Notes from the Supervisor - Volume 1 March, 2021
March Board of Review
The time for the March of Review is quickly approaching. The Board of Review will be meeting at the Township Hall to examine and review the assessment roll. They will convene on the following dates for the hearing of appeals of assessments or taxable values, property exemptions, parcel classification appeals and/or current year agricultural denials:
• Wednesday March 10, 2021 9 am to Noon and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
• Thursday March 11, 2021 1 pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm and on additional days as required to hear all persons who have given notice of the desire to be heard.
Appointments are required; written appeals will be accepted and must be received by March 11, 2021 no later than 4 pm. State Pandemic Orders may continue to force these meetings to be held virtually. If you have questions about the process, please call my cell (616) 836-3298.
The assessor, Nate Brousseau, will be available at the township Hall of Thursday March 4, 2021 from 9 am until Noon to answer questions about assessment notices.
COVID Vaccine
Allegan County Health Department maintains a website to provide current information on vaccine distribution within the county
http://cms.allegancounty.org/ sites/Office/Health/SitePages/COVID 19 .aspx
If you are eligible as a front-line essential worker or are over the age of 65, you can sign up to be notified when a vaccine dose is available for you. There is still a backlog of eligible recipients and the Allegan Health Department urges patience as you wait to be contacted. You are encouraged to read the F AQs on the vaccine and to sign up at their partner sites Meijer and Spectrum Zeeland via the links at the Allegan County Health Department web site above. I know it is difficult to understand how prioritization is occurring as my wife's parents (who are in their upper 80s and early 90s and live with us) are still waiting for their vaccination.
COV1D Testing
The home page of our Casco Web Site always provides up-to-date information on the location and times for local COVID tests.
Road Paving in 2021
I have had the privilege of spending many hours working with the Road Committee (Andy Litts, Allen Spencer, Paul Macyauski, and Monty Brenner) to determine the best way to spend our limited road funds and plan road improvements. It is important to note that all road millage paid by tax payers is dedicated and restricted for road construction and improvements only.As always there are too many worthy projects with not enough money to do them all, selected projects include paving, resealing, gravel application, dust control (3 applications on all gravel roads), and mowing:
71" St. (1 OSth to 1 07th Paving) Bids were approved for the Casco Drain making this paving finally possible
107th Ave (60th to 62nd) Paving
70th St (Baseline to 1 Q3rd) Resealing
68th St (Baseline to IQ3rd) Resealing
East mile of Baseline Resealing
64th St (109th to Townline) Resealing
Lakeview l/2 mile west of Blue Star Resealing
65th north of 102nd Ave Gravel
64th south of 106th Ave Gravel
The County Primary Road Millage will fund the resealing of I09th (60th to Blue Star).
We will continue to consider future projects this winter.
Consumer's Energy Infrastructure Improvement
Increased electrical reliability is a priority for all township residents. Thanks are owed to Paul Mosier ( a retired utility lineman for driving through the township and inspecting many of our electrical lines., mapping out many shortcoming of the current system. Paul and his wife Lillian helped to get the ball rolling and were involved with me in meeting with Consumers Energy Representatives. Consumers Energy is conducting major upgrades to much of the electrical infrastructure in Casco Township. They are replacing many old poles, transformers, and other items that will meet today's needs and reduce outages. We are indebted to the Mosiers for bringing about these major upgrades.
Community Action Allegan County Programs
A number of special relief programs to help residents in need are available through this group.
Q-Care Kits - Q-Care kits provide food and/or household hygiene items to families who are below 200% of the Federal Poverty level with a family member in quarantine relating to COVID. For more information call 269- 673-5472n ext. 261.
Water Repairs to Mitigate COVID Spread - This program is designed to help low income households who receive a water bill or are on a septic system with needed repairs to mitigate the spread of COVID.
Free KN95 Masks-These are available to those in need at 323 Water Street in Allegan from 10 am to 2 pm Monday- Friday.
Bridging the Digital Divide - Families below the 200% Federal Poverty level can receive support for intemet connection and tablets by calling 269-673-5472.
Early Education Head Start - Applications for registration in Early Head Start and Head Start Programs begin March 1. Cal1269-673-5472 ext 237 or visit Community Action's website at https://communityactionallegan.org/early-education-services/
Please e-mail ideas for topics that you would like me to cover in future edition of Notes from the Supervisor by sending your ideas, thoughts and suggestions to Supervisor@cascotownship.org.