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(Editor’s Note: Peninsula Township Supervisor Maura Sanders reports in with updates about this weekend’s Bayshore Marathon, an upcoming power outage workshop, an ag education session, community survey 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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May 22, 2025
The Bayshore Marathon is HERE!! Please check out their website for FAQs and other pertinent information. If you are racing – best wishes for a great event! If you are cheering for the participants – let’s show them some Peninsula Township spirit. (I heard there may be an Elvis cheering section along the course … hoping for pictures!) If you are getting out of town – safe travels!
Last week, the Town Board appointed Trustees JP Milliken and Dave Sanger, along with Fire Department Chief Gilstorff to proceed with negotiating a purchase agreement with the landowner across from the Peninsula Market in Mapleton. This is the preferred site for the potential new Fire Station #1. These appointees will report back to the Board next week at the second Town Board meeting on Tuesday, May 27, at 3 p.m.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) met on Tuesday May 20 (watch the video here). They discussed preparing to make another recommendation to the Planning Commission regarding acreage minimums for processing facilities in the current Amendment 201 of the Zoning Ordinance. They also discussed moving forward with creating a definition for Agritourism for adoption in our Zoning Ordinance.
The Ad Hoc Survey Committee met today (watch the video here). They discussed scheduling, receiving survey input from the public (and the other Township committees), keeping a record of meeting packet information and meeting minutes, and the process of prioritizing survey question topics based on all of the input.
The committee is seeking input from Township residents for the survey, and the deadline is Sunday, June 1. Feel free to send in your topics of concern, drafted survey questions, or anything else you would like the survey committee to consider. Email me, [email protected], or the survey committee chair, Julie Alexander, [email protected].
From the Ticker: On Wednesday, Grand Traverse County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a new countywide septic regulation, which will go into effect January 1 and require septic evaluations whenever properties within 300 feet of surface water are sold or transferred.
Updates from Down the Hall
Zoning: The Grand Traverse County Community Development Coordinator is setting up a meeting to come out to the Township and provide (free) training on the Land Use Permit Application software. When integrated, we will be able to have a permit portal from the Township website that interacts with the county permitting authorities. This will allow the applicant and the permitting authorities (environmental health department, construction code, equalization and the Township) to track all phases of the permitting process together. For a sneak peak, check out East Bay Township’s portal here.
Planning and Agricultural Advisory Committee: We are looking to schedule an Agricultural Education Session mid-September. This will include a panel of agricultural policy specialists, a variety of local farmers and the planner, who will present and discuss the agricultural community over the years, the current state of agriculture, and what the future might hold. Agriculture is strongly supported in the Old Mission Peninsula community, and this is a good opportunity for public education and Q&A.
Looking Ahead to Next Week
Peninsula Township will be welcoming stakeholders from Grand Traverse County (Emergency Response), County Commission, and Consumers Energy for a power outage after action meeting. We need to have plans in place outside of household emergency preparedness. We will be discussing the impacts of a sustained power outage on our agricultural community in Peninsula Township and also in the region.
The Township is looking to get quotes for power washing, interior and exterior window washing, and pest control services from licensed providers for the Township office and Township Hall buildings. If you are interested in providing us a quote, please contact Office Manager Susan Piehl – email [email protected].
Have a great Memorial Day weekend, Everyone!
“All gave some, some gave All.” – H.W. Osterkamp
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.
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
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