I want to say thank you to all the election workers for a job well done. I know you do not get enough credit for the work that you do to ensure that all the rules are followed and enforced to give us the peace of mind that the process is secure in our community. I also want to thank the local Clerks for their due diligence in providing for the workers and ensuring they are supported in their work and processes. I know you all do this work as a community minded resident because the pay surely isn’t the reason. Thank you again, we owe all of you a debt of gratitude.
I would like to say best wishes to all of our newly elected officials. You have chosen a difficult but very rewarding endeavor. Just remember that this is not about our individual needs and wishes, but those of our communities which we serve. If you approach your decisions and choices in your offices with those ideas you can never go wrong in the choices you make. Everything you do will impact someone in your community, not all in the same way, but impact none the less. Be aware and good luck.
An issue that cropped up again this past month is the condition of certain side roads in our community. A small grass fire got out of control on a side road off one of the lakes. I have written about this before but this time some of the residents were upset that the access was almost impossible for the equipment to navigate. Be aware that many of the side dirt roads in these older subdivisions are not public maintained roads. Many of these side roads are private roads. Now since they are shown on a subdivision plat they can be traveled by the public at large, but because they were never accepted by the county road commission when the county road system was adopted almost 75 years ago they cannot be maintained by the road commission. Public funds cannot be spent on them for any work. Many of these roads that we see today were not even in existence back when the road system was adopted. They came about as properties were sold and developed. Many started as driveways to individual lots that eventually were roads as more and more properties were sold and developed using the original driveways. So the maintenance of these roads falls to the residents. I know we all pay roads taxes and those taxes go to maintaining all the public roads that allow you access to your private road. We cannot spend public funds on private roads, it is illegal. So the local residents must work together to keep these roads usable for themselves as well as emergency vehicles.
Don’t forget to consider a membership at the Community Center and Eagle Point Plaza. You can come and enjoy pickleball at any time, yoga, cardio drumming, fitness training, walking or some more intense TOWANDA. Whatever your need we probably have some form of activity to assist you. So stop in and see Roma about a membership. We have family rates and business/group rates also. We would love to see you. When you’re here stop in on Tuesdays to the Plainfield Township Historical Museum. They have great displays of our community throughout history and how our residents lived long ago. The members do a great job preserving and showcasing our heritage. They also have genealogical workshops, and guest speakers so stop and ask about the next event. Also don’t forget our library over on M-65 at the Resource Center, call Cheryl at 989-728-4086 for information on upcoming events. As always if you ever have any questions, comments or concerns regarding our community please contact me. I am in the office Monday – Friday 7:30 – 4:00 at 989-728-2811 or my cell at 989-984-7073 or by email supervisor@plainfieldtwpmi.com.
Fred Lewis – Supervisor Plainfield Township
I want to say thank you to all the election workers for a job well done. I know you do not get enough credit for the work that you do to ensure that all the rules are followed and enforced to give us the peace of mind that the process is secure in our community. I also want to thank the local Clerks for their due diligence in providing for the workers and ensuring they are supported in their work and processes. I know you all do this work as a community minded resident because the pay surely isn’t the reason. Thank you again, we owe all of you a debt of gratitude.
I would like to say best wishes to all of our newly elected officials. You have chosen a difficult but very rewarding endeavor. Just remember that this is not about our individual needs and wishes, but those of our communities which we serve. If you approach your decisions and choices in your offices with those ideas you can never go wrong in the choices you make. Everything you do will impact someone in your community, not all in the same way, but impact none the less. Be aware and good luck.
An issue that cropped up again this past month is the condition of certain side roads in our community. A small grass fire got out of control on a side road off one of the lakes. I have written about this before but this time some of the residents were upset that the access was almost impossible for the equipment to navigate. Be aware that many of the side dirt roads in these older subdivisions are not public maintained roads. Many of these side roads are private roads. Now since they are shown on a subdivision plat they can be traveled by the public at large, but because they were never accepted by the county road commission when the county road system was adopted almost 75 years ago they cannot be maintained by the road commission. Public funds cannot be spent on them for any work. Many of these roads that we see today were not even in existence back when the road system was adopted. They came about as properties were sold and developed. Many started as driveways to individual lots that eventually were roads as more and more properties were sold and developed using the original driveways. So the maintenance of these roads falls to the residents. I know we all pay roads taxes and those taxes go to maintaining all the public roads that allow you access to your private road. We cannot spend public funds on private roads, it is illegal. So the local residents must work together to keep these roads usable for themselves as well as emergency vehicles.
Don’t forget to consider a membership at the Community Center and Eagle Point Plaza. You can come and enjoy pickleball at any time, yoga, cardio drumming, fitness training, walking or some more intense TOWANDA. Whatever your need we probably have some form of activity to assist you. So stop in and see Roma about a membership. We have family rates and business/group rates also. We would love to see you. When you’re here stop in on Tuesdays to the Plainfield Township Historical Museum. They have great displays of our community throughout history and how our residents lived long ago. The members do a great job preserving and showcasing our heritage. They also have genealogical workshops, and guest speakers so stop and ask about the next event. Also don’t forget our library over on M-65 at the Resource Center, call Cheryl at 989-728-4086 for information on upcoming events. As always if you ever have any questions, comments or concerns regarding our community please contact me. I am in the office Monday – Friday 7:30 – 4:00 at 989-728-2811 or my cell at 989-984-7073 or by email supervisor@plainfieldtwpmi.com.
Fred Lewis – Supervisor Plainfield Township