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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021
Village of Grand Beach closes on Grand Beach Nature Preserve property
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embers of the Grand Beach Village Council learned that the village has finally closed on the 42 acres – or, as it’s legally referred to as, 45.8 acres – of the Grand Beach Nature Preserve at their Wednesday, Nov. 17, meeting. Deborah Lindley, village council president, said that everything got finished up late that afternoon. The village received a $2.4 million Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund (MDNRTF) grant toward the property’s purchase, which includes the driving range, pond, and wooded area, in 2018. In 2019, the village raised the remaining $800,000, or 25 percent of the project’s $3.2 million project cost, in matching funds, which were made up of generous donations and a 10 percent match from the land’s owners, Grand Beach Land Development (GBLD). Lindley said that the process to try to acquire the undeveloped land has taken close to six years. “This is property we will have for indefinitely to enjoy and it’s at our disposal…I think it’s really a lasting legacy for this council,” she said. Councilmembers unanimously agreed to hold off on taking any further action on a draft short-term rental ordinance, which was drafted by the Planning Commission. At last month’s meeting, Lindley said she hoped to hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance; however, this was before the recent passage of state House Bill 4722 on Oct. 27. The bill, which will be moving onto the state Senate, states that short-term rentals aren’t commercial but are a residential use. Police chief Ryan Layman said that it requires municipalities to allow up to 30 percent of their residences to be rentals. There’s also a limit on only allowing one person to own two houses for the
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
purpose of renting. The bill does allow for local units of government to carry out inspections on the rentals. While he felt that this version of the bill was “workable,” he would prefer that everything stay the same as it is now, and municipalities can develop an ordinance if needed. Councilmember Paul Leonard said that at some point, the senate will pass their version of the bill and the question is if Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will sign it. “At this point, I think we might just need to take a deep breath and pause and wait and see what happens in Lansing,” he said, adding that he still believes that the issue is of local concern and shouldn’t involve the state. Lindley said that state Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles), who was one of the coauthors of the bill, took his name off it. “At least when he came to New Buffalo and spoke and listened to the communities around here, he did listen and he did try to change things,” she said. Layman advised everyone to contact state Sen. Kim LaSata (R-Coloma) about their opposition to the bill as it heads for the senate. Councilmembers approved the following terms for members of the Parks and Recreation Committee (with chair Pete Doerr abstaining): Judith Blackburn, Ed Trainor and Doug Blaw, two-year terms and Ed Brandes and Harry Walder three-year terms. Councilmembers approved the following terms for members of the Golf Committee (chair Blake O’Halloran abstained): Doerr, O’Halloran, Jack Grace, and Michael Moore, three-year terms and Brendan Duffner, Clay Putnam, Walder, and Don Butler, two-year terms. Councilmembers approved the 2022 meeting schedule. Meetings will continue to be held at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month except in December, which will be the second Wednesday. Councilmembers approved contracting
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Fire leaves family homeless
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with Cardenas to perform the scope of work involving tree trimming and tree removal for $23,000. Money to pay for the tree cutting could come from the cashier’s check the village received for the sale of its rental golf cart fleet, which was $32,000, O’Halloran, golf commissioner, said. O’Halloran said the work will benefit the golf course. He was able to work with one homeowner to let them allow for the removal of three trees on their property to open up the second hole tee for sun. The motion that passed, however, only included two of these trees. The original motion included the three trees but didn’t pass, with Lindley voting “nay” and O’Halloran, Leonard, Doerr, and Bracewell voting “yea” (the motion required more votes due to it being a budget increase).
indley said that she was concerned about the third tree on the homeowner’s property that would require cutting down a limb over their house, which is private property, and that she’d like to look at the tree herself. Councilmembers also approved making an amendment to the 2021-2022 Golf Fund to reflect the expense. Councilmembers approved a $2 increase in hourly wages across the board for pro shop employees, with O’Halloran saying that the shop was competing against a lot of businesses that are raising their wages. Councilmembers approved opting out of PA 152 of 2011. Lindley said that not doing so would require village employees to pay a 20 percent contribution in their health insurance premium. Councilmembers approved renewing the village’s health insurance with Priority Health for another year. Councilmembers approved giving give a $2,000 stipend to an employee whose spouse is on Medicare to help cover the cost of copays.
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Fire left a LaPorte man and his mother temporarily homeless but CPR saved the lives of some of their pets. At about 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, firefighters responded to a small single-story house at 907 Park Street. LaPorte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said it appears the man was cooking when a grease fire erupted in a pan on the kitchen stove. After trying to put out the fire safely, the man fled the residence and called 911. He also notified his mother, who was at work. Snyder said the flames spread into the living room but were extinguished by firefighters within minutes. “It was a very smoky fire,” Snyder said. Three cats and a dog were not breathing when found near the front door of the residence. Snyder said oxygen was pumped into the lungs of the pets through a mask placed over their faces and a technique designed to help the heart start beating again was applied. He said a dog and one of the cats resumed breathing and were taken to the Jane Bernard Animal Adoption Center until other arrangements are made by the owners for their future care. Two guinea pigs in cages in a back bedroom were not harmed. Damage was estimated at $15,000. Snyder said the Red Cross was notified to provide the man and woman with temporary shelter and other needs to help them get back on their feet. — STAN MADDUX
