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Saginaw Charter

TownshipFALL 2017

TownshipVIEWSPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE TOWNSHIP VIEW

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SAFETY OF OUR CHILDRENBack-to-School Safety Tips

Dehumidifier Fires

Saginaw Township Fire Department has dealt with several fires involving faulty dehumidifiers over the last year. During the investigations,

it was discovered there is a recall not only on the dehumidifiers involved in our fires, but a variety of other dehumidifiers. Please take a minute and visit one of these websites to make sure your dehumidi-fier is not on the list. They can overheat, smoke, or catch on fire.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2014/ Gree-Reannounces-Dehumidifier-Recall/

CA – Compact Appliance https://learn.compactappliance.com/

dehumidifier-recall/

With the start of a new school year, please remember to be mindful of our school zones in the mornings and

afternoons and adjust your vehicles speed to 25 mph during the times indicated on the signs.

This is not only the law but for the safety of all of our children.

Let us also be mindful of our school buses and young children who enter and exit them daily.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2Photo Credit: DarrenWilliger on YouTube

2 Saginaw Charter Township Fall 2017

Here’s a review of the state law for stopping for school buses.

257.682 Stopping for school bus displaying flashing

red lights; violation as civil infraction; meeting stopped

school bus on divided highway; proof; rebuttable presumption;

community service.

(1) The operator of a vehicle over-taking or meeting a school bus that has stopped and is displaying 2 alter-nately flashing red lights located at the same level shall bring the vehicle to a full stop not less than 20 feet from the school bus and shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer actuated. The operator of a vehicle who fails to stop for a school bus as required by this subsection, who passes a school

bus in violation of this subsection, or who fails to stop for a school bus in violation of an ordinance that is sub-stantially similar to this subsection, is responsible for a civil infraction.

(2) The operator of a vehicle upon a highway that has been divided into 2 roadways by leaving an intervening space, or by a physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing sections so constructed as to impede vehic-ular traffic, is not required to stop upon meeting a school bus that has

stopped across the dividing space, barrier, or section.

Listed below are some additional tips for you to discuss with your chil-dren to keep them safe. Have a great, safe 2017-2018 school year.

Important Back-to-School Safety Tips

1. Teach your children to always TAKE A FRIEND with them when walking or biking, and stay with

a group while standing at the bus stop. Make sure they know which bus to ride.

2. If your child is old enough to walk to school from home, walk the route to and from school with your children pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they’re being followed or need help. Teach your children they should NEVER TAKE SHORTCUTS and always stay in well-lit areas.

3. Teach your children that if anyone bothers them or makes them feel scared or uncomfortable, that they should trust their feelings and immediately get away from that person. Teach them it is ok not to be polite in situations like this and IT IS OK TO SAY NO.

4. Teach your children if anyone tries to take them somewhere they should RESIST by kicking and screaming, try to run away and to draw ATTENTION to them by kicking and screaming out loudly…… “Help! This person is trying to take me away” or “Help! This person is not my father/mother.”

5. Teach your children NOT TO ACCEPT A RIDE from anyone unless you have said it is ok in that instance. If anyone follows them in a vehicle they should turn around, go in the other direction, and run to a trusted adult who may help them.

6. Always know where your children will be. Teach your children to always CHECK FIRST before changing their plans before or after school. Teach your children to never leave school, with anyone unless they CHECK FIRST with you or another trusted adult, even if someone tells them it is an emergency.

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CONSTRUCTION PL NNING

Anything worth doing is worth doing right! This philosophy taught to us at an early age by our parents and teachers also holds true to building

construction projects and the best place to start is with planning.

Start with items that have little or no expense. Make a list of your needs, wants and budget. Talk to friends and neighbors that have done similar projects. Your local building material supplier is an excellent source for ideas and material costs and don’t forget about searching the World Wide Web.

Once you have a pretty good idea of the direction you would like to go and before making a financial commitment, make contact with your Local Building Department to review / discuss

your construction plans. If you are working with a properly licensed contractor, they can take care of this step for you.

When you have determined (preliminarily) that your proposed project will comply with zoning ordinances and construction codes you should then refine your preliminary plans into final construction documents. Plans for commercial projects will need to be prepared by properly

licensed design professionals. Plans for most projects that are residential can be prepared by the owner or owner’s representative.

Completed plans are then submitted to the local building authority with a construction permit application for final review and approval. When this step is completed a permit is issued and construction can commence.

Fall 2017 Saginaw Charter Township 3

Fall is right around the corner and you can always count on Saginaw Township Recreation to provide the very best in recreation and leisure programming for our residents and the surrounding communities.

Following is a list of programs we will be offering this fall:

YOUTH BASKETBALLBoys & Girls (K – 6th Grade) These leagues are designed to be fun and to teach the fundamentals of basketball. There will be sep-arate leagues for boys and girls and they will also be broken down by grade level. The Kindergarten league will consist of a 6 game schedule, while the 1st – 6th grade league will consist of a 10 game schedule. Early registration for these leagues opens on October 2nd. Sign up early for the special early registration price! Please contact the Recreation Department if you are interested in coaching.

MEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUECome inside Center Courts for the Men’s Basketball league starting in early December! Register your team of friends, co-workers, family, etc. and show us what you’ve got. It’s a great way to stay active during the winter months. This is a 10-game season, plus a post-season tournament. Early Registration opens October 23rd!

CENTER COURTSSENIOR BASKETBALL DAYSThis time is set aside for those 50 & Over looking to keep their game sharp in a non-competitive atmo-sphere! Stop in every Tuesday & Thursday from 9 - 10 a.m. beginning in October and get your game on!

ADULT VOLLEYBALL LEAGUEWomen’s Power, Recreational and Coed LeaguesWomen’s Power Volleyball League will play on Monday evenings and Women’s Recreational and Coed leagues will play on Wednesday evenings. A seven game schedule will be played in each league along with a post-season tournament beginning in late November. Registration will be held October 16th – November 3rd.

YOGACenter Courts offers a Gentle-Flow Yoga Class every Monday evening from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Students will be led through breathing techniques to quiet

the mind and a series of soothing yoga postures to gently stretch and strengthen your muscles. Yoga has been proven to benefit moods, increase vitality, flexibility and strength, and improve overall health.

CHAIR YOGAChair yoga is a modified form of Hatha Yoga for all ages, especially for seniors or those experiencing chronic injury or illness. This form of exercise is done sitting or standing while using a chair for support. Stretching and breathing techniques will be stressed to help increase mobility and calm your mind. Class will be held at Center Courts on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. beginning in September.

PiYoNew at Center Courts - PiYo Live! What is PiYo? The muscle-sculpting of Pilates combined with the strength and flexibility of Yoga. This class is designed to get your heart rate going as it features various styles of Yoga and Pilates in continuous move-ments that flow from one exercise to another. Low impact/high intensity! Classes are offered Monday & Wednesday mornings and Tuesday & Thursday evenings.

DANCING FOR FITNESSFun and low-impact, this program offers a way for individuals, particularly those over the age of 50, a way to help with strength and flexibility, and improve circulation while at the same time having fun! Grab your friends (or come and make new ones) with this fantastic class!Classes are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Center Courts. You can sign up for either twice a week or three times a week.

MUSIC FOR MUNCHKINSAges: 1 - 5 yearsMs. Michele brings musical fun wherever she goes! Your child will participate in musical activities through educational and traditional songs, dancing, singing, playing instruments and participating in circle-time activities. Music for Munchkins is a great

way for your child to socialize with other children and feel the magic of music! This class meets every Wednesday from 5:45 – 6:30 p.m., and every Friday from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.

CENTER COURTS PLAYGROUPAges: 3 and underHelp establish your child’s large motor skills by par-ticipating in the Center Courts Playgroup. Work with their running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as helping them develop social skills and meet new friends! Playgroup is offered every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. beginning in September! Don’t miss out on all of the fun!

HALLOWEEN COEDSOFTBALL TOURNAMENTSaginaw Township Recreation will be hosting a Halloween Coed Softball Tournament at Olson Park on Saturday, October 21st. This tournament is double elimination with a toilet bowl championship game. We encourage teams to get in the spirit and wear Halloween costumes!

OPEN PICKLEBALL AT CENTER COURTS!Center Courts has a newly refinished floor that includes Pickleball courts! What is Pickleball? Pickleball is a cross between badminton, tennis and table tennis. It is played on a badminton-sized court with wooden paddles, a wiffle ball and a net that is lowered to 34 inches. Players volley the ball back and forth to try to score on the opposition. This sport is easy to learn for people of all ages and athletic abilities. Open Pickleball play will be offered on Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 7 – 10 a.m. and Tuesday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. beginning in September.

9th-12th GRADE BASKETBALLThis competitive league will have teams formed by a draft after a skill drill practice. The schedule consists of 10 games that will begin in January. Early registration opens on Nov. 20th! Don’t miss out! Sign up early!

NEWS YOU CAN USE from Saginaw Township Recreation

DOG LICENSES FOR SALE Dog licenses are available for Saginaw Township residents at the Township Treasurer’s Office from December 1, 2017 through March 1, 2018. P.A. 195 of 1969, Sec. 6 requires the owner to show proof of valid rabies vaccination including the expiration date to obtain a dog license. Dog licenses will not be issued without the required rabies vaccination information. If you have received a dog license form from Saginaw County, please bring that as well.

4 Saginaw Charter Township Fall 2017

To subscribe to our digital newsletter and for other

important information, please visit us at

www.saginawtownship.org

facebook.com/saginawchartertownshipgovernmentfacebook.com/saginawtownshippolicedepartmentfacebook.com/saginawtownshipfiredepartment

facebook.com/saginawtownshiprecreationtwitter.com/saginawtownship

TOWNSHIP CONTACTS

Assessing 791-9810Clerk’s Office 791-9830Community Development 791-9865Department of Public Services 791-9870Fire Department 792-9691Fiscal Services 791-9820Manager/Supervisor 791-9800Parks and Recreation 791-9860Police Department 793-2310Treasurer 791-9840

Water Department 791-9880

Saginaw Charter Township4980 Shattuck Road

P.O. Box 6400 Saginaw, MI 48608-6400Phone: (989) 791-9800Fax: (989) 791-9815

www.saginawtownship.orgBusiness Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How to Find Out if YourDehumidifier Was Recalled

The confusing part for many consumers is that there were a wide variety of different pint-size units affect-ed, ranging from 20-70 pint capacity, that were sold by eleven different brands. The common denominator is the manufacturer: Gree Electric Appliances.

To further the confusion, only select models by these brands were affected by the recall since many of these brands produce their product in different factories other than Gree. Brands have taken different approaches to how they have responded to the Gree dehumidifier recall.

11 Brands on the Recall List (Updated)The list below has been updated to reflect the latest

recall announced on November 29, 2016.1. Danby or Premiere — 6 models (ranging from

30 to 65 pints)

2. De’Longhi or SuperClima — 3 models (DDSE30, DDSE40 and DG50)

3. Fedders — 2 models (FEDH-MAH030-C15 and 1FEDH-MAH070-C15)

4. Fellini — 2 models (13-06030 and 13-06031)

5. Frigidaire — 13 models (ranging from 30 to 70 pints)

6. GE — 21 models (ranging from 30 to 65 pints)

7. Gree — 14 models (ranging from 30 to 70 pints)

8. Kenmore — 4 models (ranging from 30 to 70 pints)

9. Norpole — 1 model (NPDH30PG)

10. Seabreeze — 2 models (DH450S25 and DH470S)

11. SoleusAir — 32 models (ranging from 25 to 70 pints)

First things first, if you have a dehumidifier that you purchased between January 2005 and August 2013, it is imperative that you check to see if your model was affected by the Gree recall. To help you figure this out, follow these steps:• Locate Model Number: The first thing you

need to do is locate the model number of your dehumidifier, which can be easily located on the nameplate sticker. This will typically be found on the back, side or front of the unit.

• View List on CPSC.gov: View the full list of affected units on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

• Check on Gree Recall Website: Check to see if your dehumidifier is part of the recall by going to the Gree Dehumidifier Recall Website, and searching on their list of brands and specific model numbers affected.

• Call Recall Hotline: We would also advise that you call the Gree Dehumidifier Recall Hotline: 1-866-853-2802

• Follow Return & Refund Process: If your dehumidifier is part of the recall, you will then be prompted to enter your contact information. Once this has been completed, you will be a sent a return kit with next steps to returning your unit and receive a refund.

On the Recall List? Unplug Your Unit Immediately.

If you determine your dehumidifier is part of the recall, it is strongly recommended that you immediately turn off the device, unplug the unit to prevent any power from entering, and proceed with the return process through the above online portal.

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BRUSH DROP OFF SITE

The Saginaw Township Brush Drop Off Site will be open every day from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. through November 26, 2017. The site will accept brush and tree trimmings only and nothing larger than 6 inches in diameter. The Brush site is located at 5790 W. Michigan, next to the Waste Water Treatment Plant. It is open to Saginaw Township residents only. No commercial haulers.

SURVEY RESULTS FOR MICHIGANEach November

Presidential Election, the Election Assis-tance Commission (EAC) requires every state to complete a survey. Those results are in from the 2016 November General election. Out of the 50 states Michigan ranked very high in many categories:

• Ranked 14th in Presidential

Voter Turnout• One of 12 states to have

more that 25% of voters vote by absentee ballot

• Ranked 2nd in receipt of Motor Vehicle

Office registration. The average for all states that receive voter registration applications from

the Motor Vehicle Offices is 32.73%.

Michigan is one of only 3 states over 50% with 71.2% of all applications originating at the Secretary of State Branch Office.

• Ranked 12th in the number of UOCAVA (Military and Overseas Voter) ballots issued.