Emmet County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Emmet County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Materials Management Plan public hearing
The board is expected to schedule a public hearing on the county's Materials Management Plan, which governs how solid waste and recycling are handled countywide.
U-Haul commercial storage deferral relief
U-Haul International is asking the county for relief from a commercial storage tax deferral previously granted by resolution. How the board rules could affect county tax revenue from the commercial storage facilities.
DTE proposed pipeline communication
The board will receive a communication about DTE's proposed pipeline, an issue with potential implications for local landowners and energy infrastructure in the county.
Sale of county parcel 06-12-14-100-002
The county is set to sell a small vacant parcel to a Florida couple for $544, contingent on combining it with land they already own next door.
Indigent defense funding and staffing
Consent items include Local Emergency Management Program funding, drug court and sobriety court grants, and a court services agreement — routine items that keep county programs funded.
Lake Shore Drive reconstruction
The Road Commission is engineering a lower Lake Shore Drive reconstruction, and that stretch will be closed for the winter — plan your routes accordingly.
Jail inmate phone and video rates under new FCC rules
The Sheriff's Office is adding an AI system that transcribes and searches inmates' phone and video calls for investigators. It should speed up jail investigations but slightly reduces county revenue.
Countywide AED Deployment
Emmet County EMS is buying 50 defibrillators for $82,650 to place around the county — faster help when someone's heart stops before the ambulance arrives.
Airport Winter Operations and De-icing
The agenda included discussion of loader equipment after a snowstorm and runway/aircraft de-icing — the nuts and bolts of keeping the airport safe and open in winter.
Conflict of interest and secondary employment policy
A new ethics policy governing outside jobs and conflicts of interest was up for consideration.
Local school building inspection authority
The county keeps its right to inspect and permit school construction projects locally instead of routing them through the state in Lansing — faster for the schools.
Recycling education and outreach
The county was set to tap a state-funded Michigan Recycling Coalition program offering training, materials and limited funding to boost local recycling and cut contamination.
Community Recovery Alliance Presentation
The Community Recovery Alliance was scheduled to present on its new permanent Petoskey recovery center opening in October 2026, offering peer coaching, support meetings and a Recovery Friendly Workplace program.
2027 EMS Ambulance Purchase
County EMS was slated to get Board action on buying a 2027 ambulance, part of keeping emergency response equipment current.
Federal Operation Stonegarden Grant
Emmet County was set to accept a $68,250 federal grant supporting law enforcement coordination and capabilities through July 2028.
Probate Court Child Care Budget
The Probate Court's 2091 child care budget was up for board action, funding care for children under court jurisdiction.
Sheriff's Office Patrol Rifle Funding
The Sheriff's Office received a $30,000 private donation from The Kent Foundation to buy patrol rifles as part of an equipment upgrade project.
2025 County Audit Results
The February finance report showed the county stable, with revenues of $1.19 million and expenditures outpacing them as is normal before summer property tax collections.
Zoning Board of Appeals Operations
Holly Willcome says the ZBA is acting outside its authority, and Commissioner Laughbaum wants more board oversight and worries about a lawsuit. A late appeal in her case was denied by a vote that failed, and the hearing was pushed to August 18.
Medical Examiner transition
Dr. Carl Hawkins retired after 28 years as Medical Examiner. Dr. Paul Wagner of Mid Michigan Medical Examiner Group takes over August 1, with Hawkins staying on as Deputy to keep things running smoothly.
Pellston Regional Airport Taxiway Reconstruction
The county hired Mead and Hunt to oversee construction administration for the airport's taxiway rebuild. The airport is a regional economic asset, and this keeps the project moving with professional oversight.
Camping Contracts and Permit Renewal
Camping contracts went out and are due August 1, with a growing waitlist. The county is reapplying for the camping permit.
Grandstand Beverage Vendor vs. Beer Tent Sales
Joe Malec's pop, Gatorade, and water sales in the grandstands are cutting into beer tent revenue, though he donates about 5% of his sales back to the fair afterward.
Declining fuel sales and passenger traffic
Fuel sales and passenger numbers are down significantly compared to last year, though the airport director says the trend is turning around and United's new Chicago flights have started. These numbers matter because airport revenue helps fund operations without more local taxpayer support.
Return of United Airlines Service at Pellston
The Director's report was set to cover details and stats on United flights returning to Pellston Regional Airport. More flights could mean more travel options and economic activity for the area.
Alpena fairgrounds sale attempt raises corporate-buyout concerns
A large venue company almost bought the Alpena fairgrounds until the MAFE Board and fair advocates intervened. The state rep brought this forward so county boards know corporations are eyeing fairground land.
Fairgrounds event funding and contracts
The board committed nearly $40,000 in contracts with Sanborn Entertainment for the grandstand speaker system and Travis Tritt concert production. Ticket sales — 955 concert and 751 rodeo so far — will help offset costs.
Closed session on pending litigation
The board planned to meet behind closed doors to discuss pending litigation, as permitted under the Open Meetings Act.
Regional recycling partnership with Cheboygan County
A three-year extension keeps Cheboygan County's recyclables flowing to Emmet County's facility at unchanged rates, supporting the hub-and-spoke recycling program in place since 2007.
Jail video surveillance upgrade grant
The sheriff's office sought acceptance of up to $50,000 in matching grant money toward its roughly $430,000 jail camera upgrade. The grant expires November 30, 2026.
Mechanical inspector vacancy filled
Mark Haynes, who previously inspected in Antrim County, has been hired to fill the county's open mechanical inspector position — good news for contractors waiting on mechanical inspections.
Charlevoix Avenue hotel project delays
Boyer questioned why the Charlevoix Avenue hotel project is moving slower than other projects. Doss pointed to downstate contractors' travel time and repeated failures to complete prescribed code corrections despite on-site conferences.
Emmet County Master Plan update
Staff want to flip the master plan so goals and the future land use map come first instead of the back, and got about 2,000 survey responses. Laughbaum objected to language on transit, growth concentration, and business support; chapter review moved to April.
Resort Township accessory dwelling units
Resort Township wants to allow accessory dwelling units — small second homes on existing lots — with a minimum size of 400 square feet, and the county planning commission signed off on forwarding that recommendation.
Home-based truss fabrication business on Sand Road
A new home-based manufacturing business in Maple River Township gets county approval, with conditions to keep truck traffic safe on Sand Road. It's the kind of small rural business the FF-2 zoning is meant to allow.
Camp Petosega Staff Housing Rental
Parks are nearly fully staffed for summer at 19 of 21 positions, starting at $17.34 an hour, with a few hires starting in June.
Seasonal staffing at county parks
County parks are hiring for the summer season at $17.34/hour starting wage, with a 50-cent-per-hour bonus for workers who stay through Labor Day. About 10 of 19 last year's seasonal staff are returning.
St. Ignace Mutual Aid Agreement
The Sheriff's Office is being asked to sign a mutual aid pact with the St. Ignace Police Department so each can back the other up during emergencies or big events. Aid is voluntary on the responding agency's side — no one can be forced to send officers.
Pellston Airport Obstruction Removal Grant
The County would accept a federal FAA grant for removing obstructions at Pellston Regional Airport under the federal infrastructure law. The agreement has a hard deadline — it must be signed by June 4, 2026.
Midway water main repair
Last year's water main break on the midway will be fixed by Petoskey Parks & Rec before this year's fair.
Sound system purchase
The board committed up to $13,522 for a new fairgrounds sound system, contingent on IT sign-off, with a possible extra pit-facing speaker adding cost.
Family Attendance at Community Impact Events
Board members debated whether probationers can bring family members to community service events like trail cleanups. The working answer: ask your probation agent first, case by case. Starting soon, community service participants in the 57th ECRP program will be required to attend these events.
Community Service Impact Events Calendar
Volunteers completing community service hours will clean up Camp Petosega, NCMC trails, the Bear River and the Little Traverse Wheelway from April through July.
2026 Park Events Schedule
The county's parks calendar for 2026 spans year-round programming, from the February Ice Fishing Day at Camp Petosega to holiday events in December at the fairgrounds.
Maintenance staffing and succession
The maintenance crew is down two people during fair week, and the fair needs to find Art Shaw's eventual replacement as he retires within two years.
Potential TIF financing for Intertown Road apartments
A resident raised concerns that the December-approved apartment project may seek $15 million+ in brownfield TIF reimbursement over 30 years — money that would divert property taxes away from fire, EMS, schools, and other services. She wants transparency in the planning process about public financing.
Great Petoskey Passenger Pigeon Nesting of 1878 Commemoration
A free, week-long series of public events June 15-19 remembers the last great passenger pigeon nesting before the species went extinct, ending with a bronze monument unveiling downtown on June 19.
National Register of Historic Places Nomination
The commission is starting the application process to get local historic sites on the National Register of Historic Places. A subcommittee will handle the paperwork, which could boost heritage tourism and recognition.
Headlands Dark Sky Park status and tourism
The Headlands kept its international dark-sky designation with 100% lighting compliance and steady sky-quality readings, but staff are still managing headlight and noise spillover from the expanded parking lot and monitoring a proposed Enbridge Line 5 pipeline alternative that could cross park land.
Swimmer's itch follow-up
The Board followed up on swimmer's itch, a recurring concern for swimmers at county lakes and beaches.