Public Safety Watch

From: Ritchie Coleman

Subject: Rich Coleman~ 1-5-10, Pittsfield Twp. Public Safety Watch "Nixle community alert program & Internet Safety Workshop"
To: "Ritchie Coleman"
Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 2:48 PM

To: Pittsfield Twp. Public Safety Watch Groups

From: Ritchie Coleman, PSCC, Pittsfield Twp. DPS 734 944-1039

Subject: Nixle (Pittsfield) Community Alert Program/ Upcoming event- Internet Safety Workshop

Date: 1/5/2010

Greetings and Happy New Year to each of you, we are beginning the new year with the push to get all of our public safety watch participants signed up to received the Nixle notices -Trusted neighborhood news & information sent to

your mobile phone & email, directly from your local police department. This new program is replacing our current EPublic Safety watch notification that we’ve had in place for many years.

This new system will give you control of how you’d like to receive the notices and as email addresses/cellular numbers change residents can make the updates to continue to receive notices.

You can access the site by going to http://www.nixle.com/ and sign in at the top of the page under “ sign up now it’s simple and quick:” to register. Please post the Nixle information at Homeowners Associations websites and pass on to others this information and the upcoming event.

Homeowner’s Association Officers update for 2010: All homeowner associations with new officers that would like to have changes/updates to our contacts for your association please send me an email with the new names and email addresses.

Thanks.

Internet Safety Event

LOCAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION GROUP TO HOLD INTERNET SAFETY EVENT

December 28, 2009

Safety’ Net: Tech Tips for Parenting in the Digital Age

Thursday, January 21, 6PM -8PM at Pittsfield Township Hall, 6201 W. Michigan Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48108

The Washtenaw Area Council for Children, in partnership with the Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety, will be hosting an Internet Safety event to discuss topics relating to parenting in the digital age. The Washtenaw Area Council for Children is the child abuse and neglect prevention agency serving Washtenaw County. The event takes place January 21, 6PM -8PM at Pittsfield Township Hall, and is being offered to raise awareness in our community about why Internet Safety is a concern in Washtenaw County and to allow discussion about how parents can communicate with their children about Internet use and safely. This event is free and open to the community.

A snack will be served. Reservations are required. For more information about this Forum and to make reservations please contact Amber Moore, Internet Safety Program Coordinator, amber@washtenawchildren.org or (734) 434-4215.

Washtenaw Area Council for Children
3075 W. Clark Rd., Suite 110, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734.434.4215 Fax: 734.434.4243 http://www.washtenawchildren.org/

Neighborhood Update - Crime

To: Pittsfield Township Public Safety Watch Groups
From: Ritchie Coleman, PSCC, P.T.D.P.S., 944-1039

Subject: Home Invasion prevention tips
Date: 9-11-09

Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety continues to investigate a number of incidents of home invasions, larcenies from “unlocked” cars and homes. These crimes of opportunity can be prevented and we encourage all residents to review the attached flier with home security prevention tips and to encourage all family members to assist in securing their homes by locking doors, closing garages, securing sliding glass doors, and locking all windows when away from your home.

We encourage residents to call when incidents are occurring or being observed, every call is a good call, we need everyone to be the eyes and ears and to report suspicious persons and vehicles at all times by calling 944-4911 or 9-1-1 for an immediate response.

Please feel free to pass this information on.

Upcoming events:

1. Fire Prevention Week Open House, 10-4-09, 12n-4pm, Main station, 6227 W. Michigan Ave.
2. October-National Crime prevention month event~ Neighborhood Watch- taking back our community (Date/Location/Time-TBD)
3. Halloween Candy Screening, 10-31-09, 6:30-9pm, *Locations will be announced

Read about crime prevention tips

Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety

Community Discussion:

“Community Crime Trends, Awareness and Prevention”

November 4, 2009

6:30-8pm

Pittsfield Branch, Ann Arbor District Library

2359 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Matt Harshberger, Director of Public Safety, and his staff will provided an overview of the current crime trends impacting Pittsfield Township residents and businesses. Additionally, the director will introduce the new “Community Patrol Unit” (CPU) initiative that is being created for proactive community policing and problem-solving efforts in the township. Additional Police staff will be present to discuss current incidents and opportunities for problem-solving efforts. Fire Marshal Bill Moffett will be present to provide Holiday Fire Safety tips and the importance of having chimneys checked and inspected for fire hazards.

Ritchie Coleman, Community Coordinator, will also be providing crime awareness and prevention information, as well as information on identity theft, scams, fraud, Internet Safety for wireless systems and much more.

The community is invited. Please contact the Public Safety Community Coordinator at 734-944-1039 or email colemanr@pittsfield-mi.gov with any questions. We hope to see you there!!

Platt Road Sidewalk Addition

The greenway path has been an ongoing project for a number of years.  Bridgefield Estates residents will be pleased to know that the first phase of this development will run along Platt road connecting Ellsworth and Michigan Ave.  The walkway will allow Bridgefield's residents safe passage for walking or biking to nearby Lillie Park and connectivity to existing bikeways North of Ellsworth on Platt Road.

The Greenway Sidewalk Project will begin in July 2009 and is estimated to be completed by October 2009.

Various articles are available below that offer additional information.

Platt Road Greenway
Ann Arbor News Easements

Pittsfield Township Wins Appeal

by John Mulcahy
The Ann Arbor News
Friday November 28, 2008, 2:51 PM

The Michigan Court of Appeals has reversed a Washtenaw County Circuit Court ruling in a Pittsfield
Township zoning dispute. 
The appeals court said the township does not have to rezone 47 acres on the northeast corner of Platt and Morgan roads so that Lewis/Klein Properties of Farmington Hills can build condominiums there. 
Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal, who took office Nov. 20, applauded the appeals court decision. 
"I'm definitely pleased that the court saw what our position was and moved to uphold the (township's) Comprehensive Plan," Grewal said. 
Mark Lewis of Lewis/Klein declined comment on the ruling but said he expects the company to appeal.  "That's my feeling right now," Lewis said. 
The appeals court also reversed Connors' award of $68,792 to the developers from the township for expert witness fees, said Bruce Laidlaw, the township's attorney in the case. 
Lewis received permission from the township in 2003 to build a business park on the land. 
However, Lewis failed to find any businesses interested in the spot and in 2004 sought a rezoning to residential use.
Lewis claimed the area was not viable for a business park and was an "emerging" residential district.
The township denied the rezoning, citing its comprehensive plan, which called for the land to be used for industrial development. 
Lewis sued, claiming the township's refusal to rezone the land constituted a "taking" of his property. 
In a May 2007 opinion, Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Connors agreed with Lewis and told the township it had to allow Lewis to build up to 250 condominiums on the land.
In its Nov. 20 opinion, the state Court of Appeals said Lewis, an experienced developer, was suffering from his own bad business decision, not a taking of his property, and reversed Connors' decision.

John Mulcahy can be reached at jmulcahy@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6858.