Meridian TV Hosts Show on Police Activities

Local police and other safety organizations are using local television to keep the Meridian public informed on just what their jobs entail and methods to stay safe.

Meridian’s local government access channel, HOM-TV, has a program in its line-up that aims to inform local residents about the activity of local safety providers. The show, entitled “Beyond the Badge,” features members of the Meridian Township’s police and fire departments. It details training activities the two departments engage in, and covers topics that the Web site lists like, “…Internet Safety, Sexual Assault Awareness and Video Game Violence.”

Gaylord Mankowski, a police officer since the age of 19 and with the Meridian Township Police since 1990, offered insight into what “Beyond the Badge” does for the department.

Online Resources Important Part of Meridian Schools

Two library officials are making an effort to keep the public aware of the electronic resources at its disposal.

Sandy Fields, the Library Media Director at Okemos High School, and Cyndi Webster, Library Media Director at Chippewa and Kinawa middle schools, recently spoke at a school board meeting in an effort to make both board members and the parents and students that are a part of the Okemos school district aware of the available online resources.

“The presentation to the board was to let them know what this information is, why it is important, and how instruction to use it takes place,” Fields said. “After all, they are the ones who create the budget that allows us to purchase the membership to REMC.”

Developer seeks approval for new Okemos housing development

Development of land in northern Okemos was one of three main topics discussed by the Meridian Township Planning Commission Monday, Jan. 28.

Burton-Katzman Development Co., Inc. represented by Charles DiMaggio at Monday night’s Planning Commission meeting, is seeking recommendation from the Planning Commission to rezone Mobile Home Manor, located off of East Grand River Avenue. Provided the company gets approval, it plans to develop the rezoned land into a housing development called the Meridian 4 Seasons, creating new residential opportunities.

Okemos Concerns Over College Residents

The prospect of more Michigan State University students moving into the Okemos area have some local residents concerned about the disruptions that would follow.

At the Meridian Township’s Planning Commission Jan. 28 meeting, Burton-Katzman Development Co., Inc. represented by Charles DiMaggio, reintroduced the idea for the Meridian 4 Seasons housing complex which had been refused earlier the previous year. People from the community showed their opposition to the proposal once again, coming out to state their disapproval.

The proposed land development in northern Okemos would require the existing property to be rezoned, creating housing opportunities well suited for students. Some local residents, however, feel that this would bring in groups of students, who would then bring in low-property values and disruptive behavior to the community.

Williamstown Twp. School Districts

Within the small township of Williamstown, four different school districts serve 1,416 families (2000 U.S.Census). Williamston Community Schools services the majority of the townshipfollowed by Haslett Public Schools and Perry Public Schools while Okemos PublicSchools serves the least.