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Editor’s Note: Peninsula Township Supervisor Maura Sanders reports on backyard chickens, the Warren Farm PDR, a new roads committee, Chestnut Sunday, the Fire Department open house and more. Big thanks to Maura for these township updates. On a walk at Old Mission Point State Park, she took the above photo of Kathy Hardy’s memorial bench. Kathy passed away nearly four years ago on Oct. 31, 2022. Read more about Kathy here, and read on for Maura’s note. -jb
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September 26, 2026
The Township Board (TB) held their second regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22. View the meeting on our YouTube channel here. The TB was introduced to four zoning amendments (pg. 33 of the meeting packet) recommended by the Planning Commission, including: Signage, Special Use Permits, Chickens (backyard chickens in residential zones), and lighting. The Warren Farm PDR purchase agreement resolution was discussed and approved. The boundary survey was ordered, and the TB looks forward to closing on the development rights of this beautiful 80-acre agricultural parcel by the end of October.
We gave an update on the WOMP 1 and WOMP 2 (Bonobo) lawsuits, along with the insurance suits. The TB established a Peninsula Township Roads Ad-Hoc committee. This committee will be chaired by our Treasurer, Katie Clark, and supported by Trustee Isaiah Wunsch, along with four residents. I encourage everyone to keep tuned into their work and their reporting on the Grand Traverse County Road Commission’s support of Peninsula Township.
The Parks Committee (PkC) met on Wednesday, and they are busy with a required re-work of the township’s parks and recreation management plan. Please look forward to opportunities to provide input in the coming year. Parks committee members field frequent concerns about an array of issues from off leash dogs, to wildlife encounters, to vandalism and problems such as broken glass on the beach, fires where prohibited and more. Please treat our park properties with respect, knowing they’re community resources for all. If you see clear problem behavior, you can report it to Central Dispatch, (231) 922-4540.
The Dougherty Mission House will be hosting Chestnut Sunday tomorrow, Sept. 27. Starting around 9 a.m., they will be using a lift to retrieve the hand pollinated burs created in July. While they have the lift, they’re also going to pluck burs from both trees. They hope this will increase the harvest by obtaining the burs before they fall. If you’d like to help open burs, they will have some gloves for volunteers. Sign up here or stop by to see them in action, 18459 Mission Road.
Looking Ahead To Next Week – And Beyond
The Peninsula Township Fire Department is hosting their OPEN HOUSE on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Station #1, 14247 Center Road in Mapleton. Food, Fun, Tours, Demonstrations, Training and Activities. Bring the whole family!
The Fire Department is calling all community members interested in participating in the Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) training on October 11. Details: “As role players for our TECC course on October 11th, your involvement is a huge part of making this training realistic and valuable for our first responders. The goal is for you to portray your assigned patient as realistically as possible while allowing the students to assess, treat, triage, and move patients through the scenario.”
Please plan to arrive at Old Mission Peninsula Elementary School, 2699 Island View Road, at 10 a.m. If you arrive early, that’s ok, too, as they will be finishing up their lessons.
The Peninsula Community Library (PCL) and the Peninsula Township Fire Department are co-sponsoring a Blood Drive at the Library on October 23rd. Please consider donating by signing up and reserving your spot!
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 glorious fall weekend, Neighbors!!
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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Thanks to all who bought flowers or visited and took photos at Old Mission Flowers and left a donation. We closed the garden for the season to take a UP trip earlier this month and plan to be open by May 1st, 2027 – depending on the snow/daffodil life balance.