Suttons Bay Village approved a five-year employment agreement with Village Manager Rob Larrea last week. The contract pushes Larrea’s annual salary into six figures, from $88,000 to $115,000. Larrea’s previous contract with the village was set to expire Dec. 31.
The contract, negotiated by Walsh Municipal Services, suggested this increase on the strength of Larrea’s six years of service in Suttons Bay Village, and through comparison to salaries elsewhere in the state.
“I appreciate the trust and commitment they put forth, and look forward to another five years of service to this community,” Larrea told the newspaper Tuesday. “The village council has been behind me 100% of the way.”
According to the contract overview, municipal leaders stay in communities of Suttons Bay’s size almost three years less than Larrea on average. And eight “comparable waterfront communities” pay their managers more, at between $100,000 and $147,500. The most comparable in population was the city of Saugatuck, which also pays its manager a $115,000 annual salary.
Larrea’s contract also increased his severance from four to eight months, scheduled a $10,000 bonus for September, and increased his personal days of leave from 28 to 30 days. The contract was approved unanimously, with several council members stating they were pleased with Larrea’s performance.
The council also accepted a $453,782 grant through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Waterways Program, to be used on a new dock on the west end of the village marina and an upland walkway. The village will provide matching funds for the project, for a $907,564 total.
Last month, the council accepted another Waterways grant in the amount of $406,016 to include public restrooms in plans for the marina’s new bathhouse. The village is also matching this grant dollar for dollar, totaling $812,032.
About 10 months ago, the village contracted Granicus to monitor short-term rental (STR) listings in their jurisdiction and field any community complaints about STRs through a 24/7 hotline. According to village documents, the first year with the software company was “certainly challenging.” At one point, Granicus was setting up in Suttons Bay Township instead of the village.
However, Granicus is now providing the desired services and partially refunded the village’s setup fee. The company also sent its first annual report to the village council, which they discussed at their Aug. 19 regular meeting.
The Granicus report shows there are 59 STRs, two bed and breakfasts, and two 30-day rentals in the village. Three community complaints were received, and one STR was identified as noncompliant. An enforcement letter has been sent to the noncompliant STR. Staff plan to compare these numbers with next year’s information to see if Granicus’s services are effective.
Also at their August regular meeting, the council approved the following amendments:
• - Clarifying the intent and modifying spatial requirements for the single-family waterfront residential zoning district. According to planning commission
minutes, the changes are: removing minimum lot depth, reducing minimum width/frontage from 100 to 90 feet, reducing street setback from 25 to 20 feet, and changing the intent to say “on waterfront lots.”
• Changing the definition of “wetlands” in the zoning ordinance. A memo from the Traverse City firm Beckett & Raeder to the village planning commission says this amendment “clarifies language and is consistent with the intent and purpose of the (village’s) master plan and zoning ordinance.”
• Granting the village manager authority to purchase products up to $5,000 and execute contracts for services up to $8,000. If an item exceeds these limits, the village council must approve it first. Prior to approval, the manager’s spending limit was $2,000. Village documents say the $2,000 limit was set in 2004, and the dollar amounts needed to be updated to reflect 2024 costs.
• Updating the village’s personnel manual to reflect the Michigan Crown Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act. The amendment also addresses employee pay for individuals who are not scheduled to work, yet are called in, and clarifies holiday pay, eligibility, and qualifying hours.
Leland blue/Petoskey stone combination pendant with blue aventurine and Petoskey stone beads
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