3/19/2026 - Leelanau Township Board | Special Meeting for FY 26-27 Budget Review

Summary

The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which aligns with the township's master plan. Several commissioners raised concerns regarding specific initiatives and financial allocations within the plan, particularly about recreational facilities and infrastructure needs.

Public comments

Commissioners shared their perspectives, with notable comments from: 1. **Hugh Scott, Brian Mitchell, and Meg Jean** expressed skepticism towards the necessity of rebuilding pickleball courts, suggesting that resurfacing would be sufficient and more economical. 2. **Meg Jean** favored channeling funds into community spaces for teens over the proposed expenditures. 3. **Concerns on the Buster Dame requests** revolved around the need for trails and parking in an area primarily used for baseball, with some commissioners questioning the necessity of a playground, although Meg Jean advocated for it to support younger children. 4. Regarding **Christmas Cove**, it was suggested to convert existing bathroom structures into changing rooms and rent Porta Potties to address maintenance issues with the current facilities. 5. A question arose from **Hugh Scott** concerning the description of the Woolsey Airport building, emphasizing that it should not be referred to as a terminal. 6. **The proposed township hall renovation price of $850,000** drew criticism, and there was a suggestion to assess the building's value and consider selling it to fund a new hall. 7. **Brian Mitchell** noted that past CIP documents indicated which roads would be prioritized for maintenance, raising concerns about the current policy requiring local road improvements to be funded through Special Assessments Districts (SADs), which could lead to excessive taxation.

Other Business

No additional items beyond the discussion of the CIP were noted in the document.

Financial Summary

No specific financial data regarding budgets, expenditures, or funding requests was presented.

Action Items

1. Assess the necessity and funding of the pickleball courts and consider options for resurfacing. 2. Evaluate the need for playgrounds and trail developments in conjunction with the Buster Dame requests. 3. Investigate the feasibility of converting existing bathroom facilities at Christmas Cove and the practicality of renting Porta Potties. 4. Review the terminology regarding the Woolsey Airport building description to avoid confusion. 5. Conduct a valuation assessment of the township hall and explore the option of selling it to finance a new facility. 6. Review and potentially revise the policy concerning road maintenance funding, especially relating to the use of SADs to mitigate excessive taxation on local residents.