By a 3-2 vote, the Grand Island Township board has voted to stay as its own independent township and step away from any consolidation plans with Munising Township. The decision comes after Grand Island resident Don Belusar announced that he would serve as township clerk after Dave Kronk retires from the position in December.
The roll-call vote started with Trustee Barb Stark and Township Supervisor Dena Ramsey voting against the consolidation. Trustee Tammy Lindeblad was the first to vote for the consolidation with Kronk also voting to join Munising Township. It left the vote tied 2-2 before heading to Grand Island Treasurer Dee Jay Paquette for the deciding vote.
“We have Don in position to do this for one year. At this time, I have to vote no,” Paquette said.
The final vote came after an hour of discussion on whether the township could find another clerk and whether or not the township would continue to field candidates in the 2024 election. Ramsey opened the floor to public discussion, where township citizens in attendance supported the idea of consolidating.
“We just can’t do it anymore and fiscally it makes no sense,” said resident and former board member Tom Mosley.
Belusar would not commit to running in the 2024 election based on uncertainty over the responsibilities of the position. While willing to give the role a try, he admitted that the clerk role could be challenging.
However, the fact that a new clerk would be in place by November based on state law that allows an extra month of training to aid in transitions and help with deputy clerk Michelle Paajanen to help with elections, gave a spark of hope for those wanting to continue the legacy of the municipality.
“A lot can happen between now and 2024,” Stark said. “Someone can move in during that time.”
All five board members expressed that they wish to remain in good contact and standing with Munising Township because of other shared resources. The two townships employ the same assessor and share a board of review. Kronk said that he hopes the townships will also share other smaller boards necessary in the township like a planning commission. Townships that border each other are allowed by state law to combine boards of non-elected officials. Grand Island and Munising Townships share a water border in Lake Superior to qualify.
“We would like to let (Munising Township) know that we are doing everything we can. I would hope that if we were ever in need someday, that we would be able to ask again,” Paquette said.
Munising Township officials said that they wanted to get an affirmative vote from Grand Island’s board before starting on any consolidation efforts. At a previous meeting between the two municipalities, Munising Township Supervisor Lisa Howard said that there would be no benefit to absorbing Grand Island besides “helping a neighbor in need”, so the township will not further pursue the matter.
