Boyne City and Evangeline Township agree to 30% reduction on 2025 planning/zoning invoice after service gaps

City and township officials negotiated a compromise to resolve Evangeline Township's complaint about planning and zoning services in 2025, voting to reduce the township's 2025 invoice by 30%.

Township representatives told the joint meeting they had experienced months without reliable planning service following staffing changes and leave, citing canceled meetings, missing meeting packets and limited points of contact. "We had no city management... we had no thing," a township representative said, referencing gaps after November and through early 2025. The township initially requested a 45% reduction in fees; city staff counteroffered 15% and commissioners pushed for a compromise.

Commissioner discussion acknowledged operational gaps after a shared staff member went on leave and an interim staffing period, and recognized that some corrective steps (consultant Scott McPherson and subsequent staff work) had since begun. After deliberation, the commission moved to offer a 30% reduction for the 2025 fiscal year planning and zoning fees; the township made and approved a companion motion. Both sides agreed to consolidate a single draft agreement capturing scope and payment adjustments and to send the consolidated draft to their attorneys for review before final approval.

The parties also reviewed a redline exchange of draft agreement language clarifying scope-of-work and removing enforcement responsibilities from the township draft; staff said the consolidated version will be circulated to legal counsel.