Fife Lake Township will hold a special meeting and public hearing
on the proposed 2017-2018 budget and 2016-2017 budget amendments on June 26, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
A copy of the budget is available for viewing at the township hall.
Special Workshop Meeting Notice
A second joint workshop will be held
By Springfield and Fife Lake Townships
Purpose of meeting
Fire Protection Issues
Tuesday, June 21, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
At Fife Lake Township Hall
Posted 6-20-2017
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March 23, 2017
FIFE LAKE TOWNSHIP:
At the March 23, 2017 meeting, the Fife Lake Township Board unanimously made a decision to leave Grand Traverse Rural Fire at the end of 2017. This decision hinged on our ability to remain as a GTRF member and receive adequate fire safety; or if we would be able to do this on our own with better results.
This is a decision that our board took very seriously on behalf of our citizens. Our fire millage is “for the purpose of providing funds for fire protection.” Most of the fire safety funds collected each year have paid Fife Lake Township’s share of the Grand Traverse Rural Fire budget, which in 2017 is $55,046 , while our millage collects $58,000 a year.
This decision allows us to start the legal process to leave GTRF. This will begin with a letter of intent to withdraw, which will be given to GTRF at their next meeting. The process will include adopting a resolution and presenting it to GTRF before June 30, 2017. This resolution will notify GTRF that we will officially leave GTRF on December 31, 2017.
Let it be known that it is our intention to continue working with our adjacent neighbors in a professional, cooperative manner for Fire Safety today and into the future. This will be done through mutual aid agreements signed by both parties.
Our township historically has had strong fire protection backup from Garfield and Boardman townships in Kalkaska County. We have been assured by their fire chiefs that this relationship will continue. At the same time, once we officially leave GTRF, we hope to work with the remaining units of GTRF, as they are also our neighbors.
Let it further be known that our Emergency Medical Services (ambulance) will continue to cooperate with our neighbors in a professional manner. We are fortunate to have a full time staff here in our EMS building which enables them to respond in a timely fashion when an emergency call comes in.
Fife Lake Township Supervisor, Linda Forwerck
Fire Advisory Committee Chairman, Roger Gibson
EMS Director, Robert Melancon
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Fife Lake Township and Fife Lake Village were awarded a Grand Traverse Band 2% grant in the amount of $22,681 for a joint sidewalk project. This will provide a safe walkway to three major businesses on the north end of the community, and parallel the ideals of the designated "Trails Town." This grant, with local matches from the village and township, will build a sidewalk on Boyd Street from the Methodist Church to Van's Lane.
Fife Lake Emergency Management Services was awarded a 2% grant in the amount of $19,058.23 for a combination tool that will be used to extricate patients from vehicles involved in traffic collisions where access to the patient needs to be made by forcing open a door.
Miigwetch to the Grand Traverse Band for their generosity with these much needed safety improvements for our citizens.
Left to Right: Karen Rosa, Long Lake Township Supervisor (recipient of a fire safety grant); Tom Shomin, Tribal Councilor; Jane Rohl, Tribal Secretary; Thurlow "Sam" McClellan, Tribal Chair; Terry Street, Fife Lake Township Clerk; Linda Forwerck, Fife Lake Township Supervisor, Dave McGough, Fife Lake Village President; Stan Patrick, Fife Lake Chamber of Commerce President; Andrew Killingsworth, EMS Public Relations (Fife Lake/Springfield townships Ambulance Authority); Mark Wilson, Tribal Councilor; Kimberly Vargo, Tribal Vice Chair.
Tribal Council members not in picture: Tribal Treasurer, David Arroyo; Percy Bird, Jr., Tribal Councilor.
Picture by George Antoine, Grand Traverse Band.
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Safety Improvement: MDOT contacted Fife Lake Township asking if we would pay to have overhead illumination lighting installed at the intersection of U.S. 131 and M-186 to provide more lighting at this intersection. After researching the cost with Great Lakes Energy, they came back with a project cost of $2,000 to, not only install overhead illumination lighting at this intersection, but also at U.S. 131 and Fife Lake Road. The FLT board approved this at their February 23, 2017 meeting. This project will take place in the next two months. Great Lakes Energy will be working with MDOT on the project. MDOT has waived their permit fees ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Fife Lake Township and the Ambulance Authority have adopted the following weapons policy:
Fife Lake Township Weapons Policy
Purpose:
To prohibit non-law enforcement personnel from possessing
and storing weapons in Fife Lake Township owned buildings.
Scope:
All Fife Lake Township elected officials, hired employees and volunteers.
Policy
Policy Statement:
Fife Lake Township personnel shall not possess or store weapons
in Fife Lake Township owned buildings at any time.
Items to be excluded: trauma shears, pocket knives.
(these items to be used by EMS or Fire Staff)
Definition:
A weapon shall be defined as:
any firearm or any weapon required to be licensed under the CPL law,
or any weapon that is against the law. (adopted 2-23-2017)
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Medical Marijuana:
Our neighboring village (Kingsley) to the west of Fife Lake Township (FLT), may approve a project proposed by Thera Cann International, a cannabis service company (out of Canada). As Fife Lake Township understands this industrial project, it would include a medical marijuana growing facility. This facility would be located in the Kingsley Downtown Development Authority district, which is on the east edge of Kingsley Village to the north of M-113 and just west of Summit City Road.
To inform our citizens about the current status of Fife Lake Township, our planning commission chairman and our zoning administrator are attending a Medical Marijuana workshop on March 21 in Traverse City to learn more about the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, Public Act 281 of 2016 which became effective December 20, 2016, and is to be implemented (licensed) on December 15, 2017.
The following information has been taken from Michigan Township Associations article “Clearing the haze on medical marijuana” in their Township Focus issue February 2017.
The options for local governments are:
- If FLT chooses to not allow a medical marijuana facility in our township, we do nothing.
- We do not need to adopt a moratorium, pass a resolution or approve an ordinance in order to keep these facilities out.
- Whether we know we do not want a provisioning center, grow operation or other facility, or we just are not sure yet, our best bet is simply to do nothing.
The State of Michigan will issue licenses for medical marijuana facilities.
- Provisioning centers, commonly referred to as dispensaries. Commercial property where marijuana is sold to registered qualifying patients or caregivers.
- Class A, B or C licensed grower would be permitted to have up to 500, 1,000 or 1,500 plants, respectively – a major increase from the current maximum of 72 plants for a caregiver growing marijuana for five patients and himself or herself.
- Marijuana would go to a processor which extracts resin from the marijuana or creates a marijuana-infused product.
- Testing marijuana for safety, contaminants and cannabinoids. This would be done at a safety compliance facility. This commercial entity would operate similarly to a lab, and would receive marijuana from another facility and conduct tests on the substance.
- The law requires that marijuana be transported between facilities for a fee by a secure transporter.
The following information is taken from Planning & Zoning New, September 2016.
Municipalities would stand to gain
a. an annual license fee of $5,000
b. 25% of a 3% tax on provisioning centers’ gross retail receipts
(which would be eliminated if recreational or nonmedical use of marijuana is authorized)
c. new local tax dollars; plus provide jobs.
Fife Lake Township will keep our citizens posted on updates, please feel free to contact your elected and appointed officials by calling 231-879-3963 or writing to FLT, 134 Morgan St, P.O Box 87, Fife Lake 49633. Comments can be placed in our drop box beside the front door of our hall.
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The DEQ has issued a permit for the public access site
The project has been scaled back by removing the basin area. This was a large component of the originally proposed design. The project does require some removal of material in order to put in a rock base to stabilize the cement planks which ensures that the project will be successful. This uses a standard Department of Natural Resources design, which has been engineered for any lake. This will be a typical single row boat ramp using 18 foot wide planks with a 13 percent slope. During the actual work, a protective silt screen will cover a 32 foot by 20 foot work area. A twenty foot dock will be furnished by the DNR. The water depth at the end of the launch will be four feet which will allow a boat to float off a trailer. By working with the DNR on this project, your State tax dollars are coming back to our community. This will save Fife Lake Township approximately $30,000.
Parking will be defined on the public access site. A natural vegetative coir log will be placed along the shoreline to prevent erosion, and also will be utilized as an example of how effective this works for shoreline protection. Our projected time frame for the actual boat launch component of this project is to be installed in May allowing boats to be launched by Memorial Day weekend of 2017. The coir log may need additional time to be installed, but this portion is projected to be done by July of 2017.
As stated at the public meetings, this launch site is intended to be used by boats 14 feet and under, and will not allow pontoons to be launched here. Thank you for your patience and participation with this project that will enhance our public access which will be used by our taxpayers.
View the public access permit here.
View the boat launch informational letter here.
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Fife Lake Township Newsletter December 2016 By Supervisor Forwerck
Treasurer’s Tax Collection Hours:
December 2 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. January 7, 2017 (Sat) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 9 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. January 13 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 16 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. January 20 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 23 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. January 27 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 30 (Fri) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. February 3 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
February 10 (Fri) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Note: any changes to this schedule will be February 13 (Mon) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
posted at the township hall. February 14 (Tues) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
February 28 (Tues) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tax Bills:
Please note on your tax bills there will be a clause regarding the collection for the Milfoil Special Assessment District (SAD) that states Milfoil special assessment will not be collected this year due to a fund balance. Because the current balance of the Township’s Milfoil Fund exceeds the projected costs for milfoil treatment in 2017, the Fife Lake Township Board has decided not to collect special assessments in the Fife Lake Special Assessment District for this year. Special assessments will be collected in future years as needed to pay for milfoil treatment in those years.
Also on your tax bills, the delinquent amounts due for the FLAUA sewer bills have been added.
Board of Review meets December 13, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the township hall.
Our Audit from Baird, Cotter and Bishop, P.C. came in very well. Our long term U.S.D.A. debt has a balance of $114,000. This is owed for the 2007 project that added a training room, ambulance bay and upgrades to our hall and offices. Our general fund balance increased by $37,992 this year bringing our unassigned fund balance to $201,772. Overall Fife Lake Township is in good financial shape. If you would like to review our audit, it is available at the township hall.
Election: On behalf of Fife Lake Township, I would like to thank our electors who voted in the 2016 election. It was an exciting election from the village all the way to the Presidential. No matter what your party affiliation or who you voted for, we thank you for being an active citizen in Fife Lake Township. Clerk Street gives a huge Thank You to all of our election workers for their time and commitment to a successful 2016 General Election. We could not have done such an undertaking without their help. We are cleared by the canvassing board and they stated we had a successful election. We welcome two new trustees to our board, Elizabeth Pearson and Dawn Zimmerman.
Planning Commission is in the process of updating the township master plan with the assistance of Williams and Works. A draft of the master plan is available at the township hall.
Zoning Administrator responsibilities are to administer the Township Zoning Ordinance which regulates the use of the land within the township. They are the tools used to implement the master plan, protect natural resources and to ensure land uses are compatible to the surrounding area thereby protecting property values. Zoning districts divide the township into various districts and land uses such as agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial uses.
The Fife Lake Public Library is a wonderful asset.. We have an extensive collection and many services are available. We also have the ability to connect our patrons with resources throughout the county and many times the state. Our meetings our held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm in the Library Community Room and the public is always welcome.
Civic Center South will be opening the ice rink soon (as weather permits). Caretakers George and Polly Drew have officially left CCS as of October 2016. We thank them for their dedication to overseeing CCS for the past ten years. Carl and Deb Brown have applied to replace the Drew’s and a final decision will be made at the next meeting.
Grand Traverse Rural Fire will be reviewing the report and recommendations from our consultant at a special meeting on November 29, 2016 at the Paradise Township Hall at 6:00 p.m. Our current chief’s contract ends December 31, 2016; the board is reviewing that current job description and will consider possible changes. Green Lake and Grant townships have not made a final decision as to whether they are leaving GTRF. A budget hearing will be held at our December meeting. Thank you first responders!
The Grand Traverse County Road Commission in their projection for the next four years has listed Walton Road and Lakeshore Drive. This is great news for Fife Lake Township. There may be some cost sharing for these projects. We will post information as we receive it on our website.
Cemeteries: We will be doing imaging of our cemeteries to locate graves that were never marked. This is something the cemetery committee has discussed for several years. In the meantime, the corner markers have been located and pictures of the graves have been taken for “Find a Grave”. This is a valuable genealogy resource. Do any of you know anything about where the Glide boys were found, maybe in the Pine Barrens? Also, does anyone know where Abraham Silverdale is buried? If anyone has old papers regarding burials, please call our cemetery sexton.
Public Access project was put on hold until the elections were over simply because the election took up a great deal of time for Clerk Terry Street. As you may recollect, Terry was very instrumental in writing and implementing this grant. In December follow up on this project will take place. Our hope is to continue working with the DNR which will save us approximately $20,000. We will continue to work with Denny Meyer and the committee to move this project forward.
Fife Lake Township Hall 231-879-3963, 134 Morgan Street, Fife Lake, MI 49633
Office Hours Monday,Tuesday,Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.,Wednesday Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Supervisor Linda Forwerck 231-631-1750 Deputy Mike Hornacek 231-879-5302
Deputy Supervisor Fred Joles Zon Admin Kevin McElyea 231-645-1113
Clerk Terry Street 231-263-0056 Assessor Dawn Kuhns 231-409-1827
Deputy Clerk Leigh Gifford Sexton John Kelley 231-384-2820
Treasurer Cathy Sorrow 231-879-4656 EMS Director Rob Melacon 231-879-4009
Deputy Treasurer Char LaFeve Fire Captain Kyle Bonter 231-879-4009
Deputy Treasurer Sandra Wilton Sewer/FLAUA 231-879-3565
Trustee Elizabeth Pearson Library 231-879-4101
Trustee Dawn Zimmerman Fife Lake Village 231-879-4291
Fife Lake Township Board will be appointing committee members to our various boards. If you are interested in serving your township, please fill out an application at the township office.
Wishng All of You Happy Holidays and a Good Year in 2017
Local Election Results 11-8-2016 *winners
Fife Lake Village:
President *Dave McGough 115
Lisa Leedy 89
Treasurer *Valerie L. Housour 141
Trustees/4 year *Marilyn Hayes 123
*Mary Kelley 88
Cora Wilson 80
Trustee/2 year *Michael Tornow 120
Trustee/Partial Term *Marjorie Menzies 117
*Note clerk is an appointed position
Fife Lake Township:
Supervisor *Linda Forwerck 602
Clerk *Terry Street 623
Treasurer *Cathy L. Sorrow 644
Trustees *Dawn Zimmerman 535
*Elizabeth Pearson 472
Joe Jones 253
Library Board
Director *Noreen Broering 403
Director *Joyce G. Frewald 323
Director *Jo Ellen Simpson 303
Director *Patricia S. Warner 317
Forest Area Community Schools
Board Member *Joanna Durfee 260
Board Member *Ricky Hulwick 282
Board Member *Steve Kniss 269
*Note these are votes for Fife Lake Township only, not entire school district
Grand Traverse County Proposals:
PASSED - Local Streets, Roads, Highways, and Bridges Repair and Improvement Millage Renewal Proposal – 1 mill for four years (2016-2019)
PASSED – Veterans Affairs Millage - .12 increase for six years (2016-2021)
Please drive carefully on all our roads, but especially on Van's Lane. We have many pedestrians who walk on these roads and some have encountered careless drivers who are going way too fast. Please respect our pedestrians!!
Supervisor’s Review
November 3, 2016
Our 2015/2016 audit has just been completed. Fife Lake Township came in under budget by $37,992. A portion of this was allocated for election equipment and road funds that were not completely used. We are pleased that this increase will allow the board to utilize some of these funds as needed for possible debt load reduction, or other expenses.
A few explanations that go with the past four years this township board was in office include some clarification regarding:
Cemeteries: When the former board was in office (2008 to 2012), a cemetery sexton was hired. This was based on a recommendation from the cemetery committee who felt contracting out for cemetery maintenance had simply not worked. The cemetery committee asked for a yearly budget of $25,000 which included monies for equipment, supplies such as fuel, sexton wages and wages for a part time helper as needed. In the past four budget years, there has always been a healthy surplus in the cemetery budgets. Those remaining surpluses were transferred to other budgets to cover additional expenses.
Projects Completed during current board terms (2013-2016)
1. Refurbished office equipment was purchased for our meeting hall and offices.
2. The emergency services training room was finished with a bathroom, central heating and cooling systems, plus tile and carpet was installed on the floors.
3. Our ambulance and fire bays were cleaned and epoxy was put on the floors. The steel that matches the building additions was placed on the original fire barn, and the parking lot was repaired and top coated. Overhead door repairs were made.
4. Town Line Road project was completed in cooperation with Paradise Township and the GTC Road Commission.
5. Fife Lake Road was upgraded as part of the GTC Road Commission millage.
6. The Evergreen Street drainage issue was engineered and repaired.
7. Walton and Fife Lake cemeteries have had many improvements.
8. $52,000 extra was paid on the principal of the $200,000 USDA loan that was taken out in 2008 to pay for the ambulance/training room addition and the remodeling to our buildings. This reduced twelve years from our amortization schedule. Our current balance is $114,000.
Fortunately we were able to complete these projects without incurring any new debt.
Clerk Houts retired in December 2014 after serving our township for many years. The board appointed Terry Street as her replacement.
A thank you to Trustees Lori Ann Rognlie and Joanne Ogur for their terms of office on our board. They made personal decisions not to run again.
Tax statements will soon be sent out. Those of you who are in the Special Assessment District (SAD) will not be assessed for Milfoil treatment on this December tax statement.
On the projected list of 2017-2022 millage funded road projects are Lakeshore Drive from U.S.131 to Grand Kal Road plus Walton Road from M-113 to Town Line Road. These two road projects may need a local match and depend on the millage request outcome.
Linda Forwerck
Fife Lake Township extends our profound sympathy to the Fisher and Stevens families who lost their seventeen year old daughters, Haley and Aubrey, in a tragic accident at the intersection of U.S.131 and M-186.
We had a successful meeting at the American Legion on the U.S.131 and M-186 intersection. MDOT presented their plans for fall of 2018 to make major lane improvements and the installation of a full traffice light. We thank MDOT, the American Legion and our guests and citizens who made this a positive event for our community.
Fife Lake Township Board did hire a ZONING ADMINISTRATOR on October 4, 2016 at a special board meeting. We had fourteen applicants for this position, six of the fourteen were interviewed. While we had many good applicants, Kevin McElyea was picked for this position. He brings a wealth of knowledge on Grand Traverse County, the land division act along with a variety of skills needed for this position. Kevin begins his new duties Monday, October 10th. Fife Lake Townhsip thanks everyone who applied for this position. His office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Fife Lake Township Supervisor’s Report – September 20, 2016 – Linda Forwerck
Pugsley Correctional Facility:
I attended the tour of Pugsley Friday, 9-23-16. State and local agencies plus our state representatives were in attendance. This is a facility with it’s own water and sewer systems, natural gas, administration & office areas, kitchen, library & education area, gymnasium, chapel, warehouse, shooting range, building trades area, etc. and could sleeping areas in three buildings which did house 1300 prisoners. The State is putting this property on the market and might consider a lease. This is close to State highways and easily accessible to Traverse City, Cadillac and Kalkaska plus about 50 miles to I-75.
Cass Street Bridge:
I did attend the ribbon cutting ceremony on 9-21-16. The old bridge is still in place over the dam, but the portion west of that has been replaced. The river will be diverted to flow under this portion of the project which has been determined to be the original Boardman River flow channel. Once the water has been diverted, the rest of the bridge will be completed. Traffic can now cross here.
US 131 & M 186 petition – town hall meeting
We are in the process of scheduling an October town hall meeting with various state and county agencies including Senator Schmidt and Representative Inman, MDOT, safety agencies, and attorney Tim Smith. Of course, our first responders from Fire Station 6 and EMS will be a part of this. We do thank them for all they do in difficult situations. We are exploring the American Legion Hall for this meeting with a possible meeting date of October 15, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. We will confirm this date ASAP. Many petitions have been signed and collected., if you have signed petitions, they can be dropped off at the township hall. Note: Meeting to be held October 14th at 5:00 p.m.
Townline Road - thank you to GTCRC and Paradise Township
This project has been completed and it is beautiful. The GTC Road Commission Chairman Carl Brown, stated he is lobbying to have the remaining southern two miles also brought into a better condition, so then the entire road is complete. This was a cooperative project between the GTCRC, Paradise Township and Fife Lake Township. The GTCRC paid for the culvert work ($65,000), therefore the remaining cost became a three split in the round figure of $80,000 each. Fife Lake paid our first installment in June from the 2015/2016 budget and we have the next installment in our current budget.
Evergreen Street
This project has been completed and is working very well. Gourdie Fraser Engineer Brian Boals was our engineer on this project. We met on site with Brian recently to evaluate how the project looked according to his engineering and how effective it is. He was very satisfied with the project outcome and will be contacting GTC Soil Erosion. This was a requirement of GTC Soil Erosion before they issue their stamp of approval on our permit. We thank John Kelley for his hard work and perseverance on this project .
Lakeshore Drive
We know many lakeshore residents and all of we citizens who travel this road are wondering when we will be able to upgrade the road. I have contacted the GTCRC engineer and staff to find cost sharing percentages for different types of upgrades/repairs to this and Grand Kal Road by the lake. I will share that information as soon as I have gathered it.
Grand Kal Road south of Lakeshore Drive
This has not been taken off the burner. We had cost sharing figures a few years ago, but it was the action of the township board not to move ahead with the project. Also, there has been discussion of paving a portion of Grand Kal in front of Cedar Ridge development on Pickeral Lake. Thi would probably be done by special assessment.
A committee of citizens who live on various roads will be formed to study road repairs, costs, etc. This will take place after the November 8th election so new trustees can participate in any decisions that are made. I have already talked to some of these citizens and I am aware they are anxious to get started!
Road Signs are planned for our private roads, especially in the Walton area. This will not only guide citizens, but more importantly our emergency crews.
Address signs/First Aid Kits:
If you do not have an address sign at you place of residence, it is very difficult for our emergency responders to answer calls. Please contact EMS at 879-4009 to order a sign at the cost of $20. They also have first aid kits at two prices of $10 and $20.
Milfoil:
Fife Lake and Springfield Townships just went through the five year assessment renewal process. During this process, we were informed we could not have a Milfoil fund balance, therefore this year on your December 2016 tax bill the milfoil special assessment will not be collected. Once again we thank Fred, Archie and John for their due diligence monitoring the lake and overseeing the annual Savin Services treatment of our lake.
Public Access:
This has been put on hold until we receive further information from the DNR.
Lot 82 – Lakeshore Drive:
A title search is currently being done on this property
Fife Lake and Walton Cemeteries:
Improvements continue at our cemeteries. The myrtle has been transplanted on the west front area (hilly) of Fife Lake cemetery. Compost is being spread on the east side which has improved the grass. This is a continuing process. Markers have been staked by volunteers Lisa Plamondon and Cecil. Lisa has taken pictures of all grave stones and research many of our cemetery records Thank you to Lisa and Cecil for their volunteer work. Within this year’s budget we will be imaging both cemeteries which will tell us where actual burials have taken place. Many of these are not in marked gravesites. The flag poles will be put in place this year. We thank FAFCU and the American Legion Post 219 for their grant/donation to make this happen. We always want to signify our great country & honor our veterans.
Zoning Administrator:
We have advertised for a new zoning administrator, but interviews have not taken place at this time. In the interim, please contact our office for zoning information.
FLAUA (sewer authority):
The project continues and hopefully will be completed in early 2017. Please contact Ray Ravery, Compliance Officer, at 231-879-3565 for questions on this project. Weekly postings are on our front window at the township. Current Fife Lake Township representatives are Linda Forwerck, Leigh Ann Gifford, Jim Gifford. A proposal has been made to have the FLAUA employees become village employees under the management of the village, this is in discussion only at this time..
Grand Traverse Rural Fire:
The GT Rural Fire consultants will be meeting with our individual board members to learn their views of Rural Fire. This will take place on October 11, 2016.
November 8, 2016 Election:
This is a big election year, from Presidential, Congressman, State representatives, Township and Village, plus millages for GTC. Be sure to get out and vote if you are able. For more election information and absentee ballots, contact Clerk Street at 231-879-3963.
Fife Lake Township Trustees Joanne Ogur and Lori Ann Rognlie have not petitioned to run again. We have three candidates for two trustee positions – they are Dawn Zimmerman, Joe Jones and Elizabeth Pearson. Dawn currently serves on the Board of Review, Joe currently chairs the Planning Commission, and Elizabeth works at FAFCU. Officers Forwerck, Street and Sorrow are running again and are currently unopposed.
Fife Lake Township budget was adopted in June and we strive to stretch our dollars to continue doing business, but also to make improvements where financially feasible.
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A great big thank you to Hayes Manufacturing:
Hayes Manufacturing volunteered three of their employees plus two of the owners to plant myrtle in the Fife Lake Cemetery. They did an amazing job working with Sexton Kelley. Luckily we were able to transplant the myrtle from the west bank of the cemetery, this saved a great deal of money The myrtle has been placed in the west end of the cemetery on a bank where we could not grow grass. This will stabilize and beautify the bank. Pictures are to follow soon.
Go to our cemetery page for pictures and more information on cemetery volunteers and projects.
* Grand Traverse County needs your help keeping our roadsides clean! Groups enroll for a two-year membership and perform three trash pickups per year along a two-mile section of county road. An annual safety meeting among volunteers is required. The Road Commission provides two recognition signs, trash bags, vests and trash pickup when your route is complete. Best of all…there is no charge for groups to participate in this program! Visit the Grand Traverse County Road Commission website for more information or to view routes open in your township. http://www.gtcrc.org/General/Adopt-A-Road.htm.
We also have a picture of the Forest Area Federal Credit Union presenting their $800 grant to Fife Lake Township here.
Public Notice:
- Please take future notice that Fife Lake will provide auxiliary aids or services to individual(s) with disabilities. Persons needing such services should contact the offices of the township clerk by writing or calling the clerk, not less than five (5) days prior to the hearing.
- Fife Lake Township Hall
124 Morgan Street
Fife Lake, Michigan 49633
231.879.3963
Fife Lake Township shall update news and events as needed to help keep the public informed of the activities within the township during each month. Check here for the latest news and events. If you care to place information about a public activity in this space on our web site, feel free to contact Supervisor Forwerck at 231 631-1750 or Clerk Street at 231 879-3963 to have your activity date/dates announced.
 fifelaketownshipnewsletterjune2016.pdf | [ ] | 192 kB |
| SIGNEDMILNOTICE09192016WEB.pdf | [ ] | 150 kB |
Please stop in the Township Hall and see the mural of historic Fife Lake. Click the picture below to get a glimpse of what our town looked like in the past. Or, click here to download a higher resolution version (File size appr. 40MB. Those on slower or metered connections may wish to view the smaller version).
We continue to get compliments on our Historic Collage in the meeting room. If you have not seen this, please stop by to look at it. Many businesses and pioneers of Fife Lake are depicted in this collage.
The township incorporates the waters of Fife Lake, on the south and west side of the village of Fife Lake. The township lies in the southeast corner of Grand Traverse County with Grand Traverse County being in the Northwest corner of the lower peninsula of Michigan. The waters of Fife Lake run over the county line with only a small portion of it on the east end of the lake being in Kalkaska County. In fact, the SE corner of Fife Lake Township is the SE corner of Grand Traverse County and lies adjacent to the adjoining counties of Kalkaska to the east, Missaukee to the southeast and Wexford to the south.
The area of Fife Lake Township encompasses 36 square miles of which 34.4 sq. miles is land and 1.6 sq. miles is water. The body of water known as Fife Lake is approximately one and a half miles in diameter. It is a beautiful body of water containing two islands, one with a home and the other a private campsite. Pickerel, bass, walleye and other fish are found in great numbers within the lake.
Within the township are found the Village of Fife Lake which was incorporated in 1889 near the intersection of Highway 131 and M-186; an unincorporated community known as Walton Junction so named after the junction of two railroad lines in that area near the intersection of M-113 and Highway 131. Camp Pugsley, a state correctional facility lies in the southwest corner of the township along Walton Road. Also within the township are several large tracts of state forest land providing the area with many recreational opportunities in all four seasons from skiing & ice fishing to swimming and hiking. The local economy is dependent mostly on recreational activities. The area would be considered rural Michigan with a 2000 census population of 1,547 residents within the township.
There are limited manufacturing facilities in the industrial park area just northwest of the Village of Fife Lake. Within the industrial park area is Hayes Manufacturing, Inc. and Cintas Corp. providing additional employment opportunities.
The township owns and operates two cemeteries. Fife Lake cemetery is located within the boundaries of the Village of Fife Lake, but is owned and operated by the township. The second cemetery is near Walton on Elliott Road. You may find specific information on the cemeteries by clicking on the cemetery link.
Emergency services within the township are fire, ambulance and police. All three services respond via 911 emergency phone contacts. See their respective links for further information.
Forest Area Community School District, a consolidated district encompassing 120 sq. miles of land area within six different townships across two counties has an upper elementary school building with grades 3-4-5 located within the township of Fife Lake.
As part of the township and village you can find a variety of stores, shops, restaurants, churches, banking facilities and a local grocery store meeting the needs of local residents and visitors.
Fife Lake Township has paid and unpaid committee assignments that residents and interested citizens can make application for service as a member by notifying the Supervisor and/or the Clerk indicating your interest to serve as a committee member. An explanation of the type of work and schedule of meetings will be explained upon receipt of your call.
If you would like to download the application form, click here
| Paid Service Work | Volunteer |
| Elections worker | Civic Center South |
| Planning Commission Member | Cemetery Planning |
| Zoning Board of Appeals | |
| Board of Review Member |