The Empire Township meeting addressed several key issues, with significant outcomes related to affordable housing, fire department operations, and the appointment of a new clerk. The board decided to table a housing project indefinitely due to deed restrictions and ongoing union negotiations for the fire department were discussed, along with the appointment of a new clerk effective May 1, 2026.
Public comments
No public comments were made during the agenda-specific discussions; however, during the public comment segment at the end of the meeting, there was an inquiry regarding the upcoming public hearing for Vertical Bridge’s tower application.
Affordable housing initiatives
The Affordable Housing Committee, comprised of Empire Township and Village representatives, reported their decision not to recommend support for the Sleeping Bear Gateway Council's proposed housing project on 40 acres due to deed restrictions requiring public use. The board decided to table the consideration for action on this property indefinitely, allowing for further discussions regarding its future use, potentially for public purposes like a fire hall.
Parks and recreation matters
Not discussed in the meeting.
Infrastructure projects
The meeting included discussions concerning the Vertical Bridge communication tower application. The Planning Commission reported that several possible sites were proposed and requested the consolidation of application information for clearer review. An additional public hearing will take place on April 22 for further community input on the project.
Other Business
Other agenda items included the interview of clerk candidate Maggie Bacon, who was appointed to the clerk position to be effective May 1, 2026. Additionally, the board decided to hire 911 Restoration to conduct mold testing in the campground host building and planned for township office painting in May. The request for fire department parking on Empire Village property was brought forth, with a village council member volunteering to take the request to their council.
Financial Summary
No financial data such as budgets, expenditures, or funding requests were provided in the document.
Action Items
- Continued committee work to identify a qualified campground host and address potential mold issues in the host building.
- Clerk recruitment and transition process to be prioritized in light of the current clerk's resignation.
- Follow-up on Vertical Bridge's communication tower application for next public hearing scheduled for April 22 at 7 p.m.
Source Document
This summary was AI-generated from the official meeting record. The full source document is the authoritative version.