Meeting Minutes: Georgetown Twp. pushes back water bill hike, moves to expand fire dept.

GEORGETOWN TWP. — Two important actions were taken at the Georgetown Township Board of Trustees meeting on Monday night, Oct. 13.

The first was a resolution to push the enactment of the water and sewer rate hike back by a billing period. The second was to expand the full-time staff of the Georgetown Township Fire Department by six members.

The issue

After public outcry over increased water and sewer rates that took effect in June, the board passed a resolution to push back the rate change by a billing period. Ratepayers will be credited for what they were overbilled for the period that ended in July.

What we know

On June 9, the board of trustees voted to raise water rates from $3.15 per thousand gallons to $4.90. The change was then applied to the billing period in progress, from April to July. "And a number of you pointed out to us, 'Hey, you shouldn't retroactively apply that decision to the quarter in which your decision was made,'" Township Supervisor Jim Wierenga said before the vote. The resolution credits ratepayers for the difference in the July bill, and applies the credit to future bills. Late fees on the July bill will also be waived. The vote to approve the resolution was unanimous.

What happens next

Credits will be calculated by subtracting what the April-July bill would have been under the old rate from April-July bill that was issued. Township Superintendent Justin Stadt said it would take some time for them to get the credits processed, as it is a special operation the software isn't designed for. Several members of the public still voiced concerns over how the water infrastructure and updates are being handled, suggesting things ranging from voluntary water conservation programs to recalling members of the board.

The issue

Georgetown Township trustees need to make a decision on how to replace the E-Units being supplied by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. The seven E-Units contracted by the township provide paramedic-level emergency medical service. OCSO has told Georgetown that it cannot continue providing the service past April 2026. Trustees have been considering proposals from Life EMS and the Georgetown Township Fire Department to replace the service.

What we know

Trustees spoke for more than an hour, each laying out a position they would support, ranging from working with Life EMS to hiring 12 full-time firefighters. Wierenga was last to speak, and said he most supported the GTFD proposal option 2, which would entail hiring six new full-time firefighters to staff the Church Street station around the clock. "To me, that's superior to what Life EMS is proposing in terms of coverage," he said. He argued that the cost was only about $85,000 higher than the Life EMS proposal they were considering, but supported the fire department and moved toward incremental expansion rather than a sudden leap. This staffing option is expected to cost $604,000. The board voted unanimously in support.

What happens next

GTFD will have its staff ready by April 2026, and work that month together with the OCSO E-Unit. Then, at the end of the month, the fire department will take over medical calls. Life EMS will still respond to emergency medical calls with an ambulance for medical transport. Trustee John Schwalm said he would like to see a public safety millage in order to get public support, and Township Clerk Kelly Kuiper said she would want to see some clear data and studies before expanding the fire department any further.

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— Joshua Vissers covers communities in eastern Ottawa County. Contact him at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.