PLATTE TOWNSHIP
Established 1868
Benzie County, Michigan, 49640
2023 Newsletter
Physical address:11935 Fowler Rd Mailing address: 6821 Indian Hill Rd.
Office Hours: Thursdays, 9am-Noon
(231) 325-2459
Township Email: plattetownship@gmail.com Website: plattetownship.org
Annual/Budget Meetings
We will have a Budget Workshop on Feb. 8, 2023 at 6pm, Our Annual meeting and Budget Approval & Truth in Taxation meeting will be held on March 18, 2023 at 12pm. County officials are invited to provide updates to residents. Contact the clerk for any inquiries.
Township Hall Rental
The hall is available for small gatherings. A $50 deposit (refunded if cleaned) is required to reserve your date. The Hall is also available to non-residents for $300 non-refundable fee.
Fire/Emergency The township contracts for these services with Homestead Township and the City of Traverse City (HazMat). They have proven to provide exemplary service and response times. PLEASE REMEMBER TO CLEAN YOUR CHIMNEY REGULARLY. Call 911 for any emergency!
Cemetery
Cemetery lots are available to residents at $250/site, non-residents $1000/site. Cindy Gottschalk is Cemetery Manager, 326-6500. Our Sexton is Joe Harriger.
TAX COLLECTION
Property Taxes are due February 14th to avoid interest and penalties. Our treasurer is available by appointment at 10576 Oviatt Road, phone: 326-6500. You may drop off your payment at our secure locked mailbox at the township hall any time prior to Feb. 14th. Mailbox is checked weekly. Payments can also be mailed to 10576 Oviatt Road, Honor 49640.
Waste/Recycling
The county will host various collections dates in 2023 for hazardous items such as batteries, paints/oils, CFL bulbs, household chemicals electronics, and scrap tires.
APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED
More info at www.benzieco.net or by calling 882-0554.
You can drop of batteries and lightbulbs at the township hall on Thursday mornings.
No clean up day is planned for 2023. June 2024 will be the next Township Clean up.
ARPA FUNDS
The Township received $38,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act. Funds were allocated to paint the exterior of the Township Hall and improve the parking area.
ASSESSOR
The township’s assessor is Jill Brown. She may be reached at 231-881-4000.
Board of Review:
Don Schmidt, Dennis Taghon and Bob Schutt
March 13 Monday 3pm-9pm
March 14 Tuesday 9am-3pm
Regular Quarterly Twp Board Meetings:
Jan 3 April 4
July 11 Oct 3
(Always the first Tuesday of each fiscal quarter at 6pm)
West Benzie Joint Planning Commission
This board meets at the Benzonia Township Hall, 1020 Michigan Ave., Benzonia, on the 1st Thursday every month at 6pm. Platte’s representatives are Robb Bollenberg and Matt Wieber. The township’s Zoning Board of Appeals members are our own residents: Paul Gerhart, Bob Michalak, and Matt Wieber. The Zoning Administrator, who is the point of contact for all zoning inquiries, is Jason Barnard. Although our township grows slowly, we are seeing vacant land parcels being improved to residential usage.
Internet at Township Hall
The township board has secured high speed internet access at the township hall. Residents can use the township’s internet on Thursday mornings or by contacting the supervisor to schedule a session. Residents must bring their own device or computer.
INTERNET EXPANSION
Charter Communications has installed broadband throughout Platte Township. We were one of the first expansion areas Charter chose to install service.
ELECTIONS
No scheduled elections for 2023. The November, 2022 election resulted in a 70% turnout (242 voters out of 347 registered Township voters). Way to go Platte!
A BIG Thank you to Deputy Clerk Ruth Hovland, Colin Bohash, Dennis Taghon, Leslie Miller, Linda Gottschalk, Jeanne Strathman, Lisa Pyne, Wayne Taghon, Lauren Michalak, Molly and Ray Franks. These inspectors ensure the voting process is secure and administered according to State Election Laws.
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The Platte Township Board would like to thank all residents for coming to the meetings this past year. We have tackled some very important issues and can know that there will be more issues to be carefully thought out in order to do what is best for our Township.
If you are not receiving periodic email updates from the township, and would like to, please email the clerk at: plattetownship@gmail.com and we will add you to the list!
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