, a light pole has been installed at the hill allows night time sledding.

All are welcome to enjoy the winter fun for free at the Township sledding hill.

February 3, 2020

2020 Census Information

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.

January 2, 2020

Township Holiday Schedule 2020

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

October 25, 2019

Important Notice for Residents regarding waste collection billing

Currently, the Township contracts residential waste removal services through Advanced Disposal.  This contract has been in effect since October of 2018.  If you are receiving invoices from past Township waste contractors such as GFL, please do not pay them.  Please contact the company directly to have them remove you from their billing.

March 5, 2019

Budget and Audit Information for Fiscal Year 2019/20

The Township Budgets for the next fiscal year beginning April 1, 2019 and ending March 31, 2020 are available for review.  If you should have any comment or suggestion with regard to Township revenue or appropriations, please contact the clerk at the e-mail address polly@genoa.org

February 18, 2019

2018 Brighton Area Fire Authority Report

The Brighton Area Fire Authority has released its 2018 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.

June 13, 2018

Step Forward Michigan Mortgage Assistance Program

Michigan homeowners struggling with unemployment or another hardship may once again be eligible for assistance through the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Nonprofit Housing Corporation, acting through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Thanks to $18.6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury under its Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) program, the state’s most successful program for reducing foreclosure, Step Forward Michigan reopened its online application portal on Sunday, May 1 2018.

MSHDA Homeownership Director Mary Townley said if she had one piece of advice for homeowners it would be that they contact Step Forward Michigan sooner rather than later.  “Don’t wait until you receive a notice of foreclosure,” she advised. “Contact our office at the first sign of delinquency. This gives the homeowner the best opportunity for success.”

Since the program’s inception, more than 31,102 households have been helped with over $278 million in mortgage, property tax, and condominium assistance.

Michigan has until December 31, 2020 to use all funds.

Learn more at www.stepforwardmichigan.org or call 866-946-7432.

October 23, 2017

2017 Video Tour of Livingston County

Livingston County government is pleased to present the 2017 Video Tour of Livingston County that showcases the advantages of living, working and playing in our County Community!

The 2017 video tour includes comments by community leaders as well as a well-rounded visual depiction of our County, presented in nine (9) chapters:

• Welcome
• Education
• Parks and Recreation
• Healthcare – NEW
• Real Estate and Relocation
• Downtown, Business & Industry
• Quality of Life
• Economic Development – NEW
• Community Organizations - NEW

Select any chapter of this product to view the Livingston County video on that subject. You can also view the
videos of various local businesses that participated in this promotional program by clicking on their logo in the
frame surrounding each chapter of the Video Tour.

Please visit the Livingston County home page at: https://www.livgov.com/ to view the new Video Tour of Livingston County

November 22, 2016

Genoa Township Board adopts Principles of Governance

At the November 21, 2016 Township Board meeting, the Board approved the adoption of the following Principles of Governance:

To maintain the high standards and traditions of Michigan Townships, we embrace these principles of governance to guide our stewardship, deliberations, constituent services and commitment to safeguard our community’s health, safety and general welfare.

We pledge to: 

•       Insist on the highest standards of ethical conduct by all who act on behalf of this township; 

•       Bring credit, honor and dignity to our public offices through collegial board deliberations and through diligent,    appropriate responses to constituent concerns; 

•       Actively pursue education and knowledge, and to embrace best practices;

•       Treat all persons with dignity, respect and impartiality; without prejudice or discrimination;

•       Practice openness and transparency in our decisions and actions;

•        Cooperate in all reasonable ways with other government entities and to consider the impact our decisions may have outside our Township’s borders;

•       Communicate to the public Township issues, challenges and successes, and welcome the active involvement of stakeholders to further the Township’s well-being;

•       Strive for compliance with state and federal statutory requirements;

•       Recuse a board member from participating in any decision where there was personal financial gain either expected or implied;

•       Further the understanding of the obligations and responsibilities of American citizenship, democratic government and freedom.

These principles we pledge to our citizens, our state, and to our country.

December 17, 2015

New video showing Genoa Township Hall and facilities

Recently a high definition video was taken by drone over the Township Hall and surrounding area.

You can find the video here: https://youtu.be/w1JaFnu5KvU

Thanks and credit go to Brian Jonckheere, the Livingston County Drain commissioner.

July 21, 2015

Oak Wilt Information

Michigan has lost millions of trees due to Dutch Elm disease and the Emerald Ash Borer. Now our oak trees are in jeopardy. Red oak wilt is identified by the rapid wilting of an infected tree that is dead in two to six weeks. White oaks die slowly one branch at a time over the course of several years. Oak wilt is caused by the fungus that is spread by improper tree trimming and removal practices. It is spread in two ways - from tree to tree through connected roots and/or from spores being moved by insects.

To prevent the spread of oak wilt diseases please consider the following:

• Oak trees should not be pruned or trimmed between April 1 and October 15.
• Oak trees that are inadvertently injured or pruned between April 1 and October 15 should be promptly sealed with a tree pruning sealer or latex paint. The repair should take place within hours of the injury.
• Any developer, contractor and/or owner(s) of property preparing a site for construction during April 1st through October 15th should adhere to the above oak wilt prevention practices.
• Members of the white oak family diseased with oak wilt may be saved with tree injections of the fungicide Alamo by a registered company.
• Dead oak trees should be removed along with the stump and properly disposed of by chipping to less than 3 inches or removed to a disposal site for debarking, burning or burial.
• Oak wood retained as firewood should be sealed with a tarp.

January 21, 2015

Reflective Address signs now available for purchase at the Township Hall

Reflective address signs courtesy of the Brighton Area Fire Department are now available for purchase from the Township Hall. The signs are dark green with white numbers. The signs are double-sided with your address number and there are holes to allow for either horizontal or vertical mounting. Each sign is $15.00.

All proceeds from signs sold go to help fund the Brighton Area Fire Fighters Association, a non profit organization.

You may also order these reflective address signs through the Brighton Area Fire Department using the form below.

August 7, 2013

Information on Invasive Plants: Purple loosestrife and Russian olive.

Invasive plants are posing a real threat to Michigan's natural habitats. Purple loosestrife and Russian olive are two of the more aggressive plants that are crowding out native species. According to information from Michigan State University's Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (http://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/invasive-species/factsheets.cfm), "Early detection and eradication of these species is critical in preventing further damage to Michigan's natural areas."

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is a beautiful plant with purple, pink or white flowers blooming in July through October. It will spread quickly in moist soil conditions, crowding out native plants such as cattails, which are needed for nesting and food sources. Some experts (http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/downloads/ais/fs-97-501_purple_loosestrife.pdf) blame purple loosestrife for declining waterfowl populations. While deer forage on new purple loosestrife shoots in the spring, other animals avoid it. Experts on the MSU site recommend hand pulling seedlings; and removing all flowers seed heads.

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a thorny shrub or small tree that grows up to 30 feet high. The leaves are light green and covered with silvery hairs. It blooms in June and July with yellowish flowers, eventually bearing hard yellow-red olive-shaped fruits. Russian olive grows in such a way that it fills in open areas, crowding out native plants. Experts on the MSU site recommend hand pulling seedlings. They caution that "burning, mowing, cutting, and girding can stimulate resprouting in larger plants without herbicide treatment; treat cut stumps with an herbicide."

For more information about purple loosestrife, Russian olive and other invasive plants threatening the state's natural habitats, visit http://www.misin.msu.edu/.

August 2, 2009

Livingston County Pet Adoption

Livingston County Animal Control

Pets available for adoption at the County Animal control can be found here

Livingston County Humane Society

Pets available for adoption at the Humane Society can be found here

January 16, 2009

Ash Tree Information

Detroit Edison has released an important announcement regarding ash trees.