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Lowell Area Recreation Authority
The proposed trailway would link together the City of Lowell, Lowell Township and Vergennes Township. The path has been researched and laid out in the Lowell Area Trailway Master Plan. Currently, the plan can be viewed at each of the local government offices.

Need a ride? North Kent Transit Services is available to residents of  Vergennes Township who have a disability or are 60 years of age or older and in need of transportation services within Kent County.  The service is administered by Hope Network Transportation Services in partnership with Vergennes Township and funded through Federal Community Development Block Grant funds, administered by Kent County.  Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30 PM. A fare of $4.00 or $7.00 per one-way trip is required depending on your destination.  For more information, please call the Hope Network Transportation Customer Care office at (616)243-2783 or (800)410-9491.

Farmland Preservation in Vergennes Township

Vergennes Township became a participant in Kent County’s Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) farmland preservation program in 2003. The purpose of this program is to create a long-term environment for agriculture by permanently preserving prime and unique farmland.  Agriculture is important to Michigan’s economy as it is our largest industry and 1 in 4 Michigan jobs are connected to the food system. To date, 928 acres have been preserved in Kent County. This includes the Tim Howard farm and Steve and Cindy Koning farm both in Vergennes Township.

Each year, program staff sends out postcards to all farmland owners notifying them of the application cycle.  From March 1 – April 30, interested landowners voluntarily apply. Applications can be found at www.accesskent.com/pdr or can be mailed upon request. Each application is scored and prioritized according to the scoring system also posted online. The township board must approve each application every year. High scoring applications are then appraised to determine a fair market value for the development rights. In 2010, development rights values ranged between $1,000 per acre up to $2,400 per acre.

Vergennes Township has supported farmland preservation by reviewing applications, adding an area for farmland preservation on the future land use map of the master plan, and contributing $500 toward the preservation of township farms.  

For more information on farmland preservation, please visit www.accesskent.com/pdr or contact Kendra Wills, staff person to the Kent County Agriculture Preservation Board at 616-336-2028 or willsk@anr.msu.edu.

****RADON****

Surgeon General Health Advisory – “Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable.  Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.”  January 2005

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.  You can’t see radon and you can’t smell it or taste it.  It could be a problem in your home.  Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year.  Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.

You should test for radon.  Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon.  Testing is inexpensive and easy—it should only take a few minutes of your time.

You can fix a radon problem.  Radon reduction systems work and they are not too costly.  Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%.  Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.

For more information contact the Kent County Health Department at (616) 632-7100.  They have radon testing kits available for $5.00.

LCTV ENDOWMENT FUND

The Lowell Cable Television (LCTV) Fund is a nonprofit endowment fund established on September 17, 2007 by means of the sale of the assets of Lowell Cable Television.  A portion of the annual investment earnings are distributed in agreement with the Grand Rapids Community Fund and may be available for grants each year. 

The LCTV Board was created to solicit and review grant applications for projects that benefit the Lowell Area including the City of Lowell, LowellTownship and Vergennes Township.  LCTV Board grant recommendations are subject to final approval by the Lowell City Council.

Click here for an grant application

Click here for application letter

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