Size and population
As of the 2010 census, 46,985 people live in Georgetown Charter Township, it is the largest municipality in Ottawa County and the fourth (4th) largest municipality in West Michigan (behind the Cities of Grand Rapids, Wyoming and Kentwood).
Townships by Population
There are 1,242 townships in the State of Michigan. They range in population of 10 persons to just under 96,000. Over 1/2 of Michigan's population lives in townships. Georgetown Township is the 10th largest Township in the state.
Can I burn leaves or brush?
The Georgetown Township Ordinance prohibits the burning of leaves at any time of year, however, properties zoned "Rural Residential" (RR) or "Agricultural" (A) may burn brush once a Burn Permit is granted. To get a Burn Permit, please call the Township Office at (616)457-2340. A Burn Permit is good for the entire calendar year it is granted, however you must always call the Township prior to each burn to notify the Fire Deptartment and to verify there are no burn bans.
Who is responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks and how fast must it be done?
Section 10-220 of the Township Ordinance states that the occupant or owner of every lot or premises adjoining any street shall clear snow from sidewalks within 24 hours of cessation of the snowfall.
Where can I purchase or renew my dog license?
The Township no longer sells dog licenses. Ottawa County dog licenses can be purchsed or renewed online at http:www.miottawa.org/DogLicense/ or by mail. In addition, three local veterinary offices are selling licenses as well: Georgetown Animal Hospital, Jelsema Veterinary Clinic and Chicago Drive Veterinary Clinic.
Where can I dispose of unused personal medications?
You can dispose of unused personal medications at the Ottawa County Health Department, located at 3100 Port Sheldon Road (669-0040) on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please remove pills from the pill bottles and place them in a plastic bag.
Can I look up property tax information online?
Yes. You can look up your taxes and water bills on our website. See the Property Information page at www.georgetown-mi.gov/property or Click Here
What is used to calculate property taxes?
Taxable value is used to calculate property tax bills. The taxable value on a property can only change each year by the rate of inflation (Consumer Price Index) or 5%, whichever is less. This rate, however, does not apply to properties that have sold in the previous year.
Neighboring municipalities property tax comparison
The property tax rate for the City of Grandville is almost four (4) times higher than Georgetown Township's.
The property tax rate for the City of Wyoming is four and one half (4.5) times higher.
The property tax rate for the City of Hudsonville is five (5) times higher.
Where is the money from your summer tax bill allocated?
All of the money received from the summer tax collection goes to the county and school systems; none is allocated to Georgetown Township.
Water Cost Comparison
In Williams, Arizona residents pay $42.50 per 1,000 gallons of water. In Georgetown Township, residents pay only $2.00 per 1,000 gallons of water.
How much water is available in storage for Georgetown Township?
Georgetown Township has 13,000,000 gallons of water in storage, plus 7,604,771 gallons in underground pipes, totaling 20,604,771 gallons of water for Georgetown Township.
Do I need insurance to cover my water line?
Several Georgetown Township property owners have received notices from private companies offering insurance to cover their water line. This is the water line that runs from your home to the connection to the main public water line in the street. The cost of this insurance is approximately $60 per year. Upon checking with our DPW Department, they report that they have, on average, one pipe line burst every five (5) years. There are about 14,000 of these lines in the Township. The usual cost to repair is about $500 to $600 (rarely more than $1,000).
Can I put up a garage sale sign?
Garage sale signs are allowed on private property. The sign must display the address of the person posting the sign and the date for the first day the sign is displayed. The sign may be displayed for a maximum period of seven (7) days. Garage sale signs may not be located within a public right-of-way or on any utility pole.
2009 Home Sales
In 2009, Georgetown Township had over 350 usable home sales for the annual residential sales study. The result was an average decrease of 5%.
Can I write in a candidate's name for an election?
If you wish to "write-in" a candidate, the name you wish to write must have filed an "affidavit of Identity" with the Township in order for the vote to be counted.
Voter Turnout Statistics
In May 2009, only 16.62% of voters in Georgetown Township came out to vote in the school election. In comparison, the general election held in November 2008 had a voter turnout of 88.08%.
How many firefighters are employed by Georgetown Township?
The Georgetown Fire Department has three (3) full time personnel (Fire Chief, Fire Inspector and Fire Maintenance). The Fire Department operates out of three (3) fire stations and there are forty nine (49) paid on-call firefighters. At the current time, our Insurance Services Offices (ISO) rating is five (5).
