18 minute read
MDNR
from July 8, 2021
New Buffalo Times
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —
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City of New Buffalo awarded two recreational boating grants from MDNR
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) announced last week that more than $4 million in grant funding will be awarded to 23 communities throughout the state to boost recreational boating, with $689,481 of it going to the City of New Buffalo.
The city was awarded the following two grants: $189,481 for marina electrical system upgrades (community share $189,481 and total project amount $378,962) and $500,000 for marina broadside dockage and erosion control (community share $1,486,187 and total project amount $1,986,18).
“Obviously, we are thrilled by both grants, we’ve known about the Flood Mitigation and Dock expansion for a while now, the electrical systems upgrades are a welcome addition,” City of New Buffalo Mayor John Humphrey said in an email response.
“We’ve been laying the groundwork to move forward on these projects for some time now and with these grants we hope to begin engineering and survey work this summer,” Humphrey said, adding that construction of the sea wall should begin sometime this fall.
Humphrey said he doesn’t currently have a timeline on the overhaul of electrical systems at the Municipal Marina; however, with the new Dune Walk work “hopefully beginning soon, flood control at Lions Park and these two projects, people can expect to see a lot of activity at our beach and marina in the near future.”
“I want to thank the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for their support, and we look forward to making great progress here in the City of New Buffalo,” he said.
Humphrey said public informational statements will be released on various projects as these projects “begin to break ground” in the future.
The funding is made possible through the DNR Parks and Recreation Division’s waterways grant program, which began in 1949 with the goal of expanding the harbor system along the Great Lakes and boating access sites throughout the state. Today, the system includes more than 1,300 state-sponsored boating access sites, 19 state-managed harbors and 63 local state-sponsored harbors of refuge along the Great Lakes.
“Water and boating are at the heart of Michigan,” said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation Division chief, said in a press release. “We have residents who live on the water, those who travel all over the state to boat and visitors who come here from around the world because it’s the
Great Lakes State. Michigan offers outdoor recreational opportunities and picturesque views not found anywhere else, and so it’s of utmost importance that the DNR helps invest and fund Michigan’s harbors and boating access sites for the benefit of all.” Local units of government and state colleges and universities are eligible to apply for grant assistance for recreational boating improvements and development at grantin-aid harbors and Boats head out on the Galien River at New Buffalo Public Beach public boating access sites. The grant-inaid program provides matching funding to help support quality recreational boating infrastructure. Communities are asked to match 50% of required funds.
In 2020, when lake levels were at record highs, many facilities had emergency needs. As a result, the waterways grant program was strongly focused on assisting communities that had emergency infrastructure needs. Fortunately, this year with lake levels receding, the grants have been able to focus on more typical infrastructure improvements, such as engineering studies, design, and infrastructure improvements, the press release states. The application period for the next round of Waterways grant funding are due Friday, April 1, 2022. Learn more about the grant program and application materials at Michigan.gov/ DNRGrants.
I ain’t scared of shit. I will always speak on how I feel. I’ll be damned if fame and other people have me being a slave to my own thoughts. — Cardi B
Local Government Meetings
New Buffalo Times
Democracy Requires Transparency
CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANIGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM
NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE Chikaming Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM THREE OAKS THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM GRAND BEACH VILLAGE OF GRAND BEACH COUNCIL Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7PM MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM
Grand Beach Village Council, Planning Commission hears Granicus presentation to potentially receive help with short-term rentals
Due to recent discussions on how to tackle short-term rentals in the Village of Grand Beach, members of the Grand Beach Village Council and the Planning Commission held a joint meeting Tuesday, June 29, to hear a presentation from Bruce McCaskill of Granicus Host Compliance.
According to its website, Granicus helps municipalities with short-term rental monitoring, compliance, and enforcement, as well as to quickly identify all the shortterm rental properties within the community.
McCaskill said that Granicus currently partners with 22 local agencies, including New Buffalo and Chikaming Township. Granicus also works with 350 municipalities throughout the US and Canada.
When Covid hit, McCaskill said it was expected that there’d be a big “drop” in short-term rentals due to moratorium or shutdowns that were implemented in municipalities; however, there was only a 3 percent drop from March through May 2020 and there was actually a 10 percent increase in STRs “quarter over
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
quarter.”
“Even though a lot of hotels had a drop in occupancy last year and they’re starting to catch back up, short term rentals never went away and they’re actually getting larger and larger kind of quarter by quarter,” he said.
Currently, Granicus scans 65 different platforms, including Craig’s List, Airbnb and international sites.
According to data that was pulled by Granicus June 28, McCaskill said that there are 101 listings (the advertised sites such as Airbnb, Home Away and other various platforms) representing 57 unique rental units (the properties themselves) in Grand Beach. In explaining the reason for the difference in the two numbers, McCaskill said lots of times, hosts – or owners - advertise their house on multiple sites at the same time.
According to data, McCaskill said that the average nightly rental rate in Grand Beach per night on average is $600 per night.
The number of short-term rentals has grown by 19 percent over the last year in the village (which he said is a “little above average”). McCaskill said that data only captures short term rentals listings that are online.
Granicus offers a 24/7 hotline with an 800 number for neighbors to call if there’s issues with a shortterm rental as well as an online form that can be put on the village’s website, where someone can file a complaint if they wish to stay anonymous. McCaskill said that with the hotline, issues are resolved in “real time.”
If a neighbor calls with a complaint about a certain address, McCaskill said that the neighbor is asked if they’re willing to help document the alleged incident at the address with a video or audio. If the property is registered, Granicus Host Compliance will also contact its owner or rental agent and notify them that an issue needs to be resolved at the address. McCaskill said that 30 minutes will be given for the mana ger or owner to call back and report the issue has been resolved. Complaints and resolution notes are saved in a database so that, according to the presentation that was given by McCaskill, “serial offenders can be held accountable.”
Currently, Granicus has five different modules: rental address identification, compliance monitoring, permitting and registration/ tax collection, 24/7 hotline and rental activity monitoring.
McCaskill said that everything is “a la carte,” and the village can choose to purchase another module anytime if it’s felt that it’s needed.
For further discussion, McCaskill said that he could contact Jeffrey Goodman, who runs the ordinance team, to discuss with the village what’s effective or not effective and what he’s witnessed working if councilmembers are interested.
At the village council’s June 24 meeting, village attorney Sara Senica said that she thinks the council and Planning Commission should begin working on if they “want to push all the people who want to rent (within the village) into a special use permit or have an ordinance that regulates across the board with rentals, where every rental will have to follow that procedure and they’ll have to register with the village.”
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. — Lao Tzu
(front) Kimberlee Wendt, Kim Pruitt, Kim Murphy; (back),Suzanna Bierwirth, Bridget Verdun, Colleen Newquist, Kendra Grant, Gavin Gray, and Carolyn Drier prepare to cut the ribbon
As anyone who lives, works, or visits there will tell you: There is a whole lot to know about Three Oaks, Michigan.
The merchants, makers, and artisans, as well as the museums and antique stores – all these people and businesses “have changed the trajectory of this town,” said Suzanna Bierwirth, owner of Goods & Heroes design store, coowner of the Three Oaks Social Club event venue, and maker of Sinn Botanik skincare products, as well as founder and president of the newly formed nonprofit organization, Three Oaks Makers & Merchants Alliance.
A crowd made up of other merchants, makers and supporters gathered in front of the alliance’s newly opened welcome center in downtown Three Oaks at 13 North Elm Street for its official ribbon cutting Thursday, July 1.
“We’re very excited Three Oaks has a business association now - especially one that represents the businesses and artisans that are in this area in a wonderful way, and a place for visitors to come and get information specifically for Three Oaks is just awesome,” Kimberlee Wendt, executive director of the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce, said.
Bridget Verdun, vice president, said that the organization grew out of a deep
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA love for the community and those who give it its welcoming identity.
“We came together during Covid as people that are passionate about Three Oaks and the community, creating inclusivity and a great place for people to live and work and thrive - and we are in support of makers and merchants and lovers (of Three Oaks),” she said.
The organization is currently looking for new members. Membership is available at various levels. “Makers” and “merchants” must have a business in the Village of Three Oaks or Three Oaks Township or sell products or provide services through a business in the Village of Three Oaks or Three Oaks Township. “Allies” is open to nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Three Oaks. “Lovers,” according to the website, is “open to all humankind.”
Those who are interested in becoming members can find out more information, including on events and other happenings, at https:// ilovethreeoaks.org/ or by emailing hello@ilovethreeoaks.org.
Information can also be found by following Three Oaks Makers & Merchants Alliance on Facebook.
Volunteers are also needed to run the welcome center (managed by Kim Murphy), which is currently open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (although the “dream” is to have it open every day). Volunteers are asked to make a two-hour commitment each month, greeting visitors to the center and informing them of fun happenings in Three Oaks. The center features brochures, stickers, tote bags, and T-shirts, all of which has the organization’s logo on it, “I Love Three Oaks” – with a heart replacing the word “love.” “We’re full of heart,” said Verdun, with Bierwirth adding “You can’t go wrong with a heart.” Eventually, it’s hoped that the center will have a phone number that someone can call even if it’s not open.
Members of the alliance intend to throw three more big events this year, including Wurstfest, which will take place Saturday, Sept. 18.
Per the website, the Three Oaks Makers & Merchants Alliance maintains a website with listings, a calendar, and online store; operates a visitor center and store in the heart of downtown; publishes a field guide twice a year; promotes Three Oaks through traditional and social media; designs and sells branded merchandise; hosts fundraisers and minglers; and organizes or supports events.
The alliance grew out of the Three Oaks Merchants, a “loosely organized” (according to the alliance’s website) group that has put on events in downtown Three Oaks for the past five years, such as the Snowflake Stroll held after Thanksgiving.
Richard Smith, president of the Village of Three Oaks, said he’s impressed with how Three Oaks has “rebounded from Covid” and come back better than ever.
“Three Oaks is no longer the hidden gem of Harbor Country, we are the diamond in the rough,” he said.
Members of the Three Oaks Makers & Merchants Alliance Advisory Board are president Bierwirth; vice-president Verdun, owner of Just B. maker space and maker of Occasionally Speaking letterpress greeting cards; treasurer Ellie Mullins, co-owner of Patellie’s Pizza and P+E Bottle Shop; secretary Colleen Newquist, maker of Stop and Smell the Butter: A Journal of Appreciative Living; and board members Carolyn Drier, owner of Drier’s Meat Market; Kendra Grant, co-owner of Poppy Hill Vintage; Kim Pruitt, artist and owner of Dawning Art; and Gavin Gray, a lover of Three Oaks whose donation helped launch the organization.
POLICE RESCUE RESIDENT FROM HOUSE IN CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP
Police were able to rescue a resident from his home in Chikaming Township after it caught fire last week.
According to a press release made by Lt. Ryan Sullivan of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 30, Berrien County Dispatch received a call reporting a structure fire at a residence in the 15000 block of Locke Road in Chikaming Township.
“The initial 911 call came from a neighbor, who was unaware if the residence remained occupied,” the press release stated.
Deputy Brittany Garza of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department’s New Buffalo Township Patrol, and Sgt. Russ Tillery of the New Buffalo Police Department, were the initial emergency responders on the scene. Both Deputy Garza and Sgt. Tillery entered the smoke-filled residence and were able to locate the homeowner inside.
The resident, a 55-year-old male, was “disoriented” inside the smokefilled home. Both officers assisted the male safely out of the residence.
The resident had suffered significant third degree burns across his body, as well as smoke inhalation. He was treated on scene by paramedics from Medic 1 Ambulance, and was ultimately transported, in serious condition, to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.
The fire at the residence was controlled and was tended to by firefighters from Chikaming Township Fire. Its cause remains under investigation.
No emergency responders were injured during the incident. — STAFF
Butterfly field to begin HCH trail this weekend
The Harbor Country Hikers will revisit the Nature Study Trails surrounding New Buffalo Elementary School, including the newly created butterfly field, at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 10. The butterfly field, seeded in 2019 by the U.S. Field & Wildlife Service, is now in full bloom with a variety of wildflowers. The 1.5-acre field was created to replace the former waterlogged ball field on the elementary school campus with an ideal living place for insects, reptiles, and smaller mammals. This part of the hike can be enjoyed by those with different abilities. From there, HCH President Pat Fisher will lead the way through sections of the nature trails that reveal several of the many natural communities found in the diverse ecosystems that exist in the local environment, including ancient beaches, large ravines, and hardwood forests. The two-hour hike may go through some wetlands, so appropriate footwear is advised along with extra drinking water, bug repellent and head covering. The group will gather in the parking lot at the elementary school, 12292 Lubke Rd., New Buffalo. HCH observe federal and state COVID guidelines. At present, mask wearing is optional.
For complete details or HCH membership, volunteer and events visit www. harborcountryhikers.com. — STAFF REPORTS
FOL to hear about Clara Barton in live community forum
The Friends of New Buffalo Library will present “Clara Barton: The Union Army’s Angel of Mercy” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, in the Pokagon Room, 33 N. Thompson Street, New Buffalo. Tim Moore of Lake Michigan College will share the story of Civil War nurse Clara Barton’s courage in battle and compassion for Union soldiers. After the war, her dedication to humanity continued when she founded the American Red Cross. But this resolute woman fought depression, experienced nervous breakdowns, feared insanity and contemplated suicide. She was intolerant of criticism and embellished her achievements. The next Community Forum program will be “The Baillys: A Pioneer Family in the Dunes” Thursday, Aug. 12. For information on the FOL events, membership, and ways to volunteer, visit www.newbuffalotownshiplibrary.org. — STAFF REPORTS
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calendar of summer
activities December 2020 are ending operations as vaccinations shift to sites outside of the A STEAM-Y Summer is underway at the hospitals. Three Oaks Township Public Library. The next “STEAMY” Summer event for Franciscan WorkingWell at 8345 Wicker children preschool through fifth grade is Ave. in St. John and Franciscan Physician Network Coolspring Health Center at 1225 E. Coolspring Avenue in Michigan City. The St. John WorkingWell site is from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 24. Children should come ready for some handon STEAM activity stations. Please call the library at 756-5621 to RSVP so enough materials can be prepared. The Sarett Nature Center will be at the library at noon Saturday, July 31. If weather cooperates, this will be held outside. There is still time to sign up for Summer Reading for all ages. The drawing for the grand prizes will be at noon Thursday, Aug. 12. Stop in and pick up a very simple Reading Log. During July, Story Time is from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Tuesdays and from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Take and Make bags for children are available on a first come, first served, basis. Lego Club at the Library will be all day every Thursday. Projects will be left up for one week. The Knitting and Crocheting Circle meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays. Individuals of all skill levels are invited to bring their projects and socialize. Park & Read is each Thursday at 10:30 a.m. from July 8 to Aug. 12. July 8 will be the Library Lawn, July 15 at Carver Park, July 22 at Dillard Park, July 29 at Dewey Cannon Park, Aug. 6 at Timbertown, and Aug. 12 on the Library Lawn. Everyone in attendance will go home with a new book. Three Oaks Library now has PressReader for our patrons. PressReader gives you access to more To do anything than 7,000 of the world’s top newspapers and magazines as soon as they’re to a high level, available on shelves. There are no limits it has to be total obsession. on downloads, and they are yours to keep forever if you like. PressReader can be used in your internet browser at www. — Conor McGregor pressreader.com and it also has a very simple app you may download on your phone, computer, or tablet. For more information, please call the library at 269-
