Meet Our Staff: Planner Alex Bahorski

Alex Bahorski joined the Community Development Department’s team as a Planner in October 2021. Previously serving as a Planner for the City of North Port, Florida, Alex hopes to bring passion and enthusiasm to his work at the Township to keep it a vibrant place to live, work, and play. Alex received a Bachelor’s of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University in the Spring of 2020. During his time in college, Alex served as a Planning Intern at the City of Sterling Heights and as a Research Assistant at the Michigan State Center for Community and Economic Development.

Alex is excited to be working for DeWitt Township and hopes to enrich the lives of the people who call this area home through high-quality developments and assisting the Township to realize its full vision and potential for the future. In his spare time, Alex enjoys reading, cycling, soccer, and time spent with family.

DeWitt Township Police and Fire Toy Giveaway

The 2nd annual Christmas toy giveaway will be held on Thursday, December 16th, from 3:00pm-7:00pm, at the DeWitt Charter Township governmental complex located at 1401 W. Herbison Rd. The DeWitt Township Police and Fire Department will be distributing over $20,000 in toys to local children. These toys were donated by the First Responder Children’s Foundation of New York City, a nonprofit organization that supports children of first responders, along with children in the communities in which these first responders serve. We ask that vehicles come in through the far east drive and follow the traffic cones to lineup. The toys will be distributed at the DeWitt Township Fire Department. Everyone must stay in their vehicles. Each child will be allowed to select one toy from the table as they drive through. An assistant will then help by loading the toy into the vehicle.

Development Update

What is that large fire glowing in the sky by Wood Road, south of State Road? It is the Energy Development Lansing (EDL) facility located at 16800 Wood Road. This facility is in front of the Granger Landfill and is considered a Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility due to its conversion of methane gas into natural gas. The two large flares do produce a large flame during this process which makes the flames more noticeable during the night.

Clinton County and Ingham County 911 Centers have received numerous calls about the flames and potential fire. There is no cause for alarm as this is a very technical and safe structure with several levels of safety protocols and fire prevention safety measures built in. The picture above illustrates what it looks like so you can be assured that there is no cause for alarm in this situation.

Stuff a Patrol Car

On Saturday, December 11th, from 10:00am-2:00pm, the DeWitt Township Police and Fire Departments will be participating in the “Stuff a Patrol Car” event held at the east entrance to Meijer on Herbison Road. Police and firefighters will collect non-perishable food items and paper products to be donated to the Redeemer Food Pantry of Clinton County located in DeWitt Township. The Redeemer Food Pantry is a year-round outreach that provides food and other items to families referred through local human services organizations. The Redeemer Food Pantry is located at 13980 Schavey Road and is open every Tuesday from 10:00am - 2:00pm and 5:30pm - 7:00pm.

State Government Allocates Grants to DeWitt-Based Agricultural Organizations

On November 9th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the recipients of the 2021 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program which aims to provide funding to State agricultural agencies to support specialized crop industries. For this year, Michigan agricultural agencies were awarded over $1.2 million in federal funds. Among the recipients were three groups based in DeWitt: the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, the Michigan Cherry Committee and the Michigan Carrot Industry Development Program. This funding is crucial to helping these groups conduct further research and development for the continued support of state-wide production.

In total, the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board received $186,750 to introduce in-field sensor data and conduct research into disease management and productivity.
The Michigan Carrot Industry Development Program received $198,525 to assist with evaluating weed management and soil conditions.
The Michigan Cherry Committee received $89,000 for the branding of Montmorency Tart Cherries with a geographical indication.

As DeWitt Township is home to large swaths of active agricultural land, receiving this funding is testament to the economic strength of the local and regional agricultural sector. Securing this funding for locally-based agricultural groups will help ensure that Michigan farmers can continue to play a key role in the state’s economy.

Michigan Education Savings Program Earns Top National Ranking

The Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) is one of the nation’s premier college savings plans, according to a recent analysis of state-administered 529 plans by Morningstar Inc.

Managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc., on behalf of the Michigan Department of Treasury, MESP has earned silver and gold ratings from Morningstar each year since 2012. MESP is sold directly to families that are saving for college, and is one of three Michigan Section 529 plans, named after the section of the Internal Revenue Code that allowed for their creation. Each plan offers Michigan taxpayers a state income tax deduction on contributions and potential tax-free growth on earnings if account proceeds are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses.

MESP can be used at any eligible college, university or trade school in the nation and some abroad for a variety of qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, fees, certain room and board costs, books, supplies and equipment required for enrollment.

More information about MESP is available at MISaves.com or 877-861-6377.

Thank You Election Inspectors

The Clerk’s Office wishes to thank those inspectors that worked the November 2nd Special Election. It is because of all of you that this election was carried out in a conscientious and efficient manner.

We are always looking to add to our team of election inspectors. If you are interested in becoming an Election Inspector and completing the certification process, please download the application at the following link: Inspector Application. You can also stop by our office for more information.

Quarterly Sewer Billings

Sewer service bills covering January, February and March 2022 will be sent the week of December 13th. Quarterly sewer service fees will increase $2.00 to $102.00 per quarter effective in the upcoming billing cycle. Sewer service in the Township is based on a flat rate to all municipal sewer customers, based on a residential unit factor.

Winter Tax Bills

Real and personal property tax bills will be sent to property owners on December 1, 2021. All taxes, both real and personal, are due February 14, 2022. Residents who hold escrow accounts with a mortgage company do not receive a tax form as the bills are submitted directly to the mortgage servicing providers. DeWitt Charter Township property owners can view real and personal property tax bills, data, and history at www.dewitttownship.org.

Important Upcoming Dates

12/01 - Winter real and personal property taxes levied and sent
12/11 - Stuff a Patrol Car
12/15 - Quarterly sewer bills covering January, February, March
2022 mailed
12/16 - Police and Fire Toy Giveaway
12/23 - Township offices closed in observance of Christmas Eve holiday
12/24 - Township offices closed in observance of Christmas holiday
12/30 - Township offices closed in observance of New Year's Eve holiday
12/31 - Township offices closed in observance of New Year's Day holiday
01/15/22 - Quarterly sewer bills due

E-News November 2021