The Elmwood Township board took steps this week to ensure that the township marina users will still have access to shower and laundry accommodations during summer construction.
At their regular meeting Monday new township harbormaster, Dan Jenuwine, explained that due to an earlier miscommunication with contractors working on marina improvements, the marina’s showers are scheduled to be taken down Aug. 12, which will also affect slipholder’s ability to do laundry.
In Jenuwine’s opinion, the township marina has promised these accommodations to slipholders and is obligated to provide them. In his view, the best solution is renting a shower trailer. He said that most lessors have rented out their trailers for weddings this summer.
However, Jenuwine said that Caribou Services in Detroit has a unit available starting Aug. 21. He said that he will negotiate to make it available earlier or postpone the showers being taken down on Aug. 12, so marina users retain access to these services.
“I’d like to propose maybe renting it from Aug. 21 to Sept. 21 —–four weeks — and allow me to have the time to talk with the people who are using it, find out who’s going to be inconvenienced if we pull it out on Sept. 21, and then if we have to add one week because of it, we make that decision later,” Jenuwine said.
The township board approved this proposal. Jenuwine said that renting the trailer for four weeks will cost the township $6,400. He said they will consider using amenities at the CenterPointe Office and Marina Complex at the end of the contracted period. For laundry, marina staff plan to move the marina’s ice machine by the harbormaster’s office and install an outdoor washer and drier.
The board also purchased additional point of sale modules for the Dockwa marina management software for $2,464.78, new trash cans for the Greilickville Harbor Park, and signage for the Brewery Creek parking lot.
The township board also:
• Approved a text amendment adding a special use for special event facilities in agriculturalrural zoning districts back into the township’s zoning ordinance, which had previously been removed on advice from township legal counsel.
• Endorsed applications from Bay View Distillery and Taproot for new on-premises tasting room permits to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for approval.
• Approved a text amendment regarding multi-dwelling development regulations, adding and modifying definitions, reintroducing development requirements for multi-dwelling developments, and requiring site plan review applicants to submit the gross lot area and net lot area. The amendment was previously introduced and published for consideration at last month’s meeting.
• Renewed their contract with the software company Granicus to provide ongoing monitoring of short-term rentals (STRs) in the township. Township Clerk Connie Preston explained that the contracted amount of $10,955.76 is completely covered by STR license fees.
• Authorized fireworks permits for the Boom Boom Club at Discovery Pier for their Fourth of July celebrations and the National Cherry Festival Foundation for use near Clinch Park Beach on July 6, pending receipt of additional documents requested by the fire chief.
• Approved equipment upgrades to the charter township hall’s audio system, not to exceed $3,000.
