Committee reviewed draft 5-Year Parks Plan, deferring decisions on a public meeting for the new survey (late Nov/Dec 2026, owned by Dan Toole) and on NCV's proposal to trade Braman Hill acreage for housing (Township Board). Contentious items: parkland-for-housing swap and HomeStretch housing agreement. Action items: treasurer to supply budget data; update grant history; confirm officers.
Report recommends finishing existing Braman Hill trail work rather than redoing it, opening the trail to riders, and using feedback to guide future changes. Action items: contract excavator work for safety improvements (tree/stump removal, earth moving), possibly hire Youth Work crews for maintenance/benching starting early November. One volunteer suggested restarting some sections, but author disagreed.
Committee approved amended minutes, recommended early skate park closure for safety, and deferred Braman Hill NCV recommendation pending more information and community input. Jon Thatcher explores added ramps; Dan Tompkins coordinates with DNR, Conservancy, and Tart Trail on a five-year parks plan. Survey printing proceeds. No public comments made; next meeting October 21, 2026.
Council approved September minutes/consent agenda (7-0) and discussed proposed sewer, water, and marina slip fee increases without voting. Manager leads law enforcement contract impasse, wastewater extension signing, and infrastructure projects (A-Dock, bollards, stormwater). Public comments: Tim Lodge's Drain Commissioner candidacy and Bill Crackel's St. Mary's Street drainage concern.
Council approved consent agenda and a $10,000 Village Manager bonus (7-0), and reached consensus to incorporate sewer/water (10% 2027, 5% annually after) and marina slip fee increases into the 2027 budget. Public comments: Bahle urged grace amid discord; Crackel questioned proposed rate increases. Perkins suggested BATA relocation, EV charging, and sign removal—no vote taken.
Board approved CAFR 2027/28 budget, adopted Ordinance 2026-03 on gravel/aggregate regulation, and scheduled November public hearing on fire department interlocal agreement amendment. Julian, Boomer, and Brown will draft a parking ordinance; Grier to review Amendment 2 language. Noonan publicly opposed a second fire station as costly; Drabik raised road dust concerns.
Board ratified firefighters' union contract (10% raise, new disability benefit) and advanced HomeStretch MOU for attainable housing at 824 N. Warren St. Action items: appoint Schwind's replacement within 45 days, finalize Deputy Sheriff contract, decide airport fees/panel appointments, and consider data center moratorium. Public comments addressed Parks Committee vacancy and Center Road abandonment request.
Board reviewing but not yet deciding: HomeStretch housing MOU (Supervisor Conley/Koches), data center moratorium, Deputy Sheriff contract renewal, Woolsey Airport fees, Firefighters' Union 10% raise agreement, and new trustee appointment replacing Schwind. Contention: NLTUA sewer connection enforcement (legal opinion pending) and Timber Shores property release requested by Grand Traverse Band attorney Bill Rastetter. Auditor flagged budget overruns, weak financial controls.
Two public comments urged Leelanau Township Board to include a paved, non-motorized Northport-Omena trail (following a former rail line) in the Master Plan, citing safety concerns and community connection. No Board votes, decisions, or funding commitments are recorded; both letters requested inclusion in public record for the October 13, 2026 meeting.
Board approved Streetscape/parking recommendations as advisory guides, Machin Engineering dock payment, and accepted a strong Tobin audit, all 4-0. Kuntz leads Parks & Rec staffing; Sewer awaits EGLE response. Contentious public comments: Mikowski's recurring setback variance request, Ashley's ZBA bias allegations, Mills/Hogan questioning Streetscape process and funding, and unanswered correspondence from residents like Acker.
Board approved updated CDBG Program Income Guidelines, adopted Resolution 2026-014 designating the County Administrator as Fair Housing Coordinator, and extended NMCAA's housing rehabilitation contract ($47,576.92) for one year—all passing 6-0 with Allgaier absent. Campbell suggested routing NMCAA services through Leelanau Christian Neighbors to boost awareness. No public comments were made.
Staff memo presents unresolved dispute over whether density can transfer between R-1 and Agricultural zoning on a single OSRD parcel; no vote taken. Planning Commission must decide whether to follow staff's interpretation (no transfer allowed) or adopt applicant's view. Contention: dueling attorney letters—applicant's counsel supports transfer; neighbors' counsel opposes it.
No vote recorded; dispute centers on whether Article 13 allows density "shifting" across Agricultural/R1 zoning for a 5-homesite OSRD. Attorney Pete Miller (applicants) argues 9 units allowed, requesting only 5. Attorney Robert Parker, for neighbor Matthew Schoenfeldt and others, opposes shifting and urges denial. Applicants agreed to underground utilities; Commission must resolve interpretation.
This document is a civil engineering drawing title block for "North Gill's Pier Preserve" (alternate plan, no open space), not meeting minutes. No decisions, action items, or public comments are recorded. No substantive content available for summarization.
Committee reviewed draft Code of Ethics (VSB-2026-25), based on modified 2007 resolution, outlining 17 conduct standards and penalties for conflicts of interest. No votes taken; committee must decide on additional language before staff finalizes format. Status updates received on marina fees and 2027 water/sewer rate increases, no details given.
Committee reviewed infrastructure progress (bathroom project, treatment plant upgrades, well alarm systems) and discussed proposed 2027 marina and water/sewer fee increases plus an ethics policy, though no votes recorded. DPW Director to update on new hire and finalize contract negotiations, with one partnership possibly ending. Bulk leaf pickup dates to be announced via robo-call.
Committee reviewed proposed 2027-2029 marina slip rate increases (main marina $99→$115/ft; coal dock $89→$105/ft) and multi-year water/sewer rate hikes (VSB-2026-29), citing new bathhouse costs. DPW Director (Jason Bugge) to manage infrastructure projects: bathroom utility installation, street/lot closures, hydrant flushing, wet well cleaning, pump station maintenance, and well alarm upgrades. No public contention noted.
AIS presented loader equipment options, noting high idle time (60%) and inadequate maintenance on the current loader; recommended outright sale rather than trade-in. No votes or purchase decisions were made. Harriger noted the current loader can't handle sand or back blade, impacting beach park maintenance. No public comments; minutes await approval October 8.
No formal decisions made due to Zoning Administrator's absence; Board expected to vote on pending ordinance in October and approved millage rates. Commission will revisit ADUs and shipping container rules later. Nisonger questioned sidewalk repair responsibility, tied to a tripping incident Hawley reported; Board must develop a maintenance policy. Ihme flagged Administrator's absence as concerning.
Board evaluated the Zoning Administrator's poor performance across 13 contracted duties and voted unanimously (DePuy/Hawley) to seek Township Attorney guidance on next steps, including possible contract termination. Contention: Planning Commission dissatisfaction over withdrawn site plan reviews, plus complaints from residents, contractors, and realtors about unanswered communications and permit delays. No public comments were made.
Council approved Lake St. drainage bid ($248,556.73, Elmer's), Shalda Park survey ($5,800), and Sensaphone water monitoring ($3,145, Windemuller; Walton dissented). Parks committee to meet re: fishing dock; Planning Commission to develop driveway permit process. Public comments from Baja and Larecy addressed Lake St. tree removal; Skinner relayed thanks for Hill Climb support.
Council passed consent agenda 6-0 but rejected (1-6) a hydrological study for Elm Street flooding/culvert issues. Manager continues wastewater/law enforcement contract talks and marina grant work; Coal Dock shoreline grant (~$91,877) received. Public comments focused on Elm Street bridge safety, traffic calming, watershed study scope, and urgency, with mixed views on delaying the study.
Council approved consent agenda and agenda (7-0). Rob will follow up on Elm Street walkthrough options, propose 2027 water/sewer rate increases, and seek grants. Administrative committee will handle Manager's annual review next meeting. Public comments: Tim Lodge introduced Drain Commissioner candidacy; Bill Crackel raised St. Mary's drainage concerns.
Commission approved agenda/minutes (7-0) and set 2026 Master Plan priorities. Key actions: Schroeder to develop housing site map with GIS scoring criteria; Patmore/Miller to draft revised driveway/construction standards separating zoning from DPW oversight. Contention noted around speeding on South Shore/St. Mary's streets; Inland Seas site plan under continued review with Fire Dept/DPW.
NCV proposed swapping Braman Hill land for Timber Shores acreage, enabling home construction and public trail access; no vote taken. $10,000 approved for temporary Woolsey Airport roof painting after Fly In cancellation. Cell tower at Braman Hill remains undecided, with public opposition noted. Dan Thompkins to investigate Peterson Park water pump repair and staff email creation; Tom Mayhew researching REI grants.
Commission approved agenda/minutes 5-0. Sara to add schools, grocery/drug stores, and banks to GIS housing-site scoring criteria, updating at October 21 meeting. Steve and DPW Director continue developing driveway width/construction standards over winter, excluding aprons per Gail's suggestion. No public comments; Hylwa raised speeding concerns on St. Mary's Street, already addressed by posted sign.
Board approved agenda 6-0; no budget votes taken. Major contention: Wessell/Allgaier objected to a Senior Planner hire bypassing an alleged hiring freeze, disputed by Campbell/Walter; Yoder deferred policy issues to future sessions. Action items: Motor Pool review next session, geo-tracking added to vehicles, Dalton returns October with insurance figures. Public speakers White and Kiessel; remarks unspecified.
Board approved Spicer Group RFP for cooling tower upgrades, set millage rates, selected DZ Strategy Management over Guidehouse for strategic planning, upheld Facilities Director Roach's absence ruling (4-3), and adjusted Finance Department staffing. Special session set for October 9 on CDBG, materials management, and NMCAA contract. Public comment included defense/criticism of Senior Planner hiring process.
Board approved $50,626.61 in bills, reappointed Mike Hill to Fire Authority Board, dissolved playground subcommittee into Parks & Rec, and authorized up to $1,500 for cemetery tree removal. Additional bids sought for Autumn Olive clearing and tree removal. Jared Pontius pursuing playground grants. Courtney Yaple publicly thanked Gosling Czubak's Dallas for playground design work.