Benton Township gets early shot at $2M grant

By Tony Wittkowski | Business Reporter | The Herald-Palladium

BENTON TOWNSHIP — Benton Township got good news a year earlier than expected.

In late August, the township officials were informed by state officials that they will receive a $2 million Stormwater, Asset Management and Wastewater grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Trustees proceeded to approve an engineering services agreement last week with Prein & Newhof. The engineering company and the township will use the grant’s funding to create an asset management plan, which determines how the township manages its wastewater system.

Developing the plan involves reviewing records to determine where everything is located and to schedule inspections of the conditions of all underground lines. Steve Oosting, senior engineer with Prein & Newhof, said they will work with township officials to create a plan to determine a timeline for when the underground infrastructure will deteriorate and what the needed repairs might be.

“This would allow us to study the system and compile all that information, giving the township the ability to make data-driven decisions in the future about how to prioritize needs going forward,” Oosting said.

Despite the township getting the SAW grant, there is a wrinkle involved with spending the money.

Controller Kelli Nelson said when the township first applied for the grant in 2013, the township would have been able to use $1.5 million of the grant toward surveying the system and $500,000 toward construction costs. However, the MEDQ changed that policy prior to the township getting the SAW grant.

Now the entire $2 million must be spent on creating the asset management plan.

The township expects to receive funding by October, Nelson said.

“When they let us know about this a couple weeks ago, our whole schedule was moved up,” Nelson said. “We can begin to incur costs prior to then, but we can’t submit for reimbursement until the grant has been awarded.”

The township does not have to match any percentage of the grant because it is considered a “distressed community.”

Oosting said they anticipated the township getting a SAW grant in the fifth round of grants. Instead, it came a year early. The MEDQ announced its fourth round of recipients in August, which totaled $97 million.

Treasurer Debbie Boothby said the township has tried replacing and pinpointing lines with immediate concerns up to this point.

“This will take things to the next level. Everything will be on maps, all the GPS is going to be laid out and they are going to put cameras all of the lines,” Boothby said. “It’s going to be a very intensive study of the township’s (wastewater) system.”

The township has either completed or scheduled nearly $5 million in improvements in the last two years, which included a $1.5 million sewer rehabilitation project last year.

Contact Tony Wittkowski at twittkowski@TheHP.com or (269) 932-0358. Follow him on Twitter: @tonywittkowski.

(Author’s Note: This article was originally published on Sept. 13, 2016)

Decreasing water usage follows national trend

By Tony Wittkowski | Business Reporter | The Herald-Palladium

BENTON TOWNSHIP — More residents are using less water in Benton Township.

Water Plant Supervisor Kyle Tryan gave trustees a look at the township’s water usage and demand trends over the past three years during a workshop meeting Friday. During the meeting, Tryan pointed out a trend that’s occurring across the county.

“Through the last eight months, and overall through the last three years, we’ve seen a decline in water usage,” Tryan said, referencing several handouts he provided trustees with. “If you see the attached sheet, most major U.S. cities are actually experiencing this decline as well.”

The two main causes of this decline has been a push for conservation of resources and the implementation of water-efficient devices and appliances, Tryan said.

“People are becoming more conscious of the environment and how to save themselves money through the use of more efficient products like shower heads, faucet aerators and washing machines,” Tryan said. “We are saving water, energy and chemicals and putting less pressure on capital costs. But we are taking in less revenue in turn.”

Kelli Nelson, a contracted township accountant, said the township doesn’t lose much revenue with the decrease in water usage.

“We have seen slight decline this year compared to prior years,” she said. “What Kyle is talking about is a nationwide trend. There is no reason for financial concern at this point. We will keep an eye on the water usage in 2016.”

The revenue the township collects through residential and commercial water bills pay for water filtration and operating the distribution system.

The township’s revenue was down 2.8 percent in 2015. Nelson said the township recorded $2.95 million in 2014 and $2.87 million in 2015. Nelson said the township’s water revenue was down 7 percent in the first quarter of 2016.

“We’re starting out the year a little lower than we did last year, but our budget projections have always been conservative,” Nelson said. “The last few years, the way we put together our budget, revenue has exceeded the budget. Don’t expect to see any issues with the water fund as a result of the usage trends.”

The reason the township budgets its water revenue conservatively is because it fluctuates due to several factors, like weather. Nelson said residents use less water during rainy summers, but usage increases when summer weather is dry.

Contact Tony Wittkowski at twittkowski@TheHP.com or (269) 932-0358. Follow him on Twitter: @tonywittkowski.

(Author’s Note: This article was originally published on April 5, 2016)

St. Joseph schools to send funds, water to Flint

By Tony Wittkowski | Business Reporter | The Herald-Palladium

ST. JOSEPH — Several area schools and agencies have stepped up to help residents involved with the Flint water crisis.

St. Joseph Public Schools’ staff and students are among the school districts working to collect and donate water and funds to the American Red Cross.

The effort began when St. Joseph High School’s boys swim coach and science teacher Paul Hirn – who has family in Flint – emailed administration in search of what could be done. From there, the school’s staff began engaging their respective service groups and student senates.

At the high school, Principal Kevin Riggs said because they had finals to worry about last week, the school will begin raising money through the first week of February.

“We will be raising money during lunch time Monday through Friday,” Riggs said. “Students can donate and if they donate more than $5 they will be entered into a raffle at lunch for gift cards.”

Principal Chad Mandarino sent emails notifying all Upton Middle School students and parents on what the school had planned for the upcoming week.

Last week, middle school staff could wear jeans for $3 a day or pay $10 for every day of the week. Come Tuesday, Upton Middle School students can pay $1 and wear a hat, while students can wear pajamas for $1 on Thursday.

“Pajamas are a big deal at the middle school,” Mandarino said. “We’re going to assess what we collected at the end of the week, and our student council might kick in some money from their Activity Fund to boost it a little. They have talked about this in social studies and have been following it in class.”

At E.P. Clarke Elementary School, Principal Michelle Allen said they held a “Fill Flint Day” last week where students could pay $1 to wear a hat, and teachers paid $5 to wear jeans.

The school raised $840 and collected water that was later contributed to the Bridgman Elementary School water drive.

“The kids were so proud to be part of a solution,” Allen said. “Our parents were very supportive. We also learned we had some family connections in Flint.”

Mike Wagner, principal at Lincoln Elementary, said students collected $682 last week during a one-day pajama event.

“It’s always nice to teach kids to think about others even if the community isn’t right here,” Wagner said. “They really exceeded my expectations. I was really proud of them.”

Tracy McFall, who served as student council advisor and fourth grade teacher at Brown Elementary School, said students decided two weeks ago to get a large water jug that is normally used for a cooler. Students flipped it upside down so hallway pedestrians could donate loose change.

The philanthropic venture also proved to be an educational one for the students involved.

“Today as I was walking by, I saw a custodian drop some change in,” she said. “I have a grandmotherly volunteer who also dropped some change in the other day. We also looked up what lead is because while the kids were making posters, a lot of them were wondering what it was.”

Contact Tony Wittkowski at twittkowski@TheHP.com or (269) 932-0358. Follow him on Twitter: @tonywittkowski.

(Author’s Note: This article was originally published on Jan. 31, 2016)

Pet experts provide tips on preventing heat exhaustion

Rigby, an 11-month-old beagle-spaniel mix, drinks water to stay cool Monday at Kiwanis Park in St. Joseph. Experts are reminding pet owners to make sure pets stay cool, with high temperatures around 90 expected over the next week. (Tony Wittkowski | HP Staff Writer)

By Tony Wittkowski | Business Reporter | The Herald-Palladium

BERRIEN COUNTY — With temperatures soaring to their highest peaks of the summer, pet owners are being reminded to take steps to prevent their furry friends from overheating.

Dr. Anne Cepela, who works at the Freeway Veterinary Clinic in Stevensville, said dogs are not as good at cooling themselves because they don’t sweat. Dogs lose heat at a slower rate through their respiratory system and the pads in their feet.

“They do this by panting,” Cepela said. “They can overheat quickly, so they need to be out of the sun, in the shade or in the house if that’s manageable. A wadding pool is good for keeping their body temperature down as well.”

Berrien County Animal Control Manager Val Grimes said the best thing for pet owners to do is to leave them at home with food and water.

Grimes said in order to avoid leaving them outside for more than a regular workday, animal control has kennels available for rent in the afternoon.

“We prefer them to be inside or in a cool basement. But if animals are left outside, they need to be where it is dark, with plenty of water and shade,” Grimes said. “Tying them to a tree will not cut it. They need protection from the rain, heat and flies.”

Grimes said pets should be taken out in the early morning or at dusk during warmer days. If it’s during the day, Grimes said they cannot be outside for more than 15 minutes without water.

No breed is more acclimated than another when it comes to warmer weather, though Cepela said black dogs and cats have a special need to remain cool, as their fur retains a lot of heat.

Signs of a heat stroke include severe panting and lethargy, which ultimately could lead to the animal collapsing. Should this occur, run a hose over the animal and get them to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible.

Simple things like adding ice cubes in their water can go a long way, Cepela said. Dogs that are predominantly outside need to have shade and a clean source of cold water.

“On a sunny day, they shouldn’t be where they can’t get out of the sun,” Cepela said. “They are going to get hot just as fast or faster than you are.”

A car is a dangerous place

Cepela said it’s unbelievable the short amount of time it takes for the sun to warm up a vehicle to unbearable conditions for animals.

“It’s the sun, not just the temperature. That’s what some people don’t understand,” Cepela said. “You can have a dog overheat in a car in the wintertime for that reason. If you’ve got a closed-up car and the sun is shining in, it can get very hot, very quickly.”

Grimes said her department gets calls on a daily basis for dogs being left in cars.

“People run in for a few minutes and think it doesn’t matter,” she said. “People are alert to it nowadays and you will be called on. Pay attention and leave them at home. Common sense goes a long way.”

Dog owners often find themselves in a predicament because while they are told dogs should not be in the heat, they still require daily exercise.

Justina Spicer understands the concept and feels she has a way around that.

The St. Joseph Township resident often takes her 11-month-old dog to Kiwanis Park, which offers shade and a dog water fountain. She said Rigby, her beagle-spaniel mix, runs around regardless of how warm it is.

“He likes to run, so I normally take him out here in the morning when its cooler,” she said. “He can’t be cooped up for long. There are enough shaded areas here where it is not too bad on him.

“You have to think about the heat and its effect on pavement,” Spicer said, “so I try to go in areas with grass.”

Contact Tony Wittkowski at twittkowski@thehp.com or (269) 932-0358. Follow him on Twitter @tonywittkowski.

(Author’s Note: This article was originally published on July 28, 2015)

Upton Middle School student continues fight against water scarcity

By Tony Wittkowski | Business Reporter | The Herald-Palladium

ST. JOSEPH – Most children Leah Terry’s age expect to relax during their summer vacation.

But at 13, Terry has already done more than most her age.

Come July 10, the Upton Middle School eighth grader plans on taking a week-long trip to Zambia, Africa, after raising $5,000 to build a water filtration system.

The charitable project began in fourth grade at E.P. Clarke Elementary School, when her class read “A Long Walk to Water,” which depicted the struggle of an African village digging a well.

“Some villagers walk miles for hours a day just to get clean water, which is a basic thing for us,” said the St. Joseph resident. “To think about changing that was inspiring. I really don’t know what to expect. I’m just excited to see everything.”

Terry is coordinating her effort with The Water Project, which provides water and sanitation solutions to communities around the globe.

In her fundraising efforts, Terry had collected about 150 works of art that were sold as part of a project called “Art for Africa.” With that she, along with friends and members of the community, sold art to go toward her overall goal of $5,000.

With the combination of “Art for Africa” and a grant she received from Disney, Terry was already halfway to her goal by summer’s end. Terry was notified last weekend that she was chosen as a local winner of the Kohl’s Care Scholarship for her charitable efforts.

Upton Middle School Principal Chad Mandarino said the scholarship put them over the top for the money they needed.

“She’s a great girl, straight-A student, very involved in the choir and our musicals,” he said. “I don’t know where she finds enough hours in the day.”

To Mandarino, Terry has shown the fortitude and the “go-at-it type attitude,” based on how long she has kept at it – which included fundraising for nearly a year.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in our area,” he said. “This is something beyond my wildest dreams for someone this age.”

A family affair

Terry’s father, Jeff, is also proud of her.

“She’s always been a real inquisitive kid,” he said. “She has done a lot of research on water scarcity. I was certainly impressed.”

In a way, Terry takes after her father.

Jeff does a lot of international development and has traveled to Africa, Asia and India, supporting clean water, better nutrition and projects that fight malaria and other diseases.

The plan will be to spend the week visiting a number of different communities in Zambia to see her hard work pay off. While there, Jeff said the two will have an opportunity to see other organizations at work – ones that have made great strides in improving water in Africa.

While the hard part is over, prepping for the trip has proven to be eventful.

“It’s a little hectic right now, but it’s been interesting,” Jeff said. “She’s never been outside of the country before. I think she’s more nervous about the flight then going there and seeing the work.”

With two summers under her belt in trying to combat water scarcity, Terry’s plans for her next summer are undecided.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead, but I don’t know,” she said. “I’m just thankful for the community’s help in raising the money.”

Contact Tony Wittkowski at twittkowski@thehp.com or (269) 932-0358. Follow him on Twitter @tonywittkowski.

(Author’s Note: This article was originally published on June 13, 2015)

Clay Township residents angry over possible park

By Tony Wittkowski | City Reporter | The Times Herald

Clay Township residents discuss the ramifications a park could have in a habitat sanctuary near homes. There are three other locations being considered for the park that will be purchased by the county.

Contact Tony Wittkowski at (810) 956-8905 or twittkowsk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @tonywittkowski.

Condition of man pulled from Muskegon Lake remains unknown, taken to Mercy Hospital

The U.S. Coast Guard searches the area west of Muskegon Lake for a possible drowning victim. (Dave Alexander | MLive)

By Tony Wittkowski | Reporter | MLive – Muskegon Chronicle

MUSKEGON, MI — The man who was pulled from Muskegon Lake by authorities around 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, was transported to Mercy Hospital where his condition remains unknown.

At approximately 7:40 p.m. members of the Muskegon Fire and Police Departments responded to reports of a subject underwater at the end of Edgewater Drive. The incident happened in an area north of the end of Edgewater Street locals call the Sand Docks — the former Sand Product Co. facilities at the old Pigeon Hill.

“First arriving units reported that a single 19-year-old male subject had disappeared below the surface of the water and a last scene point had been located,” read a release from Battalion Chief Gordon Cole.

According to the release, first arriving units entered the water and began a surface search. Muskegon Fire Department divers entered the water and recovered the victim who was in 22 feet of water after a 15-mintue search.

RELATED: Water Emergency: Authorities respond to possible drowning on west end of Muskegon Lake

The Muskegon Fire Department was assisted by the North Muskegon Fire Department, Norton Shores Fire Department, Muskegon County Sheriffs Department and the U.S. Coast Guard.

It was not known if the victim entered the water from the shoreline or was in a boat.

Officials do not know what the unidentified man was doing in the area, but no abandon boat was discovered. The name of the man will not be released until the family is notified.

Check back with MLive Muskegon Chronicle later for updates on the individual’s status.

Tony Wittkowski is a staff reporter at MLive Muskegon Chronicle. Email him at twittkow@mlive.com and follow him on Facebook and on Twitter.

(Author’s Note: This article was originally published on June 21, 2014)

CMU global campus locations to reopen by end of weekend in wake of Hurricane Sandy

By Tony Wittkowski | Senior Reporter | Central Michigan Life

Several Central Michigan University global campuses along the east coast have been closed temporarily due to violent weather caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Locations affected by the hurricane that swept the coastal region include Aberdeen, Fort Meade and Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Fort Belvoir, Fort Lee and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Virginia, Fort Hamilton in New York and the global campus location in the Pentagon.

At Fort Hamilton, the damage was kept to a minimum, with only downed power lines and stranded tree branches littered across the town.

“Traffic lights are out and there is a lot of debris,” said Sharon Hall, the program administrator at Fort Hamilton. “Since this campus is along the highway, a lot of the water and sand has come across the highway. We are slowly getting back to normal.”

Hall said this is something she had never experienced before.

“We are currently in a cleanup process,” she said. “We have a lot of power outages and flooding. Yesterday was a time for people to get slowly back to normal.”

Fort Hamilton held classes on its regular weekend format, but the employees were not asked to come into the office on Monday. Students are not supposed to report until Friday.

Fort Belvoir was out of power into Wednesday afternoon, with only essential personnel allowed on the premises. After being closed earlier in the week, Fort Belvoir has remained closed.

“This morning, about 65 percent was without power on base,”  said Mary Pat Maybeus, program administrator at Fort Belvoir. “In the late afternoon, more power was opened up, but for emergency personnel only.”

While on vacation in Germany, Fort Meade’s Program Administrator Linda Zedan heard about the hurricane making its way to the east coast last week. With the various centers in Washington, D.C., Meade was affected; however Zedan was able to return to the United States before the airports closed.

“I’ve been on vacation for two weeks from Germany,” Zedan said. “If we had left Germany a day or two later we would have been stranded because they were canceling flights.”

Fort Meade was closed on Monday and Tuesday, while sending a notice to its students of the procedure.

Fort Meade offers one course per term, encompassing 12 or 13 students this semester. The weather got bad Monday afternoon and continued through the night. It rained a lot and there was a lot of wind, however no major damage other than power outages and downed trees were reported around the area, Zedan said.

Fort Lee was only supposed to have a two-hour delay but closed early afternoon Monday and reopened on Tuesday, said Program Administrator Shana Demby.

“There was a lot of rain and a lot of wind,” Demby said. “Classes were on the weekend, so it did not affect anyone.”

Despite the harsh wind and abundance of rain, there has been no damage reported so far.

“We got the brunt of everything starting Monday afternoon,” Demby said in regards to the center shutting down an extra day.

Aberdeen was still closed on Wednesday due to inclement weather since its closing on Monday. Almost all centers and global campuses expect to be open for weekend classes.

(Author’s Note: This article was originally published on Nov. 1, 2012)