Committee reviews draft master plan, upcoming public comment deadline and annual budget; grants and school outreach planned

Members of the Grosse Ile Greenways Open Space Committee reviewed draft sections of the township master plan that relate to open space and conservation, discussed holding a study session to develop committee priorities, and reviewed year‑to‑date budget and fund balances ahead of the committee's annual budgeting process.

The committee chair noted the draft master plan places a high priority on open-space preservation and public access. He urged members to review the draft while the public-comment period remains open; staff posted the comment deadline on the website as Jan. 9. "I think we maybe need to take a look at the master plan as it pertains to us even in draft form because these are, like, there's some expectations for this committee," the chair said. Members agreed to schedule a study session to prepare comments and align the committee's five‑ and ten‑year goals with the draft plan.

On budget matters, the chair said the committee's annual budget for the current fiscal year (April 1–March 31) was about $51,500. He reported year‑to‑date revenue of $11,762.98 and year‑to‑date expenditures of $29,129.58 (April–December figures). The committee's acquisition fund balance was reported at $20,000; the larger bond fund was described as "somewhere around a 150,000 ish," which committee members said supports acquisitions and maintenance but will limit near‑term purchases.

Committee members discussed the long‑standing interest in purchasing a locally named parcel ("Sacred Heart woods" as referenced in discussion) but concluded the acquisition fund is not sufficient for a likely purchase and questioned whether a millage would be feasible given recent levies. Committee members agreed to include budget and goal-setting for 2025–26 on upcoming agendas and said they would present priorities to the township board in April when committee budgets are typically finalized.

The committee also reviewed outreach and partnership activities. The Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy is collaborating on education programs; the committee discussed K–12 school involvement, an Instagram account for youth outreach, and a plan to promote Earth Day activities in April. Committee members flagged the Great Backyard Bird Count (Cornell Lab) scheduled Feb. 14–17 as an opportunity for school and community participation.

Finally, members noted a $4,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and DTE (as relayed by the conservancy) to plant trees in Grosse Ile and asked township staff to provide details about who will manage the grant and planting plans. Community development staff said they had heard about the grant and would follow up.