kalamazoo township news

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

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. 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

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