Updated Zoning Ordinance Available

During a Special Meeting on July 12, 2023, the Watersmeet Township Board of Trustees finalized and approved language modifying the Watersmeet Township Zoning Ordinance. Specifically, Section 7.05B Use of Trailer Coach During Construction of Dwelling. The 30-day review period has ended and the changes are final.  Copies of the ordinance are available the township office.  Click here to download Zoning Ordinance.

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 us to purchase a Lifepak 15 cardiac monitor with a built in AED for the Watersmeet EMS volunteers.

This will enable them to perform a 12-lead EKG and notify the ambulance of the Lifepak reading in case the person may need a Flight For Life called ahead of the ambulance arriving on scene.

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

Thank you LVD!

Special Message from Treasurer for 2023 Property Tax Payments

In the past, the township accepted post-marks in determining whether property tax payments had been made before the September deadline for Summer Taxes and the February deadline for Winter Taxes. Beginning with the Summer 2023 tax season post-marks will no longer be accepted as a payment date.

As you know the US Postal Service doesn’t always process correspondence in a timely manner. When mailing payments to the township for your property taxes please allow plenty of time for us to receive them.

You can receive a receipt with a self-addressed envelope as in the past. If you don’t do this you can always contact my office by email, treasurer@watersmeet.us, or by phone (906) 358-4501, to verify that I have received your payment.

If you pay your taxes after either the September or February deadline date, please contact my office to find out the exact amount that is due prior to sending any payments to me.

If you make a payment for Winter Taxes that arrives in my office after February 29th it will be returned to you as Gogebic County doesn’t honor checks that are made out to Watersmeet Township. Beginning March 1st each year you need to contact the Gogebic County Treasurer directly to find out the amount due at (906) 663-4517.

The township doesn’t accept credit card payments for taxes at the present time, only cash, personal checks, bank drafts, or money orders.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at treasurer@watersmeet.us, or phone (906) 358-4501.

Paul D. Kemppainen
Watersmeet Township Treasurer

Transfer Station Closed on Sunday

The Watersmeet Transfer Station is now closed on Sunday.

 

Transfer Station Hours are:

Mon/Tues/Thur/Fri/Sat:  8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wed/Sun:  Closed

Highline Internet Notice for Residents on Private Roads

Updated 8/23/23:  Highline is currently reevaluating the right of entry procedures.  New information will be posted and emailed through the website subscription service as soon as it becomes available.

To those signed up for Highline and who live on a Private Road – In order for Highline to run the fiber optic cable on any and all private roads a “Right of Entry Agreement” will be necessary.  Please contact Shannon Sink with your address and request the “Right of Entry Agreement” as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Trustee Yvonne Clark at trustee1@watersmeet.us or cell 906-477-3029.

 

Watersmeet Township Public Notice

During a Special Meeting on July 12, 2023, the Watersmeet Township Board of Trustees finalized and approved language modifying the Watersmeet Township Zoning Ordinance.  Specifically, Section 7.05B has been modified to read as follows:

7.05B Use of Trailer Coach During Construction of Dwelling

A property owner in any District may be permitted to use one trailer coach upon premises which qualifies for construction of a dwelling and occupy the same for dwelling purposes during the actual construction of the dwelling. The trailer coach may be on the property between March 1 and October 31 each year, provided that a valid building permit has been issued and actual construction is occurring as certified yearly by the Building Inspector in conjunction with the Zoning Administrator. The trailer coach can be used for the purpose of a dwelling for a maximum of 5 consecutive building cycles from March 1 to October 31 commencing with the initial issuance of the building permit for a dwelling on the property.  Failure to secure a renewal of the building permit for the current year or failure of the Owner to demonstrate good faith progress toward completion of construction prohibits the use of the trailer coach as a temporary dwelling or placement of it on the property. The Building Inspector will make the determination as to whether the trailer coach may be used as a temporary dwelling on a yearly basis.

Special Permission outside of normal building period from March 1 – October 31.

If actual construction will be taking place on the property between October 31 and March 1 and if a property owner wishes to use a trailer coach as a temporary dwelling during this time period, on or before October 15, the property owner shall send a written request with proposed work for the winter to the Zoning Administrator along with a special fee of $75.00 and the Zoning Administrator given authority to grant permission to do so. All such determinations shall be made on a case-by-case basis by the Zoning Administrator.

Issuance of required certificates shall be contingent upon compliance with the following conditions:

  1. Installation of water supply and sewage disposal facilities in conformity with requirements of Section 7.06, and approval of the same by the Western Upper Peninsula Health District shall precede occupancy of the trailer coach.
  2. In a space provided on a copy of the Certificate of Compliance retained for filing, the applicant shall affix his signature indicating he has full knowledge of the limitation of the Certificate, including penalties that may be imposed in violation of the terms thereof.

 

The entire ordinance can be viewed at the Watersmeet Township office, N4689 1st Street, Watersmeet, Michigan on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm. The modifications to Section 7.05B will become effective 30 days from the date of this publication.

Questions or comments may be forwarded to Julie Mathiesen, Watersmeet Township Clerk, P.O. Box 306, Watersmeet, MI   49969.

High Speed Internet Update

Highline Contractors’ Fiber Optic Installation Update

This summer Highline began building high-speed fiber internet in Watersmeet. Due to a short construction season, Highline’s contractor has been working swiftly to build this state-of-the-art network to formerly unserved and underserved areas.
The construction had to pause a few weeks ago to address some permitting issues. Highline promptly worked with the Gogebic County Road Commission and hired a new crew to address proper permitting practices. Construction will resume as early as this week. Highline believes this pause in construction will not impact their goal to complete this project in 2023.

Once construction resumes Highline will begin contacting future customers for updates on burying the fiber to your home. Highline’s goal is to complete this part of the installation as soon as possible. Once the cabinet serving Watersmeet is active, the second step will be scheduling the in-home installation.

We appreciate your support and will provide another update in September. Please contact Bruce Moore President and GM of Highline Midwest if you have any questions. bruce.moore@highlinefast.com or 989-529-5152.

If you have any other questions for the Watersmeet Township, please contact Yvonne Clark at trustee1@watersmeet.us or 906-477-3029.