Editorials

It’s time once again for the Leelanau Enterprise to award thumbs-up and thumbs-down to people, entities and events that have affected our county recently. The latest rain garden project at the corner of Waukazoo and Main Street in the Village of Northport wrapped up construction this month. The project was organized by The Watershed Center — Grand Traverse Bay and funded through an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) grant. It’s also one of several green infrastructure projects completed since 2018 to help reduce village stormwater pollutants that would otherwise drain into Grand Traverse Bay. Drainage issues continue to be of concern throughout the village of Northport due to elevated water levels, but stormwater drainage solutions like rain gardens are steps in the right direction. Just in time for the busy summer months, the new addition of multiple wooden skateboard ramps have been set up at Braman Hill Recreation Area in Northport for visitors to enjoy for the season. Skatepark equipment has been on the list of things that the township has been wanting to invest in for several years. According to Leelanau Township’s 2022 parks and recreation plan, there’s been a desire to acquire more ramps and apparatus to improve the skate park. We’re hopeful the township will be able to invest in permanent solutions and amenities to the skatepark in the years ahead. Housing workshops were in full force over the past couple of weeks. Even though there aren’t any immediate options to fix the Leelanau Housing Crisis, at least some people are trying. Village of Empire signing a contract with Renovare Real Estate Development company based in Detroit for $70,000 to help purchase a new office. After not completing the goal, they are continuing with the contract to “collect data” and develop abandoned land for possible investors. Charter Communications recently announced that their fiber optic network buildout in Leelanau County has been completed, making their internet, mobile, TV, and voice services available to an additional 180 homes and businesses. Point Broadband’s larger-scale initiative continues to lag behind, but the company has provided a $3.2 million performance bond to the county as a guarantee they will reach 96% of 3,522 “unserved parcels/addresses” in the county by the end of 2024. The county’s senior services department held its 31st annual Senior Expo at Suttons Bay High School Tuesday, which was well attended. This event was one of the largest senior expos yet in terms of vendor participation, with 80 vendors scheduled to set up tables in the school gymnasium. Representatives of the Republican and Democrat parties were asked to leave the event by school administration citing policy that the facility cannot be used for political purposes. 06/19/2024 04:23 PM

Take your time; choose wisely

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners is about to enter its third round of interviews with the leading candidates for the county’s new administrator/chief financial officer (CFO) role, which could lead to a quick resolution to over three years of internal conflict in local government if the board chooses wisely. 06/12/2024 05:52 PM

More alternatives for Heritage Trail project

As a 5/9/24 front page Enterprise article said, the debate over the final 4.2-mile Segment 9 of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail continues. There’s a simple reason why. 06/12/2024 05:52 PM

Open meetings lead to better governance

There’s been much ado about the actions of a new group created by the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners. The Leelanau Energy Futures Task Force was established last fall to educate and advocate for renewable energy on the Leelanau peninsula. 05/29/2024 05:59 PM

Remember on Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is always a big deal here in Leelanau County. Among other things, it marks the beginning of the busiest season of the year for everyone, visitors, locals and business owners alike. 05/22/2024 04:45 PM

Native missing, murdered remembered

Their hearts are broken. But they continue to live their lives. 05/15/2024 05:44 PM

Interest in candidacy great amid major challenges

A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that 65% of Americans were exhausted with the current state of American politics. Election interest hit a 20-year low in the latest NBC News poll, and majorities of registered voters have unfavorable views of presidential candidates. 05/08/2024 04:54 PM

Trump is ‘rewriting’ politics

Whether you like him or not, when they rewrite the political history of the last 10 years or so, credit can be given to one Donald Trump for rewriting most of the political truisms that dominated the political arena prior to his grand entrance onto the scene. 05/08/2024 04:54 PM

County Board raises justifified?

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners approved some dramatic salary increases this month, with their yearly salaries going up by 60% and their per diems — one-time payments for attending meetings — going up by over 70%. 04/24/2024 04:43 PM

Observing Earth Day in Leelanau

As many of us may know, Earth Day is right around the corner on April 22. The annual event has been held on the same date since 1970 and is observed nation-wide and throughout Leelanau County as a way to demonstrate support for environmental protection. 04/17/2024 05:24 PM

Advice for letter writers

Many of us are looking forward to the 2024 election season with something approaching dread — not just at potential outcomes, but at having to endure months of nastiness as increasingly polarized Americans claw at each other on TV, on social media and in newspapers. And yes, it has reached the pages of the Enterprise as well. 04/10/2024 03:54 PM

The Power of ‘we’ vs. ‘me’

Sometimes you just have to step up when assistance is needed. That’s what Mary Kuntz of Leland did last week. 04/03/2024 05:09 PM

Editorials

Sign up for our free newsletter: