HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Harrison Township delivered its State of the Township handle Sept. 26 to a crowd of native officers and friends who heard about new initiatives and points that want extra consideration.
Harrison Township Supervisor Kenneth Verkest started by welcoming friends to the occasion and thanked Lake St. Clair Metropark for internet hosting it. He additionally thanked the sponsors and the Macomb County Chamber for his or her promotions.
A number of metropolis leaders, elected officers and workers had been additionally in attendance.
Verkest says that he tries to include a theme into his speech yearly. Earlier themes embrace a high ten of the most effective issues about Harrison Township and a mirrored image on how little issues make a group nice.
“In 2019 I informed the viewers that my first theme that yr was international status and two guys within the again below 40 laughed,” Verkest mentioned. “Generally you simply cannot select the proper joke.”
The theme this yr was that Harrison Township is healthier due to issues past its management, Verkest mentioned.
“I am speaking about issues which can be exterior our border, or inside our border, however past our management,” Verkest mentioned.
That features locations like Jimmy John’s Area in Utica or total cities like Detroit, which Verkest says is a metropolis on the rise. He identified issues in Detroit together with sports activities amenities, superstar visits, eating places and extra.
“Detroit’s revival has a optimistic affect on Harrison Township,” Verkest mentioned.
He additionally talked about issues that had been past town’s management that did not go so effectively. He mentioned GFL’s shift to Precedence Waste was past its management and town confronted six months of service points and complaints. When the contract expired, town solicited bids and though the price was barely larger, Harrison Township officers chosen Tringali Sanitation because the township’s new waste administration contractor.
“The associated fee distinction is lower than 62 cents per week, per family, however the distinction in service is unbelievable,” says Verkest.
Verkest mentioned the South River Street bridge is open to site visitors, whereas a pedestrian bridge over the Jefferson Avenue spillway continues to be within the planning phases.
“This can be a three and a half million greenback funding that can join fifteen residential streets, ten condominium complexes and 4 complexes with 4 township and state parks, Lake St. Clair Metropark, the Macomb County Regional Path System and the state’s Iron Belle Path,” Verkest mentioned.
North River Street from Bridgeview to Interstate 94 and Jefferson Avenue from South River Street to Metro Parkway will likely be constructed subsequent yr.
“These roads could not belong to Schoenherr, however they’re nonetheless vital to us in Harrison Township,” Verkest mentioned.
Later within the speech, Verkest mentioned U.S. Sen. John James, R-Shelby Township, has secured funding for a 1.5-mile path that can join a number of residential streets and condominium complexes to Lake St. Clair Metropark and different facilities.
“We anticipate to award the design engineering contract for this undertaking subsequent month,” Verkest mentioned.
He mentioned all the initiatives talked about, together with the updates to Miller Park, had been funded with grants.
“After I first ran for trustee, I dedicated to pursuing as many grants as potential,” Verkest mentioned. “After serving on the board for seventeen years, I now notice that subsidies may be an unfair method to distribute public assets. Regardless, the general public and politicians love subsidies.”
As a result of Harrison Township is the one municipality in Macomb County that doesn’t levy normal fund charges, the municipality generally has restricted assets to provide you with grants for grants.
Verkest mentioned he plans to suggest a half-million-euro subsidy for the 2026 vote.
“This millage would generate funds that might solely be spent to match the grant funds of different authorities businesses on the state, federal, provincial degree or personal foundations,” Verkest mentioned.
Verkest mentioned two missions combining 33 new plane will assist make sure the viability of the Selfridge Nationwide Guard Base for years to return.
“This excellent news is the results of the efforts of many,” mentioned Verkest.
He mentioned the 2 missions may have a big impact on their area. He credited the assistance of the Macomb County Chamber and the efforts of Macomb County Government Mark Hackel and his crew.
Amy McMillan, CEO of Huron-Clinton Metroparks, up to date friends on updates about Lake St. Clair Metropark. She mentioned many initiatives for the area’s parks are within the works and nearing completion through the yr. She mentioned anybody who has owned or ridden a ship might be disenchanted concerning the closure of North Marina in 2019.
“We had been in a position to safe $5 million from the State of Michigan by our native representatives to revive the North Marina and we’re tremendous excited that this undertaking is effectively within the works,” mentioned McMillan.
Up to date and everlasting facilities embrace the floating docks, improved lighting and utilities. The undertaking is scheduled for completion on the finish of 2026.
McMillan mentioned in addition they plan to renovate the oldest bathhouse within the Metroparks system, develop the Daysail route, renovate the western boardwalk, improve a decades-old electrical grid and proceed the “greening” of Parking Lot C.
All of those initiatives value $9,714,000 with numerous funding strategies, together with grants from the Division of Pure Assets and others.
Verkest additionally talked about in his closing statements that the algae within the lake that’s destroying the shoreline is making life worse in Harrison Township.
“We want assist to get it below management,” Verkest mentioned.
He mentioned funding from the state finances will hopefully assist maintain it below management and he thanked state Rep. Alicia St. Germaine, R-Harrison Township, for the combat in Lansing to regulate algae progress.
Roads additionally make life harder in Harrison Township. Verkest mentioned politicians in Lansing have talked about eliminating waste and fraud of their state budgets.
“Taking greater than $50,000 yearly from Harrison Township and sharing state revenues and greater than $2.4 million from Macomb County doesn’t get rid of waste and fraud,” Verkest mentioned. “It takes away our funding to resolve an issue that’s the state’s accountability.”
He mentioned he’s asking lawmakers to repair the roads with out taking cash from the municipality.
Different statistics
Verkest credited Treasurer Lawrence Tomenello and his deputy with greater than $1,000,000 in curiosity earnings by 2024.
The fireplace brigade carried out 2,177 journeys and 421 inspections within the first eight months of the yr. Hearth Chief David Bostater and the union have additionally labored collectively to create internships for paramedics and firefighters.
A hearth truck was struck in a collision incident earlier this yr and Verkest mentioned Bostater was doing all the pieces it may to generate sufficient income to buy and equip a alternative automobile. Verkest additionally mentioned they’re within the means of rebuilding or changing Hearth Station No. 1 with up to date know-how and building.
The municipality at the moment has 15 full-time police personnel and shared prices for a faculty useful resource officer on the L’Anse Creuse colleges.
The town’s constructing division lately allowed allow purposes, inspection scheduling and on-line funds. Within the first eight months of the yr, the municipality issued 760 constructing permits. They’ve additionally bought moveable tablets for inspectors.
Reviews from appraisers present that property values have elevated by 6.04% and the rateable worth has elevated by 5.06% in 2025. Over the previous seven years, the rateable worth has elevated by 43%.
The water and sewer division put in a brand new meter studying system, which helped stop excessive water payments by detecting water leaks in folks’s houses.
