Summary
The Suttons Bay Township Board met on August 14, 2024, with Supervisor Doug Periard presiding. Key actions included approval of the July 10, 2024 minutes, payment of August bills totaling $62,955.32, acceptance of a Kal Excavating bid not to exceed $7,000 for Ice Rink Park work, approval to retain Giffels Webster for zoning ordinance and Master Plan services, and confirmation of Deon Vaughan as Library Trustee. Extensive public comment focused on the condition of Lovers Lane road.
Public Comments
Four residents spoke about Lovers Lane, a public road used as a cut-through to Nanagosa Trail and Vic Steimel Park. Martha Ramsdell (Lovers Lane) said the road is only patched, not properly repaired, and asked the county to resurface it as was done on Stony Point and Nanagosa Trail. Bridget Klassen (Lovers Lane) stated the county indicated residents could pay for repairs themselves at a cost of $148,000, and objected since residents already pay taxes. Terry Mathes (Lovers Lane Court) echoed that residents pay taxes and emphasized heavy cut-through traffic. Karen Broad (Lover Lane Court) described potholes over three inches deep, noted up to 100 bikers use the road on some Saturdays, and asked about reimbursement, making the road private/gated, requesting special millage, and the county's paving criteria. Supervisor Periard responded that he had walked the road with a Leelanau County Road Commission representative, that residents had been emailed a statement, that the Road Commission controls repair decisions, and that Lovers Lane is a Township Road rated "3" in the PAZAR report. He asked whether residents had contacted the Road Commission directly.
In a later public comment period, Steve Patmore relayed that the Leelanau Historical Society requested to clean headstones at Saint Michael's on August 27, 2024, and asked to also clean older veteran headstones at the Township cemetery; Patmore will oversee this. Larry Mawby asked for a copy of the PILOT program documents being issued to the Board.
Parks and Recreation Matters
Jared Pontius reported from the August 8th Parks & Rec meeting on improvements to Herman Park's dog park, pickleball and tennis courts, disc golf, fish pond, soccer field, pump track, and the 45th Parallel Park. Two late bids for Ice Rink Park excavation and leveling were received from Kal Excavating and A-T Excavation; the agenda was amended (motion by Petroskey, supported by Carlson, carried) to add this as Old Business Item #3. Trustee Slocombe questioned whether the A-T bid included topsoil or fill sand. Due to the late bid, seasonal timing, and Kal Excavating's prior history with the property, the Board accepted the Kal Excavating bid via motion by Slocombe, supported by Carlson, not to exceed $7,000; motion passed. Pete Ostrowski noted Boy Scout Troop 131 proposed an Invasive Species Sign as an Eagle Scout project, with scouts also helping remove invasive plants.
Other Business
- Planning & Zoning: ZA Patmore gave a June/July 2024 report and was asked to define "condominium" regarding the Condominium Storage Amendment.
- Fire Authority: Petroskey reported the meeting was cancelled.
- PILOT Ordinance: Larry Mawby submitted documents for review, still under legal review; discussion tabled to next month's meeting; Clerk Moe will reissue documents to trustees.
- Deon Vaughan was confirmed as Suttons Bay Bingham District Library Board Trustee (motion by Slocombe, seconded by Carlson, carried).
Financial Summary
August 2024 bills were paid in the amount of $62,955.32 (motion by Slocombe, seconded by Petroskey, all ayes). Giffels Webster's bids were $24,800 for a new Zoning Ordinance and $37,020 for a 5-year Master Plan. The current budget allows $10,000 for a ZO consultant, $20,000 for Master Plan rewrite/revisions, and $8,000 for legal review; costs may be spread over two fiscal years. Motion to accept the proposal passed (Carlson, seconded by Petroskey). Regarding Lovers Lane, residents cited a county estimate of $148,000 for road repair if paid by residents themselves.
Infrastructure Projects
Extensive discussion centered on Lovers Lane road conditions and repair options. Trustee Petroskey noted the Road Commission's funding comes from millage and property taxes and suggested inviting the Road Commission back to discuss options. Trustee Carlson noted other townships share road repair costs with their road commission via a budget line item, and outlined three options: waiting for the Road Commission to fix the road independently, splitting the cost with the Road Commission, or residents starting a petition for a special assessment to fund repairs themselves. No formal Board decision was made on Lovers Lane at this meeting.
Action Items
- Clerk Moe to reissue PILOT program documents to trustees for review before next month's meeting.
- PILOT Ordinance discussion continues at the September 11, 2024 board meeting.
- Steve Patmore to oversee Historical Society volunteers cleaning veteran headstones at the Township cemetery.
- Board to consider inviting the Leelanau County Road Commission back to discuss Lovers Lane repair funding options, as suggested by Trustee Petroskey.