Proposed plans to include “bump outs” among improvements to M-22 in Leland Township got an informal “thumbs down” from the township board this week.
Trustee Clint Mitchell asked the subject be added to the township board agenda Monday night.
Supervisor Susan Och provided the board with notes from a meeting held Friday with Brendan Mullane, county Road Commission manager, and three MDOT representatives.
Three options were presented for the 2025 project:
• MDOT would make pavement and drainage improvements only, update sidewalk ramps to Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and obtain waivers where not feasible. No bump-outs provided.
• MDOT would make drainage improvements and also partner with Leland Township on a TAP Grant to supplement the project to provide ADA compliant bump outs for pedestrian safety and mobility improvements. Leland Township support and approval of the bump out layout will be needed.
• MDOT would make drainage improvements and also partner with Leland Township on a TAP Grant for the bump outs plus other township requested items such as lighting, trees, benches, etc. This would require township financial participation in the engineering of any additional items as well as the 20% grant match for those additional items.
Och suggested board discussion would take place when MDOT presents their proposals at the board’s Jan. 8 meeting.
However, Mitchell suggested an alternative.
“There’s no need to engineer for bump outs if we don’t want them,” he said. “It’s a waste of their time.”
In 2020, MDOT completed improvementsto M-204inLake Leelanau with bump outs which are thought to help slow traffic in the unincorporated village.
However, there have since been problems with large vehicles negotiating the bump outs.
“Have you ever watched in the village of Lake Leelanau? I’ve seen a semi-truck make a big pull out and nearly crash head on with oncoming traffic,” township resident Stephen E. Mikowski said. “I’d write a strongly-worded letter to say ‘no’ to them.”
In other business during their regular monthly meeting the board:
• Appointed Kathy Dawkins to the township Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term.
• Appointed Lee Cory to the township Planning Commission. Her term will expire in August 2026.
• Appointed Leslie Maclin and Greg Mielczarek to three-year terms on the township Parks and Recreation Committee with terms expiring in June 2026.
