Transfer Station Closed: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

For the safety of personnel and the protection of equipment due to predicted extreme weather, the Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, January 20-22.

The transfer station will reopen on Thursday, January 23rd at 8:00 a.m.

Planning Commission Meeting Dates for 2025

The Watersmeet Planning Commission has set the meeting dates for 2025 to the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Watersmeet Community Center.

  • January 9, 2025
  • February 13, 2025
  • March 13, 2025
  • April 10, 2025
  • May 8, 2025
  • June 12, 2025
  • July 10, 2025
  • August 14, 2025
  • September 11, 2025
  • October 9, 2025
  • November 13, 2025
  • December 11, 2025

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 2024 Winter Tax Bills Mistake

Inadvertently, the Summer 2024 tax bills were sent out by mistake by our printers rather than those for Winter 2024. You should be receiving the correct Winter 2024 bill (on Yellow Paper) within the next week. Winter taxes are still payable by 2/14/25 without penalty.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Contact the treasurer if you have any questions, (906) 358-4501 Ext 111 treaurer@watersmeet.us.

Paul Kemppainen
Watersmeet Township Treasurer

Notice of Public Hearing: Short Term Rental Application

Notice and Backup Documents>

Clarification of Public Hearing Topic of Discussion>

 

PLANNING COMMISSION
Public Hearing

Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025   Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Watersmeet Community Center

Purpose of Hearing:

6PM Public Hearing: The purpose of the hearing is to allow public review and comment on a revised Short Term Rental Application, Permit, and related update to the Township Ordinance. Watersmeet township is providing this notice of public hearing in accordance with the MICHIGAN PLANNING ENABLING ACT Act 33 of 2008, Section 125.3843.
The proposed Application/Permit documents and revised Zoning Ordinance are located here>:

Proposed changes involving short term rentals are occurring to the following sections of the Ordinance: 1.02, 3.02B, 4.02A, 4.02B, 7.09B

We encourage attendees to read these ahead of time and be prepared with written comments.

Public Hearing Agenda:

a. Call to Order and Roll Call
b. Summarize Purpose of Meeting
c. Enter Public Hearing
d. Public Comment – 3 minutes each. State name and address for the record.
e. Exit Hearing
f. Planning Commission Deliberation
g. Adjournment

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

The Watersmeet Township Planning Commission will conduct a hearing on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:00PM in the Watersmeet Township Community Center, N4689 1st Street, Watersmeet, MI. The purpose of the hearing is to allow public review and comment on proposed revisions to the Short-Term Rental Application, Permit, and update to the Township Ordinance.

Proposed changes involving short term rentals are occurring to the following sections of the Ordinance: 1.02, 3.02B, 4.02A, 4.02B, 7.09B

The public may express its views at this hearing or send written comments to: Secretary, Watersmeet Township Planning Commission, PO Box 306, Watersmeet, MI 49969 or by email to: trustee1@watersmeet.us by Friday January 3, 2025. Documents associated with the Short Term Rental Application and Permit may be examined during normal business hours at the Watersmeet Township offices, also located at N4689 1st Street.

THE COMMUNITY CENTER IS HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

Notice and Backup Documents>

Update on Underserved Internet Areas

To:  Property Owners in the southeastern portion of Watersmeet Township (Duck Lake, Dinner Lake, Moon Lake, Crystal Lake, Birch Lake, Lac Vieux Desert (Michigan side) general areas):

As promised, your Watersmeet Broadband Task Force has been pursuing leads to get high-speed, reliable internet to the southeastern portion of the Township that was left off the FCC map and unable to obtain Highline internet service.  And we have news to report:

On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, Phil Turan, the President of Michigan Broadband, returned Trustee Yvonne Clark’s calls with an update!  Here’s what we learned:

Unfortunately (and obviously at this point) he said that Michigan Broadband will not be bringing fiber optic internet to the southeastern portion of the Township this year.  But – he is working on the plans for next year right now.  We asked what we can do to help and/or to get service out to this area of the Township sooner rather than later.  He said if we could spread the word to have homeowners go to the Michigan Broadband website and put in their address, then the company can see what type of interest there is and approximately how many folks are looking for service.  This is exciting news!!!

What can you do?
If you are interested in high-speed fiber optic internet and own property in the southeastern portion of Watersmeet that was not covered by Highline – please access the Michigan Broadband website at www.michbbs.com.  Scroll down to the bottom of the home page and there is a block to “Search Your Address”.  Simply fill in your fire number address and it will likely say that service is unavailable.  However, Mr. Turan told us that the company actively reviews the info to determine how much interest there is in a given area.  The more folks we have inputting addresses in the southern portion of the Township, the quicker Michigan Broadband will hopefully act on it!  This is not merely wishful thinking – the Task Force used a similar strategy to influence Highline to make Watersmeet one of the very first townships in the western U.P. to receive its fiber optic service.  If it worked once, it could work again!

If you currently have broadband internet service through Michigan Broadband, please understand that it is currently not Fiber Optic, utilizes outdated technology and is likely slow.    Fiber Optic technology has not yet been installed in your areas (Duck, Dinner lakes etc…).  We are working directly with Michigan Broadband to bring NEW High-Speed Fiber Optic internet to your location.  It is important to express your interest in Fiber Optic internet for Michigan Broadband to understand customer demand and prioritize Watersmeet Township in their planning for 2025.

Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors!

Please let Trustee Yvonne Clark or Trustee John Oliver know if you have any questions.

Thanks for your help!

Watersmeet Broadband Task Force

Yvonne Clark, Trustee
John Oliver, Trustee
Bob McGuffin
Greg Clark

Fire Department Receives Gift from LVD Tribe

The members of the Watersmeet Volunteer Fire Department would like to take this opportunity to thank the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians for their generous donation that enabled them to purchase a Lucas Device for automated CPR for use by the Watersmeet EMS volunteers.

Precious time, and possibly lives, will be saved because of this generous donation to our community.

Thank you LVD!