There are seven candidates vying for three trustee seats on the Empire Village Council.
And the field includes two incumbents, Maggie Bacon and Linda Chase; two former trustees, Wayne (Soni) Aylsworth and Teresa Howes; and three newcomers, Ella Skrocki, Andrew Clements and Jessica Shelton.
Maggie Bacon has spent her professional career as a librarian, educator, and data scientist. She served as the Director of Libraries at Northwestern Michigan College from 2002 to 2010 and was named the first executive director of the Michigan Pupil Accounting and Attendance Association (MPAAA) in 2012. She has served on the Village Planning Commission and is currently a Village Trustee and street administrator.
Chase was born and raised in Empire, attended Glen Lake school and graduated from Michigan State University. After 30 years as an entrepreneur, she returned to Empire upon retirement. She has served on the council for five years.
Aylsworth was born and raised in Empire, attended Glen Lake School and Ferris State University. He previously served on the village council, including time as village presi- dent.
Howes spent her career as a trade negotiator and policy maker, working for USTR, Commerce, and USDA. She has served overseas three times and grew up on a farm in Manistee county.Sheholdsdegrees in agricultural economics, sociology and German.
Skrocki is a passionate waterwoman, environmental activist and business owner, now operating Sleeping Bear Surf in the Village center. She graduated from Northern Michigan University with two bachelor’s degrees. Skrocki’s late mother, Beryl, also served on the council.
Clements, small business owner, has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a bachelor’s degree and lives in the village with his family.
Shelton is a yoga and Pilates instructor in Leelanau. She previously worked for ArtPrize, organizing the event in collaboration with city leadership, and for eight years as an educator at Kendall College of Art and Design.
We asked each candidate three questions, limiting their length to 75 words or less. Here’s what they said: 1. The Village Council recently doubled the parking rates at Empire Beach, going from $1 to $2 and hour. The $1 hourly fee covered all costs related to the beach. How do you feel about the 100% increase in parking fees?
Aylsworth: The $1 an hour to park at the beach does not fully cover the maintenance cost and $2 an hour will not either. There is a lot more into running a public beach than one would think. The money raised goes directly to the parks department to fund future repairs, updates, and maintenance. Empire Beach is unique and one of a kind, let’s keep it that way.
Bacon: I did not support the parking fee increase. The Council’s majority did not agree to seek legal advice on this user fee increase, which is concerning. The lack of a plan for the extra revenue and the fact that the revenue already exceeds the costs make this increase unjustifi able. Some argue that we need the revenue for beach maintenance, but paid parking was never meant to be a slush fund for this purpose.
Chase: I’m against raising the beach parking rates to $2.00 an hour. Doubling our rate to generate revenue for the beach expenses is wrong and is also inequitable. This is discriminating against young families who are less fortunate and don’t have the funds to continue paying that amount each day for enjoyment with their children at our beautiful Empire Beach.
Clements: $2 an hour for non-residents to park a motorized vehicle four feet from Empire’s wonderful beaches (Lake Michigan and South Bar Lake) is an amazing value you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. I doubt the rate increase will reduce use and the funds can go toward maintenance, still-needed improvements and any unforeseen future expenditures.
Howes: It is important that the Village not violate the terms of our grant agreement and that we make good decisions based on sound analysis and an accurate understanding of the law. Beach parking fees should not have been raised to create a fund for unrelated pet projects or to pay other expenditures, and I am concerned that may have been the underlying motivation.
Shelton: Raising the parking fee to moderate fee for convenience of parking in the lot helps to support the long term sustainability of the beach parking facilities and prepare for future needs. There is free parking located nearby within a short walk.
Skrocki: With fluctuating water levels and imminent changes to both the shoreline & park amenities over time, having a cushion for future park upgrades, developments & initiatives is of vital importance. As a business owner, I speak with visitors every day who are either heading to or coming from the beach, and the parking fee is always seen as a welcome contribution to our sweet beach park.
2. Empire recently bought property for a new office for upwards of $500,000, essentially draining its savings account.
Do you think this was the right move and why?
Aylsworth: The State and Federal Government have low interest loans for municipalities, I would have investigated those. The Village has been looking for a new office location for many years. The Village does not have a savings account, it has a general fund, and that was not fully depleted. This purchase does not hurt the Village financially. There were other options for a lot more money.
Bacon: A lack of transparency marred this process. The decision didn’t drain our savings — we had been saving. Our estimated general fund balance today is $367,639. It was the right move, but serious mistakes were made. Public hearings should have been conducted, with pertinent information and data presented and residents’ concerns heard. Our haste and the absence of solid legal and real estate advice have come at a cost and a loss of trust with residents.
Chase: Yes, the Village of Empire has been searching for a new office for our staff for several years. We did pay current market value but waiting several more years to find a property and builder would have cost more. Our General Fund was not drained. Our Village was not put in any financial harm.
Clements: The new office is more visible to the public, provides parking and much-needed space for staff and operations and better fits the communityfriendly, with-the-times image the Village wants. We all know real estate prices in one of the “Most Beautiful Place(s) in America” are high. Empire’s savings account is not “essentially drained.”
Howes: While better space for the office was desirable, the new space does not fully meet the short-to long-term needs of the Village. In addition, the manner in which the property was identified and the purchase transacted maximized cost and minimized benefits. We are still spending $ to get it move-in ready. The need for fiscal prudence and better management of taxpayer resources are two of the reasons I am running for office.
Shelton: There was no savings account drained, this is taxpayer funded property and is now in a visible, safe accessible location without damages, and the cost of real estate in Leelanau is high. That being said, I was not on council at the time so it was not my decision to be made.
Skrocki: Empire Village has been in need of a new office space for some time now. While I was not on the Council at the time of purchase to understand the full scope of the process, the unanimous vote reflects that this was a necessary move for the Village, and a positive step forward for Village governance. The general* account is also still very healthy from what I gather.
3. The Empire Village Council has had a nearly year-long debate regarding a short term rental ordinance. What is your view on this and what do you think the village should do since this topic is so polarized within the community? Should the village scrap it all together?
Aylsworth: This issue is going on worldwide. Empire is not the first nor the last to come up with an ordinance. We are a Village not a rental community. There are nearly 60 homes that are not lived in 80% of the year, how is this good for a Village that is only 1 square mile? Why aren’t these rentals in non-business districts being charged a higher tax rate when they are doing business?
Bacon: We need a registry for baseline data. Thereafter, the discussion should focus on a process to achieve a fair solution for everyone. Community division has resulted from the Council majority’s refusal to hold public hearings (as promised), focus on the Empire’s uniqueness, obtain expert planning advice, and work toward compromise. A 60% increase in Empire voters (since 2010) refutes the false narrative that no one may be left to participate in community and government activities.
Chase: Empire has long been a tourist destination. STRs were previously called Seasonal Renters, and our businesses have relied on them to survive for years. I don’t want the entire village to be STRs, so we need to find a balance of the number of homes for families versus rentals. The Council will have to continue working on this as so many communities around the state are doing.
Clements: I am working to educate myself on the short term rental issue. Our small community currently has more STRs per capita than other Leelanau County communities. Drafting a guard rails ordinance for the Village of Empire does elicit strong feelings. That only tells me it is important to the Village. If elected to Village Council I hope to help reach some consensus and conclude what has rightly been a highly involved process.
Howes: The Council has done everything possible to make this issue as divisive as possible, spending enormous energy, meeting numerous times a month, but without ever presenting the public with facts. Policy should not be made based on hearsay or conjecture. Do a scientific survey, pull together facts and make them public, and hold a hearing. Don’t enact an ordinance because someone “wants” one. Ordinances should be enacted because they are necessary and enforceable.
Shelton: I think it is wise to learn from other villages and towns nearby as well as nationally and to intentionally plan for the future of the village. An ordinance is a way to mindfully regulate growth in the village to sustain and preserve the community. The topic should not be scrapped just because it is difficult, and would like to work to create less polarization than the current council.
Skrocki: I strongly believe that we need reasonable guardrails in place to determine how short term rentals play a part in the village. An ordinance is an opportunity to maintain the unique character & health of this community. This issue does not have to be polarizing. Instead, we can get to a place of mutual understanding through continued conversation as neighbors. The STR Committee has done a great job of laying the foundation for future discussion.
