Garver lift station getting beautified

Published 9:25 am Friday, June 12, 2015

The Garver Lake C-1 lift station on Elkhart Road that many consider an eyesore is in the process of being beautified.

Nick Donis, vice president of the Garver Lake Improvement and Conservation Club, proposed putting up green slats to cover the fence and/or staggering Yew trees. The Garver Lake Improvement and Conservation Club would take responsibility for care of the trees.

“It’s kind of ugly, to be honest with you. You drive around the curve and you are looking right at it. Some of the other lift stations have been planted around … seems like the right thing to do,” said John Bossler, Ontwa Township supervisor.

The board and Donis agreed upon an amount that would not exceed $1,700.

In other business:

• Timothy Tancey, Edwardsburg Chamber of Commerce president, spoke about how the chamber and township board could work together to better Edwardsburg and promote business.

“One of the things we are trying to do is survey our members, try to support the community more,” Tancey said. “People are looking for more value. Our organization is run by dues so it’s not mandatory. People join it because they want to but if we don’t create value, they aren’t going to renew.”

• The Fire Board is considering putting in dry hydrants near Eagle Lake and Christina Creek. Garver Lake was also considered, but it may not be deep enough, according to Bossler. A dry hydrant that assists firefighters is an unpressurized, permanently installed pipe that has one end below the water level of a lake or pond.

• Larry Shead was hired and will take care of the blight properties in the area. At least three addresses will be cleaned up in the future. If residents have any issues with blights in the area, please contact the township office with the blight’s address or nearby intersection at (269) 663-2347.

• The township is considering a free localized recycling program via recycling dumpsters. Nothing has been permanently decided yet.

• The committee to ban fracking in Michigan is trying to get 300,000 signatures for the ballot initiative. To sign the petition and find out more information, visit http://www. Letsbanfracking.org

• Fireworks will be held July 4 at Garver Lake, Eagle Lake and PJC (Painter, Juno and Christiana Lakes).

• The next meeting is July 13.