August 8, 2011

 

This will be the first Morton Township Newsletter now that our new website is up and functioning well.  Our website is www.mortontownship.org. We encourage you to look at this site regularly to find helpful information about our township.  This is also where people may sign up to receive the newsletters.  We are anxious to hear from you as to what information we can put on our website and in our newsletter that will be of assistance to you.

 

RECYCLING NEWS

Our new recycling program started this past Saturday and was seen as a big success.  We will be open to accept items every Saturday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon.  Detailed information about the items we accept can be found on the website.

 

We had an overwhelming participation to our new recycling program last Saturday.  Unfortunately we filled the container in about 2 hours.  We were forced to close early.  We feel very bad about this but feel that moving to recycling every Saturday should even out the participation and we will be able to stay open for the full 3 hours.  We thank everyone for their patience as we try to make the program function for the needs of our communities.  We ask everyone that participates to pitch in and make sure that only CLEAN items are put in our container.  If we put our newspapers, magazines, and junk paper in clear plastic or brown paper bags, they are easier to sort later.  Plastic grocery bags are acceptable. Make sure the labels are removed from cans. You will need to remove the caps and throw them away before recycling the bottles and jugs as we cannot take caps from plastic containers. Cardboard boxes need to be broke down and cut into pieces no bigger than 2' X 2' and bundled. We cannot accept containers that have contained automotive fluids or hazardous materials even if they have been rinsed out.  No items can be accepted that are in dark plastic “garbage” bags.  If we send out loads of recyclable materials that do not meet the current rules we will be excluded from future participation and charged to dump the load in a landfill.  We need everyone to police themselves.  We know that the majority of our participants will comply.  Please watch the township website for updated rules and notices.

 

The recycling program costs the township anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 per month to operate.  Your generous donations are always appreciated.  We continue to look for volunteers that can help out on Saturdays.  You don't need to call ahead. Just show up and we'll have a vest for you to wear.  We need everyone to be safety conscious when driving into the site.  We will try to keep the line moving as quickly as possible but at times patience is needed.  Remember, the workers are volunteers.  A few people have been less than courteous to our volunteers in the past and that has to end.

 

When in doubt...throw it out.  Dirty items are trash.  Thanks for your participation.

 

 

 

 

M-20 SCHRADER CREEK FIX

 

The Mecosta County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a meeting with the Michigan Department of Transportation to be held at the Morton Township Hall on August 17tha 3:00 p.m.

The meeting will be attended by members of the Morton Township Board, the Village of Mecosta Board, Wheatland Township Board, M-DOT, and Senator Booher, and Representative Potvin.  There will be discussion on proposed detours during the construction of a bridge to correct the flooding problem that exists on M-20.  Representative Potvin advises that funding for the project has been found and construction will begin in January with a completion sometime in June 2012

 

MORTON TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN

 

The township master plan is intended to guide future growth and development in Morton Township.  The township’s desire is to ensure that the community continues to be a place which exemplifies all of the desired characteristics associated with a resort, rural, and agriculturally based lifestyle while simultaneously providing for measured growth and economic development.  The township planning commission has been working hard to update the plan that was last updated in May of 2007.  There will be a public hearing held on Wednesday August 17that 7:00 p.m. to hear comments from the public on the revised plan.  The public is encouraged to attend.

 

ISO COMMUNITY EVALUATION

 

The ISO is an agency that works for insurance companies.  They evaluate each community as to the quality of the fire protection services that are available to the communities served.  A rating scale of 1 to 10 is used with 10 being a community with no available fire protection within 5 miles.  Morton Township has not been re-evaluated for many years.  Our current rating is a 9.  With each point that can be reduced, most residents can see a reduction in their insurance rates depending upon the insurance company.

 

The Morton Township Fire/Rescue Department has been working hard to meet the framework established by ISO.  Numerous hours have been put in by the department.  With newer procedures and guidelines, many of the standards are now achieved. Increased training for members has been implemented.  Training of our personnel is now documented in a fashion that meets the ISO template.  Maintenance records are now maintained in the same fashion as training.   Water locations and capacities are important and have been or are being improved /established.  This has involved Canadian Lakes, the Village of Mecosta, Sackett Farms, and the Township Board working with the Fire Department to achieve many benchmarks.

 

Our township has purchased new apparatus (fire trucks).  With the purchase of some computers the department created a computer network at the fire station to better maintain records and reports. We have made many improvements to the fire halls also.  This important expenditure of funds reflects our confidence in our department and their ability to keep us safer in almost any emergency.

All of these efforts should assist with the ISO evaluation. ISO will evaluate the condition of the equipment available to the fire department.

 

We believe that we are ready to have an ISO evaluation and are optimistic that a reduction in our rating will take place.  We hope to have an evaluation this fall which should get us a new rate by spring 2012. 

 

OTHER FIRE / RESCUE NEWS

 

A new well is being drilled in the Village of Mecosta to provide a good source of water to fight fires.  Completion is expected later this month.  Our new fire engine is now in service providing enhanced firefighting capabilities.  The Department has already used it and it has functioned very well.  We will look for an opportunity display this new apparatus to you or feel free to stop and look when you see people at the station.

 

The Department continues to seek able bodied individuals to join their ranks.  We are in real need for volunteers that are available during daytime hours.  Interested residents can contact the fire chief at firechief@mortontownship.org.

 

 

Morton Township Library Expansion Update

 

The renovation and expansion of the Morton Township Library has made tremendous progress since construction began nine weeks ago.  The inside of the existing building has been completely restructured.  The studs are in place, the heating and cooling ductwork is installed, the rough-in electrical wiring is complete, and the openings for windows and doors are cut.  The new skylight is expected to arrive at the end of August and once its installation is complete, drywall and finishing work will begin.  The addition is well underway also.  The foundation and firewall are complete and masonry workers are currently constructing the south wall.  The construction site is bustling with activity this week.  The wells are being drilled for geothermal heat and air, memorial trees are being moved to the parking lot area, and the American-made steel beams are being installed.  The library board and staff are extremely pleased with the progress.  Wolverine Building Group, under the supervision of Dave Moore, Morton Township resident, has been doing a phenomenal job.  If you have the opportunity to drive by the building site, we encourage you to do so. If you have any questions about the expansion project, please contact Mary Ann Lenon, library director, at 972-8315.  For construction pictures and updates, please visit the library website www.morton.michlibrary.organd the library’s facebook page www.facebook.com/MortonTownshipLibrary.       

 

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