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 imprtantly, 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 Treasurer's office door (located at the Lawrence Village Offices).  In addition, public notices are posted to this website.

HEARING NOTICE

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

To be held

on 02/14/2019 at 6 P.M., at 205 N. Paw Paw St., Lawrence, MI 49064.

At a SPECIAL MEETING to be held on 02/14/2019, at 6:00 p.m., at 205 N. Paw Paw St., Lawrence, MI 49064, the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees, Lawrence Township, Van Buren County, Michigan will hear objections and comments on THE PROPOSED REYNOLDS LAKE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT.  Written and Oral Objections must be received before the close of the hearing to be held on 02/14/2019 at 6:00 p.m.

The proposed Special Assessment concerns treatment of the Reynolds Lake (collectively referring to both Upper Reynolds Lake and Lower Reynolds Lake) for aquatic weeds and plants and is proposed to be levied by annual installments.  The duration of the special assessment district is proposed to be 5 years.  The lots within the district are to be assessed on a per lot basis and cover the lots touching the Lake with minor exclusions.

The Township is seeking to have periodic redeterminations (annually) of the costs of the assessment without adjustment of the district boundaries.  Redeterminations may be made without further notice to record owners or parties in interest in the property.

The Special Assessment cost anticipated over the course of the 5 years is to be $59,255.00.  The expected installments are as follows: $250 for the 1^st installment; and $125 every installment thereafter. 

The plan, estimates, map, costs, and petition associated with this Special Assessment District are available for examination at the address above during normal business hours.

 The Lawrence Township Board of Trustees will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio recordings of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting or public hearing upon 7 day notice to the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township by writing or calling the following: Township Clerk, 205 N. Paw Paw St., Lawrence, MI 49064, (269) 674-4255

This notice is posted in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, Public Act 267 of 1976, as amended, (MCL 41.72a(2)(3)) and the Americans With Disabilities Act, and a copy of it is on file with the Clerk’s office, 205 N. Paw Paw St., Lawrence, MI 49064, (269) 674-4255.

   TOWNSHIP OF LAWRENCE  2019 NOTICE OF BOARD OF REVIEW 
 
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Review will meet at the Township Hall, 205 N. Paw Paw  St. Lawrence, MI 49064, to examine and review the 2019 Assessment Roll. The board will convene on the following dates for the hearing of appeals of assessments or taxable values, poverty exemptions, veteran’s exemptions, parcel classification appeals and/or current year qualified agricultural denials: 
 
  Tuesday, March 5, 2019,   Noon - Organizational Meeting 

  Monday, March 11, 2019, 9:00 am to Noon and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm

  Tuesday, March 12, 2019, Noon – 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm 
 
and on such additional days as required to hear all persons who have given notice of the desire to be heard until assessment rolls have been revised, corrected and approved.  
 
APPOINTMENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED; letter appeals will be accepted and must be received no later than 5:00 pm March 12, 2019.   
 
Tentative ratios and estimated multipliers for 2019 are as follows: 
 
   Agricultural   52.29% 0.95621

   Commercial  52.90% 0.94518

   Industrial  50.12% 0.99761

   Residential   50.84% 0.98348

   Personal Property 50.00% 1.00000 
 
Tentative equalization factor of 1.0000 for all classes is expected after completion of Board of Review. 
 
Donna Spenner, Supervisor Lawrence Township   

Ben Brousseau, Assessor Lawrence Township 
 
Lawrence Township Board Meetings are open to all without regard to race, national origin, sex or disability. 
 
American with Disabilities (ADA) Notice The township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon seven (7) days notice to Lawrence Township. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact Lawrence Township by writing or calling. 
 
Kim Thompson Lawrence Township Clerk

PO Box 442

Lawrence, MI 49064

(269)674-4255 

During a Tornado

With tornadoes having the ability to touch down in a matter of minutes, Michigan residents need to be prepared to quickly react and launch an emergency plan. 

Inside:

• If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately. If there is a tornado watch in your area, monitor local media and seek shelter when thunderstorms approach.
• If you are in a building—like a home, small building, school or business—go to a pre-designated safe room, basement, storm shelter or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of a smaller interior room, such as a closet or hallway, that is away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls.
• Once you are in lower level room of a building, make sure to protect your head and neck.
• Make sure to bring your emergency preparedness kit to your pre-designated safe room to have emergency supplies ready in the event help cannot reach you right away.
• If you live in a mobile home, exit the home and immediately go to a designated storm shelter. Even when mobile homes are tied down, they offer very little protection from a tornado.

Outside:

• If you are outside during a tornado, the only safe location is a sturdy permanent building. Seek that shelter immediately. Go to the lowest level and seek shelter in an interior room without any windows.
• If you cannot get to a shelter, get to your vehicle and drive to the nearest shelter. If flying debris occurs while driving, pull over and park. Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on, covering your head and lying below the windows. If you can safely get to an area noticeably lower than the road, exit the vehicle and lie in that area covering your head with your hands.
• DO NOT seek shelter under an overpass or bridge. These are some of the most dangerous locations and you will be exposed to flying debris.
• Stay away from objects that can be easily blown around. Most people injured from tornados from flying debris.
• If you are boating, go to land and seek shelter immediately.