Supervisor’s Weekly Note: School Incident, PDR News, WOMP Lawsuit

Editor’s Note: Peninsula Township Supervisor Maura Sanders updates us on happenings in the community, including a recent incident at Old Mission Peninsula School, Fire Department Awards, WOMP Lawsuit updates and more. Big thanks to Maura for these weekly updates. Read on for this week’s note. -jb

February 14, 2026

Neighbors and friends, this was certainly a week that we never want to repeat. Please keep our Old Mission Peninsula School administration, staff and our little Panthers and their families in your thoughts as they move forward and process the events from Monday February 9th. Thank you to all of our First Responders! The OMP Education Foundation has initiated the School Defender Sponsorship in response to the school intrusion. They are going to upgrade the security level of building entrances. Please consider donating through that link.

(Editor’s Note: At this week’s Township Board meeting, both Maura and Fire Chief Gilstorff praised the OMPS kids, staff and first responders for their diligence in following protocols and keeping everyone safe during an incident where an individual smashed one of the front windows of the school with a hammer. Noted Maura at the meeting: “I want to publicly thank on behalf of the Township Board and everybody here within the township, our Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Department, our very own Deputy Andre France who was immediately on scene, Michigan State Police, Traverse City Police Department, and our very own Peninsula Township Fire Department. The biggest thank you I would like to give is to our school leadership, Superintendent Renee Kolle, and Building Principal Kaitlyn Bailey. And most importantly to our Little Panthers, all the students at Old Mission Peninsula Elementary. They had a plan, they knew the plan, they conducted their training and drills. And yesterday, without hesitation or issue, they executed that plan to perfection when they were put in a situation that they should never have had to endure. We are very proud of all of our Panthers and all of our staff administration at the school.” Read more about the incident at 7&4 News here and here. -jb)

The Township Board (TB) met on Tuesday with a robust agenda. The Seven Hills SUP, Amendment No. 4 was approved. The TB discussed drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to go out for bid on all contracted services that are not currently in a contract cycle.  

The TB entered into closed session to discuss our settlement strategy in McFall (Bluff Road parcel that went through the Zoning Board of Appeals) v Peninsula Township, Case No. 25-37813-CZ. The TB and the McFalls came to an agreement, and a consent judgement was signed this week. The TB also discussed the purchase of real property to support the potential new Fire Station #1. The land owner is in receipt of our offer.

Purchase of Development Rights (PDR). The TB held interviews and discussions to fill the three vacancies (expiring terms) on the PDR Selection Committee. Susan Tarczon and Rebecca Couch were both re-appointed and John Dolton was selected to fill the vacancies. Congratulations to all three as we continue the progress our PDR program has achieved. 

The TB discussed the enforcement legal fee expenses from January 1, 2023 –February 2, 2026. These expenses are paid directly from the PDR millage. The PDR fund only allows for the acquisition of new conservation easements, the annual monitoring, the enforcement of easement violations and the administration of the program.

Update: an appraisal was ordered this last week for a farm that has been going through the process, and all parties reached agreement on conservation easement language!

The Peninsula Township Fire Department (FD). Annual Awards were presented at the Town Board meeting, and Firefighter Cobey Taylor was awarded the 2025 Fire Chief Rich VanderMey Firefighter of the Year. The FD has posted their community evaluation link – take the survey through that link. If you are a resident of Peninsula Township, we are looking for your feedback on the outreach and educational programs offered by our department. They look forward to reviewing our township residents’ responses to better improve our services to our community.

WOMP Update:  Peninsula Township entered their First Brief on Appeal yesterday, February 13th (read it here -jb). WOMP’s First Brief is due by March 6th. Additionally, Peninsula Township has been made aware of FOUR Amicus Briefs in Support of Peninsula Township’s Appeal to the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. These can be found at the bottom of the page of the WOMP Lawsuit Court Filings on the Township website here. 

We have so far been supported by: International Municipal Lawyers Association, Michigan Municipal League, Governmental Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, and American Farmland Trust. 

Updates From Down the Hall

The Public Hearing Notices for the 2026/2027 Budget are posted on the township homepage along with other helpful information.

Looking Ahead to Next Week – and Beyond 

Old Mission Peninsula School: Open Enrollment Period (for 2026/27 school year) begins on February 2, 2026, and closes on February 27, 2026. If a lottery is needed for any given grade, the lottery will occur in early March 2026. Please note that applications for new students continue to be accepted after the February 27, 2026 period, and these students are either accepted into a class that has available space or wait listed in the order of receipt if a class is full.

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 weekend,

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…

Cobey Taylor Named Peninsula Township Firefighter of the Year