Ensley Township in Newaygo County MI

Ensley Township Newsletter

October 2005

Paid for by the General Fund

Planning Commission

There are two positions that will be up for reappointment on the Planning Commission and one on the Zoning Board of Appeals in December.  If you are interested in serving for three years, send a letter of interest to Supervisor, Richard Bergman, 7163 E 120th Street, Sand Lake, MI  49343

Master Plan Committee Update

The master Plan Committee has spent the last few months reviewing the results of the last survey.  Questions were first reviewed as to whether the information was obsolete, because either the needs were met or beyond the scope of township authority.  Second, they were reviewed for wording and content.  The third review checked for duplication  in questions.  The fourth review concentrated on the inclusion of Ensley Township Board requested questions.  Lastly, they grouped questions addressing common subjects together.

The committee must consider whether there are more questions needed to address the future of the township.  One such question concerns water quality.  Because water quality received a high percentage of responses on the last survey, the committee must consider questions concerning what level we as citizens are willing to protect water quality in our community.  In effort to gain knowledge in this area, the Master Plan committee, at the direction of the Ensley Township Board applied for inclusion in the Muskegon Watershed Project.  We were fortunate to be selected as part of the project available through Grand Valley State University, Annis Water Resources Institute.  The project, through the development of computer aided  visualization tools, will aid the township in land use decision  making for resource conservation and water quality protection. 

Mobile Home Requirements

There have been many inquiries as to what is allowed to be brought into the township in the way of a mobile home.  According to our zoning ordinance sec. 3.25 the minimum requirements for a dwelling outside manufactured home parks are:

1. All dwelling units shall provide a minimum height between the floor and ceiling of seven and one-half feet at the side wall.

2. The minimum width of all elevations shall be no less that fourteen feet.

3. All dwellings without basements shall provide a crawl space below the entire floor of the dwelling two feet in depth with a vapor barrier consisting of two inches of concrete on the floor of the crawl space.  The crawl space shall also be provided with adequate drains to drain any accumulation of water in the crawl space.

4. The pitch of the main roof of the dwelling unit shall not be less than three feet of rise for each twelve feet of horizontal run, and shall not have less than a twelve inch overhang.

5. All dwellings shall be aesthetically compatible in design and appearance with other residences in the vicinity.

This is not the entire section on mobile homes, however, these are some of the requirements that must be met.

Defense Against Criminal Attack

By Deputy Sheriff Kurt Delia

A FEW FACTS:

Every 60 seconds someone is assaulted in the United States.  The odds are very high that you might be involved in a serious criminal incident some time in your life.  Remember that crime has no boundaries and it crosses all social, economical and ethnic lines.  We can choose to ignore this fact and just hope nothing happens or we can take an active role and be prepared for it.

Many people are living in fear on a daily basis and live sheltered lives behind locked doors.  They may have been a victim of a serious crime or know someone who has been.  Other people take a more proactive role and take self-defense courses or enroll in a martial arts class. They learn how to avoid dangerous situations and suspicious people and they practice self-defensive skills designed to disable or kill an attacker.  They know when to flee, how to fight or escape to preserve life.  One must learn to be proactive in the role of self-defense and lets forget about the shopping mall martial arts that promise you a black belt in 6 months.  These are a few things to consider as it pertains to your personal protection plan.

TRUSTING YOUR INSTINCTS:

If something doesn’t feel right, you’re probable right.  Many people have been conditioned over the years to ignore their inner voice (sixth sense).  The best indicator of danger is your instinct.  One must learn to listen to that inner voice in order to detect danger.

TARGET ELIMINATION:

Make yourself a hard target for assailants.  Escape a confrontation before it begins by putting yourself in a good position of egress.  If you make yourself an easy target, an assailant will see this.

PRESENTATION OF CONFIDENCE:

Walk with confidence and awareness.  Keep your head up, hands out of your pockets and shoulders back.  Look around and be aware of your surroundings.

SETTING VERBAL BOUNDARIES:

One’s verbal skills are used much more than physical skills to deter and defeat an assailant.  When a potential assailant engages you in conversation, he is actually interviewing you to see if you would make a good/easy victim.

One must remain calm, stand tall and respond with confidence and assertiveness.  Remember that the power and tone of your voice may be enough to send him away with his tail between his legs in search of an easier victim.

NON-CONFRONTATIONAL STANCE:

Remember that the element of surprise is on your side.  The assailant doesn’t know your potential yet.  Don’t attempt to escalate the situation prematurely by assuming a fighting posture.

SAFE DISTANCE:

Maintaining a safe reactionary gap is a must.  Don’t allow anyone to enter your comfort zone and personal space.  This space is for you to use to react to an assault or immediate aggression.  If this space is invaded, apply verbal boundaries and then prepare for your surprise attack if necessary.

ELEMENT OF SURPRISE:

Most assailants will naturally assume that you are a passive, non-combative victim.  You must use this to your advantage and be alert and aware of the assailant’s lack of preparedness.  This is the opportune time to strike or escape.

SIMPLE TECHNIQUES:

A few powerful, well rehearsed and effective self defense moves work best.  Most confrontations end with one well utilized technique.  No need for hundreds of moves when one or two will work just fine.

FOLLOW THROUGH:

Survive, Escape, Report! Contact your local law enforcement agency and report the incident immediately.

Kurt Delia has served in Law Enforcement for over 15 years and has an extensive background in martial arts and police combatives.  He has been our township patrol officer since last May.  Come to Crime Watch the second Tuesday of the Month to meet our officer.

Roadwork 2005

Cottonwood Avenue was reconstructed and paved this summer from 120th Street to 128th Street.  Elm is also to be reconstructed between 136th Street and 22 Mile Road.  This will most likely be finished next spring.  22 Mile from Cypress Avenue to Elm Avenue was wedged along with 104th from Locust Avenue to Elm Avenue

The reseal projects that were done were:  104th from Cypress Avenue to Elm Avenue, 136th Street from Butternut Avenue to Beech Avenue, Locust Avenue from 96th Street to 104th Street, Butternut Avenue from 120th Street to 128th Street, and 22 Mile Road from Juniper Avenue to Locust Avenue.

Clean-Up Days

The  annual spring Clean-Up Days were once again a success.  We had seven boxes of rubbish, 24.61 tons that were hauled to the landfill, and six boxes of metal that were recycled. 

For the past couple of years, the amount of stuff and has come to the clean-up days has gone down.  This year it only cost the township $2,868.62 compared to last years $3,312.82. 

Cemetery Fees

Burial fees were increased at our regular September board meeting.  Summer burial rates are now $400.00 and winter burials (those that occur between November 1 to April 15) were increased to $500.00 plus the cost of equipment for adverse conditions (frost removal.)

Treasurer’s News

Summer 2005 taxes are now past due.  However, they can still be paid in the township until February 28, 2006.  Interest and penalties will apply.  These rates are as follows:

   If paid in September-add 1%

   If paid in October—add 2%

   If paid in November-add 3%

   If paid in December– add 4%

   If paid in January—add 5%

   If paid in February-add 6%

Call Faye Folkema for an appointment at 616-636-8616 if you wish to pay them.  On March 1, 2006, the 2005 summer taxes will be turned over to the Newaygo County Treasurer.

Township board

OTHER POSITIONS

Bob Hawkins,                         Fire Chief  636-5256

Dan Powell,                           County Commissioner  231-834-0957

Gary Butler,                          Cemetery Sexton        636-5385

Steve Boluyt,                       Building Insp.  636-8240

Pat Huffman,                       Electrical Insp.          696-7741

Max Evens,                         Assessor,  Zoning Adm.    636-8510

Copyright 2008 - Ensley Township - All Rights Reserved