Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Fly a kite in Ada, MI

Go fly a kite. But first, learn all about them. Pros from Mackinaw Kite Co. will instruct ages 6 to 12 about the history of kites, styles and flying tricks during Ada Township's Kite Day. The event runs 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Ada Park. Cost is $5 per child for township residents, $7 for nonresidents. To register, call 676-0520 or e-mail adaparks@ada.mi.us.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1217250908112600.xml&coll=6


I would suggest you call to register since the parks department does not seem to respond to emails.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Fase Street should stay closed

Please support those members who do not want Fase Street open. Opening that street to traffic would be a disaster to our nice neighborhood. You can see it now with all the construction traffic. I like to bike and walk down that road without worrying about getting hit by a car and opening this entrance would just make it worse. Contact and vote to keep our streets safe. Don't open Fase Street.

I received this email from adamoorings@gmail.com encouraging opening the street. They are wrong. Here's what it said and how not to vote. Contact whoever you want to discourage this type of political nonsense.

*************************************************************
Dear Ada Moorings Neighbors:

On August 5, there is a primary election that takes place here in Ada, and there are some significant ramifications to the Ada Moorings neighborhood and the potential opening of Fase St. And though I'm not a strongly political person, I would like to encourage you to consider voting for the following candidates, because they support opening Fase St. for our neighborhood:·

William Wood for Township Supervisor·
Susan Burton for Township Clerk·
Cheryl Lathwell and Jon Sarb for Township Trustee, as well as any combination of Matt Nygren, Lloyd Paul, Robert Proos, and Jacqueline Smith.

Here is why. Over the past year, I've been researching possible ways to improve safety and reduce the speeds of neighborhood traffic (and if you recall, alternatives to speed bumps). One of the possible solutions discussed has been the possibility of converting the Fase St. emergency entrance into a regular entrance. Reducing traffic flow past the main entrance and our bus stops would help reduce the safety risks we face currently.

I spent some time with Township Supervisor George Haga, as well as Jim Ferro, the planning director, and discovered that there are two options for our neighborhood to pursue, if we really want that second entrance.

Option 1: Win a lawsuit. The current development was only possible because the developers won a lawsuit against the township. As part of that lawsuit, the neighborhood plan that was approved included an emergency entrance at Fase St., but apparently not much thought was put into that entrance in the following several amendments to that plan. A lawsuit would be the quickest way to get the entrance opened, but it would also prove to be reasonably costly for our combined associations.

Option 2: Take "official" steps to amend the plans and have the township open up the entrance. This starts with filing for an amendment to the original plan, followed by a review by the planning commission, a public hearing, a recommendation by that planning commission, then a vote by the Ada Board of Trustees. As many of you know, several of our current Trustees have personal interest and property on Fase St., which makes it difficult for any proposal to be passed.However, there is a bright side to Option2 – the vote on August 5. Apparently, because only Republicans run for the different positions on the Board, whoever wins the primary will win the general election, which takes place at the same time as the presidential election. As a side note, approximately 1,700 votes are cast during the primary, which translates to about 850 votes needed to win the Supervisor / Clerk / Treasurer positions, and somewhere around 500 votes to become a Trustee. We have about 220 houses in our neighborhood, which translates to around 400 votes. I think this represents a "significant" voting block.Over the last week, I spent some time calling all of the candidates for office and asking them about their position on opening Fase St. for our neighborhood.

Here are the results:

Supervisor Race:

*William Wood – will fight to open the Fase St. entrance

George Haga – stands by his decision NOT to open the Fase St. entrance

Clerk Race:

Deborah Ensing Milhuff – owns property of Fase St. and has consistently opposed opening the entrance

*Susan Burton – leans towards opening Fase St. entrance

Treasurer Race:

Norman Rhoades – irrelevant because he is running unopposed

Trustee Race:

Jacqueline Smith – has a undecided opinion, but promises to be fair in the process

Mischelle Sytsma – only person I didn't reach

John Westra – leans against opening Fase St. for safety reasons (Fase/Thorneapple intersection)

*Cheryl Lathwell – will support opening Fase St.

Matt Nygren – leans towards opening Fase St., but wants to know financial ramifications

Lloyd Paul – leans towards opening Fase St., but wants to understand full position

Robert Proos – leans towards opening Fase St., but wants to understand full position

*Jon Sarb – will support opening Fase St.(* supports the opening of Fase St.)

Obviously, there is no guarantee that Fase St. will ever open for our neighborhood. However, as a believer in the "power of the people" and in democracy, I think we should do our duty as citizens of Ada and participate in this election. There are other issues in Ada, including the development of the downtown area, the controversy of the billboard, and the development of areas in the northeast corner of Ada. However, in the end, the opening of Fase St. is an issue that has significance to us, and we should stand up and vote.

If you have questions on this vote, feel free to contact me personally at 616-780-8112 or by e-mail at edwardkuo@hotmail.com. Absentee ballots must be cast very soon, and the primary takes place in less than a week.

************************************************************************ - End

My comments - These people should really get with the program. Edward doesn't even live by Fase Street and shouldn't be sending out emails encouraging opening it. Your wrong as is adamoorings@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Township Board Meeting Agenda 7-28-2008

TENTATIVE AGENDA

ADA TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING

MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008
7:30 P.M.

ADA TOWNSHIP HALL
7330 THORNAPPLE RIVER DRIVE

I. CALL TO ORDER

A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

B. MOMENT OF SILENCE

C. NOTE BOARD MEMBER PRESENT/ABSENT

II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

III. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FORMATION OF A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND DESIGNATION OF
DOWNTOWN DISTRICT BOUNDRIES

IV. GENERAL TOWNSHIP BUSINESS:

Motion to approve minutes and accept reports/communications under Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes: JULY 14, 2008

B. Receive and File Various Reports/Communications:

1. FIRE CALL REPORTS-6/08
2. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT MINUTES-6/19/08, 6/30/08
3. BUILDING PERMIT REPORT-6/08
4. SHERIFF QUARTERLY REPORT-6/30/08
5. LAND CONSERVANCY-THANK-YOU-6/23/08
6. MI LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION, SDM LICENSE-6/18/08
7. OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES-5/8/08
8. MTA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FAX-7/3/08, 7/11/08
9. COMCAST-LINE UP CHANGE-7/11/08
10. REGION 8 PLANNING NOTES-7/08
11. INVESTMENT REPORT-6/08
12. BUILDING PERMIT TRENDS-7/17/08
13. OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD ANNUAL REPORT-5/28/08

V. APPROVAL OF WARRANT REPORT

VI. PUBLIC COMMENT

VII. BOARD COMMENT

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

A. GRAND VALLEY ESTATES EXTERIOR TANK CLEANING

IX. NEW BUSINESS

A. APPROVAL OF ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT
B. CONTRACT AWARD ROSELLE PARK ENTRY PROJECT

X. OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT

XI. ADJOURNMENT

Cascade July 4th Canoe Race

I've just learned that the annual July 4th Canoe Race sponsored by Cascade Township was cancelled this year due to the Thornapple River conditions (high and generally unsafe). They are planning on having the race next year barring unsafe conditions. They are also looking for a sponsor for the race, I'm sure one of the many companies in Cascade will step up by that time.

They do not have a kayak race at this time but if you own a canoe I would encourage you to participate in this event next year. It should be a good time. There are usually a max of 12 teams so the field is pretty small and a good chance for you to win.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Ada Township Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

And for those of you who are more interested in the planning commission, again not easy to find the minutes on the township site. But never fear here is a direct link to the planning commission minutes.

http://www.ada.mi.us/index.cfm?lp=minutes.cfm&mintype=2

Again they don't have the latest posted. Not sure why that is but again they should be able to post it 1-2 days after the meeting.

Ada Township Board Meeting Minutes

It's really kind of hard to find the meeting minutes for the Ada Township Board, they do a somewhat good job of posting them. I think they should be posted within 1-2days after the meeting. Here is a direct link to the meeting minutes.

http://www.ada.mi.us/index.cfm?lp=minutes.cfm&mintype=1

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Construction on railroad overpass in Ada

The very narrow bridge that everyone passes through in and out of Ada is finally getting a makeover. Work will begin the week of July 14th, all traffic will have to use Fase street to get in and out of Ada if you come down Thornapple River drive.

The two side walls will be removed and new concrete sidewall will be installed. These new walls will widen the underpass to allow more room for cars to get through. Along with the widening, the overpass will also be lowered one foot. I'm not too sure about that because it doesn't make sense to me but that's what I'm being told.

I would suggest the township puts up a sign before Fase street that indicates to semi trucks that they are too high to get through the underpass. I've seen many a trucks stuck there and it would only make sense to tell them that they aren't going to fit before they miss the road that will allow them to get through Ada.

Either way, I'm looking forward to the improvements, should be great.

July 4, 2009 Kayak Race

I have some unofficial news that next years kayak/canoe race will be from the Grand River bridge on Fulton to the new Roselle Park. This will be great race if this is the case.

I wonder though how we will get our kayaks out of the park. They really should have a path for cars to get their kayaks and canoes out. Otherwise, it's just a landing spot.

Ada Kayak Race Results

I don't have any results or participation numbers from this year's event but have emailed the Parks & Rec department and am waiting for a reply. Hopefully they'll respond soon.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Ada 4th of July Kayak Race

Ada is trying to start an annual July 4th Kayak Race. Here is the info:

1st annual “Rumble on the Rivers Canoe & Kayak Race.”
Starts at the Ada Covered Bridge and goes to the Grand River

1pm Ada Covered Bridge

Contact Parks & Rec Dept. for more information:

Office located in Ada Park, 1080 Buttrick Ave., Ada, MI 49301
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 370, 7330 Thornapple River Dr., Ada, MI 49301
Phone: 616-676-0520
e-mail: adaparks@ada.mi.us

Welcome to Kayak Ada

Please drop me a line if you're interested in participating in kayak trips around Ada, MI. I'll be updating this site with other kayak information in the future. Hopefully, we can get a group together.