PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP, MI — March 10th, 2025 — At its latest Township Board meeting, Plainfield Charter Township tackled pressing infrastructure issues, including long-term water sourcing, emergency preparedness, and park revitalization. The session, filled with technical briefings and budget discussions, underscored the township’s attempt to stay ahead of growing population needs and aging systems.

Expanding Source Water: Stopgaps and Strategy

Consultants and township staff presented a two-pronged strategy to improve local water capacity. First, engineers proposed upgrades to the West Wellfield—a move aimed at buying 5-10 years of additional capacity. Second, they unveiled a broader search for long-term water sources, potentially located 4-6 miles away or involving regional collaborations.

Superintendent Cameron Van Wyngarden and engineer Kevin Gritters emphasized the urgency: summer peak demand triples typical winter usage. With existing infrastructure strained, options include installing larger pumps, modifying rate structures to penalize high seasonal users, and assessing regional partnerships—albeit complicated by water chemistry incompatibilities.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on the viability and lifespan of proposed changes, as well as implications for treatment systems and existing agreements. Concerns were raised about future growth outpacing water capacity, especially with developments like the Alpine golf range conversion.

The board unanimously approved both the $166,000 wellfield optimization proposal and the $80,000 phase-one long-term water study.

Outdoor Warning Sirens: Redundancy and Repair

Assistant Fire Chief Dave Pelton briefed the board on revitalizing the township’s outdated outdoor warning siren system. Despite calls to phase out the aging network, recent severe weather events and national trends have reversed earlier sentiments. County officials now endorse a hybrid analog-digital VHF system for polygon-specific alerts and two-way communication.

Currently, one siren is out of service and two more need critical repair. The proposed $90,000 upgrade would bring the township into alignment with Kent County’s initiative and enable faster, localized alerts while reducing maintenance costs.

Board members appeared supportive, citing strong resident demand for redundancy amid text message failures during prior storms. While no vote was taken, the board signaled consensus to move forward with the planning phase.

Park Upgrades: Playground Modernization at DW Richardson

Community Development Director Bill Fase presented a plan to replace deteriorated playground equipment at DW Richardson Park. The existing structure, estimated at over 20 years old, is no longer repairable. The proposed $135,000 installation includes a parent-child swing, safety surfacing, and improved layout.

Despite sticker shock, board members acknowledged strong community usage and backed the investment. Questions arose about future parking needs and potential expansion. The board approved the motion unanimously.

Other Notables: Roadwork, Corridor Authority, and Senior Services

  • The township approved a new permit with MDOT for roadwork adjacent to Plainfield Avenue, as part of its broader corridor enhancement plan.
  • Van Wyngarden reported difficulties in recruiting business owners to serve on the pending Corridor Improvement Authority, potentially delaying its formation until May.
  • Board members highlighted a robust response to senior programs, with over 1,100 renewed memberships. A new program director has introduced diverse, low-cost activities.

Takeaways

This session reflected a local government balancing immediate infrastructure repairs with long-term strategic investments. Whether upgrading outdated sirens or planning water systems decades into the future, officials emphasized both preparedness and adaptability.

Yet, community trust remains tethered to action. As one board member noted, “It would be very ironic if [state regulators] told us to produce more water but not that way.” Residents appear eager for solutions that are both technically sound and locally responsive.