Township News Bulletins

November 30, 2020

2019 Winter Tax Information

The 2020 Winter Tax Bills were mailed to all Genoa Township property owners on Monday, November 30, 2020.  Winter taxes are payable, without penalty, through Monday, March 1, 2021.

Winter tax amounts are available now on our website; however payments cannot be made until after they become officially due on December 1st. 

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

November 30, 2020

Township Hall Cardboard Recycling Drop off Notice

Recently, there has been considerable misuse of the cardboard recycling dumpsters at the Township Hall. If the problem continues, the Township will be forced to discontinue the service after the holidays.

The bins and dumpster are for broken down cardboard boxes only. Any extra material dumped with the cardboard, including styrofoam and other refuse, means the contents cannot be properly recycled and must be disposed of as normal garbage instead.

Please do not overfill the cardboard recycling dumpsters or put cardboard outside of the containers. If they are full, please come back another day.

These cardboard recycling dumpsters are for Genoa Township residents only.

November 13, 2020

Covid Guidelines for Township Hall Visitors

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we ask that all visitors to the Genoa Township Offices consider following the below safety protocols.  Our top priority is maintaining the health and safety of our residents, employees, and their families.

• If possible we ask that you please utilize making payments by mail, online, or place in one of our drop boxes; either the drive up drop box in the front parking lot or the drop box located near the front entrance.  Any tax payments placed in our drop box will be mailed a paid receipt.
• Please consider limiting the use of cash and please prepare your checks before you enter the building.  Contact the Township Treasurer’s office at (810)227-5225 if you have questions regarding an amount due.
• If it is necessary for you to enter the building, we strongly recommend that all visitors wear a face mask and you will be required to follow the 6-foot distancing requirement, please follow the markings as to where to stand and walk through the township hall. If you have a medical reason that prevents you from wearing a mask please call (810)227-5225 to make an appointment.
• We request that any business that does not need to be conducted in person be done by phone, email, drop box or mail.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this difficult time.

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy!

November 13, 2020

Local Parks and Recreation Survey for Genoa Township Residents

Genoa Township is working on an updated recreation plan aimed at improving recreation opportunities for township residents.

Parks provide measurable health benefits, from encouraging direct contact with nature and a cleaner environment, to opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. Genoa Township recognizes that having local opportunities to enjoy parks and nature contribute to a healthy, vibrant and sustainable community. Planning for community recreation ensures that the township's resources are spent in a way that provides for current needs and anticipates the future. When our community comes together to plan and support recreation, the resulting action strategies are targeted to what the residents want and will support.

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on our Recreation Plan website: https://arcg.is/XmCTn1

September 15, 2020

2020 Summer Tax Payments

Monday, September 14, 2020 was the last day to pay 2020 Summer Property Taxes without penalty. 

All 2020 Summer Tax payments made after September 14, 2020 are now assessed a 1% fee per month.

Please contact the Genoa Township Treasurer’s office for a current amount due, 810-227-5225, or you can check the amount due at the Township website at www.genoa.org

April 13, 2020

Township Clerk releases statement regarding Honey Bees

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

March 2, 2020

2019 Brighton Area Fire Authority Report

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.

February 18, 2020

Budget and Audit Information for Fiscal Year 2020/21

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

January 2, 2020

Township Holiday Schedule 2020

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

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.