Gerrish Township

The Board of Review addressed several assessment adjustments based on clerical errors for specific property accounts, resulting in changes to assessed and taxable values for 2024 and 2025. The board also addressed requests to re-cap taxable values due to late filings of property transfer affidavits claiming exemptions for transfers between certain relatives. Furthermore, a motion was considered and ultimately denied regarding a request to re-cap the taxable value for a property transfer from an individual owner to an LLC, asserting it was not an exempt transfer.

The matters addressed by the board primarily concerned property value adjustments for tax purposes. Specific actions included addressing a qualified error resulting in a change to the 2025 taxable value for property ID 004-016-006-0100, and correcting both the 2024 and 2025 assessed and taxable values for property ID 004-144-037-0000 due to a qualified error.

The meeting covered the approval of the agenda and subcommittee reports from Science, Communications, and Septic committees. Key discussion items included an update on the EGLE Grant proposal, which was submitted in December 2025 requesting the maximum of $40,000, with notification expected in the fall of the subsequent fiscal year. The Septic Committee presented a draft of the Septic Ordinance, which is scheduled for review by the Steering Committee in a special meeting on February 3, before proceeding to the Gerrish Township Board and Planning Commission. Discussions also addressed the impact of Short Term Rentals on the health of Higgins Lake.

The meeting included Old Business regarding the Watershed Management Plan update, noting that grant applications could not be submitted this year but will be pursued next year. Public comment addressed concerns about sand conditions at Honolulu Beach. New Business covered Sub-Committee reports: Science is investigating eight key issues including water quality and invasive species; Communication is increasing community outreach via emails and community booths; IT is implementing Nextcloud training and developing a donation button; Roads is finalizing data collection for road ends and plans to collaborate with the Roscommon Road Commission; and Septic is working with the Health Department to draft a Septic Ordinance.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda for November 19, 2025. Key new business included welcoming a new member and reviewing an EGLE Grant Opportunity, where the Committee authorized the Interim Chairman to forward the Grant Application for the NPS Watershed Council/Capacity-Building RFP (FY 2026) to the Gerrish Township Board for action. Sub-Committee reports covered Science, Communication (including a discussion about a possible future survey), IT (noting a need for additional funding for projects outside the current grant estimate), Funding, Roads (discussing data collection for road ends, including suggestions for inclusion of parallel roads and future water testing), and Septic (reporting on the drafting of a septic ordinance). During public comments, the maximum EGLE grant request amount of $40,000 was confirmed, and alternatives for funding if the grant is denied were briefly addressed.