Georgetown Charter Township

05/29/2026

Georgetown Township Fire Department dive teams recently conducted training exercises at 8th Ave Park as the community prepares for another busy summer season along the waterfront.

During the training, Fire Chief Chief Dewitt thanked the township manager and board for approving construction of a new water spillway ramp completed last fall. In previous years, the steep access area made it difficult for fire trucks and emergency equipment to safely return to the parking lot after responding near the beach and water.

The newly constructed ramp now allows fire trucks and the department’s dive rescue trailer to get significantly closer to the shoreline. According to Chief Dewitt, the improved access will help reduce response times during water emergencies and improve overall safety operations at the park.

The training comes at an important time as Memorial Day weekend marked the unofficial kickoff to summer. 8th Ave Park saw heavy crowds over the holiday, with parking areas filled as families gathered to enjoy the warm weather and waterfront activities. Officials say the increased summer traffic makes preparedness and water safety even more important.

Water Safety Tips for Summer
• Always supervise children near the water — even experienced swimmers.
• Wear a life jacket when boating, kayaking, or paddleboarding.
• Never swim alone.
• Be aware of changing water and weather conditions.
• Keep a safe distance from piers, spillways, and strong currents.
• Call 911 immediately if someone appears to be in distress in the water.

Fire officials encourage everyone to enjoy the summer safely and remind residents that improved emergency access at the park will help crews respond faster when seconds matter most.

05/29/2026

Road construction notice: Resurfacing work on Parsons St. from 8th Ave. to 14th Ave. is slated to begin next week, June 1.

This project will take several weeks to complete, and traffic will be maintained using temporary lane closures under flag control.

Please drive with care when driving through this and all other road work zones!

05/28/2026

Effective, today, May 28, the City of Wyoming's odd/even outdoor water restrictions for residents and businesses on the City's water system (including Georgetown Township) have been lifted. Both transmission mains are back in service and the repair to the intake line was completed ahead of schedule.

Despite the water restrictions no longer being mandatory, Georgetown Township requests your assistance in helping to conserve water, reducing the demand on our shared water system, and protecting the long-term sustainability of our water system by maintaining an odd/even watering schedule when possible.

Thank you to everyone who did their part to conserve water to help minimize the burden on the City’s water treatment plant and thank you to those who continue to do their part.

05/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the Memorial Day service at the Georgetown Cemetery on Monday. The featured speaker this year was Grandville Police Chief Paul Anglim. In case you missed the service, you can watch it here:

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05/28/2026

Please be advised that the parking area and Kent Trails bike path connector located in front of the Clean Water Plant at 15 Baldwin Street will be closed for construction from June through September 2026.

Alternate access to the Kent Trails bike path is available at:
• Buck Creek Trail on Broadway Street in Grandville
• Indian Mounds Drive in Grandville
• Idema Explorers Trail on Cottonwood Street in Jenison

Thank you for your patience and understanding during construction.

05/26/2026

Thank you to everyone who participated in Memorial Day activities yesterday! In anticipation of our country's 250th birthday later this year, the Board would like to recognize the "Most Patriotic" parade float from the Memorial Day parade yesterday. Please take a moment and vote for the float you felt was most patriotic at https://form.jotform.com/261454529270155. Voting ends at 5PM on Friday and the winner will be notified on Monday, June 1st.

05/22/2026

Due to mechanical issues, the splash pad at Maplewood Park is closed until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience and invite you to use the splash pad at Rosewood Park in the meantime.

05/20/2026

Thank you to these amazing students from Jenison Christian School who placed flags in the Georgetown Cemetery last week!

05/20/2026

It’s a bird - it’s a plane - no it's … airborne electromagnetic surveying! Over the next few weeks, if you see a helicopter flying relatively low with a large, hexagonal-shaped hoop hanging below it, don’t be alarmed. It is all part of a special survey being conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) with support from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). This effort is collecting geophysical measurements to create high-resolution, three-dimensional models of the region's aquifers and geology. The data will improve USGS bedrock maps and inform groundwater management efforts.

Although the joint EGLE-USGS effort is scanning portions of 15 counties across the southwest portion of the state, USGS will be paying special attention to Ottawa County. The County’s Department of Strategic Impact requested USGS conduct denser and more detailed scans of the central portion of the County - areas where residents and businesses are facing major groundwater quality and quantity issues.

"These denser passes by the USGS helicopter will provide us with higher resolution scans of the Marshall aquifer. With better data, we better understand the situation underground, supplementing our groundwater monitoring and management efforts," said Land Use Coordinator Matt Chappuies.

How it Works
This scanning system will catch people's attention - a helicopter flies approximately 200 feet overhead with a 60-foot-wide Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) transmitter hoop suspended by cables horizontally about 100 feet below the aircraft. As the chopper passes over an area, a weak magnetic field penetrates the ground, measuring how well the ground conducts electricity. The resulting scans provides high-resolution data used to create three-dimensional models of the earth's subsurface to a depth of more than 1,000 feet.

Is it Safe?
The USGS says the AEM hoop does not pose health or safety risks. The low level of magnetic field exposure given off by the transmitter is less than one-one hundredth (1/100th) of the accepted general exposure level, or about the same as standing a foot from a toaster in operation. During data collection, the helicopter pilot will not fly within 500 feet of buildings, and will make every effort to avoid people, livestock, or large equipment. It’s important to note the helicopter is flying a pre-determined grid based on study locations, so it will pass through the same area several times.

Track the Flights
The public can track the path of the USGS helicopter by visiting the Flight Tracker map at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/eaebfda8e2dd48a4817e8c7a2ef3a8ad?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.

Have Questions?
For general project questions, please contact either:
• EGLE’s Sydney Ruhala at [email protected] or 517-648-7791
• USGS Research Geophysicist and AEM Lead Burke Minsley at [email protected] 303-236-5718
For more information on Ottawa County groundwater issues, visit miottawa.org/groundwater.

05/20/2026

From the Ottawa County Road Commission:

On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 12th Avenue between Port Sheldon St. and Chicago Dr. will be closed for a bridge rehabilitation project on the 12th Ave. bridge over Rush Creek.

Work consists of the removal of the existing bridge superstructure, construction of the bridge substructure units, construction of the new bridge superstructure, construction of the approach roadway on both sides of the bridge, placement of the new asphalt surface on both approaches, installation of guardrail elements, and painting and placing the permanent pavement markings on the new asphalt surface.

This project is estimated to be completed by Aug. 31, 2026. All work is weather dependent and completion times are subject to change.

TRAFFIC IMPACT: 12th Avenue will be closed between Port Sheldon Street and Chicago Drive. A posted detour route will be in effect throughout the project’s entire duration using Ottawa County’s primary road system.

The detour route for each direction of travel along 12th Avenue is as follows:

Northbound 12th Avenue: Westbound on Port Sheldon Street ―> continue around curve on 14th Avenue ―> Southbound on 14th Avenue ―> Westbound on 44th Street ―> Northbound on 18th Avenue ―> Eastbound Chicago Drive ―> Arrive at 12th Avenue.

Southbound 12th Avenue: Westbound on Chicago Drive ―> Southbound on 18th Avenue ―>Eastbound on 44th Street ―> Northbound on 14th Avenue ―> continue around curve on 14th Avenue ―> Eastbound on Port Sheldon Street ―> Arrive at 12th Avenue.