To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
(Editor’s Note: Peninsula Township Supervisor Maura Sanders reports in with updates about the recent electrical fire that knocked out the power, a cooperative effort between the Fire Department and farmers, the upcoming Bayshore Marathon 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)
Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
May 16, 2025
Let me start by thanking our Peninsula Township Fire Department and Consumers Energy for their immediate response to a very dangerous power event and fire. Consumers Energy is in the planning stage for a permanent fix to the main line that was damaged. We will continue with the temporary poles and line for now to keep the lights on! Thank you to all of our residents who checked on their neighbors and helped disseminate the information that we were able to provide. (Above photo used with permission from Cory Reamer – thanks, Cory! -jb)
I would also like to extend another thank you to our Fire Department for providing relief to some of our farmers. The Fire Department was conducting pump training early Tuesday morning at Bowers Harbor boat launch during the power outage. They were able to use their pumping equipment to fill up several spray tanks so that the farmers could stay on schedule and ahead of the weather! Solid win-win!
The Town Board met on Tuesday, May 13 (view the video here). It was a packed agenda with some robust discussion on moving forward with Fire Station #1, approving the Festival of Races event permit, and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) grant opportunities. The Town Board will hold their second semi-monthly meeting on May 27 at 3 p.m. This will be a joint strategic planning meeting with our Old Mission Peninsula historical structure partners.
The final emergency services meeting in preparation for the Bayshore Marathon, which will take place on May 24, was this week at the Township Hall. The finish line will close at 1:15 p.m. Anyone finishing after this time (six hours for the Marathon) may not receive an official finish time. As in previous years, portions of several OMP roads will be closed during the race, including East Shore Road, Center Road and Bluff Road. Center Road will re-open at 1 p.m. For more information, visit the Bayshore Marathon website here and their FAQ page here, or contact them via their contact page here.
The Survey Committee held their initial meeting on Thursday, May 15. Check out the video of the meeting on the Township’s YouTube Channel. Those serving on the committee include Dennis Arouca, John Jacobs, Shaina LaFond, Dave Murphy and Armen Shanafelt. This group includes a Parks Committee member, a Planning Commission member, the Old Mission School Board President, and two community members involved in citizen action groups. The committee will be chaired by Township Trustee Julie Alexander. All meetings are open to the public and include public comment and streaming on YouTube. Meeting info will be posted on the Township’s Town Board page.
Updates From Down the Hall
Zoning: The Town Board approved the continuation of work proposal from McKenna to move forward with the zoning ordinance rewrite.
Docks and hoists are starting to go in for the season, and we’re all looking forward to spending more time outside, in and around our beloved fresh water. Waterfront owners – please be mindful of the Peninsula Township Zoning Ordinance and the dock/hoist regulations (Section 6.2.2) in place. Per the recent Shoreline Education Session in April, shoreline regulating authorities (Federal, State and Township) are clear on the Township’s authority to regulate docks/hoists along the shoreline, even if a state permit has been obtained. State permits do not supercede Township approvals.
The Township is actively citing shoreline violations, and if you have more docks/hoists than allowed on your waterfront, you can expect a notice of violation. We do not take pleasure in writing these citations, but we must enforce the rules on the books, even as we continue the work of the Shoreline Study Group to explore updates to this section of the zoning code.
Planning: Our Planner has been working on draft language for an update to the ordinance regarding agricultural signage and building heights in the commercial zone.
Looking Ahead to Next Week
The Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) will be meeting on Tuesday, May 20 at 2 p.m. The agenda and packet include four business items:
- Planning Commission Update on AAC Signage Recommendations
- Continued Discussion – Acreage Requirement for Processing Facilities
- Continued Discussion – Township Survey Updates, Participation
- Continued Discussion – Michigan State Legislature Updates • House Bill 4006 – Agricultural Barn or Building to be used as an Event Space • Next Steps to address outdated Michigan Agricultural Tourism Advisory Commission’s local zoning guidebook
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.
————–
Also Read…
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.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
To keep the Gazette going, click here to make a donation.
To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
