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Staff reports 109 short‑term rentals in traditional residential district; wastewater monitoring plan requires additional well, and wastewater fund shows $1M gap
Summary
City staff reported 109 short‑term rentals (STRs) in the traditional residential district and said they are notifying non‑licensed advertisers; staff also said state agency review of a 2020 groundwater monitoring report requires adding a third monitoring well between lagoons and the river, and reported the wastewater fund is about $1 million over budget.
City staff told the commission they have identified 109 short‑term rental (STR) units in Boyne City’s traditional residential district and are contacting properties that appear to be advertising without a license. Staff said owners who are outside the cap may still apply and be granted a license if they meet requirements and pay fees.
During public comment Pete Friedrich suggested considering seasonal STR allowances to attract winter visitors. Resident Steve Persons asked for better written follow‑up from staff to repeated resident inquiries; staff reiterated that written responses are the standard procedure and encouraged residents to submit questions on the meeting comment cards to facilitate staff follow‑up.
On infrastructure, DPW staff reviewed a groundwater monitoring report originally generated in October 2020 and reported receiving a state response this week that the wastewater treatment facility must add a third monitoring well between the older lagoons and the river. Staff explained two of the existing wells are functional and properly screened, one well is too shallow for testing, and the state wants a third well to ensure groundwater sampling is representative. Doug said staff will draft an updated monitoring plan and expects the drilling and sampling timetable to occur within the state’s response window.
Staff also presented a budget snapshot: general fund revenues are stronger than projected, but the wastewater fund reportedly is roughly $1 million over budget. City staff said they will analyze the wastewater figures further and present department‑by‑department detail and a recommended plan for addressing the overrun.
Next steps: commissioners requested the full STR report and underlying data be distributed to commissioners as soon as it is available and for the STR discussion to be on the next meeting agenda. Staff will prepare an updated groundwater monitoring plan and timetable to comply with the state response and will report back with budget detail on the wastewater fund.
