Summary
This record combines the October 20, 2025 Suttons Bay Village Council agenda and staff reports with minutes from the prior meeting on September 15, 2025 (approved as part of the October 20 consent agenda). At the September 15 meeting, President Lutke presided over a quorum of four (Bahle, Lutke, Smith, Suppes; Christensen, Perkins and Yoder absent). The consent agenda, including the August 18, 2025 minutes and payment of invoices, was approved 4-0. For October 20, staff prepared two reports for Council: on-street parking/drainage on St. Mary's Street (VSB-2025-28) and a Manager's Update (VSB-2025-31) covering multiple ongoing infrastructure and operational projects.
Public Comments
At the September 15 meeting, written communications were received from Kathy Egan, Kathleen Mozak, and Jared Pontius. Kelly Slater of Green Suttons Bay gave a verbal update on the group's community accomplishments. Jared Pontius stated he had submitted a written communication hoping it would be forwarded to the appropriate committee. During public comment, Jan Vandijk thanked the Village and noted he sees his tax dollars at work. David Bahle said it was a privilege to live in the Village and praised staff for maintaining quality of life. Chava Bahle spoke about diverse use of Waterwheel Park and encouraged community appreciation, later leading a Happy Birthday song for young guest Dillan Pontius. Bill Crackel asked when St. Mary's Street would be repaired and inquired about the bathhouse project, stating he did not like the proposed renderings.
Infrastructure Projects
Report VSB-2025-28 addressed drainage complaints on St. Mary's Street tied to an earlier removal of the grass buffer strip for added on-street parking. On April 8, 2025, the General Service committee reviewed three design options and favored converting perpendicular parking to parallel parking as the most cost-effective short-term fix. An October 7, 2025 follow-up discussion was canceled for lack of quorum, though staff briefed residents present. The proposed solution would convert about 12 feet of the 24-foot gravel/asphalt area into a vegetative grass swale, with the remaining 12 feet used for parallel parking; no vote was taken.
The Manager's Update (VSB-2025-31) reported: the Marina "A-Dock" grant project's EGLE public hearing concluded October 9 with no comments, and the permit remains under state review. The Boaters Service and Public Restroom grant project is in final engineering, with bids expected in January. A shoreline restoration grant for Coal Dock Park, submitted with the Watershed Center, is pending. The EGLE Source Water Protection Grant (applied for in June) is delayed, likely until 2026. The Elm Street repaving (Phase II) was set to begin within days, closing the road about a week to address drainage, ramp, and catch basin issues. The related Elm Street sidewalk project near St. Michael's Church drew praise from church leaders, with further raingarden and sidewalk work planned for 2026.
Other Business
The Manager's Update also noted a one-year law enforcement contract extension (expiring December 31) with longer-term negotiations planned for July, and a similar one-year extension for the WWTP operator (Jacobs) with further discussion planned in coming months. Several aging street trees (St. Marys, Broadway, etc.) will be removed and replaced in 2026, while new street trees are being planted this fall. The Sutton Park water bottle filler project, in partnership with KAL, is expected to move forward within about 30 days.
Action Items
- Staff to continue developing the St. Mary's Street parking/drainage short-term solution (parallel parking conversion with grass swale).
- Council to revisit longer-term law enforcement contract terms in July.
- Council to revisit longer-term WWTP operator (Jacobs) contract in coming months.
- Staff to proceed with Sutton Park water bottle filler installation within approximately 30 days.
- Tree replacements planned for 2026 following fall removals.