Suttons Bay Township is upgrading to new software to start the new year. Township Treasurer Dorothy Petoskey described the transition as costly, but necessary.
The township board approved a $57,665 contract for software and services from BS&A Software, as well as $2,400-$3,600 for the Traverse City-based company Netlink Business Solutions to help the township move to a new domain name system and email host.
BS&A Software’s package includes finance management, personnel management, and community development modules, and assistance with implementation and training. Petoskey said that many governmental units in Leelanau County have already switched to BS&A.
Another municipality that uses BS&A Software is Suttons Bay Village, where Petoskey serves as clerk. Leelanau County’s finance department is considering a move to BS&A but as of late last year, it needed to convert its chart of accounts system to meet new state requirements first.
In fact, board member and Township Trustee Eric Carlson was somewhat surprised the township hadn’t switched to BS&A already. “We’re behind quite a ways,” Township Supervisor Doug Periard admitted.
The township also needs to move to a new web host because Leelanau County is upgrading its IT security. Petoskey said this is partly a response to ransomware attacks, especially the one that shut down Grand Traverse County systems for several days in summer 2024. Netlink will move the township to new platforms, a project that’s estimated to take 20-30 hours, at a rate of $120 an hour.
Affordable housing has been on local officials’ minds lately. The township board is interested in getting a Housing Readiness grant through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, which could award the township up to $50,000 for master plan and zoning ordinance changes that encourage affordable development.
The township board authorized a representative —Petoskey again — to work with a Detroit-based community planning firm in applying for this grant.
The township board also:
• Approved an agreement with Leland Public School to collect summer property taxes later this year. In June, the school district will certify the millage to be levied.
• Accepted Jim Eckerle’s resignation from the township Board of Review. Patty Miller, an alternate on the board, expressed interest in taking Eckerle’s position for the remainder of his twoyear term, which expires Dec. 31. The board appointed Miller to the Board of Review, and appointed Molly Hammersley as an alternate.
• Approved a request from Barbara Fleury, on behalf of the By-the-Bay Garden Club, to erect a “peace pole” in the Herman Park Memorial Garden. The pole will have inscriptions reading “May peace prevail on Earth” in English, Spanish, Anishinaabemowin, and French.
