Tomorrow’s Peninsula Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at the Township Hall, will be the first meeting this year with Rob Manigold as supervisor and Joanne Westphal as clerk, and it looks to be jam-packed with assorted items. Let’s take a look at some of the agenda items:
OMP Historical Society Sign Request. The society is requesting to allow signage to promote their Community Autumn Fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Legion Hall (more details here). They expect around 200 people and are requesting the use of up to 20 directional/informational signs located along Peninsula roads, at the Legion Hall, Fire Station No. 2, and Charlie Doe’s sign on Center Road.
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Public Hearing on the 2016 Phragmites Herbicide Application. This concerns the application of herbicide to eradicate the invasive species Phragmites on Peninsula Township shorelines. The Traverse City company, Wildlife and Wetlands Solutions, will be applying the herbicide via foliar spraying or backpack sprayer, depending on the size and density of each patch, between Sept. 14 and Oct. 15. The public hearing gives shoreline owners the opportunity to show cause why their property should not be included in the eradication zone. Only those properties containing Phragmites will be treated, and the plant is controlled using glyphosate, imazapyr, a surfactant, and a tracer dye.
Peninsula resident John Bissell sent a note to the Township, asking them to re-think the use of glyphosate, as the World Health Organization has stated that it’s a probable carcinogen that stays in the soil for decades.
Bonobo Winery Hearing. This concerns the planting of pumpkins on winery land, and whether Bonobo has complied with the zoning ordinance requirement that “not less than 75 percent of the site shall be used for the active production of crops that can be used for wine production, such as fruit growing on vines or trees.” Erwin ‘Duke’ Elsner, MSU Extension Educator, has reviewed the planted area and sent a note to the Township, which can be viewed in the board meeting packet here.
Discussion on the Future of Old Mission Peninsula School Regarding Allison O’Keefe’s presentation on August 29, 2016. Read more about the presentation and meeting here.
Update from Chief Randy Rittenhouse on the Peninsula Fire Department. In his report dated Sept. 7, he notes that the department responded to 300 calls, and 14 of those were water related emergencies. Things they’ve been working on this summer include:
- Hose testing
- Cleaning up water point
- Knox box locations
- Checking hydrants to make sure they’re in proper working order
- Station tours
- Blood pressure and sugar checks
- John Deere gator in service and training completed
This month, the fire department will be taking the new ambulance downstate to Emergency Vehicles Plus (where it was purchased) to be fixed due to a leaking window seal. They also plan to spend time in the elementary school and bring back the public education side of this program.
Discussion on New Planning and Zoning Director. Michelle Reardon submitted her resignation, and her last day is Sept. 15. Read more about that here.
Also on the agenda:
- Waste and Sewer Budgets/Septage Treatment Facility Payments
- Planning Commission Recommendation Regarding Five Year Review of Master Plan
- Fire Department Millage – Set Rate Discussion
- Tabone Vineyard LLC Address Change
- First Congregational Church Women’s Fellowship Resolution (regarding a raffle for their upcoming bazaar).
Click here to view and download the entire board meeting packet. As mentioned, the meeting will be held on Sept. 13, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Township Hall, 13235 Center Road on the Old Mission Peninsula.
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