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Elberta council adopts 2025–2029 Recreation Plan after public hearing, approves $10,000 for beach oversight
Summary
After a public hearing, the Elberta Village Council adopted the 2025–2029 Recreation Plan with wording edits suggested by trustees and approved a $10,000 oversight payment to Fleis & VandenBrink for the Elberta Beach project.
The Elberta Village Council adopted the Village of Elberta Recreation Plan 2025–2029 during its Dec. 19 meeting, approving Resolution #2024-009 after a public hearing and a series of editorial and naming suggestions from trustees.
Pro Tempore Emily Votruba praised the plan as “readable and informative” and asked for several targeted edits to the document, including changing references to “permanent” settlers to “European” settlers, replacing the phrase “nonnative” with “invasive” species, correcting typographical items such as “grating” to “grading,” and replacing a reference to a “foundry” with “Ironworks.” The council indicated those suggested revisions would be incorporated into the final text before publication.
During the public comment portion of the hearing, County Commissioner Gary Sauer asked that a citation be changed to “Betsie Valley Trail Management Council.” Resident Lori Talo urged the council not to build a fishing platform at the shore, saying shore fisheries users “don’t need a fishing platform” and that money could be saved. Trustee Brett McGregor said Parks & Recreation will seek additional public input before undertaking site work. Arlene Sweeting, speaking for the Elberta Labor Heritage Center/WUWU, cautioned that implementing paid parking can create enforcement costs and be “offputting” to visitors based on other communities’ experience.
The council closed the public hearing and voted to adopt the plan with the suggested edits; the motion by Trustee McGregor, seconded by President Jennifer Wilkins, passed on a unanimous roll call.
Related to park work, trustees approved payment of $10,000 to consulting firm Fleis & VandenBrink for continued oversight of the Elberta Beach improvements under MNRTF TF 20-0013, with council members noting some construction tasks will be completed in spring.
The adopted plan and the invoice approval signal the council’s next steps: finalize editorial changes, publish the plan for public access, and continue project oversight for the beach improvements. The council did not take further substantive action on specific beach design elements at the meeting.
