NEWS
Commerce Lane/Railroad Trestle Restoration Project and Urban Wildlife Corridor
Commerce Lane/Railroad Trestle Restoration Project
The Commerce Lane/Railroad Trestle project proposes to combine riverbank restoration efforts
along Commerce Lane with the alteration of the city-owned railroad trestle to improve River
flow. The Commerce Lane railroad trestle crosses the Kalamazoo River on a diagonal from west
to east, and due to the spacing of its supporting structure has often caused a pile-up of river
debris and has altered and impeded river flow.
The removal of the trestle to improve river flow and offer wildlife viewing opportunities
combined with a riverbank restoration project in the area along Commerce Lane would offer a
very visible model for environmental remediation along the river corridor.
Urban Wildlife Corridor
In its initial stages, this Urban Wildlife Corridor project would identify and prioritize critical
riverine, riparian and upland areas for resource restoration, inventory current populations of
plants and animals, develop a focused “pockets of recovery” plan, and carry out recovery and
resource enhancement in designated areas.
In the longer term, Urban Wildlife Corridor restoration projects offer the opportunity to develop
public awareness of the river and its surroundings as an important environmental resource.
Varied projects including coordinated river access points for kayaks and canoes, development
of wildlife viewing trails, birding trails with handicap access, pollinator pathways, a nest box trail
through the region, and an increased opportunity for more passive enjoyment of the river with
enhanced picnicking spots and observational platforms and sites would all contribute to a
growing public awareness of and appreciation for the river as a regional asset.
Notice of Planning Commission Meeting
Topic: The Planning Commission
Time: Wednesday, May 25 at 6:00 PM
Kindleberger Arts Commission Meeting
Monday, May 23, 2022 at 6pm
The Kindleberger Arts Commission Meeting will be held in-person at Parchment City Hall, 650 S Riverview Drive.
The public is welcome to attend.
Notice of City Commission Meeting
City Commission Meeting – Monday, May 16, 2022.
The meeting will be held in-person at Parchment City Hall, 650 S Riverview Drive, at 7 pm.
The public is welcome to attend.
Public Safety Committee Survey Results
The intent of the Public Safety Committee Survey was to find out what to include in the upcoming police contract. The survey was not professionally prepared and it was sent to taxpayers, which are not necessarily voters. Cheryl Conner volunteered to compile the results of the survey and our thanks goes out to her for her many hours of work to provide this for the community. There was a 13% response to the survey, which is considered above average for survey respondents.
MDHHS Announces Launch of New PFAS Health Study in Impacted West Michigan Communities
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is launching the Michigan PFAS Exposure and Health Study (MiPEHS) to learn more about the relationship between PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and health among residents who have been exposed to various levels of PFAS in their drinking water. The study will take place between 2020 and 2026 in Parchment and Cooper Township in Kalamazoo County and the Belmont and Rockford areas of Kent County.
All eligible participants in Parchment, Cooper Township, Belmont and Rockford are scheduled to receive an enrollment packet in the mail from MDHHS by Nov. 30. If you think you are eligible and do not receive an enrollment packet by that date, please call MDHHS’ study partner, RTI International, at 855-322-3037 to see if you qualify.
“Michigan continues to be a leader in PFAS research,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “The MiPEHS will provide residents of these communities the opportunity to learn more about PFAS and their levels of exposure and potential health impacts.”
People who enroll in the study will complete a comprehensive survey and provide a blood sample on three separate occasions over the course of the study. The blood samples will be tested for PFAS and health markers such as thyroid hormones and cholesterol. MDHHS will also test some participants’ drinking water for PFAS.
MDHHS will soon launch another study in these same communities in partnership with the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The Multi-Site Study (MSS) is a nationwide PFAS health study, with a goal of understanding the relationship between PFAS exposure and health outcomes among differing populations across the United States. Information collected for the MSS in Michigan will be combined with data from six other locations throughout the country. MSS will be open for enrollment in 2021 and will last until 2022. Eligible residents will be notified by MDHHS when MSS begins. Applications will be taken through March 19, 2022.
For more information about the MiPEHS or MSS, please visit Michigan.gov/DEHBio.
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Become a foster parent through Michigan Department Health & Human Services foster care program.
Questions? Contact Us
SWMP Report
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program protects the surface waters of the state by assuring that discharges comply with state and federal regulations. Anyone discharging to surface water of the state are required to make application for and obtain a valid NPDES permit.
The City of Parchment (City) is committed to ensuring that stormwater runoff from its roadways and facilities complies with all federal and state environmental regulatory requirements.
The City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Individual Permit (MI00600184), hereafter referred to as the MS4 Permit, is issued through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and is administered at the State-level by the EGLE. The City’s program is part of the Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), authorized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Clean Water Act. This permit replaces and supersedes previous coverage under the MS4 General Permit.
Parchment’s MS4 Permit is applicable for five years and effective from August 20, 2018 to October 1, 2022. It authorizes stormwater discharges from City of Parchment’s MS4 service area to surface waters within the City Limits.
The City service area is regulated by the MS4 Permit covers any separate storm sewer system owned and/or operated by Parchment and located within census urbanized areas (CUAs) of Michigan identified in the 2010 Census by the U.S. Census Bureau.
This is the City of Parchments permit application that has been approved by EGLE. Comments or questions can be directed to the City Manager at manager@parchment.org.
COVID-19 – Protect Yourself & Your Family
The best way to protect yourself and your family, and to stop the spread of viruses such as the flu, common cold and COVID-19 include:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home if you are sick and contact your healthcare provider.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
People should be diligent about preventing flu since there have been thousands of influenza-like illnesses reported throughout the county. Individuals within the United States are still at a higher risk of getting the flu than COVID-19. If you have not received your flu shot, it is highly encouraged you do so now.
Right now, there are no additional precautions recommended for the general public in the United States.
