Privacy Policy
This policy explains the information collected through pleasantviewmi.gov, how it is used, and the choices available to website visitors.
Township website privacy
Pleasant View Township operates this website to provide public information, documents, online services, and ways to contact the Township. This policy applies to information processed through this website. It does not control the privacy practices of a separate website reached through an external link.
Information you provide and information collected automatically
Information you provide
The Township receives information that you choose to submit through the website or send using its contact links. Depending on the request, this may include:
- Name, email address, telephone number, or mailing information
- Complaint date, location, description, and acknowledgment
- Public-record request details
- Other information included in an email or written request
- Search terms entered in the website search field
Technical and usage information
The website, hosting environment, security tools, and Jetpack services may process:
- IP address and approximate geographic region
- Browser, device, operating system, and language information
- Referring page, requested pages, links used, and access time
- Cookie or similar technical identifiers
- Login attempts, form-submission metadata, and security events
Complaint form submissions
The Township Complaint Form is the website’s published on-site intake form. It requires contact and incident information because anonymous complaints are not accepted.
How a response is handled
- The submitted fields are stored in the Township website’s WordPress database.
- A notification containing the submission is emailed to the Township Office.
- Authorized Township personnel may review the submission and contact the complainant.
- Submission metadata may include IP address, timestamp, browser, and device type.
Spam and abuse screening
Jetpack Forms and Akismet are used to identify spam and abusive submissions. Information needed for that screening—such as the submitted content, IP address, user agent, email address, referrer, and site address—may be processed by Automattic, which operates Jetpack and Akismet.
Analytics, cookies & security
Website statistics
Jetpack Stats and Google Analytics 4 are used to understand website traffic and improve public information. These services may process page views, referral information, browser/device details, IP-derived location information, interactions with the website, and related usage data. Jetpack Stats is configured to honor supported browser “Do Not Track” signals. Google Analytics is provided by Google and may use cookies or similar technologies under Google’s privacy terms.
Cookies and local browser storage
WordPress, Jetpack, security features, and the hosting environment may use cookies or similar technologies for essential operation, security, form handling, administrative login, performance, and aggregate statistics. You can control cookies through your browser, but blocking essential cookies may affect website functions.
Security and availability
The site uses HTTPS and security services that may process IP addresses, request details, and login attempts to detect abuse, prevent unauthorized access, monitor availability, and diagnose technical problems.
Public comments and accounts
Public comments and pingbacks are closed, and ordinary visitors do not need a Township website account to read public information or use the complaint form. Administrative accounts use additional authentication cookies and security logging.
Use, service providers & disclosure
The Township uses information to provide requested services, review complaints, respond to questions and public-record requests, operate and secure the website, maintain records, and understand website use.
Service providers
Information may be processed by vendors that provide website hosting, email delivery, security, traffic statistics, forms, and spam screening. These services include WordPress/Jetpack and Akismet functions operated by Automattic.
Legal and governmental disclosure
Information may be shared with authorized Township officials, employees, contractors, legal counsel, law-enforcement or emergency personnel when appropriate, or other parties when required or permitted by law. Website submissions may be subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, court process, and applicable record-retention requirements.
How long information is kept
The Township retains records for the period needed to conduct Township business and comply with applicable records-retention and disposal schedules, legal holds, audit requirements, and other law. Retention varies by record type. Website logs, security data, analytics information, email, and form responses may have different retention periods.
Requests to remove or correct information will be evaluated against the Township’s legal and operational obligations. Moving a form response to trash or removing it from the website system may not remove copies already delivered by email, preserved in backups, or retained as an official record.
External links and services
This website links to county, state, federal, utility, library, mapping, payment, social, document, and other third-party services. When you follow an external link, that service may collect information and use cookies under its own privacy policy. Pleasant View Township does not control those external privacy practices.
Questions, access & corrections
You may contact the Township to ask what information was submitted through a Township website form, request correction of inaccurate information, or ask about privacy and records handling. Access, correction, deletion, or withholding may be limited by identity verification, Michigan public-record law, retention schedules, legal holds, and other applicable requirements.
For a formal request for public records, review the Township’s FOIA information. You may also use browser controls to manage cookies and enable a supported Do Not Track signal.
Changes to this policy
The Township may update this policy when website features, service providers, or legal requirements change. The “Last updated” date identifies the current published version. Material changes will be reflected on this page.
Contact Pleasant View Township
2982 S. Pleasantview Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740