Neighborhood association zoom meeting

The Westwood Neighborhood Association's May 20 meeting will be via Zoom! 

Ronald Huster is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Westwood Neighborhood Association Meeting

Time: May 20, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84089038666?pwd=S05iUGdRNDc2RmMrZEl6aU9Jc3IvZz09

Meeting ID: 840 8903 8666

Password: 2DLFXg

 We plan to discuss current crime rate, the GREAT THINGS that people have been doing in Westwood, Planning Commission happenings, Upcoming Township Public Hearing on C&D Recycling Center, The Annual Yard sale Dates.

We will post the highlights  here on this web page soon after the meeting, if you can't attend 

Letter from Consumers Energy

Weekly yard waste in carts will begin being picked up on the regular weekly schedule on April 27. Only what is in the cart will be picked up, no additional bags at this time. 

The Township's Spring bulk leaf & brush pick-up will happen as scheduled week of May 4-8. East of Nichols Road is Wednesday and West is Thursday.

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

MEETING AGENDA DATE: April 15 2020

Place: Meeting place closed due to Corona Virus 19 

The WNA Board is reviewing different types of meetings. Hopefully we can do something different in May. 

I. Meeting information posted on web page.

II. Roll: All neighbors are encouraged to review and offer comment.

III. Agenda:

      A. Status of Public Safety.

         1. Bob Bolinger reported a drop in recent crime, maybe due to the virus? Reminder: Remember to lock your car and your house!. (Click Here)

IV. Committee Reports:

      A. Kalamazoo Township Planning Commission Notes (Click Here).      

      B. Westwood Neighborhood Garage Sale: Committee decided to reschedule for fall. 

      C. Westwood T-Shirts:

           1. The Association has a few T-Shirts available for sale. ( See below)

V. Public Comments –

       Rod Leversee reports that all the earth moving equipment at US131 & D Ave is making room for a new Loves Truck Stop. 

       He also wondered how the update to the Township 5 year plan will be effected. Denise From the Township Planning Commission replied the the Planning group is working on th plan and still want to get public input. They hope to have the plan posted soon on the Township web site.

       Even though not Westwood, road construction on Oakland Ave is set to resume April 26. SOUTHBOUND Oakland Dr. WILL remain OPEN throughout this project. NORTHBOUND Oakland Dr. will be CLOSED: From Parkview to Howard during Phase 1 From Kilgore to Howard during Phase 2 (starts approximately July 31)

Next meeting date, May 20, 2020, if possible, at Westwood Fire Station, 1310 Nichols Road at 7:00 pm. 

STAY HEALTHY!

Most of you have probably received an email or call from Republic Services. I checked and confirmed that we will NOT be having bulk trash pick-up in April as scheduled. Also, weekly yard waste cart service will Not begin on April 1st as scheduled. Your trash will be picked up as usual but please be sure the driver does not have to leave the truck to move the cart or pick up additional items. They have families at home they want to protect, just like you.

Please also be extra careful about what you are putting in the recycling. The less hand sorting that has to be done at the facility that takes the recycling the more likely they are to be able to continue to recycle our materials.

Services will return to normal and as soon as it is deemed safe. We can't say at this time exactly when that will be but the better we are about social distancing the sooner it should be.

In the meantime see what you can do to minimize your waste and consider starting a compost pile and putting in a garden. You can find more about composting on our website.http://ktwp.org/Portals/16/Recycle/EPA%20compost-guide.pdf

DATE: March 2020

Place: Meeting place closed due to Corona Virus 19 

I. Meeting information posted on web page.

II. Roll: All neighbors are encouraged to review and offer comment.

III. Minutes of February 19, 2020 meeting are posted on the page following this agenda.

IV. Agenda:

  A. Status of Public Safety.

     1. Bob’s Crime Report and any other information. Crime is not lacking in Kalamazoo and the attached Crime Mapping report shows that. Kal Township doesn't report to this, but it still shows a general idea that lots of stuff is happening     LOCK YOUR CARS (Click Here)

     2. Angie’s discussion about Westwood Community (Click Here)

     3. Combined Dispatch Facility Tours are on hold until virus warnings are lifted.

  B. Guest Speaker Update: No guest speakers until warnings are lifted. 

V. Committee Reports:

  A. Kalamazoo Township Planning Commission Notes (Click Here).

  B. Westwood Neighborhood Garage Sale:

    1. Decision will be made by April 1, 2020 to reschedule for fall or cancel.

VI. Public Comments –  To leaave a comment, please email wnakzoo@aol.com

Next meeting date, April 15, 2020, if possible, at Westwood Fire Station, 1310 Nichols Road at 7:00 pm.

I. Meeting called to order by President Ron Huster at 7:05 pm

II. Attendance: 10 neighbors and guests and 5 board members

Others: Kalamazoo Township Sergeant Michael White

III. Acceptance of prior meeting minutes: Moved and seconded to accept minutes as presented.

   A. Passed by voice vote

IV. Agenda items: no additions brought forth from the floor

V. Agenda

   A. Election of officers and planned officer involvement: Proposed officers for this two year term are:

     Ron Huster, President

     Bob Bolinger, Vice President

     Penny Thompson, Secretary/ Treasurer

     Rod Leversee, Township Liaison

     Ken Wood, Alternate Township Liaison*

     Angie Ponzini, Public Safety Liaison

     Marti Nuyen, Parks Liaison

*Ken Wood's job prevents him from attending the required number of meetings   according to the by-laws, and so he can no longer serve as Vice President. He continues as a board member and he will continue to be involved as his schedule allows.

   B. Status of public safety:

      1. Bob presented the current crime report data. It should be noted the change in the time   frame of the report is one month while in the past it has been two weeks. Currently Mid   Jan. to mid Feb. found 108 crimes committed and reported.

      2. Angie reports that recently Skyline has been very slippery, “a sheet of ice”. She called   and the road commission sent a salt truck out promptly and they did a thorough job.   Kudos to them!

      3. Ron reports he anticipates the schedule for tours of the new dispatch center will be   coming soon. (This will likely be postponed due to the current Covid-19 situation)

   C. Imagine Westwood project: Marti has arranged for us to hold our June 17thmeeting in Fray's   Park. City Commissioner Jean Hess reports the city has funds to canvas residents re their  long term hopes and plans for the neighborhood. Suggested possibly signs announcing  information at the entrance to neighborhood parks. Parks include Scheid, Stroud, Fray's  and Grand Pre/ Jenks. We will again hold a holiday open house on December 2, 2020.

   D. Status of sustainable commercial growth: Obstacles to the new Chick Fil-A appear to near   resolution. The mattress company building has been razed and the site is being prepared   for building. It is reported that there will be parking for 66 cars in the lot and space for   32 cars in the pick-up queue. The vacant BP gas station has had no action.

   E. Westwood wearing apparel: Ron is still hoping to be able to offer sweatshirts with our logo.

VI. Committee Reports:

    Newsletter: Ron has started a neighborhood newsletter, and is hoping to make   it like a newspaper to make it easy to read.

Jim Hess of Jaqua Realtors has expressed an interest in advertising on our web page.   Ron wonders how much we should charge. General discussion followed, but no amount   was settled upon.

   Denise Hartsough reported regarding the township planning commission:

Regarding noise concerns with the new car wash. Concerned neighbors should   call the township with complaints so they can monitor the noise levels.

The car wash requested approval to put up a 60 ft flagpole on their property,   which was denied.

A zoning change was requested and denied to allow gravel mining near the   intersection of Alamo and Barney.

The former concrete fabrication site on N. Westnedge has been adapted to be a   seed packaging plant. It will be a cleaner and greener use of this property.

VI. Committee Reports:

   A. Communications: We continue to explore ways to reach our neighbors. A possible idea is to   create a mailer for new neighbors which would welcome them to the neighborhood,   offer useful information, list resources and phone numbers, tell them about our meetings,   and our safety programs. We could include the public safety magnet and encourage them  to “see something, say something”. We could possibly place newsletters in local   businesses and see if Senior Services would include them with Meals on Wheels   delivered in our neighborhood. Penny will work on a draft of a possible mailer and   present it for input.

VII. Public Comments: No additional heard

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm by voice vote. No opposition.

Next meeting date: March 18, 2020

Respectfully submitted: Penny Thompson 

Please submit additions or corrections to: pennythmpsn@charter.net

Westwood Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes of February 19, 2020

I. Meeting called to order by President Ron Huster at 7:05 pm

II. Attendance: 10 neighbors and guests and 5 board members

Others: Kalamazoo Township Sergeant Michael White

III. Acceptance of prior meeting minutes: Moved and seconded to accept minutes as presented.

Passed by voice vote

IV. Agenda items: no additions brought forth from the floor

V. Agenda

A. Election of officers and planned officer involvement: Proposed officers for this year are:

Ron Huster, President

Bob Bolinger, Vice President

Penny Thompson, Secretary/ Treasurer

Rod Leversee, Township Liaison

Ken Wood, Alternate Township Liaison*

Angie Ponzini, Public Safety Liaison

Marti Nuyen, Parks Liaison

*Ken Wood's job prevents him from attending the required number of meetings   according to the by-laws, and so he can no longer serve as Vice President. We   hope he will continue to be involved as his schedule allows and appreciate his   input and participation.

B. Status of public safety:

1. Bob presented the current crime report data. It should be noted the change in the time   frame of the report is one month while in the past it has been two weeks. Currently Mid   Jan. to mid Feb. found 108 crimes committed and reported.

2. Angie reports that recently Skyline has been very slippery, “a sheet of ice”. She called   and the road commission sent a salt truck out promptly and they did a thorough job.   Kudos to them!

3. Ron reports he anticipates the schedule for tours of the new dispatch center will be   coming soon. (This will likely be postponed due to the current Covid-19 situation)

C. Imagine Westwood project: Marti has arranged for us to hold our June 17thmeeting in Fray's   Park. City Commissioner Jean Hess reports the city has funds to canvas residents re their  long term hopes and plans for the neighborhood. Suggested possibly signs announcing  information at the entrance to neighborhood parks. Parks include Scheid, Stroud, Fray's  and Grand Pre/ Jenks. We will again hold a holiday open house on December 2, 2020.

D. Status of sustainable commercial growth: Obstacles to the new Chick Fil-A appear to near   resolution. The mattress company building has been razed and the site is being prepared   for building. It is reported that there will be parking for 66 cars in the lot and space for   32 cars in the pick-up queue. The vacant BP gas station has had no action.

E. Westwood wearing apparel: Ron is still hoping to be able to offer sweatshirts with our logo.

VI. Committee Reports:

Newsletter: Ron has started a neighborhood newsletter, and is hoping to make   it like a newspaper to make it easy to read.

Jim Hess of Jaqua Realtors has expressed an interest in advertising on our web page.   Ron wonders how much we should charge. General discussion followed, but no amount   was settled upon.

Denise Hartsough reported regarding the township planning commission:

Regarding noise concerns with the new car wash. Concerned neighbors should   call the township with complaints so they can monitor the noise levels.

The car wash requested approval to put up a 60 ft flagpole on their property,   which was denied.

A zoning change was requested and denied to allow gravel mining near the   intersection of Alamo and Barney.

The former concrete fabrication site on N. Westnedge has been adapted to be a   seed packaging plant. It will be a cleaner and greener use of this property.

VI. Committee Reports:

A. Communications: We continue to explore ways to reach our neighbors. A possible idea is to   create a mailer for new neighbors which would welcome them to the neighborhood,   offer useful information, list resources and phone numbers, tell them about our meetings,   and our safety programs. We could include the public safety magnet and encourage them  to “see something, say something”. We could possibly place newsletters in local   businesses and see if Senior Services would include them with Meals on Wheels   delivered in our neighborhood. Penny will work on a draft of a possible mailer and   present it for input.

VII. Public Comments: No additional heard

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm by voice vote. No opposition.

Next meeting date: March 18, 2020

Respectfully submitted: Penny Thompson 

Please submit additions or corrections to: pennythmpsn@charter.net