Periodically, the Enterprise offers a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to activities taking place on the peninsula. Here’s the latest. The hundreds of people that came out for holiday events to kick off the festive season in Leelanau County — whether it was at the Northport tree lighting festivities, holiday and artisan markets in Glen Arbor, Suttons Bay, Empire or Leland. Shopping local and being there to support the efforts of volunteers and local townships/villages helps make for a more united and overall connected community. Last month, the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office took four separate complaints relating to a scam on Facebook Marketplace. A county resident of Bingham Township has had several different people show up at their residence attempting to either look at or pick-up items that are for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Unfortunately, the resident did not have any of these items for sale and has had the misfortune of having their address associated with the scam. What a shame. Holiday musicals/concerts are back! Be sure to watch local talented singers and musicians who have been practicing for months to perform in upcoming Christmas concerts happening throughout the county in the coming weeks. School districts and local choir groups like the Northport Village Voices will be putting on magical shows that are sure to get you or the family into the Christmas spirit. Recent documentaries on Netflix and Amazon Prime provide coverage of the “Twin Flames” organization which is based in Leelanau County bringing negative attention to the peninsula.
A great thumbs up and thank you to all county residents buckling up and using their seatbelts this year. A recent study conducted by MSU for the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning concluded that an average of 94.6% of county drivers fastened their seatbelts compared to a statewide average of 92.9%. Buckling up saves lives, and most county drivers recognize that. Thumbs down to people who deposit snow from their driveways onto the public road. A 60-year-old county ordinance prohibits the deposit of snow and ice from private property and private driveways on to public highways, interfering with effective snow removal.
Despite Cowan resigning as finance director on Oct. 23, Commissioner Rexroat, the new finance committee, and Interim Finance Director Hartesvelt (with help from the other commissioners and Clerk Crocker and Deputy Clerk Zywicki) finished the county’s 2024 budget in time for approval on Nov. 21. The board is reaching out for help from third parties for a workplace survey and “best practices” in managing their finance department. County commissioner Melinda Lautner recently sought via the Freedom of Information Act all correspondence between fellow commissioner Kama Ross and county employees. Lautner said she is concerned that these comments are influencing a third-party workplace climate/culture survey. The Michigan Leadership Institute has been contracted to perform this survey at a cost of $6,500. Kudos to Centerville and Leland Township Planning Commission members who have been reviewing and evaluating plans for development in each of their communities. More than occupying a chair at the table, township planners devote many, many hours to their work with very little compensation other than a small per diem. To members of the community who are surprised to learn that proposed uses are — in some cases — allowed by right in their respective zoning district. Now is the time to get involved as each of the planning commissions mentioned above has vacancies.
