Public Notices

The Open Meetings Act (OMA) of Michigan requires notice to be given before a meeting is held and requires minutes to be prepared as a record of actions taken at the meeting.  Perhaps most importantly, the OMA is the source of requirement that all votes of a public body must be made public.

Lawrence Township complies with the OMA by posting notices of meetings at three locations:  Lawrence Community Services Building (Fire Station), Lawrence Post Office, Lawrence Township Hall (near the Business Office door).  In addition, public notices are posted to this website.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP

Lawrence Township Election Commission Meeting

Friday, April 12, 2024

At  11:00am

411 N Paw Paw St

Lawrence, MI 49064

Small meeting room in Township Hall

The Election Commission consists of the Township Supervisor, Township Treasurer, and Township Clerk.

This meeting is open to the public and they will be discussing the

May 7, 2024 VBC Library Special Election and Election Inspectors.

For additional questions, please call the number below.

Judy Janssen, Township Clerk  

411 N. Paw Paw St.

Lawrence, MI 49064

Phone (269) 674-4255 Ext. 102

Email clerk@lawrence-township.org

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Public Accuracy Test for the May 7, 2024 VBC Library Special Election has been scheduled for Friday, April 19, 2024 at 11:00 am. in the Lawrence Township Hall at 411 North Paw Paw St., Lawrence, Michigan.

The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to determine that the program and the computer being used to tabulate the results of the election counts the votes in the manner prescribed by law.

                                                     Judy Janssen

                                             Lawrence Township Clerk

NOTICE OF THE LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Board Meeting

Lawrence Township Hall

411 N. PAW PAW STREET

LAWRENCE, MICHIGAN

To:       The residents and property owners of Lawrence Township, Van Buren County, Michigan, and any other interested parties.

Please take notice that a Regular Board Meeting of the LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES will be held on April 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m(Note Time change).  It will be held in-person at the Lawrence Township Hall 411 N. Paw Paw St. Lawrence, MI 49064.

Starting with the April 2023 meeting we will no longer be offering internet connection for the public. If you have questions or want a copy of the Agenda the week of the meeting please feel free to contact Clerk Janssen at 269-674-4255 or at clerk@lawrence-township.org.

 The public may participate in the meeting via computer or smart phone, through freeconferencecall.com, using the following link.  For best performance, please download the desktop or mobile app for Free Conference Call (FCC). https://join.freeconferencecall.com/clerk060. Online meeting ID: clerk060

The public may also participate by calling into the phone numbers below: Non-Toll-Free number (760) 548-9303 or Toll Free (844) 854-2222 and providing access code 475629#

  All meeting will be held in-person at 411 N. Paw Paw St. Lawrence, MI 49064.

 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

The Lawrence Township Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 22, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Township Hall located at 411 N. Paw Paw Street, Lawrence, MI 49064.

The purpose of the hearing will be:

1. To hear variance requests to the required side yard setback in Section 1-9.17 (B) (1) (b) Lawrence Township Zoning Ordinance, and for the expansion of a nonconforming building . The Address is 58991 Territorial Rd, Parcel ID #80-13-160-003-00, to allow for the construction of a deck to the existing residence.

2. To hear variance requests to the required front yard setback and waterfront setback listed in schedule A of the Lawrence Township Zoning Ordinance, and for the expansion of a nonconforming building. The Address is 48692 Main St., Parcel IF #80-13-180-021-00, to allow for the construction of two additions, expansion of the front porch, reconstruction of the lakeside deck and screened porch, and a second floor over a portion of the existing residence.

Those unable to attend the public hearing are invited to submit written comments to the attention of the Chairperson of the Zoning Board Appeals by emailing the Township Clerk at the email address below or by mail: PO Box 445, Lawrence, MI 49064.

A copy of the meeting information may be found on the Township’s homepage at www.lawrence-township.org before the meeting. A copy of the application and this notice will be on file at the Township Hall.

For additional questions, please call the number below.

Judy Janssen, Township Clerk  

411 N. Paw Paw St.

Lawrence, MI 49064

Phone (269) 674-4255

Email clerk@lawrence-township.org

Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2023

State Tax Commission's

New Poverty Exemption Procedure

The STC has created a new application. Click below for related documents that need to be used when one applies.  

We are often asked about local food pantries.  Here is a great website that is helpful for local listings.

Feedwm.org/findfood/

 If you want Programs you have to qualify for that do distributions locally.  

SMCAA Commodity supplemental Food Program:  http://www.smcaa.com/programs/commodity-supplemental-food-program

Cannabis Agency Notice

 Paid for with a grant from the State of Michigan, Lawrence Township has secure lock boxes available for residents. These boxes help prevent unwanted consumption of legal drugs and provide a safe means of legal transportation. Please visit the Township Hall at 411 N. Paw Paw St. to request a free lock box.

Van Buren County Brush and Invasive Species Spray Program

Road Commission Launches New

Service Request App

Recently the Van Buren County launched SeeClickFix, a new app allowing citizens to report non-emergency road issues.  Residents and the motoring public can take a photo of a road issue, such as a pothole, give the location, add a description, and click “submit” to send requests directly to the Van Buren County Road Commission through SeeClickFix.  

Road Commission Interim Managing Director/Operations Director, Greg Brucks, states, “SeeClickFix makes it easier for staff at the Van Buren County Road Commission to identify and address road-related issues in a timely fashion.  SeeClickFix is a mobile app that lets citizens report issues on-the-go, and receive real time notifications when the service request has been updated.  This will not only serve to increase civic engagement by involving citizens in community dialogue, but will also improve the efficiency in which service requests are addressed.”

SeeClickFix is available immediately for citizen use as follows:

•On Facebook at www.facebook.com/VBCRC

•On the Van Buren County Road Commission’s website at www.VBCRC.org

•Download on the App Store or on Google Play

•On line at www.SeeClickFix.com

For answers to any questions about SeeClickFix, please contact the Van Buren County Road Commission at 269-674-8011, Extension 0.  The Road Commission urges you to, “Get Connected.  Get Involved.  Get Results.”

VAN BUREN COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION
NEWS RELEASE BETTER HIGHWAYS: SAVE LIVES, SAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY _____________________________________________________________________________________
Lawrence, Michigan 2024-02
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
DATE: March 13, 2024 CONTACT: Bret Witkowski, Managing Director
Van Buren County Road Commission
RELEASE: Immediately Post Office Box 156
Lawrence, Michigan 49064
PHONE: (269) 674-8011, Extension 222
FARMERS ARE ASKED TO KEEP RIGHT-OF-WAY CROP FREE
“We Mow - So Don’t Sow!”
THE ROAD COMMISSION WANTS YOU TO KNOW . . .
With spring quickly approaching, area farmers are anxiously awaiting another planting season. But before spring tillage and planting gets underway, the Van Buren County Road Commission wants to remind farmers that crops must be a minimum of 14' from the road’s edge, or behind the “back slope” of an existing ditch as set forth in the diagram below. Any crops planted in the right-of-way are there at the farmers’ risk and no compensation for loss of crops in the right-of-way will be considered pursuant to Road Commission Policy 2022-02.
Because the Road Commission maintains the right-of-way by performing mowing cycles to keep roadsides and intersections clear and suitable for travel, farmers should be aware that any crops planted within the right-of-way will be mowed. The Road Commission also performs roadside chemical vegetation management in the late summer to control brush and woody vegetation within the road right-of-way. The road right-of-way is specifically reserved for the placement of road signs, and public utilities.
The road right-of-way is typically a width of 66 feet (33 feet on either side of the centerline of the road). To review a copy of the Board of County Road Commission’s Policy 2022-02, Right-of-Way Mowing, Brush Control & Spraying Policy visit the Road Commission’s website at: www.vbcrc.org/vegetationmaintenance, or contact the Road Commission’s Managing Director, Bret Witkowski, at 269-674-8011, Extension 222, BretWitkowski@vbcrc.org. The Road Commission’s Policy complies with the standards created by law (MCL 247.665b).
VAN BUREN COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION

More Information from the Road Commission

Obstacles in the Road Right-of-Way

THE ROAD COMMISSION WANTS YOU TO KNOW . . .

It’s the end of November and Michigan’s first snowflakes have already fallen.  The County Road Commission reminds all residents that obstacles in the road right-of-way which could be hidden by snow and struck by snow removal equipment should be removed as soon as possible.  These encroachments include, but are not limited to:

▸ Basketball hoops

▸ Holiday decorations

▸ Fencing

▸ Signs

▸ Landscaping rocks, timbers or bricks

Other encroachments include temporarily parking or placing items in the road right-of-way, such as:

▸ Boat lifts

▸ Garbage dumpsters

▸ Vehicles

These encroachment obstacles can cause injury to people and/or damage to equipment for which a property owner can be held responsible.  If the Road Commission discovers an obstruction and determines that there is not a permit on file, we will require the responsible individual(s) to pay for any damage costs.

Mailboxes are the only object allowed in the road right-of-way without a permit.  Mailboxes must conform to Guidelines established by the US Postal Service and the Van Buren County Road Commission.  The mailbox must be constructed of light steel, aluminum or plastic that meets the USPS Postmaster General’s seal of approval.  The post must be a 4"x4" wooden support, or a 2" diameter standard steel or aluminum pipe imbedded no more than 24" in the ground.  Mailbox posts should not be set in concrete, or fitted with a bottom anchor plate, but the mailbox should be attached to the post well enough to prevent separation.

If you have a question regarding encroachments, or your mailbox or post, please contact the Van Buren County Road Commission at 269-674-8011.

VAN BUREN COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION