Cleveland Township meeting minutes summaries

Plain-language summaries of Cleveland Township meeting minutes in Leelanau County, Michigan. Every summary links back to the official source document.

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Showing 30 of 41 summaries

Sep 8, 2026

9/8/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Halts Culvert Spending, Refers Issue to Road Commission

Board approved minutes, treasurer's report, FOIA fees, and L-4029 tax rates. Voted 3-0 to halt township spending on LTL culvert project pending National Park Service assurance, referring it to the Road Commission. Public forum featured contentious debate: residents Celentino, Allgaier, Marks, Alexander, Kelsinger, and the Bredins questioned SAD costs, funding alternatives, and Road Commission accountability.

Aug 11, 2026

8/11/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Culvert Special Assessment District

Board approved a zoning amendment, bills, and Resolution 2026-202 establishing a special assessment district (172 parcels) for the $1.1M Shelda Creek culvert project; public hearing set September 8. Stein will pursue BOR interlocal agreement with Centerville/Kasson; Olsen must respond to Skribanek's FOIA appeal. Contentions: FOIA fee disputes and rising fire insurance costs.

Jul 14, 2026

7/14/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Backs Fire Agreement Changes, Culvert Progress

Board approved amending the Cedar Area Fire interlocal agreement for shared station costs/ownership; Tim Stein and attorney Haider Kazim will draft it, pending other townships' support. WLTL culvert/paving progresses, with designs due mid-August. Resident Linda Engelhard requested stronger signage near Lime Lake Rd/M-22 for safety; township continues pressing MDOT via county.

Jun 9, 2026

6/9/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Advances Road Project, Fire Expansion, Fee Updates

Board approved fee updates, Treasurer's Report, and advanced the LTL Road culvert/paving project with Gosling-Czubak, targeting mid-October 2026. Reviewed CAFR's $12M expansion plan; new counsel needed for interlocal agreement. Stein to seek 2027 insurance bids after 13.6% increase. Peter Skribanek threatened a federal lawsuit over sign ordinance enforcement; attorney continuing review.

May 12, 2026

5/12/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Places Headlee Override on Ballot, Approves Culvert Plans

Board approved AI zoning tool contract, CAFR Strategic Plan, and unanimously placed Headlee Override referendum on August 4 ballot. Culvert engineering (Gosling Zubac) planned before West Little Traverse Lake Road improvements; NPS exploring dam removal/Beaver Deceivers. Contentious public comments pitted resident Todd Bredin against Lake Association's Jeff Shutz over flooding causes and culvert solutions.

Apr 14, 2026

4/14/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Mining Ban, Traffic Resolution, AI Contract Review

Board approved minutes, treasurer's report, cemetery bids, Bill Ross's appointment, mining ban amendments, Darwin Road traffic resolution, and bills (5-0). Jan Nowak will review a free Blue Water OS AI contract before board sign-off. CAFR Strategic Plan review set for May; Nello Valentine to quote door installation. Public commenters: Kate (Leelanau Enterprise), Travis Kemp (Blue Water OS).

Mar 21, 2026

3/21/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Budget, Salaries, Sugar Loaf Deal

Board approved 2026/27 budget 5-0 and set salaries (Supervisor $18,000, Clerk $23,250, Treasurer $21,500, Trustees $180/meeting). Action items: Todd Nowak/Planning Commission on PILOT ordinance and housing survey (June); Conservancy team on Sugar Loaf site plan (May 6 hearing); Stein meeting Scott Tucker (April) on fuel load/beaver dams. Residents raised wildfire, elderly-check, STR permits, and fuel-load concerns.

Mar 10, 2026

3/10/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Fire Millage Renewal, Appoints CAFR Member

Board approved February minutes, Treasurer's Report, Truth in Taxation Resolution, and a 2.5-mill Fire/Emergency millage renewal ballot measure (all 5-0/roll call). Kathy Fordyce appointed to CAFR Board. Action items: Stein meets Tucker/Mullane (3/13) on beaver dams; Roystin/Doornbos meeting (3/18) on CAFR substation; Sheehan follows up on zoning violation. Public asked about trail reconsideration and Annual Meeting timing; no board action taken.

Jan 13, 2026

1/13/2026 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Poverty Exemptions, Audit Renewal, STR Concerns Raised

Board approved December minutes, audit renewal, poverty exemptions, 2026 federal poverty guidelines, Glen Lake tax agreement, and set March 21 Annual Meeting. Kathy Anderson raised concerns over STR renewal issues affecting ~15 applicants due to online-only submission. Action items: Jan Nowak on ZBA addendum, Sheehan on septic records, Stein on Blyh correspondence, board on CAFR budget review.

Dec 9, 2025

12/9/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Adopts STR Enforcement Rules, Weighs Housing Plan

Board approved 2026/27 dates, Zoning Administrator wage increase (6%), and adopted STR enforcement resolution unanimously. Resident Todd Kraemer requested an STR permit for family lake property, citing unawareness of permit requirements; Tim Stein will investigate with Zoning Administrator Scott Sheehan. Todd Nowak explored affordable housing partnership with Sleeping Bear Gateway Council for 30-35 units.

Nov 11, 2025

11/11/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Formalizes 36-Permit STR Cap, Pauses PILOT Housing

Board voted to amend Resolution 2024-0514-01 to formalize the 36-permit STR cap and placed the PILOT affordable housing ordinance on hold; Stein owns the resolution amendment. Public comments raised STR enforcement concerns—Anderson questioned unfined violators and renewal notices—while Massaroni supported the PILOT decision and asked about future Cedar fire station involvement.

Nov 11, 2025

11/11/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Caps Rental Permits, Tables Affordable Housing Plan

The board approved renewing Granicus, formally capped STR permits at 36 (Stein to amend resolution), and tabled the PILOT affordable housing program due to limited capacity. Public comments raised concerns over inconsistent STR enforcement (Anderson) and PILOT alternatives (Massaroni). ZBA hearing on Deeton variance set for December 8; Cedar Fire Board to review fire hall code compliance.

Oct 14, 2025

10/14/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Budget, Reports Road Projects Under Budget

Board approved (5-0) minutes, Treasurer's Report, bills, and CAFR 2026/27 Budget under 2.5 mils. Road projects completed under budget. Action items: Sheehan to contact STR owners and a sauna relocation issue; Stein to seek CAFR alternate candidates. No public comments; correspondence clarified townships now print own tax bills, unchanged since last year.

Sep 9, 2025

9/9/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Tax Rates, Tackles STR Enforcement

Board approved minutes, treasurer's report, bills, and L-4029 tax rates (5-0). Sheehan must contact 6 non-compliant STR owners and process 2026 renewals by Nov 1; Imboden to develop Fire Board's 2026 budget; board to consider raising STR cap (36→45) in November. Resident Cookie Currier raised STR enforcement concerns, offering assistance identifying unlisted rentals.

Aug 12, 2025

8/12/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Road Bids, Tables Housing Ordinance

Board approved road bids ($217,050 total, added Bluff Lane project), the July Treasurer's Report, and Resolution 2500-02 renewing the CAFR agreement. PILOT/workforce housing ordinance tabled pending Planning Commission review, Master Plan comparison, and input from John Gallagher/Dean Manikas. Public forum: John Imboden questioned affordable housing needs for restaurant workers; no board response given.

Aug 12, 2025

8/12/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Reviews Fire Protection Agreement Renewal Terms

Board reviewed renewal of the CAFR fire protection Inter-Local Agreement, keeping the original framework with updates: expanded fire chief autonomy, extended board terms (4 to 6 years), and a new Article 15 referendum right. No formal vote recorded; meeting adjourned via motion by Todd Nowak, seconded by Jan Nowak. No public comments were made.

Jul 8, 2025

7/8/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Advances Speed Study and Housing PILOT Talks

Board approved minutes, Treasurer's Report, and Hlavka Rd speed study resolution (all 5-0); PILOT housing ordinance discussion continued with Yarrow Brown, to resume in August. Tim Stein will report on MTA/road funding; Scott Sheehan handles STR enforcement; ZBA hearing (Sturgeon) set August 7; CAFR public hearing rescheduled to August 12 due to posting error.

Jun 10, 2025

6/10/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Zoning Amendment, Advances Housing PILOT Plans

Board approved (4-0) May minutes, Treasurer's Report, Zoning Ordinance 8.05 amendment, and bills. Action items: Todd Nowak/Dean advancing PILOT housing ordinances toward Planning Commission; Tracy Olsen researching cemetery plot listing costs; public hearing on Cedar Fire interlocal agreement set July 8. Clayton Ball reiterated unresolved complaints about deteriorating Bluff Lane road conditions, citing township inaction.

May 13, 2025

5/13/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Insurance, Addresses STR Enforcement

The board approved April minutes, Treasurer's Report, MUWM Insurance (Stein to explore alternatives), and bills. Public comments raised concerns about a locked meeting door and STR permit enforcement (Sheehan sending violation letters). Action items: Olsen corrects minutes; Stein installs float ring, contacts supervisors on insurance; fire board attorney reviews Cedar Fire agreement; housing hearing set June 4.

Apr 8, 2025

4/8/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Rental Fees And Compost Proclamation

Board approved March minutes, Treasurer's Report ($696,030.91 ending balance), new hall rental fees, fireworks permit, bills, and a Compost Awareness Week proclamation (requested by Kathy Dawkins, sole public commenter). Sheehan to distribute unpermitted STR lists; Chief Doornbos awaiting architect drawings for second fire station; Boomer researching CDs; Zolnierek hired pending certification.

Mar 29, 2025

3/29/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Budget, Fire Agreement, Salary Resolutions

Board approved the 2025/26 budget (5-0), salary resolutions, new Interlocal Fire Agreement, and March bills. Action items: STR violation tickets begin 4/1/25; Lime Lake shoreline setback dispute referred to attorneys; B1/B2 zoning moratorium pending Planning Commission review. Public raised concerns over speeding near Maple City Road boat ramp and shoreline setback violations.

Mar 11, 2025

3/11/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Budget, Preps for Annual Meeting

Board approved February minutes, Treasurer's Report, and 2025/26 budget planning (5-0), and prepared for the March 29 Annual Meeting. Action items: Tim Stein drafts CAFR resolution; Jan Nowak prepares hall rental fee schedule; STR violation letters begin April 1. Resident Phil Anderson criticized STR moratorium process and requested the STR list; no board action taken.

Feb 11, 2025

2/11/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Adopts Tax Millage and Salary Resolutions

Board adopted Truth in Taxation Resolution (3.5402 mills) and Poverty Exemption Resolution; approved salary resolutions for Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer, and Trustee per diem. Action items: send Fire/Rescue minutes to Fire Board (per Imboden's request), complete PA-660 BOR training, schedule Board of Review and ZBA hearings, continue furnace repairs and FY2025/26 budget planning.

Feb 4, 2025

2/4/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Adopts Moratorium Amid Dollar General Concerns

The board unanimously adopted Resolution 2500-02, imposing a temporary moratorium on new development applications in Business 1 and 2 districts, driven by concerns over a proposed Dollar General. Unresolved issues include zoning definitions, scenic overlay conflicts, master plan alignment, and coordination with Kasson Township. Four residents publicly thanked the board after the vote.

Jan 14, 2025

1/14/2025 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Fire Station Funding, Poverty Exemption

Board approved minutes, Treasurer's Report, Poverty Exemption resolution, Board of Review reappointments, tax collection agreements, and tentative funding support for a new Kasson Township fire station (all 5-0). Action items: Sheehan/Stein compile STR violation list; Stein arranges BOR training and represents township at fire meeting. Public comments addressed STR permit records and unresolved parking/trail funding with the Tribe.

Nov 12, 2024

11/12/2024 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Budget, Road Savings, Fire Talks

Board approved October minutes, treasurer's report, and bills (5-0 each). LCRC road work came in ~$60,000 under budget; remaining funds allocated to future road projects. Stein continues pursuing LTL Road speed limit reduction; LCRC call expected Nov 14. Fire interlocal agreement renewal ongoing; township declined funding Kasson's second station. Public asked about LUP definition.

Nov 12, 2024

11/12/2024 - Cleveland Township | Board Approves Budget, Debates Road and Fire Funding

Board approved minutes, treasurer's report, and bills (5-0 each). LCRC road invoice came in $60,000 under budget; township pursues LTL Road speed limit reduction and SBHT Segment 9 parking lot. Township opposes funding 50% of Kasson's proposed fire station bond; fire agreement renegotiation pending. Clerk to get computer cost estimates; Zoning Administrator to mail STR permit letters.