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 MEETING OF THE

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP BOARD

Wednesday January 25, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. 

411 N. Paw Paw St.

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP

VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN

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

Please take notice that a special meeting of the Lawrence Township Board will be held on January 25, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in person.

We will discuss:

Agenda:  

• Short Term Rental Ordinance
• Written Legal opinion by Attorney--possible closed session
• Public Comment
• Adjournment

 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#

Members of the public will only be able to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting and such comment will be limited to three minutes per person. To provide for orderly public participation, a person wishing to speak must state their name and request to be recognized. The Board will recognize all persons wishing to speak during public comment. If, prior to the meeting, members of the public have certain questions or wish to provide input on any business that will be addressed at the meeting then such persons may contact the Township Board members through Judy Janssen, Township Clerk, by email to clerk@lawrence-township.org, or by mail at P.O. Box 445, Lawrence, MI 49064.

Date Posted: 1/13/23

Lawrence Township Clerk  

411 N. Paw Paw St

P.O. Box 445

Lawrence, MI  49064

Email clerk@lawrence-township.org

NOTICE OF THE LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Board Meeting

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 Feb. 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.  It will be held in-person at 411 N. Paw Paw St. Lawrence, MI 49064.

When the Internet is working we will also can offer electronic remote access and participation of the meeting if requested prior to meeting.  It will be held in-person at 411 N. Paw Paw St. Lawrence, MI 49064.

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#

See full public notice under Public Notices above.

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

Good information from

Van Buren County Road Commission

There are several good pieces of information. 

See the Public Notice for other notices.

ROAD COMMISSION TO BEGIN WINTER HOURS Oct. 3. 2022
The County Road Commission Wants You to Know . . .
They will resume a five-day work week beginning Monday, Oct. 3, 2022.

7AM to 3:30pm MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
If there is a road-related emergency outside these hours of operation, such as a stop sign down or a tree across the road, residents should contact Van Buren County Central Dispatch at (269) 657-3101 or dial 911. Central Dispatch will contact the Road Commission's Emergency Duty Superintendent.
This is standard procedure for all after-hour emergencies.
VAN BUREN COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION
Posted 4-26-22

VAN BUREN COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION

WINTER OPERATIONS AND STORM PROCEDURES

THE COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION WANTS YOU TO KNOW . . .

Michigan’s first snowflakes have already fallen, and before the state is feet-deep in snow the Van Buren County Road Commission is sharing how it responds to winter storms, and how its roads are maintained.

A Michigan snowstorm can last 24 hours or more, which means a lot of work may be required following a winter storm to completely open roads and widen all intersections.  And then there’s the wind and drifting that can make driving conditions difficult following even a small event.  That’s why here in Van Buren County, each winter snow event is treated as an individual occurrence due to the unique characteristics of each event (depth of snow, type of snow/slush/ice, temperature fluctuations, etc.).  

Routine snow removal operations will begin on the affected areas of the County Primary Road network as a first priority.  These roads include Red Arrow Highway, Blue Star Highway, and all roads with the "County Road (CR)" designation.  

The affected areas of the Local Roads system (streets and avenues), and the affected roadways within subdivisions are given secondary priority.

Normal scheduled operations of the Van Buren County Road Commission occur within eight (8) hour days, Monday through Friday.  In addition, weekend operations or overtime operations are performed as follows:

      A.    In the event of a snowfall in excess of four (4") inches, the most critical locations on selected County Primary Roads will be covered, as conditions permit.

      B.    Unusual ice and/or wind conditions causing hazardous driving, or impassable conditions on the affected areas of the road system, as conditions permit.

      C.    In the event of a snowfall in excess of eight (8") inches, authorization shall be extended to cover the Local Road system of the affected area(s), as conditions permit.

      In all cases, minimum crew sizes will be utilized to cover the affected areas.

As always, every effort within the physical and financial resources of the Road Commission shall be made to keep the roads in a safe and reasonable condition for public travel.

If you have questions on winter maintenance, please contact the Van Buren County Road Commission at (269) 674-8011, Extension 0, or via email at vbcrc@vbcrc.org.

VAN BUREN COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION

Posted 12-15-22

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.”

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