SUMMER EDUCATION TAX
A recent change in the property tax collection process will impact all future property tax bills. The state of Michigan passed Public Act 243 of 2002, which requires the State Education Tax (SET) on all property in the state to be collected on a summer property tax bill. As a result of this law, all taxpayers will be receiving a summer property tax bill every year starting in July 2003.
The SET is the 6-mill tax that was created in 1994 as part of Proposal A. The tax, while collected locally, is actually a state tax used to support all school systems in the state. For 2003 only, the tax rate will be reduced from 6 mills to 5 mills. In 2004, the rate will return to the usual 6-mill rate. While the SET will be paid in the summer, the early collection of the SET will not change the overall amount of property taxes paid each year. Beginning in 2003, the SET will not be collected on the December winter tax bill as it has been in the past.
Summer tax bills are sent out on July 1 and the bill must be paid by September 14 in order to avoid any interest penalty.
Under MCL 211.51, property taxpayers may defer until February 15, without penalty or interest, the due date of their summer taxes on their homestead, if their household income for the preceding calendar year did not exceed $25,000 and they are:

a) 62 years of age or older, including the unmarried surviving spouse of a
person who was 62 years of age or older at the time of death;
b) A paraplegic or quadriplegic;
c) An eligible serviceperson, eligible veteran, or their eligible widow or widower;
d) A blind person; or
e) A totally and permanently disabled person.

Property that is classified or used as agricultural property may qualify if the gross receipts of the farming operation are not less than the household income of the owner.
Persons applying for a deferral must certify that they qualify for the deferment on a form available through the Treasurer’s office in order to receive the deferral. The form must be completed each year in order to have taxes deferred without penalty in any given year. The form must be filed by September 14 to receive the deferral.

G.A. FIRE AND RESCUE WORK INCREASES
The G.A. Fire Dept. responded to 31% more EMS runs in 2002 than in 2001. While most of the EMS activity increase was in Glen Arbor Township, we also are now providing EMS to Empire Township at their request. That contract has been renewed for the future. Fire and rescue runs, personnel training, and maintenance required about 12,000 hours by G.A. in 2002. This included 231 ambulance runs and 83 fire runs.

G.A. Fire Dept. has a staff of 23 trained personnel. Nine are fire-trained, four are EMS trained, and ten have both fire and EMS training. Five of the group are currently taking additional training. Within the group they have four state-certified fire instructors and one state-certified fire inspector, the only one in Leelanau County. Since G.A. now has a staff paramedic, (Advanced Life Support), providing part of the 24/7 coverage, the need for flown-in ALS support by helicopter has dropped significantly. Our dedicated G.A. fire and rescue group continues to provide professional fire and emergency medical protection as their activity increases.

A DREAM COMING TRUE—NEW PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING
March 26th marked a red-letter day for Glen Arbor Township as groundbreaking ceremonies took place on the site of the township’s new Public Safety Building. After fifty years of use, the old Fire Hall had developed a severe case of poor location due to heavy traffic and congestion, extreme under sizing that forced rental of off-site storage and a number of units being parked outside in the freezing weather, as well as a contaminated water supply and other shortcomings. The winning contractor for the project is FED Corporation, a design-build firm from Gladwin, Michigan, with solid experience in the construction of fire stations and public safety projects.

Originally conceived as a pole building, the structure will be built utilizing a steel framework and long lasting, minimal maintenance cementeous block and siding. The design has been carefully developed to fit pleasingly into the community. Among its significant features will be a location away from congested Lake Street that will provide safe ingress and egress for volunteers and emergency equipment, adequate indoor storage for all department equipment, living quarters for on-duty medical/fire personnel and even…drinkable water. The bay area will feature radiant floor heating and ready access to all equipment through a drive-through system.

All in all, the bottom line for the community will be more efficient delivery of emergency services for fire and EMS runs which have been growing at record levels each of the past several years. The building is tracking to come in at or under its original budget and is scheduled for completion by Labor Day. The G.A. Board sincerely thanks the many people whose generosity and hard work have made this dream come true.

NEW BRIDGE AT THE OLD MILL
Complete reconstruction of the M-22 Old Mill Bridge north of town is underway. Co. Road 675 and Westman Rd. back to M-22 are being used as the detour until the new bridge is completed. The bridge was closed on Jan. 27, and MDOT recently reported that the completion is scheduled for July 3, 2003.

LAKE TO THE LAKE CONTINUES
Questions surfaced as to whether the G.A. boat ramp and the associated traffic and parking were feasible with the construction and operation of the new LeBear Resort project. The G.A. Board received petitions conveying significant citizen and business support for the continuation of the Lake St. ramp. Based on this, the Lake Michigan boat ramp will again be available on Lake St. in 2003 and beyond, unless or until a satisfactory alternate location is identified. To that end a citizen committee was formed to address improvements to the Lake St. ramp operation and to explore any possible future alternate locations for the ramp.

ZONING AND PLANNING ACTIVITY
The G.A. Zoning Map update was reviewed by the County and G.A. Board and is complete. The County will maintain the Map. This is a much-needed revision since the last 1975 issue. A major Z & P activity in 2003 will be the review and redrafting of the G.A. Master Plan. It was first issued in 1984 and revised in 1988. Our current review is especially needed based on new State requirements. Currently Z & P is interviewing a number of potential planning consultants for the project. A grant application to the DEQ for master plan work will be submitted to seek funding for some of this work.

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
Current plans for this summer include paving G. A. Twp.’s portion of Wheeler Rd., and making improvements on both E. State St. and S. Oak St. The latter improvements are scheduled to enhance access and egress for emergency vehicles housed in the new Public Service Building. The Zoning & Planning Commission has also recommended that future funds be used to improve Bay Lane and to pave both Fisher and Sunset Rds.

GYPSY MOTHS
Glen Arbor Township has agreed to participate in the 2003 Leelanau County Gypsy Moth Program. Those that will be sprayed should have been contacted by Leelanau County.

LEELANAU FIRE PREVENTION ORDINANCE
The ordinance has been reviewed by the Board. The Board also appointed Chief DePuy as the townships representative to participate in educational involving countywide implementation of the Ordinance. While questions remain concerning overall implications the Board acted to insure options for the future continue.

OLD FIRE STATION FUTURE
The Study Committee considering the future of the old fire station continues to review alternatives for the use of the property. Because the building is not anticipated to be vacant until the end of August, thoughtful contemplation continues. Suggestions may still be sent to Trustee Bill Thompson in care of the Township Office. Resolution of the cell Tower’s location is part of the ongoing deliberation by the Study Committee.

TOWNSHIP HALL IMPROVEMENTS
Plans for the renovation of the kitchen roof structure and the related reproofing project are finally in hand. It is anticipated that bids will be taken this Spring and that work will commence thereafter. The second phase of the project will involve residing the entire building to eliminate maintenance problems, and bring the exterior appearance up to snuff.