COMMUNITY FACILITIES

EDUCATIONAL

 

Residents of Forest Home Township attend the Bellaire Public Schools. School busing is provided as a means of getting students to and from school. Students who participate in extra curricular activities such as sports and club activities must arrange for their own transportation if those activities begin or end at a time other than the normal beginning or ending of the school day.

 

College level education is available through North Central Michigan College in Petoskey and Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. Both colleges offer Associate Degree Programs, (generally 2 year) in subject areas where a widespread need exists for training, such as nursing. In recent years, public four year colleges and universities throughout the state have begun to offer bachelor and master degree programs through North Central and Northwestern Michigan Colleges in an attempt to make degrees possible to a greater share of the population of the state. These programs have not eliminated the movement of high school graduates out of the area, but it has allowed currently employed adults to continue to upgrade their skills and obtain degrees without having to give up their jobs and relocate out of the area.

 

PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Police protection and law enforcement for Forest Home Township is available through the Antrim County Sheriff's Department and the Michigan State Police posts in Kalkaska and Traverse City. The Sheriff's Department provides the bulk of law enforcement within the township.

 

Fire and ambulance services are provided through a service funded jointly by a number of local units of government and is located in the Village of Bellaire.

 

Through Antrim County, 911 Emergency Telephone Service is currently available and an upgrade to Enhanced 911 is planned.

 

WATER AND SEWER

 

At the present time, several common sewer systems exist within the township. The Village of Bellaire has a municipal sewer and water system. The Village has established a policy to not extend services outside the Village boundaries.

 

1-39