TOWNSHIP TITTABAWASSEE

29th Annual Walleye Festival

April 25th—27th

NEWSLETTER

The 29th Annual Walleye Festival will be coming soon and the

Freeland Community will be bustling with activities!! The Festival is the

last weekend in April, with the activities beginning on Friday. The fishing

tournament starts on Saturday, April 26th at 12 a.m. and ends on Sunday,

April 27 at 3 p.m.

Other activities during that fun filled weekend include: a parade,

fish fry, carnival rides, fireworks, bingo, community-wide rummage sale, a

pancake breakfast, car show, kids fishing pond at the Township Park, a

Texas Hold’em Tournament, and live music/dancing both Friday and

Saturday night at the “Phish” Tent.

There will be a 5K Run, 5K Walk and a Kids Fun Run on Sunday, April

27th, at the Freeland SportsZone put on by Bay Area Runners Club. For more

information on all the activities and registration forms please go to

www.freelandlionsclub.com or you can get a link on the Township’s website at

www.tittabawassee.org. The Walleye Festival Guide will be distributed to area

residents with all the times and details of each event in early April.

SPRING 2014

Yard Waste Pick-up April 2nd through November 26th

Yard waste collection runs from the first trash pickup in April to the last trash day in November. All

materials must be placed in paper yard waste bags, available at most hardware and grocery stores, or in 33 gallon

or smaller garbage containers with a “Yard Waste Only” sticker attached. The stickers may be picked up at the

Township Office.

By state law, yard waste includes grass clippings, yard and garden vegetation, twigs, sod without dirt

and leaves. No container or bag can weigh more than 50 pounds or have materials extending more than 6” past

the opening to keep collection workers safe.

Brush, which is made up of branches greater than 2” in diameter but less than 8”, is managed separately

from yard waste. One 3’ x 4’ bundle of brush may be set out next to regular trash at anytime of the year.

Branches less than 2” in diameter may be placed in your yard waste container.

2

Greetings,

At the time I am writing this newsletter, the temperature is seven (7) degrees (COLD) and the calendar

shows we are six (6) days into Spring. I hope by the time you are reading this, old man winter has finally loosen

up its grip on us and we have some warm spring temperatures. This has to be one of the longest, coldest winters I

can remember. The only good thing about cold weather is that criminals don’t like being out in it either. Things

have been pretty quiet for us at the Police Department since the cold weather arrived in December. About the only

increase in activity we have seen at the Police Department during this cold winter, has been the request for “house

checks”, while residents are on vacation in much warmer parts of our country.

One other area of increased activity was the number of auto crashes due to the snowy, icy roads we have

had over the last several months. This is the time of year that we like to report to you the number of dispatched and

written reports your Police Department investigates in the Township (see report on next page). We hope to

continue to report to you each year similar numbers for our Department, which are low, showing that we have a

nice place to live and raise a family. With your help, as stakeholders in our community, we will continue to strive

to keep it that way. Remember to report any suspicious activity, no matter how minor it seems, to 911 so we can

investigate and determine what is going on. Some of the most minor reported calls have turn out to be major

crimes that were solved because of a phone call.

When you are going on vacation, please feel free to sign up for a house watch via our website

www.tittabawassee.org and click on the Police Department link. The Police Department Office is open Monday

thru Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

News from the Police Department - Chief Dennis Green

Officer Don Ortega Receives Firesetting Prevention Award I am pleased to announce the 1st Annual Juvenile Firesetting Prevention Award was presented to Fire

Prevention Officer Don Ortega from the Tittabawassee Township Fire Department on the morning of February 25 th

at the annual Youth Firesetting Prevention Conference sponsored by the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee in

Midland Michigan. Don successfully completed his National Fire Academy Juvenile Firesetter Intervention

Specialist I & II courses a few years ago at Olivet College in Olivet Michigan as Enfranchised courses for the

Michigan Arson Prevention Committee / Michigan State Firemen’s Association through the Michigan Firefighter

Training Council. The Tittabawassee Township Fire Department was also one of two fire department’s in Michigan last year

to receive the 2012 Life Safety Achievement Award from the National Association of State Fire Marshals Fire

Research & Education Foundation and Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company for achieving zero fire deaths or

injuries during 2012. Fire Prevention Officer Ortega has taken the tools, knowledge and skills acquired from the local, state and

national levels and has developed and delivers age appropriate and developmentally appropriate programming in

fire safety and injury prevention year round. He also continues to secure alternative funding sources from grants

and donations to further the department’s primary prevention efforts.

A tip of the helmet Don for a job well done!

Spring Time Yard Waste/Open Burning

With the arrival of spring, residents are going to want to get out, enjoy the warmer weather, and embark on

cleaning up the their yards. This is a reminder that open burning of yard waste in residential areas is prohibited.

Burning of brush is only allowed in rural areas by permit only. It is against the DNR/DEQ Clean Air Act and

related regulations to burn grass clippings, pine needles, leaves, and other related yard debris. Burn permits can be

picked up at the Tittabawassee Township Public Safety Building (355 Church St) between the hours of 8am and

3pm Monday thru Friday.

News from the Fire Department - Chief Philip Shaver

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2013

INCIDENT TYPE TOTAL CALLS

TRAFFIC STOP 744

SICK PERSON 312

PDA JUST OCCD 140

DEPT ORDERS 124

B&E ALARM IN PROGRESS 111

TRAFFIC OTHER 101

FOLLOW UP 81

OUIL 67

SUSPICIOUS VEH IN PROGRESS 60

TRAFFIC HAZARD 55

TOWNSHIP POPULATION ESTIMATES

2010 8500

2011 8605

2012 8610

2013 8641

DISPATCHED & WRITTEN REPORTS ANNUAL HISTORY

DISPATCHED CALLS INCIDENT REPORTS WRITTEN

2012

INCIDENT TYPE TOTAL INCIDENTS

TRAFFIC STOP 502

SICK PERSON 189

PDA JUST OCCD 68

DEPT ORDERS 81

B&E ALARM IN PROGRESS 57

TRAFFIC OTHER 38

FOLLOW UP 364

OUIL 44

SUSPICIOUS VEH IN PROGRESS 36

TRAFFIC HAZARD 41

Year Total Reports

2010 1212

2011 1002

2012 988

2013 1021

TOP 10 DISPATCHED CALLS HISTORY

Year

Total Dispatched

Calls

2010 3351

2011 3374

2012 2113

2013 3023

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As soon as the frost leaves the ground this spring, there will be much activity in the Memorial Park area.

Essentially there will be four projects beginning and all coinciding with one another. The projects are: 1) the

construction of a Taco Bell, 2) the construction of two professional office buildings, Rivers Edge, which will back

up to the River 3) repaving of Memorial Park Parking lot, 4) repaving of Park Street. All four projects will start in

mid-April and are expected to be complete by the end of July.

1. Taco Bell: A new Taco Bell will begin construction in April and will be complete before the 4th of July. It

will be located next to Subway.

2. Rivers Edge: Behind the proposed Taco Bell and Subway and backing up to the River, two (2) single story

professional office buildings will be built. One will hold two tenants while the other will hold two to three

tenants. The type of business that will occupy these office buildings will be basically 8 to 5 type

operations. The developer is working with the Township to install significantly more parking than is

required in order to better serve the patrons of Memorial Park.

3. Repaving of Memorial Park Parking Lot: This lot is in poor condition and is much too small for many

uses at Memorial Park. With the addition of Taco Bell, there will be even fewer parking spots

available; therefore, the Township is working with the Rivers Edge professional building development to

add parking. Currently there are 30 spaces available, when the projects are finished there will be just over

100 spaces available.

4. Repaving of Park Street: Due to the Memorial Park parking lot being re-paved, new and expanded parking

for Memorial Park patrons via the Rivers Edge professional building and a new parking lot for Taco Bell,

the Township deemed it appropriate to re-pave this small stretch of street known as Park Street. In addition

to the Township, Developer, and Taco Bell working together on this project, both Consumers Energy and

the Saginaw County Road Commission have lent their support for taking down the power lines, poles and

assisting with the rebuild of Park Street. When finished this area will be in full use and better use.

Memorial Park Area Projects - 2014 Marc McGill, Township Manager

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be rebuilding part of M-47

(Midland Road) this year. Work is expected to begin on Monday, September 8th and be

completed by Friday, October 10th. The segment of M-47 being rebuilt is 750 feet long

and lies between Church Street and the Burger King entrance, which includes the

intersection of Freeland Road and M-47. This section of M-47 is the only blacktop

segment of M-47 that traverses the Township.

At minimum, one lane each direction will be open during construction. Additionally, much of the

construction will be done overnight, especially the laying of new blacktop. There will be temporary 20 minute

closures of Freeland Road traveling east and west. These 20 minute closures will happen between the hours of

mid-night and 5:00 a.m. The primary reason for the rebuild is rutting and pot holes which could lead to

hydroplaning of vehicles, especially as they approach the traffic light at M-47 and Freeland Road.

The estimated cost of the rebuild is $500,000 and is entirely funded by MDOT’s “Roads and Risks

Reserve Fund”. No funding will come from the Township. The project is entirely MDOT’s project and will be

engineered, let for bidding, and reviewed by MDOT. M-47 is part of the State’s Highway System and thus

entirely under their domain. Should there be questions or to request more information, contact Jason Garza,

MDOT/Bay City TSC, 2590 E. Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706, (989) 671-1535 Ext. 306.

Midland Road (M-47) 2014 Project

Marc McGill, Township Manager

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With getting through this seemingly never ending winter, it’s

hard to imagine summer and going to the Park. But it won’t be long

and the days will warm up and the thought of a warm summer

evening at the park will sound inviting Once again Tittabawassee

Township will provide free concerts at the Township Park at 9200

Midland Road. The concerts are held on Wednesday evenings from

7:00 to 9:00 p.m. There will be a variety of music to please

everyone.

Also the Summer Recreation Program will be held every

Wednesday beginning July 9th and run every week through August

27th from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Each week offers entertainment

and activities for young children. This is a great opportunity for a

fun morning in the park, a chance to be with other children, enjoy the

outdoors, and refreshments are served too!

Summer “Concerts in the Park” and Rec Program

Freeland Road/Washington Street 2015 Project

Not this coming summer 2014, but next summer - 2015, there will be a rebuilding of Freeland Road from

the M-47 light east to the rail road tracks. This segment of road also named Washington Street will be referred to

as Freeland Road the remainder of this article.

A half (½ ) mile segment of Freeland Road is in poor condition at best and the ever expanding pot holes

are the primary culprit of its demise. This ½ mile section is what’s referred to as a Primary Road and thus falls

under the jurisdiction of the Saginaw County Road Commission. Until it’s rebuild in the summer of 2015, this

road will continue to receive band aid help in terms of “cold patch” and “hot patch”.

“Cold patch” is applied in cold weather and does fill the pot holes however only temporarily.

Temporarily because Mother Nature, with her freeze and thaws, combined with heavy traffic and some doses of

salt can quickly erode the cold patch. This 2014 winter has been especially hard on Freeland Road and many

others.

“Hot patch” will be applied when the overnight temperatures are both above and expected to remain

above 45 degrees. Hot patch will last much longer than cold patch. In fact, most hot patch will last until the

ensuing winter again starts to eat at the roads surface. We can expect hot patch to arrive in early May this year.

Why do we have to wait until summer of 2015? Why can’t we get this road rebuilt this summer? The

answer is funding. This project is expected to cost at minimum $650,000. The Township uses about $250,000 of

its own money annually on the numerous miles of other Township roads. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, this

is a Saginaw County Road Commission controlled Primary Road. The $650,000 funding was actually requested

in 2012. It took a two (2) year process to get it funded for 2015. The $650,000 will come from State and Federal

Funding sources. Any amount over the $650,000, required to complete this project, may have to come from the

Township coffers.

When complete, this ½ mile will be new and as dependable as any stretch of road built via today’s

techniques. All of the bump-outs near 1st, 2nd and 3rd streets will remain. These bump-outs are desirous for

church’s, banks and the Post Office users. Additionally, the existing center turn lane on the east side of the tracks,

toward the intersection light at Webster Road, will be extended west across the tracks and up to about 3rd Street.

Work will begin just after schools out in 2015 and will be scheduled to end before school begins again. This will allow

little hindrance to school programs as well as farm operations. Should you have questions or require additional

information contact the Township Offices at 695-9512.

Township Administrative Office

695-9512

Police Department

695-9623

Department of Public Works

695-6517

Consumer Energy

1-800-477-5050

Saginaw County Road Commission

752-6140

U.S. Post Office - Freeland

695-9381

www.tittabawassee.org

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Sprinkler Maintenance If you have a home with a lawn sprinkler system, purchased a home with an existing

sprinkler system or are building a new home, Tittabawassee Township requires that the system is

registered. Preventative maintenance and inspection are necessary to insure that our drinking water

remains clean and safe for everyone. An inspection by a certified plumbing contractor is necessary

every three years with the report on file with the Township. If you have any questions please call

the Department of Public Works at 989-695-6517.

Water/Sewer Spring Lawn Restoration

We are preparing for spring cleanup of our water and sewer construction sites from the fall/winter season.

Please feel free to call if your water service valve box has been damaged over the winter or any other cleanup of DPW

responsibility that requires attention @ 989-695-6517.

Sanitary Sewer Project This Spring and Summer

A new sanitary sewer extension will be constructed this spring and summer in the area of Gilmour Lane,

Kochville Road and Garfield Road. We recommend avoiding that area, if at all possible, during the construction.

Cemetery Spring Clean-up

The deadline is April 15th to have all winter decorations, grave blankets etc., removed for the annual spring

clean-up. Anything remaining after this date will be thrown away. Please remember that Township Ordinance prohibits

the following:

Mounding, grading or leveling

Planting of shrubs, trees, hedges of bushes

Storm Water Tips and Drainage

We have experienced record levels of snow this year. If we get a rapid snow melt or heavy spring rains we can

expect surface flooding in the area. There are two types of drainage near your home; one is adjacent to a street or

roadway which are the responsibility of the Saginaw County Road Commission and the drains not associated with a

roadway are the responsibility of the Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner. Questions or concerns with these

drains should be directed to the following: Saginaw County Road Commission (752-6140), Saginaw Public Works

Commission (790-5258).

The third type of drainage in the Township is rear-lot drains which are typically found in subdivisions.

Responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of these drains falls to the home or condominium owner.

Household Hazardous Waste: Dispose of household cleaners, chemicals, oil, automotive fluids, paint, and other

potential toxins in ways that protect your family and your drinking water source. Remember in this area of the State, we

get our water from outer Saginaw Bay. What you put into our storm sewers and open drains goes to area rivers and then

to the Saginaw Bay. It does not get cleaned at a treatment plant. Please watch for local programs that give you

opportunity to dispose of chemicals properly.

Pharmaceuticals: Never flush unused or outdated medicines down the drain or toilet. Do your “Bit for the Bay” and

dispose of these old or unused medicines properly. The Township has a drop off at the Police Station located at 355

Church Street .

Rainwater: The only thing that should go down our storm drains is snowmelt and rainwater. Anything else, such as

grass clippings, leaves, oil, vehicle fluids, fertilizer and pet waste is considered an ILLICIT DISCHARGE.

Home Septic Systems: These systems must be maintained properly. An improperly working septic system can pollute

both surface water and groundwater. If you have a septic system, have it checked and pumped every three years to

insure it is working properly

News from the Department of Public Works

Ed Mahaney, Director