News & Notices
See calendar for more information.

Resilient Ludington!
A Cooperative Community Planning Project
Meeting Notice
Hamlin Township Planning Commission
There will be a meeting at Pere Marquette Charter Township,
1699 S. PM Hwy., Ludington on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 beginning at 6:00 P.M.   This notice is posted in compliance with PA 267 of 1976 as amended (Open Meetings Act), MCLA 41.72a (2) (3) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

HAMLN TOWNSHIP 2014 CLEAN-UP DAY:
The 2014 Hamlin Township Clean-Up Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, 2014 from 8:00 AM  12:00 Noon at the Hamlin Township Transfer Facility, W. Dewey Road.  All Hamlin Townshp property owners MUST secure a voucher prior to clean-up day from the Hamlin Township Offices prior to June 21, 2014. 
The voucher is free to property owner and list instructions.
Thank You.
Nancy Vandervest
Hamlin Township Supervisor

INVITATION TO BID
Hamlin Township is accepting sealed bids for Hamlin Township Park Maintenance.  Bid specifications can be picked up at the Hamlin Twp. Hall, 3775 N. Jebavy Drive.  Sealed bids are due to the Twp. Office on or before April 9, 2014 by 4:30 p.m.  Hamlin Twp. reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

2014 Election Dates and Registration Deadlines:
April 7, 2014 Last day to register for May 6, 2014 Election
May 6, 2014 Election
July 7, 2014 Last Day to register for August 5, 2014 Election
August 5, 2014 Primary Election
October 6, 2014 Last day to register for November 4, 2014 Election
November 4, 2014 General Election
Polls open 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the

Hamlin Township Hall,
3775 N. Jebavy Drive
 Ludington, MI 49431.

Hamlin Township Board of Review Meeting Dates

The 2014 Board of Review Organizational Meeting is scheduled for March 4, 2014 @ 10 am. 

March Hearing Dates:

March 12, 2014 from 2 pm - 5 pm AND 6 pm - 9 pm.
March 13, 2014 from 9 am - 12:00 Noon AND 1 pm - 4 pm.
July Board of Review:  July 22, 2014 @ 10 am.
December Board of Review: December 9, 2014 @ 10 am.
All meeting will be held at the Hamlin Township Hall, 3775 N.Jebavy Drive,
Ludington, MI 49431.

2014 COLLECTION DAY Clean Sweep/Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is scheduled for August 16, 2014 from 9 am - 2 pm at the Mason County Road Commission in Scottville, MI.  No Early or Late Drop offs.  Free to Hamlin Township Residents.  Contact Nancy Vandervest, Hamlin Township Supervisor  @ 231-845-7801 Ext 2 OR Jordan Devries, Mason-Lake Conservation District @ 231-757-3708 Ext. 3 for questions.

2014 Board Meetings Mason County Board of Commissioners

February 11, 2014 @ 7:00 pm
March 11, 2014 @ 9:00 am
April 15, 2014 @ 7:00 pm
May 13, 2014 @ 9:00 am
June 10, 2014 @ 7:00 pm
July 8, 2014 @ 9 am
August 12, 2014 @ 7 pm
September 9, 2014 @ 9 am
October 14, 2014 @ 7 pm
November 12, 2014 @ 9 am
December 9, 2014 @ 7 pm
January 13, 2015 @ 9 am
The Board of Commissioners normally meets in the commissioner's room in the Mason
County Courthouse, 304 E. Ludington Ave., Ludington, MI 49431.

Western Mason County Fire District Authority 2014 Meeting Dates

April 21, 2014
June 16, 2014
August 18, 2014
October 20, 2014
December 15, 2014
2015 Organizational Meeting - January 12, 2015 All meetings are scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., eastern time at the Ludington City Offices, 400 S. Harrison Street, Ludington, MI 49431.

Hamlin Township Treasurer:
Office Hours for winter  taxes:
Taxes payable without interest or penalty thru February 14, 2014.  After February 14, 2014 tax plus 3% penalty.  Beginning March 1, 2014, payable to Mason County Treasurer with additional delinquent fees & interest. 
Postmarks not accepted as payment date. 
Checks must clear or receipt is void. 
Treasurer's Township Hours:
Wednesdays, December 4, 2013 thru February 12, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,
AND
December 27, 2014; February 13, 2014 and February 28, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Hamlin Township; 3775 N. Jebavy Drive, Ludington, MI 49431

Hamlin Township Transfer Site Hours:
Beginning October 1st through April 30th:
Open Wednesday and Saturday * 9 am to 5 pm.

2013 Yearly recycling stickers (June 1st through May 31st) 
$15.00 Per year for Residents; $50.00 for non-residents.

Leaf Corral is open, property owner please secure free voucher at Hamlin Twp. Office.

Christmas Tree Recycling Corrall will be open January 1, 2014 thru January 31, 2014. Property owners please secure free voucher at Hamlin Twp. Office.

2013 – 2014 Hamlin Township Meeting Schedule
April 11, 2013
May 16, 2013
June 13, 2013
July 11, 2013
August 15, 2013
September 12, 2013
October 10, 2013
November 14, 2013
December 12, 2013
January 16, 2014
February 13, 2014
March 13, 2014
All meeting listed above to begin at 6:00 PM.
March 27, 2014 – Settlement Day Meeting @ 4:30 P.M.
     meeting will be held at the HAMLIN TOWNSHIP HALL
3775 N. Jebavy Drive

 Ludington, MI 49431.
This notice is posted in compliance with PA 267 of 1976 as amended (Open Meetings Act), MCLA 41.72a (2) (3) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Approved by the Hamlin Township Board of Trustees 3-28-13.

Hamlin Township Fire Department has received a $1,799.99 grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund. 

The grant will be used to purchase a Honda 5,000 Watt Generator.  The generator will be located in Hamlin Township’s Command Rehabilitation Trailer/Center.  The Command Rehabilitation will house the Department’s ice rescue equipment, search and rescue packs, radios/pagers for inter communication with department personnel and other agencies.  The on-scene Command Rehabilitation Trailer is designed to provide firefighters and other emergency personnel with a safe, clean and reliable rehabilitation facility. 

Members of the Great Lakes Energy support the People Fund by voluntarily rounding up their bills to the next highest dollar.  The rounded up amount is distributed to non-profit organizations and charitable activities that benefit people in communities served by the cooperative.  Visit gtlakes.com for details.

Thanks to the Great Lakes Energy People Fund

New Law Bans Certain Open Burning

Michigan is the last great Lakes state that allows rural residents to incinerate household waste in burn barrels. However, a new law rules out burning some materials.

In April, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley signed HB 4207, banning the uncontrolled burning of plastic, rubber, foam, chemically treated wood, textiles, electronics, chemicals and hazardous materials. The bill became Public Act 102 of 2012. Rural residents still can burn yard waste such as brush and leaves, and household waste such as cardboard and paper products.

FAMILY STORIES

Hamlin Township is putting together a notebook collection of family stories. It has old articles that were posted in the newspaper, articles from Hamlin Currents along with stories that were turned into the Hamlin Lake Preservation Society. There is a story about ice skating on the lake, fishing in the narrows when the fog comes up, living in a cottage before running water and electricity, a wedding that involved riding horses into the lake, memories of grandparents, cottages that have burned and much more.

Please feel free to send in your Family Story and/or photo and we will include it in this notebook collection. After the Township's Sesquicentennial activities in August, the notebook will be donated to White Pine Village for others to view. This notebook will be a true treasure.

LAKESHORE SILENT OBSERVER
888-STOP-CRIME --- 1-888-786-7274
www.lsotip.com (Email) OR
TEXT “LSOTIP”ťand your tip to 274637 (CRIMES)

A safe and anonymous way of reporting crime by telephone, e-mail or text message.

Sponsored by SSCENT, Mason/Oceana Central Dispatch, Manistee Central Dispatch, and a public safety granted awarded by the Manistee County Local Revenue Sharing Board.

NEW RECYCLING PROGRAM for Christmas Trees
Hamlin Twp. Christmas Tree Recycling Program. Beginning January 1, 2012, Hamlin Township Residents may drop off their Christmas Tree from January 1, 2012 thru January 30th at the Hamlin Township Transfer Site on W. Dewey Road.

1) Remove all decorations, tinsel, stand, etc from tree.
2) Hamlin Township Residents ONLY. Signature Required.
3)One (1) Tree per family/address.
4)Signature and Phone Number Required: (Transfer Site Attendant will require signature, address and telephone number).
5)Hours Wednesday and Saturday from 9 AM - 5 PM.

Questions, please contact Nancy Vandervest, Hamlin Twp. Supervisor at 231-845-7801 Ext 2. Thank You.

Planning Commission Survey:
Click here for Results
Click here for Comments

If you are working within the road right-of-way, please remember that a permit from the Mason County Road Commission is needed. Mason County Road Commission is located in Scottville. # 231-757-2882.

LEAF CORRAL FOR HAMLIN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS VOUCHER REQUIRED
More Info

BURNING PERMITS:
Please call 1-866-922-2876 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Monday thru Friday or visit www.michigan.gov/burnpermit and apply on-line.

3775 North Jebavy Drive
Ludington, MI  49431
Phone: (231) 845-7801Fax: (231) 843-1471
E-Mail: hamlintwp@hamlintownship.org

Hamlin Township was established on February 28, 1861 by the Michigan State Legislatures. It is named after Hannibal Hamlin, Vice President from 1860 to 1864 under President Abraham Lincoln. The first settlement in Hamlin Township was made by Charley Mears, in 1858 in Section Two. The next settlers were Mr. and Mrs. Louis Sladick in Section 12. A railroad traveled from Ludington to the North Bayou, it was called the Dummy Line. When the first people settled in the Township, there were woods all around. As years went past and the population grew, more timber was cut and now there are very little woods standing. At one point, there were 84 farms in Hamlin Township. Hamlin Lake hotels and large resorts added much interest to Hamlin Township.

Today, Hamlin Township is the largest Residential Township in Mason County with a population of 3408 per the 2010 US Census. Hamlin Township provides some of the very best summer and winter recreational activities, with new and older homes blending for a delightful community with very little industry. Hamlin Township can truly boast "one-of-a-kind" status and is home to beautiful Hamlin Lake. Hamlin Lake, a man-made lake, is more than 12 miles long and 5,000 acres large that originated during the logging hey-day when lumbermen dammed the Big Sable River to make an enormous holding pond for trees that were felled upstream.

Thank you for visiting our new website. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Nancy Vandervest
Hamlin Township Supervisor
231-845-7801 Ext 2 OR 231-510-0076

Office Hours: 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday

Population 3,408
Number of parcels of Land 3,493
Number of parcels Principle Residence 1616
Number of parcels of Vacant Land 965

Please note that our Township has regular office hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Usually, you will find someone at the Township Hall earlier, later, and throughout the lunch hour. We are always happy to answer questions. The Township Hall is closed for holidays and occasionally during the week due to short staff times.

2012 Clean-Up Day

Hamlin Township
Sesquicentennial Celebration
1861 - 2011

Celebrating the past, present and future.

February 28, 2011 Anniversary Open House Photos

Left to Right:
Gail Hanna, Carol Parkinson, Janet Gaghen, Judy Thorp, Mike Nagle, Nancy Vandervest

August 6, 2011 and August 7, 2011 (Boat Regetta)
Boat Regetta Results
1st Place: Larry & Barb Scherer & Crew
2nd Place: Jim & Marilyn Pinkerton & Crew
3rd Place: Joe & Janet Gaghen & Grew
Thanks to the Judges:
Johnaiine Gurzynski
Wayne Disegna
Hank Wykretowicz

Click below for more photos of the:

150th Celebration

Regatta

4th of July Float

HAMLIN TOWNSHIP

MISSION STATEMENT

Hamlin Township recognizes its responsibilities to each of its constituents and Township officials make this pledge as a statement of the Township’s values and purpose as we conduct Township business.
*Hamlin Township will strive to serve its Township constituents with dependable and efficient service.  The highest standards and lawfully executed service will be our goal.
*Hamlin Township will strive to be a place where employees are encouraged to expand their knowledge and fulfill their individual potentials.  One of the Township’s premier goals is to be considered an invaluable work place by each of our employees.

 *Hamlin Township will strive to conduct its affairs in a socially responsible, lawful manner while maintaining a kind and courteous workplace.
We will always strive to utilize ethical practices and compassion for the needs of those around us and to reflect those ideals in our Township decisions.
Adopted in Hamlin Township’s General Policy Manual 10-13-2011.