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(Editor’s Note: Peninsula Township Supervisor Maura Sanders reports in with updates about the Michigan Townships Association Annual Meeting, Fire Station 1 New Building and more. Big thanks to Maura for these weekly updates that keep us tuned into what’s happening at the Township offices. Read on for this week’s note. -jb)
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April 4, 2025
Greetings, Neighbors! Busy week for the Township at the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) annual meeting.
The clerk, deputy clerk, treasurer, deputy treasurer and I attended the MTA conference in Grand Rapids. The MTA serves more than 1 million residents. The classes offered were led by the best legal, financial and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in all areas of township governance.
It was great to see our Peninsula Township legal counsel, Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes, presenting many of the legal classes. We were all able to network with township officials from around the state, share ideas and discuss high level topics.
The Request For Proposal (RFP) for pre-construction consulting services on the potential new Fire Station #1 is out to the public. We have received a few calls from contractors/builders and are looking forward to seeing what the cost analysis is for new construction.
We have two sites picked out. Site 1 is on Township property on the north side of the township offices. Site 2, the more favorable site and privately owned, is on Center Road across from the Peninsula Market. Read more about the Peninsula Township Fire Department here, including fire prevention and safety tips. Read more about the history of the fire department here.
The Non-Motorized planning process is underway. So far, there have been four small group stakeholder meetings to help the planning consultants understand the important issues in our community, and learn more about what makes the Old Mission Peninsula unique.
A larger public input meeting to seek ideas and information related to non-motorized transportation in our community is scheduled for June 24. Watch for more information once details are available.
Updates from Down the Hall
Zoning: The Township is still seeking an additional Ordinance Enforcement Officer. The Sheriff’s Department is assisting with outreach to some of the retired force to see if there is any interest. Please share the job description with anyone who might be interested.
Looking Ahead to Next Week
The Township Board will be meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m. at the Township Hall. On the agenda is the public hearing for the Festival of Races, an update from the DNR on the East Bay Boat Launch Renovation and more. View the agenda here and the meeting packet here. Check the Township Board section for additional packet items.
On the Horizon
***Shoreline Regulation Education Session*** This session is scheduled for April 24, 2025, 7 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Township will host members from the Army Corps of Engineers; Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Center; and Dr. Richard Norton, Ph.D, J.D, from University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
Have a great weekend, Everyone!
Maura Sanders, Peninsula Township Supervisor
Phone: (231) 223-7323
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Mondays 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesdays – Thursdays 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Friday – Sunday and Holidays. If TCAPS is closed due to weather, Peninsula Township offices are closed at least until 10 a.m. Please check the website homepage for any updates.
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SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
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