Plain-language summaries of Suttons Bay Township meeting minutes in Leelanau County, Michigan. Every summary links back to the official source document.
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Board adopted (5-0) two ordinances creating a Neighborhood Residential Zoning District and rezoning 980 S. Herman Road; approved bills, minutes, and a tax waiver. Residents raised traffic safety concerns at Herman Rd & Elm, requesting speed sign relocation and a roundabout; Kate Queen will raise this with the road commission at June's meeting.
Board appointed John Wasson to Parks & Recreation Committee and approved March bills ($31,202.61); County Garage discussion postponed to June. Action items: Jared/Friends of Herman Park to launch capital campaign and revise ask letter; board to approve yard signs (not allowed in parks); Larry Mawby to present NRZD project in May. No public comments made.
Board adopted the amended '26-27 budget (increasing disc golf funding to $10,000), signed an MTA resolution, and recognized Friends of Herman Park for a $15,000 Rotary Charities grant application. Supervisor Periard must sign the DNR Grant. Public comments centered on safety/liability concerns with Herman Park's inadequate disc golf course, urging redesign.
Board upheld the Land Division Review Committee's Southwell Property appeal decision (3-0, Periard abstaining, Slocombe absent). Approved $29,708.90 in January bills, Park Manager wage increase to $20,000 (effective April 2026), and elected officials' salary resolutions. Public comment: Susan Leithauser presented workforce housing plans (40 units, Herman Road); no board action taken.
Board approved December bills ($32,784.17) and DNR Grant Resolution 2026-01 unanimously; tabled Land Division Appeal to February (Carlson/Petroskey) and Cherry Beach Orchards Project to February Planning Commission at Drakes' request. Public comment raised two potential grants: $15,000 for Herman Park playground (Pontius) and Oleson Grant, due February (Slocombe). Carlson suggested budgeting for MTA conference attendance.
Board adopted ESTA sick leave policy (Resolution #14), approved 2026 meeting dates, and reappointed Planning Commission/Zoning Board members. DNR awarded $105,000 grant (needs $45,000 match) for HP playground; attorney to review land division appeals for January. Parks & Rec needs a member/substitute. No public comments were made.
Board approved October minutes and $58,981.32 in bills, discussed Herman Park winter closures and Lover's Lane road funding (13% township share, MDOT timing uncertain). Bench purchase deadline set for March 31, 2026. Public commenter Bill Perkins suggested paving the ice rink for dual-use basketball courts. Drakes to submit revised Cherry Beach Orchards site plan in December.
Board approved September 2025 bills ($48,366.11) and accepted the FY2025 audit. Resident Bill Perkins proposed paving the ice rink for year-round use (basketball courts, less maintenance, faster freezing); no board action taken. Next meeting: November 12, 2025; Fire Authority meets October 14; golf tournament October 13.
Board unanimously approved Resolution No. 13, increasing the township's matching funds to $80,000 (26.6% of $300,000 total) for the Herman Park Universal Access Playground grant application. Dorothy Petroskey motioned; Eric Carlson supported. No public comments were made. Action item: submit amended DNR grant application reflecting the new match commitment.
Board approved bills, appointed Kevin Weber to Zoning Board of Appeals, and named Doug Periard as Condo Association representative. Recreation Passport resubmission deferred to April 2026 for a better score. Drake project postponed until October; Master Plan Workshops set for September 30. No public comments were made.
Board adopted four audit-correction resolutions, approved three policy updates, and paid July/August bills. Donna Steinebach appointed to Planning Commission (Clerk Moe to swear in); Gail Sharp Carlson appointed Library Trustee (Trustee Carlson abstained, conflict of interest). Patti Miller honored. Planning Commission meets September 2 on Cherry Bay Orchards Proposal. No public comments made.
The July 9, 2025 Suttons Bay Township meeting did not occur due to lack of business; no decisions, action items, or public comments were recorded. Only bills paid totaling $41,302.39 were documented, with no further financial detail provided.
Board approved agenda, May minutes, and $39,768.63 in bills. Larry Mawby will seek TIF Agreement approval for an affordable housing project by year-end; library seeks a volunteer Trustee. Slocombe and Pontius are pursuing fundraising (Art Show, Golf Scramble) for the Herman Park Playground Project, avoiding Township funds.
Board approved April bills, budget amendments, restricted funds, reduced lawn fertilizer applications, and a $15,000 Grand Traverse Band grant application for playground equipment. Pontius will solicit lawn care bids earlier; Garden Club waiver approved for Rain Garden work. Residents Ramsdell and Mattis raised concerns over Lovers Lane conditions; Road Commission's Mullane presented repair funding options, no vote taken.
Board approved March bills ($36,258.02) and $1,000 stipends each for Jesse Fox and Jared Pontius for ice rink maintenance. Playground Committee may fundraise without prior approval but must update the Board and share grant applications; Easter Egg Hunt planned April 19 at Herman Park. Fire Authority meeting rescheduled (no quorum). No public comments.
Board adopted 2025-2026 budget, approved MIDNR playground grant Resolutions #7 and #8 (increasing match funding to $641,740), rescinded Resolution #9, passed zoning amendment adding Medical Clinics, and approved poverty tax exemption resolution—all unanimous. No public comments made. Action items: awaiting legal counsel on Barnes property; April meeting moved to April 9, 5pm.
Board approved 2025 salaries, a $4,000 audit contract, $5,478 for computers, and a recognition resolution for Jim Eckerle. Personnel committee (Periard/Carlson) will review ice rink volunteer compensation; Pete will provide the Gosling Czubak contract; Playground Committee proceeds on funding. No public comments made. Budget workshop set for March 5, 2025.
Board unanimously adopted Ordinance #1 of 2024 amending the Waste Management Zoning District and approved September bills ($34,001.55). Pontius will draft a donated dock sections ad (Clerk Moe to submit); Periard will arrange a snow thrower repair estimate. Cynthia Deniau presented the library budget; no public contention noted. Next meeting: November 13, 2024.
Board approved July minutes, $62,955.32 in bills, a $7,000 Kal Excavating bid for Ice Rink Park, Giffels Webster for zoning/Master Plan services, and confirmed Deon Vaughan as Library Trustee. Residents (Ramsdell, Klassen, Mathes, Broad) contested Lovers Lane's poor condition and $148,000 repair cost. Clerk Moe to reissue PILOT documents; Petroskey to invite Road Commission back.
Board unanimously approved Leelanau Excavating for the dog park sidewalk (after original bidder Outside Edge Concrete was unresponsive) and The Weed Man for three poison ivy applications ($166/application) at Steimel and Herman Parks. Members will visit the site to finalize the "angel entry" location before the next meeting. No public comments were made.
Board approved June bills ($44,560.94), sidewalk contract with Outside Edge Concrete, continued pavilion painting with Intex, shifted meeting time to 6:00pm, and accepted the 2023 Planning Commission report. Larry Mawby proposed a PILOT affordable housing ordinance (target: Nov 1, 2024). Sandy Boone requested a resident for Library Board; Pete Ostrowski to research park equipment purchases.
Board confirmed Jared Pontius as Parks & Rec Manager, approved three budget amendments, and authorized requesting a Gosling Czubak engineering proposal for a Herman Park walkway (Ostrowski/Pontius to follow up). Approved May bills ($35,721.64). Larry Mawby raised a Pilot Permit ordinance draft and commented on the Peninsula Housing project/ZOO; no board response recorded.
Board approved Master Plan rewrite, sought Fishbeck planning proposal, and sent the Water/Sewer Intergovernmental Agreement for legal review. Action items: Fishbeck proposal request; agreement legal review; continued involvement in Peninsula Housing project (open house April 30, May 1-2); Zoom access resumes May meeting. Public comments: Ostrowski questioned sewer/water capacity; Ebert asked about missing Zoom access.
Board adopted the 2024-2025 budget, approved the Parks and Recreation Plan (Resolution 7), and created new Parks & Rec Manager/Assistant positions. Clerk Moe will post job ads; Kevin Weber and Gary Thornton fill vacated Planning Commission seats. Dorenda LaFever proposed a 2025 handicap accessibility compliance audit; no board action taken.
Board approved prior minutes (amended), January bills, website contract, County Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2024 salaries (Clerk raised to match Treasurer), Bill Sterritt appointed to Parks & Rec, and hired Giffels Webster for zoning ordinance review ($4,950 max). Periard/Carlson will schedule Park Steward hiring discussion; Mullane to present Paser Report later. No public comments made.
Board approved December bills ($23,671.80), Leland tax collection contract, and Sterrett as ZBA alternate. Joint meeting with Parks and Rec set for January 29 to vote on Five Year Plan resolution; Patmore/Petroskey finalizing Zoning Ordinance; Periard/Carlson forming Personnel Committee for Parks/Facilities Manager role. No public comments were made.