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Spring Lake Township proud of Excellence Award

On January 29, the Michigan Township Association (MTA) presented NW Ottawa County’s Spring Lake Township (SLT) the first complete Township of Excellence award. Spring Lake Township is the only township out of 1,240 townships in Michigan to receive this award for achievement in meeting the criteria in all respective areas of governance.

The Township of Excellence program was developed by the MTA to provide townships with a very complete and high-level, non-biased evaluation of every aspect to township governance that could be used as a self-evaluation tool and they could submit their results to the MTA who would in turn determine which areas the applying township had achieved compliance.

The MTA Township of Excellence evaluates Board policies and qualifications, financial programs and status, elections, fire department, assessing, department of public works, planning and enforcement, commissions, related boards and parks in regards to policies and performance.

Townships can apply for this award each elected four-year Board term. In 2004-08 Spring Lake Township’s Board applied and did achieve compliance in the majority of areas. In 2008-12 the Board went through the very challenging and involved process again and achieved compliance in more areas. In 2012-16, Spring Lake’s application was complete and achieved compliance in every area of township governance.

MTA’s Director, Larry Merrill, made the following comments in his letter to Spring Lake Township notifying us that our 2012-16 application was completed and had achieved this very high level of governance: “The designation of ‘Township of Excellence’ is an achievement worthy of great pride throughout the Spring Lake community. On behalf of the MTA Board of Directors and staff, we look forward to saluting you at the upcoming MTA Annual Educational Conference.”

Spring Lake Township’s Board, Manager, staff and volunteers are all very committed to providing the highest level of service to our residents and to collaborate in every realistic area with our neighboring municipalities and the area’s other service providers.

We are very excited to be the first township in Michigan to achieve the complete Township of Excellence award. It is our sincere mission to make Spring Lake Township a great place to live, work, learn and recreate.

If you are interested in further information, contact Township Supervisor John Nash at jnash@springlaketwp.org or Manager Gordon Gallagher at ggallagher@springlaketwp.org.

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