Supervisor’s Weekly Note: The Wineries Appeal 4 Issues, a Fatal Car Crash, and Reflections on 9/11

(Editor’s Note: Peninsula Township Supervisor Maura Sanders reports in with updates on the winery lawsuit, the Fire Department’s open house, the Township 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)

September 11, 2025

We are closing out a week of reflection in Peninsula Township. Today marks 24 years since the events of September 11, 2001. It was the worst of the worst tragedy, and yet it brought all of us together. We are all neighbors, and we should all be united as a strong community in shared joys, and supportive of each other when we experience the pain of grief and loss. We are all experiencing the weight and stress of the winery lawsuit. Please do not use that pain to break down what makes our community so special. 

Sadly, we lost a volunteer Mission Point Lighthouse keeper in a fatal automobile crash on M-22 yesterday. Please keep all of those involved in your thoughts. We are very lucky to have amazing folks from all over who volunteer at our Lighthouse, and we consider them part of our community. 

WOMP vs Peninsula Township Update

Filings in the winery lawsuit can be found here. They are also available on Pacer (a website that keeps all public records current on all federal litigation) here. Once you register on Pacer, you can find the case by going to the Michigan Western District court under case number 1:20-cv-01008.

Earlier this week, the Township was made aware of the four specific issues that WOMP is appealing:

1. The district court’s ruling that Peninsula Township’s allowed hours of operation, which are shorter than those allowed by the Michigan Liquor Control Code, are not preempted by the Michigan Liquor Control Code.

2. The district court’s decision that it would not rule on whether Peninsula Township’s ban on restaurants was
preempted by the Michigan Liquor Control Code, even though Plaintiffs requested relief in their complaint and the parties litigated the issue by consent by fully briefing the issue.

3. The district court’s failure to rule on the claim that winery events are commercial speech protected by the First Amendment.

4. The district court’s ruling that Plaintiffs-Appellees could not recover damages for Peninsula Township’s
enforcement of an unwritten closing time under a Due Process theory of freedom to operate a business without
arbitrary governmental interference.

(View the Wineries’ Notice of Cross Appeal here, and their Statement of four specific issues here. -jb)

Updates From Down the Hall

The Assessor’s Office: Sally Murray (our Township Assessor) and David Yack (our Township Field Appraiser) have been continuing their annual 20 percent field assessing. If you wish to opt-out, please contact Sally directly, (231) 223-7313. The assessing department will be performing routine site inspections of properties annually. These reviews are generally performed from the early spring until late fall. Site inspections are useful in assuring that assessments are accurate.

When possible, staff will attempt to conduct brief interviews with the property owner(s), verify that the building sketch on file is accurate, update photos, and inventory salient features of the property. Inspections are exterior only. If nobody is home, staff will leave a business card on the door.

The Michigan State Tax Commission recommends that assessing departments review 20 percent of all parcels annually. These property canvases are typically conducted ‘neighborhood by neighborhood’ for the sake of efficiency. Please feel free to contact the assessing office if you have any questions or concerns about this process. 

Please share this information with your neighbors to help alleviate some misinformation. We absolutely do not want to put our assessing department in harm’s way because of misinformation or lack of understanding.

The Treasurer’s Office: Taxes are due NEXT WEEK (September 15). Pay in person during office hours, drop your payment into our secure drop box outside the front door of the township office, or pay online anytime at peninsulatownship.com. Starting September 16, 1 percent interest will be added to all unpaid tax bills, no exceptions.

The Planning Office: Keep an eye and ear out for the 2025 Peninsula Township Survey. The phone calls have already started, and the postcards with online directions are in the mail. We look forward to the results to help shape our entire community. We encourage you to review these background materials, which offer valuable insights into the key issues facing the township.

The Zoning Office: Due to the last-minute rush of permits, land use permits are currently 4-6 weeks out once we receive a completed application. The land use permit application has a list of all the documents that need to be submitted with a permit. Until we have all this information, the Township cannot get the application in the queue for processing. Land use permits can be submitted via appointment with the zoning office. The Planning/Zoning/Assessing offices are interviewing next week for a full-time administrative assistant to help speed up this processing time for applications. 

Peninsula Township Fire Department: It’s never too early to mark your calendar for the Annual Fire Department Open House. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Main Station in Mapleton, 14247 Center Road.

Looking Ahead to Next Week – and Beyond 

The Agricultural Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. in the Township Hall. Their agenda can be found here and the packet here. New to the business will be a discussion from the Small Producer Subcommittee.

The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Township Hall. Their agenda can be found here. They will be continuing the Public Hearing on Request 923 to demo and rebuild a single-family dwelling in the R1-C zoning district. They will also be starting the Public Hearing on Request 927 to construct a driveway in a wetland and wetland setback, and they will be electing their officers for the new term. The packet can be found here.

The Peninsula Community Library has a packed schedule over the next several days. Please check out all of their events here. Something special this weekend if you are looking for something fun to do: 

Artists in the Library | September 13, 2025 – 10 a.m.
Shop the Friends of PCL Art Sale. Local artisans offer their work for you and gifting. Thanks to Becky Dykstra for chairing this event.

Old Mission Peninsula School: Join us at Bowers Harbor Park for our Annual Ice Cream Social! Meet new and old friends and play at the playground!

• Date and Time: Sept. 12, 6 – 7 p.m.
• Location: Bowers Harbor Park, 2750 Bowers Harbor Road, Traverse City, MI 49686
• Cost: FREE!

Grand Traverse County Household Hazardous Waste. The next event is Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. To sign up, go to the Grand Traverse County Recycle Smart website for details on how to make an appointment.​

Peninsula Township Parking Lot Closure. Weather permitting, the Township office/hall parking lots will be closed to vehicle and foot traffic Friday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 21, for parking lot repaving.

Please keep an eye on all upcoming meetings via the Township website and our live streamed meetings (saved for 30 days) on our YouTube Channel.

Have a wonderful September weekend, everyone! 

A friendly wave might make somebody’s day,

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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