July/August issue of the Bimonthly County Newsletter now available

FREE family-oriented movie in the pavilion at Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga this week is:
Saturday, July 31, "The Mummy"

The stores to the shores …

It will be another busy weekend in Northern Michigan, with the annual Sidewalk Sales downtown Petoskey that began on Friday and run through Saturday.

The view from East Park at Bay Harbor on Friday afternoon.

Out in Little Traverse Bay, spectators will have a colorful backdrop as boats race in the annual Ugotta Regatta. The Harbor Springs-based regatta is held the weekend after the Chicago-to-Mackinac race and involves the sailors and their boats that have been racing Lake Michigan for the past week.

Click here for more photos

Phragmites letter distributed, public hearing set

Phragmites

Recently the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in Petoskey, in conjunction with Emmet County, mailed letters to many Emmet County lakeshore property owners regarding the invasive plant species known as Phragmites.

Owners of properties where Phragmites have been discovered were notified about the plant and the damage it can cause to the Lake Michigan ecosystem.

Tip of the Mitt and Emmet County are working together to treat the Phragmites at no cost to homeowners, through grant funding. Property owners are asked to promptly return a permission slip allowing treatment on their property.

Phragmites

A public hearing will be held by the Emmet County Board of Commissioners at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, to allow property owners within the eradication zone an opportunity to be heard concerning the treatment protocol. The meeting will be held in the Commissioners’ Room in the Emmet County Building, 200 Division St., Petoskey.

Anyone with questions can call Grenetta Thomassey at the Watershed Council office, (231) 347-1181, ext. 118.

Download the letter sent to property owners -- which includes information about Phragmites and the proposed course of treatment -- and the permission slip here.

Phragmites Letter

Phragmites Permission Slip

Airport manager clarifies facts about new facility at Pellston Regional Airport

It has come to the attention of Emmet County officials that there is misinformation circulating in the public regarding the snow removal and emergency equipment facility to be constructed at Pellston Regional Airport.

As the airport manager, I would like to clarify the facts of the project to improve the public’s understanding:

• The Snow Removal Equipment and Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Facility (SRE/ARFF) will be approximately 35,000 square feet in size and it will be located to the south of the terminal. It will house fire trucks and equipment, snow removal equipment and other large-scale items related to airport operations.
• The engineer’s estimate of the building’s cost is $8,238,000. Of that total cost, 95 percent will be paid for by Federal Aviation Administration funding. Those dollars are generated from airport users, such as through fuel sales and airline ticket taxes. The money is not generated by taxpayers from property taxes, sales tax, gas tax, etc.
  The remaining 5 percent of the cost will be paid for with state and local dollars. In total, Emmet County’s portion of this project amounts to $189,000, which will come from the General Fund. I would like to reiterate that Emmet County taxpayers are not funding the $8.238 million project.

Please click here for the complete article

Employees mark 30 years with Emmet County

Four Emmet County staff members are marking their 30th anniversary in 2010 as county employees. They are Don Mapes, Department of Public Works Superintendent; Gary Ericks, maintenance staff member; and Corrections Division Deputies Rick Hoig and Sgt. Dan VanPelt.  Click here for the complete article.

2010 Oil and Gas Leasing Information

There is renewed interest by oil and gas companies to lease lands for oil and gas production in Michigan. As a property owner, what do you need to know before you sign your lease? Michigan State University Extension has information that will help you make informed decisions before you sign your lease.  Click here to learn more