The proposal to purchase property on the South Shore of South Bar Lake for a boardwalk faces opposition due to environmental concerns and local sentiment. Many residents advocate for preserving the wetland naturally rather than pursuing development, emphasizing alternatives that protect resources without using taxpayer funds. They call for reconsideration of the related planning documents.
The author expresses concerns regarding a petition among Village residents to remove specific Action Items from the Recreation Plan. They argue this undermines the public participation process mandated by the DNR, emphasizing that these items stemmed from public input. The author questions ignoring survey results showing resident support and advocates for studying the proposals before making decisions.
This document presents a petition from residents of Empire Village, urging the Village Council to reconsider certain actions proposed in the 2025 Draft Recreation Plan concerning South Bar Lake. The undersigned taxpayers express their concerns over using public funds to purchase fragile wetland property and develop a boardwalk through sensitive areas, arguing that these plans conflict with community goals.
This document presents the budget reports for the Village of Empire across various funds, including the General Fund, Major Streets Fund, Local Streets Fund, Water Fund, and Equipment Fund. The General Fund shows total estimated revenues of $638,300.00 for the original budget and $709,670.78 in activity through February 28, 2025, indicating a financial deficit.
The Empire Village Council met on January 28, 2025, discussing the Recreation Plan and proposed boardwalk across South Bar Lake. Residents expressed concerns about environmental impacts and taxpayer costs. Two motions regarding the plan failed, leading the Council to seek further public input. The meeting addressed the Capital Improvement Plan and ended at 9:00 p.m.
The Empire Village Council convened for their regular meeting on January 28, 2025, at the Empire Township Hall. The agenda included important discussions on public comments, departmental reports, and various new and old business items, including the approval of policies regarding sidewalk snow removal and the 2025-2029 Recreation Plan. Notably, the council paid tribute to former President Dave Taghon.
The document outlines the agenda for a regular meeting of the Leelanau Township Planning Commission on Thursday, January 23, 2025. The main agenda item is a public hearing on an application for a Special Land Use Permit for a Kitchen Road Communications Tower by Leelanau County Administration, with public comments limited to 3 minutes per person.
The document is a formal request directed to Leelanau County Clerk Michelle Crocker, seeking clarification regarding election integrity and security. It raises concerns about Dominion Voting Systems, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability to maintain public trust in electoral processes. The inquiries address irregularities in Cast Vote Records and security vulnerabilities in the systems.
The document transcribes Mark Cook’s public comment at the Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting on September 10, 2024, where he highlighted vulnerabilities in the Dominion voting system. Cook challenged Election Source representatives, who acknowledged these issues yet continued selling the equipment, raising concerns about vendor control over elections and the involvement of organizations like the Atlantic Council.
Governance challenges in Leelanau County include a $1 million taxpayer money decision by County Commissioners, restrictions on public input, and changes in meeting times that limit access. The proposed Commissioner Governance Declaration emphasizes essential services, lawful petitions for additional services, and prioritizes public participation, urging agenda discussions on improving accessibility at upcoming county meetings.
