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.

ROAD COMMISSION ASSESSING STORM DAMAGE

THE ROAD COMMISSION WANTS YOU TO KNOW . . .

The Van Buren County Road Commission is still assessing damage after Monday’s(June 13,2022) storms brought down trees, and caused washouts and flooding throughout Van Buren County.

Initially Road Commission crews worked to clear the roadways of trees and limbs, with the exception of those trees down that involve power lines. The Road Commission will continue storm clean up operations throughout the coming weeks, and likely most of the summer.  Motorists should use extreme caution as the road shoulders may not be clear in some areas.  Any trees that are down with power lines will NOT be removed until the power company removes all involved lines.  Trees or limbs that have been pushed off the traveled portion of the roadway will not be removed unless the Road Commission deems them to be a safety hazard, drainage issue or vision obstruction.

There are also many washouts, and several road culverts that have failed due to the high volume of rain.  The Road Commission urges motorists not to ignore, or move “Road Closed” signs as this puts yourself and others at risk.  In addition, those who break the law may be fined and/or receive penalizing points on their license.

Residents and motorists are urged to contact the Road Commission to report safety issues as they continue to be a priority for the Road Commission.  The Road Commission can be reached at (269) 674-8011, or via email at vbcrc@vbcrc.org.  Or visit the Road Commission on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VBCRC  

VAN BUREN COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION

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.  

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 July 14, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.  It will be held in-person at 411 N. Paw Paw St. Lawrence, MI 49064.

Members of the public will only be able to speak at the meeting during the public comment portion of the meeting and such comment will be limited to two minutes per person. To provide for orderly public comment, a person wishing to speak during public comment must state their name and request to be recognized by the Moderator. The Moderator 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 Clerk at the email address below or by mailing to PO BOX 445, Lawrence, MI 49064. A copy of the meeting  agenda may be picked up at the Township Hall the day before the meeting or emailed to you upon request.

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.  The Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the meeting upon reasonable advance notice by contacting the Township Clerk, by email, phone, or mail at the below.

Judy Janssen

Clerk

clerk@lawrence-township.org

411 N. Paw Paw St.

Lawrence, MI 49064

(269) 674-4255

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 SUMMER HOURS
The County Road Commission Wants You to Know . . .
Beginning on Monday, May 2, 2022, the Van Buren County Road Commission will be working four 10-hour days. The Road Commission’s daily work schedule is 6:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Thursday. The Road Commission will be closed on Fridays tentatively through Saturday, October 1, 2022.
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

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