MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The appearance of homes, businesses, and strip malls can affect the image of a community and Meridian Township is no different.

According to Harmony Gmazel, Associate Planner for Meridian Township, some common complaints about blight issues include grass that is too high and dead weeds. Other complaints from township residents include automobiles that are not being used that are left in driveways for long periods of time.

It is against code to have grass higher than eight inches in Meridian Township.

There are also groups like the Haslett Beautification Association that have worked to give the community a positive image.

Teri Banas, the President of the Haslett Beautification association said, "We started this organization because we realized that Haslett needed a boost in terms of it's aesthetic appeal."

The Haslett Beautification Association is a group of volunteers that have worked to plant flowers around Haslett near places like Shop Town.

Despite efforts to give Meridian Township a positive image there are some things residents are not happy about such as the Haslett Village Square.

Jewell Muller-Gornick and Christina McAlvey are not happy about the emptiness of the Haslett Village square.

Jewell Muller-Gornick, a Haslett resident, said, "I think it's really unfortunate. This is a great community. I've raised my own family here and I work here and it can be just a thriving place with wonderful people and we can have wonderful businesses but then we have all those empty store fronts out there. It just doesn't feel very welcoming."

McAlvey also said she has seen several businesses leave the Haslett Village Square over the years and thinks it's unfortunate.

"I don't really understand why everything is leaving and to have that empty. It's quite large and quite empty and useless," McAlvey said.