Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beulah president says referendum to cut council size will appear on November ballot; FEMA relief sought after spring storms
Summary
President Jeri VanDePerre told the July 14 meeting a certified petition will place an ordinance on the November ballot to reduce the council to four trustees plus a president; she also said the village qualified for FEMA storm-relief and added the Betsie Trail to the FEMA request.
President Jeri VanDePerre told the council on July 14 that a referendum petition regarding an ordinance to reduce the number of trustees to four, plus a president, was certified by the township clerk and will appear on the November ballot. VanDePerre said some information circulating about the referendum has been misleading and noted the village’s population has been shrinking, which was part of the background for the proposed change.
VanDePerre also reported the village has qualified for FEMA relief for spring storm expenses and that the Betsie Trail was included in the village’s request for reimbursement; she credited Rebecca Huber with work that helped the village qualify. The president encouraged residents to attend a sewer-feasibility meeting scheduled for July 22 at Benzonia Township Hall, where the Sewer Feasibility report will be presented.
Why it matters: A change to council composition would alter the village’s governance structure and will be decided by voters in November. FEMA reimbursement, if approved, would offset local storm cleanup and repair costs and affect the village budget.
What’s next: The referendum will appear on the November ballot; the village will continue permit and feasibility work on sewer projects and follow FEMA application steps as staff and the county require.
