News

FALL BRUSH DROP OFF

Brush can be brought to the Township Office complex in October beginning on the second Monday through the third Monday.

Rules for Brush Drop-off are as follows:

No larger than 3 inches in diameter, and no longer than 8 feet.
Brush will be accepted during daylight hours only.
A volume limit of no more than one level pickup box.
Please pile brush as high as possible.

CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP HISTORY BOOK FOR SALE - ONLY $5.00

Now and Then - Chocolay Township History Book is a collection of stories from the past and present. Learn about how the Township was created and some of the people that lived here.

RECYCLE MORE PLASTICS AT CURBSIDE

Chocolay residents can now recycle all #1 and #2 plastics. You can put them all together when putting them out for pick up on your regularly scheduled garbage day. The pink tags are not needed for any recycling.

ELECTION INFORMATION

If you would like a application for a Absentee Ballot, please stop in or call the Township Office at 249-1448 to request one for the next election.

For information regarding registration and a partial sample ballot go to (Michigan Voter Information Center)

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR DOG IS?

As of December 1st and until May 30th, we have dog licenses available to sell for the year 2008. You will need to provide a proof of a rabies vaccine from your vet when applying for this license. The cost will be $6.00 for spayed or neutered animals and $12.00 for unaltered ones. After the deadline of June 1st, you may still purchase the license but only from the County and the fees will be doubled at this time.

NOTICE FROM MARQUETTE COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION

PLOWING SNOW ACROSS PUBLIC ROADS

Public Act 300 of the Public Acts of 1949 as amended under section 677a states that it is against the law to deposit, or cause to be deposited, snow, ice or slush on any roadway or highway or shoulder of the roadway/highway. When people violate this law it can cause traffic safety problems. This also causes safety concerns for snow plow drivers and has caused damage to snow removal equipment. It is the intent of the Marquette County Road Commission to seek the enforcement of this law. Please help us serve you better by not putting snow in the road. Your cooperation is appreciated.

SAND AND DEBRIS IN THE ROADWAY IN THE SPRING

Sand and debris that is swept into the roadway prior to spring clean-up has been an issue for the Marquette County Road Commission for many years. It is a nuisance as well as a potential traffic hazard.

It is illegal to put sand and debris on the traveled portion of a roadway, and law enforcement agencies may ticket residents who cause a traffic hazard by doing so. The traveled portion of a roadway includes the pavement, gutters, and shoulders.

The wear and tear on the Road Commission's equipment and the additional labor costs involved in cleaning up large piles of sand and debris causes financial strain and slows down the spring clean-up process. This impedes the Road Commission's ability to adequately serve the public.

Please help us serve you better by not putting sand and debris in the road. Road Commission operators have the authority to bypass large piles that are left. If it impedes traffic and safety, the debris may be moved back off of the roadway. Your cooperation is appreciated.

PASSPORTS AT CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP

Requirements to apply for Passport Book:
*Proof of Citizenship (Certified Copy of Birth Record, Previous Passport, or Naturalization Record
*Valid Driver's License
*Two Identical Passport Photos (Can be taken at Chocolay Township's Office)
*Standard Processing is 5-6 weeks

Fees - Must be a Check or Money Order
*$75.00.00 to U.S. Dept of State (16 yrs and over)
*$60.00 to U.S. Dept of State (under 16 yrs)
*$25.00 to Chocolay Township (any age)
*$60.00 Expedite Fee if needed in less than 6 weeks
*$10.00 Passport Photos

You must apply in person unless your application is a renewal; less than 15 years from issue date. You can pick up the renewal application at the Chocolay Township Office.

If the child applying is under 16 years of age, both parents must be present along with the child.

If the person is a minor (from age 16 up to 18 yrs) one parent must be present with the minor.

TAXES

The summer tax bills are sent out every year around July 1st. They are payable from July 1st until September 14th. Beginning September 15th through February 28th they can still be paid at the Township Office. Interest of 1% will be added starting September 15th and another 1% added each month they are delinquent.

The winter taxes are sent out every year around December 1st. They are payable at the Township Office from December 1st through the last day of February. On March 1st both summer and winter taxes are payable to the County Treasurer at the County Courthouse and a 5% penalty is added, plus an additional 1% per month that the taxes are delinquent.

DNR SNOWMOBILE SPEED LIMIT

DNR Director Humphries signed a land-use order on January 12, 2006 approving a 35 mph speed limit on the DNR trail #417 for the 4.5 miles it runs through residential areas in Harvey. The stretch is from the Michigan Welcome Center to just east of Chocolay Downs Golf Course. This just went into effect January 13, 2006 and is to be the speed limit for ideal trail conditions. Signs have been placed on that stretch advising of the 35 mph speed limit.

This is the first snowmobile trail with a director's order speed limit in Upper Michigan which will be enforced by the Chocolay Township Police through the snowmobile grant received from the State of Michigan. This year's grant provided for 450 hours of patrol time and a new snowmobile.

CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP GARBAGE PICK UP

Tags cost $1.50 each and will be sold 5 on a sheet for $7.50.

You will use one tag per bag of garbage. Save money by participating in our curbside recycling program. Contact the Township Office at 249-1448 for a flier on materials to recycle or see the information on our website. For household hazardous waste materials, contact the Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority at 249-4125.

Tags may be purchased at the Township Hall during regular business hours or at any of the following businesses:

SHAW'S SERVICE STATION
KASSEL'S KORNER
SNYDER DRUG (HARVEY)
HOLIDAY GAS STATION
JACK'S SUPERSERV
CITGO GAS STATION (HARVEY)

RULES:

Only household refuse in garbage bags will be picked up (bag may be placed in a can or other protective container).
Tag must be around the top of the garbage bag (as shown on the tag).
Refuse bags cannot exceed 32 gallons in capacity and shall not exceed 30 pounds in total weight.

CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP OFFICE 2008 HOLIDAY HOURS

Closed on the following days:

January 1, 2008 - New Year's Day
May 26, 2008 - Memorial Day
July 4, 2008 - Independence Day
September 1, 2008 - Labor Day
November 27 and 28, 2008 - Thanksgiving Holiday
December 24 and 25, 2008 - Christmas Holiday
January 1, 2009 - New Year's Day

Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day

Summer Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

PAVILIONS AND RECREATION FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENT USE

The two pavilions in Chocolay Township (near the Township Hall and in Beaver Grove) are available for use by the residents for gatherings/parties. The Beaver Grove Pavilion now has a power source.

The Silver Creek and Beaver Grove Recreation Areas each have a soccer field and ball field available for resident use. The Lion's Recreation Area has a ball field.

Call the Township Office at 249-1448 to reserve a time, and fill out an agreement form. A fee of $50.00 is charged per day.

WOOD CHIPS AVAILABLE

Wood chips can be picked up at the Chocolay Township Office complex at any time. There is no limit on the quantity of wood chips you may have. The wood chips are free to any person who can haul them away. Wood chips are on a first come first serve basis. If you have any questions, please call the Township at 249-1448.

RESIDENTS CAN CALL FOR BURNING PERMITS

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has new numbers to call for burning permits.

In Marquette County residents should go online: (Burn Permits). You can print out your permit or write down the permit number given or call 866-922-2876 for burning permits, which are required for open burning when the ground is not covered with snow.

When calling for a permit, residents must give their county, township, street address, zip code, first and last name, mailing address, phone number, and a description of the material to be burned.

Permits are not required for household refuse burned in an approved container. The container must be metal or masonry and covered with a metal screen with holes no larger than .75 inch.

People who burn without a permit can be ticketed.

DNR fighters responded to more than 600 wildfires in Michigan last year, with most of those fires resulting from open burning.

ICE SKATING

Chocolay Township operates two ice rinks at the Lions Recreation Area on M-28 and one near the Township Office (under the pavilion). At the Lions Recreation Area, one rink is for open skating, the other is for hockey (with sideboards). The rinks are lighted for night skating.

The rinks are open in the winter as soon as the weather permits. Rules and regulations are posted at the rink. If you have any questions, please call the Township Office at 249-1448.

NOTICE TO SEWER USERS OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CHOCOLAY

If you experience an overflow or backup of a sewage disposal system or storm water system, you must file a written claim with Chocolay Township within 45 days after the overflow or backup was discovered. Notice should be mailed to: Chocolay Township Clerk, 5010 US 41 South, Marquette, MI 49855. Failure to provide the required notice will prevent recovery of damages. Contact the Chocolay Township Department of Public Works Supervisor immediately upon discovery of an overflow or backup.

CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAIL

The Kawbawgam Cross Country Ski Trail will be open. Grooming will be done as conditions warrant and users are encouraged to call the Township Office at 249-1448 with any problems they encounter on the trail.

The trail will be open as the weather permits. Maps are available at the Township Office and at the Trailhead.