July 9, 2020

Michigan Small Businesses Restart Program announced

A new grant opportunity, the Michigan Small Business Restart Program, will provide grants to small businesses around the state working to recover from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 virus. Grant funds can be used as working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses. Businesses may apply for grants of up to $20,000.
 
The Michigan Small Business Restart Program application will be live on Wednesday, July 15 at michiganbusiness.org/restart and run through Wednesday, August 5.
 
The funding Ann Arbor SPARK received will be distributed, based on population, amongst businesses in a six-county region. Ninety-five percent of the grant will be distributed to businesses whose applications are approved. Five percent of the funds per the State legislation authorizing the program will be distributed to the six counties to cover administrative cost.
 
The breakdown of funding available to businesses by county is:

• Washtenaw - $2.94 million
• Livingston - $1.51 million
• Jackson - $1.28 million
• Monroe - $1.2 million
• Lenawee - $793,500
• Hillsdale - $369,300
• Administration - $407,250

In total, the six-county region was awarded $8.5 million. Each of the regional partners administering this funding on behalf of the state is retaining a small portion of that total for administration.
 
Ann Arbor SPARK and its partners are determining, based on the state’s direction, the criteria that provides the maximum economic benefit to communities in our region, on the whole. As with funding decisions, criteria will be determined by a review panel representing business, government, nonprofit, and education representatives.
 
As a base, the state requires the following criteria be met:

• Is a business or nonprofit that can demonstrate it is affected by the COVID-19 emergency
• Needs working capital to support eligible expenses
• Demonstrates an income loss as result of the COVID-19 emergency
• Has not received a grant through the Michigan Strategic Fund’s Michigan Small Business Relief Program. Businesses who have received support through other COVID-19 relief programs, including the Michigan Small Business Relief Program loans, are eligible to apply for Restart grants.

Additionally, at least 30 percent of the funds awarded under the program must be provided to women-owned, minority-owned, or veteran-owned eligible businesses.
 
Funding criteria will be announced, along with the review committee, before the July 15 application open date.
 
Since mid-March, Ann Arbor SPARK has provided numerous business resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These and future resources can be found at the Ann Arbor SPARK Business Resource Center.

July 7, 2020

The Big Red Barrel Project is returning to Genoa Township Hall

According to the Michigan Department of Education, nearly 13 percent of Livingston County youths have abused prescription drugs and painkillers in the past 30 days, a rate higher than the national average.  The FDA has recently released a study on the harmful effects of medications that are flushed or dumped into the environment.  The Red Barrel project is designed to combat both these issues by collecting and disposing of unused medications in your bathroom cabinet.

Genoa Township is joining in the fight to save our kids and the environment.  The Big Red Barrel drug take back program will be available at the Township Hall from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m on the following dates:

• Saturday July 25, 2020
• Saturday October 24, 2020

Controlled substances and all other solid dosage medications are accepted with no questions asked.   Please don’t bring your pill containers or other identifying information like labels.  Identification is not required and there is no cost for the disposal.

• Please bring a plastic bag filled with all your outdated and/or unused medication. 
• Liquid medication will be accepted if stuffed into a ziplock bag with enough paper towels to absorb all the liquid.  Please use separate bags for each liquid medication.
• NO inhalers

The Drain Commissioner's office will also be on-site to collect sharps and needles.

• Sharp collection is open to residents. Businesses and medical facilities are not allowed to dispose of sharps at this event.
• Sharps need to be in a heavy plastic container {i.e. Red "Sharp" Box or empty plastic laundry detergent jug sealed with tape

For more information on the Red Barrel project and other dropoff locations, please visit https://livingstoncountycommunityalliance.org/the-big-red-barrel.

July 1, 2020

August 4, 2020 Primary Election Information

A Primary Election narrows the field of candidates moving forward to represent their political party during the general election.

The August Election is an “open primary.” Major party candidates are on one ballot. Voters aren’t required to declare a party, but must confine votes to one party on the ballot’s partisan portion.

“Split” ticket voting happens when you vote for candidates from different political parties.

Voters cannot “split” their ticket in the August Election. Voters must vote one political party on the ballot’s partisan portion. Voters can “split” their ticket in the November General Election.

If a voter “splits” their ticket in the August Election, the partisan portion of their ballot won’t count, but the nonpartisan portion of the ballot, if applicable, will count.

June 29, 2020

Township Holiday Hours

The Township Offices will be closed Friday, July 3 for the Independence Day Holiday.

June 29, 2020

Holiday Refuse Collection

Independence Day - Friday July 3, 2020

No delays

Please consult the Trash Collection App (Android users can click HERE, Apple/iOS users HERE) or our online widget at https://genoa.org/departments/utilities/refuse to confirm your day of pickup.

June 26, 2020

2020 Summer Tax Information

The 2020 Summer tax amounts are available on our website for review and payment.  Summer taxes are due on Monday September 14, 2020.

The 2020 Summer tax bills were mailed to all Genoa Township property owners on Tuesday, June 30th, 2020.

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

New this year: We are excited to announce that Genoa Township will begin accepting ACH payments for property taxes. If you did not receive paperwork with your tax bill you can print the form here or contact the Treasurer’s office.  Please make sure to include your phone # on the form All payments made by ACH will be mailed a paid receipt.

June 18, 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?

• Respond to the Census online at http://my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to respond by phone.
• It only takes 10 minutes, has only 9 questions and your answers are completely safe
• The Census has been extended past the April 1 deadline, so help out our community and fill yours out today!

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.

June 3, 2020

Public Accuracy Test - Thursday July 2, 2020 - Genoa Township Hall

NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCURACY TEST

For the August 4, 2020 Primary Election

 A public accuracy test will be conducted on the following date and time for the purpose of testing the accuracy of the tabulating equipment and programs which will be used to tabulate voted ballots for the Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

 

A Public Accuracy Test will be held at:

Genoa Township Hall
2911 Dorr Road
Brighton, MI 48116

(Thursday) July 2, 2020 -  2:00 p.m.

 

Interested parties are invited to attend.

For further information contact:

 PAULETTE A. SKOLARUS, CLERK
(810) 227-5225

 

 

June 1, 2020

Township Clerk Announces update on Ballots for August and November Elections

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.  

April 29, 2020

Yard Waste Information for Residents

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 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.

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.