St James Township, Michigan

08/28/2026

ST JAMES TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, MICHIGAN

AUGUST 26, 2026

LETTER TO THE BEAVER ISLAND COMMUNITY
ACCESS TO GULL HARBOR NATURAL AREA

The St. James Township Board would like to provide an update regarding ongoing concerns about public access to the Gull Harbor Natural Area.
Our position remains unchanged: we support maintaining public access to Gull Harbor Natural Area while ensuring the area is protected from damage. This approach reflects the priorities expressed by Beaver Island residents through the community-developed planning documents that guide Township decision-making, including the 2023 Beaver Island Master Plan and the 2024 St. James Township Recreation Plan.

To help inform discussions, historical property information, including surveys, maps, aerial photographs, and oral histories, has been shared with State Representative Fairbairn and State Senator Damoose. They continue to meet with officials from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and leadership from the Charlevoix County Road Commission (CCRC). Township officials have not participated in these meetings. Although the Township Supervisor was invited to one meeting, it was later canceled.

The Township's attorney has reviewed information related to this matter, including the Violation Notice issued by EGLE to the CCRC on July 2, 2026. At that time, it was anticipated that the Township might also receive a Violation Notice. However, no notice has been issued to the Township. As a result, the Township currently has no legal basis to take action regarding EGLE's ongoing enforcement process.

The Violation Notice issued to the CCRC originally required action within 30 days. Based on continued discussions between the involved parties, that timeline appears to have been extended. These discussions include a meeting scheduled between Senator Damoose and EGLE officials on August 27, 2026.

Residents who wish to share concerns, ask questions, or advocate for a resolution are encouraged to contact their state representatives, the Charlevoix County Road Commission, and EGLE directly. This remains primarily a state and county road matter. The St. James Township Board will continue to support efforts by our state representatives and the CCRC to maintain public access to the Gull Harbor Natural Area.

Sincerely,
Bobbi Welke, Supervisor On behalf of the St. James Township Board

08/11/2026

BEAVER ISLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

Job Opening

**** ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITION ****

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Submit resumes including three (3) references by
August 21, 2026, 12 noon EST

via email to:
Mary Cook
Executive Director
[email protected]
with “Administrative Assistant” in the subject line.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Call 231-448-3049 to ensure receipt.
*******
EMPLOYER: BEAVER ISLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
TITLE: Administrative Assistant
REPORTS TO: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: AT-WILL AND PART-TIME
BITA BOARD APPROVAL ON 8/6/26

ADMISTRATIVE ASSISTANT JOB OPENING
DESCRIPTION:
EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
This part-time position is for 10 to 15 hours each week. Workdays will be agreed upon after hiring and could vary from week to week. This is an at-will position with an hourly pay rate of $20 (twenty) to $26 (twenty-six) per hour.

BROAD STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
Responsible for performing diverse administrative assistant activities supporting the Executive Director of the Beaver Island Transportation Authority (BITA). Addresses assigned issues and actions relative to a wide variety of BITA matters.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Provides administrative support services for BITA.
2. Maintains office files in manual and computerized modes; obtains, gathers and organizes pertinent data and assembles into usable form.
3. Provides a variety of other clerical, secretarial, and administrative support services and special projects as requested to facilitate efficient office operations including running errands, ordering supplies, scheduling maintenance, organizing and preparing for meetings and appointments, taking minutes, answering phone calls, and light cleaning.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
1. High school diploma and proficient in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiar with setting up and overseeing Teams and Zoom meetings.
2. A minimum of one year of relevant experience.
3. Strong communication, interpersonal, and professional skills are essential.
4. Ability to independently organize and schedule assigned work to meet established deadlines.
5. Lifting boxes of paper, files and other office supplies weighing a minimum of 10 pounds daily to a waist-high level; manual dexterity and ability to sit and operate a computer at a high level of proficiency for extended periods.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of the position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements for the position.

BITA complies with all Federal and State civil rights, equal opportunity, ADA, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Submit resumes including three (3) references by August 21, 2026, 12 noon EST via email to:

Mary Cook
Executive Director
[email protected]
with “Administrative Assistant” in the subject line.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Call 231-448-3049 to ensure receipt.

08/07/2026

****Application DEADLINE to submit for FEMA IA is AUGUST 31, 2026****

Residents have the opportunity to apply for FEMA assistance if they are eligible. To start, either apply via the web (DisasterAssistance.gov), use the FEMA app, or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Also, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has low-interest loans available. With SBA, residents who have a second home they rent out may qualify for low-interest loans.
Here is the State of Michigan's link for additional information: https://www.michigan.gov/msp/divisions/emhsd/2026-disaster-assistance

You can find more information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) page and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

07/23/2026

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Gull Harbor Dr.

Issue: Gull Harbor Dr and the area that is in dispute which is adjacent to Gull Harbor Dr appears to be below the Ordinary High-Water Mark (OHWM) and therefore, by the legal definition of bottomland, the use of this property is under the jurisdiction of the State of Michigan (EGLE). The Violation Notice has been served on Charlevoix County Road Commission, not the township. Therefore, we have been working with legislative officials since the notice was received to help our community make a case to keep the road open. Since we first communicated with our legislators, we have been and will continue to report our position based on documentation and oral histories.

Township Position: Gull Harbor Dr and the area that is in dispute that is adjacent to Gull Harbor Dr - except for the original beach area - is above the OHWM and therefore, by the legal definition of upland property, the use of this property is under the jurisdiction of the Township.

Rationale: The Township position is based on the definition of OHWM, which states in part, “When the soil, configuration of the surface, or vegetation has been altered by man’s activity, the ordinary high-water mark shall be located where it would have been if this alteration had not occurred.” It is known, based on documentation and oral history, that the pond areas within the Gull Harbor Natural Area were created by man’s activity when this site was mined by contractors and the county road commission in the 1950s and 1960s to create and maintain roads on Beaver Island.

Legislative Support: State Rep Fairbairn and others met with EGLE on July 20. The Representative and his team presented evidence supporting the upland property case. Additional information is being compiled for a to-be-scheduled follow up meeting. State Senator Damoose is collecting the related information from the township as he has a meeting scheduled with EGLE next week to weigh in on the bottomland issue.

07/23/2026

After the recent flooding across Michigan — including right here in our Beaver Island community — many residents are still assessing damage and trying to figure out what comes next. If you’re asking yourself, “Do I need help after this disaster?” the answer is simple: if your home, basement, or property was impacted, now is the time to report it and seek assistance.

07/23/2026

🚧 ST JAMES TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT CENTER — PARKING LOT UPDATE 🚧

Rieth‑Riley Construction Co., Inc. has completed the asphalt paving project at the St James Township Government Center. However, the new asphalt surface requires additional curing time before it can safely support
vehicle traffic.

As a result, the Government Center parking lot will remain unavailable for parking until Monday, July 27, 2026. This curing period is essential to ensure the pavement sets properly and provides long‑term durability.

During this time, please continue to plan for alternative parking arrangements if you need to visit the Government Center.

For assistance or to reach specific township officials, visit the St James Township website:
https://www.stjamestwp.org/nav/board_of_trustees/index.php

Your patience and cooperation help ensure this infrastructure improvement is completed to the highest standard.

07/16/2026

🚧 ST JAMES TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT CENTER — TEMPORARY CLOSURE NOTICE

The St James Township Government Center will be CLOSED from Thursday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Rieth‑Riley Construction Co., Inc. will be replacing the existing parking lot asphalt pavement and correcting drainage issues during this period.

Please plan accordingly, as all in‑person access to the Government Center will be unavailable while this work is underway.

If you require assistance during the closure, visit the St James Township website to reach the appropriate township officials:
https://www.stjamestwp.org/nav/board_of_trustees/index.php

Your patience and cooperation help ensure this important infrastructure upgrade is completed safely and efficiently.

07/10/2026

06/23/2026

BEAVER ISLAND INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS
This year’s fireworks display will be held at dusk on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The display will be launched from its traditional location on the south side of the harbor and promises to be one of the best yet. This year’s show will be provided by Colonial Fireworks, a company that produces displays for many northern Michigan communities, including Harbor Springs and the Charlevoix Venetian Festival. Colonial Fireworks has planned a lineup and variety of shells that will surpass last year’s impressive display.

While the fireworks display will be Sunday evening, the Beaver Island Independence Day Parade will be held on Saturday afternoon, July 4th, as traditionally scheduled.

06/02/2026

********OPEN Board POSITIONS******

https://webgen1files1.revize.com/stjamestwpmi/Board_&_Comission_Posting&Application.12.03.25.docx?t=202603271117140&t=202603271117140