Council tables proposed Wheelway settlement; schedules Aug. 18 closed-session follow-up

Council devoted the final portion of its Aug. 6 meeting to a lengthy discussion of a proposed settlement with Courtney (Gus) Lowe and related parties over the Little Traverse Wheelway Resort Bluffs collapse. City staff and the city attorney summarized mediation history, described changes to the draft agreement (including removal of a fixed $25,000,000 completion requirement in favor of a permitting- and value-engineering-driven final cost), and explained a proposed six-year fundraising and readiness window.

Multiple councilmembers raised concerns about draft paragraphs 6 and 7, about whether the six-year period should require permits or construction start rather than a workable plan, and whether the agreement could allow alternative routing or bridge options that would avoid certain private-property impacts. Residents and local stakeholders urged the city to preserve the public easement: public commenter Max Putters said, "My my, again, I say, try to keep that easement to the full extent that you can," and Emily Meyerson urged council to "preserve the easement the public paid $233,000 for." Council ultimately moved to table the settlement resolution and scheduled a special meeting on Aug. 18, 2026 at 6 p.m. to go into closed session to discuss mediation details and return to open session for any action; that motion passed 5-0.