Elk Rapids News and Features | Elk Rapids, Michigan

CAUGHTCHA BEING GOOD!

Jack, Cody & Anna Thayer

Photo by KLW

It takes teamwork upon teamwork to achieve success at the 2019-2020 VEX IQ Challenge, where students seek to be the very best in the largest robotics competition in the region. Anna, Jack, and Cody Thayer make up the behind-the-scene team who spent five and a half hours assembling the VEX IQ Robotics playing fields and game pieces at Lakeland and Mill Creek Elementary schools to prepare for the Elementary VEX IQ Robotics Program. Although not on a VEX IQ team, Anna, Jack, and Cody were thrilled at the number of participants participating in the program and happy to lend a much-needed hand. Caughtcha being GOOD and thank you for all your help!!

ELK RAPIDS SCHOOLS
Citizens Committee Meeting

The next step in the bond issue process will soon commence. We would like to offer an opportunity to participate in organizing our campaign for the May bond election. Please join us on January 27, 2020 in the cafeteria at Cherryland Middle School at 6 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you there,
Tom Enslen, Superintendent

GUEST EDITORIAL
Library Capital Campaign: 2019 Year in Review

2019 was a momentous year for the Elk Rapids District Library. In July, it celebrated 70 years as the Island House Library with a festive community event welcoming roughly 300 people to the Library grounds.

And earlier in the year, the Library launched its first-ever Capital Campaign—an ambitious plan to raise five million dollars to expand and restore the Island House Library to better serve our community.

Thanks to the generosity and support of many people and organizations, we made excellent progress toward this lofty goal. Over the past 12 months, nearly a million dollars were contributed to the campaign, bringing the campaign total to $1,752,989. This includes gifts that were received prior to the Campaign kick-off. A total of 511 gifts were received from 349 donors.

Dozens of volunteers worked tirelessly to organize and host a variety of events and activities to engage with friends and neighbors and share information about the Library and Capital Campaign. These included home receptions, fundraising events and participation in over a dozen community events such as the craft shows and Wednesday Nights on River Street.

2020 will be another busy year with events planned for every month starting on February 15th at Ethanology. We welcome new volunteers to get involved with Campaign events. As they are finalized, events are posted on the Library Facebook page and the Campaign website, erlibraryfriend.com.

More details about the Campaign’s first year are available online at erlibraryfriend.com/news. You will also find information about the Library project and can sign-up to receive periodic email updates from the Campaign.

To those of you who have made gifts, we can’t thank you enough. If you are considering a donation, please know that your contribution will have an impact for generations to come.

With gratitude and warm regards,
Karen Simpson
Chair, Elk Rapids District Library Capital Campaign

Vince Cooper named Firefighter of the Year

Vince Cooper is congratulated by Chief Ken Williamson after being recognized as Elk Rapids Firefighter of the Year. Courtesy photo

The Elk Rapids Fire Department is proud to announce that Vince Cooper has been named Elk Rapids’ Firefighter of the Year for 2019 by the Elk Rapids Firefighter’s Association.

Vince has been a member of the department since 2009 and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2019.

Vince has continually proven his level of commitment and dedication to the department, the community and his family.

Vince’s certifications include Firefighter 1 & 2, Fire Officer 2 and Advanced Vehicle Extrication and Water Rescue.

Vince is a native of Elk Rapids who continues to work the family’s farm.

The Elk Rapids Fire Department currently has 18 members and serves both the Village and Township of Elk Rapids. Photo and text submitted by Ken Williamson, Chief, Elk Rapids Fire Department.

NMVH offers expanded services

Courtesy photo

Northern Michigan Veterinary Hospital (NMVH) expands its services by offering customizable Integrative (holistic) pet care options. Alexandra K. Mittner, DVM, CVA, CVFT, graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, joined NMVH in 2018. Dr. Mittner is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and Veterinary Food Specialist. Through her experiences she brings a wealth of knowledge in western and complimentary medical options customizable to each patient.

Dr. Mittner works alongside Eric J. Peck, DVM, CVCP, who offers Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (chiropractic care), and our Veterinary Nurse team who administers pet massage and cold laser therapy. The variety of treatment options offered by NMVH can be used as stand-alone treatments or as a combination, creating optimal post-surgical rehabilitation or treatment of many medical conditions. More information can be found at TraverseAnimalHospital.com or by calling 231-938-9500.

Greetings from Abroad
A view of Elk Rapids from across the pond

Cassaundra Cohrs outside Kensington Station in London. Courtesy photo

By Cassaundra Cohrs

I wonder if anyone has noticed, but I no longer live in Elk Rapids. After spending six wonderful years there and being privy to all the local happenings in town while writing for The Elk Rapids News, I took a risk and moved clear across the world to London, England. My husband is a British citizen and wanted to go home. As much as we liked being in Northern Michigan, he missed everyone he knew there, the public transit, the constant whir of activity, and the significantly milder weather. Even though I have spent most of my life in Michigan, I was up for the adventure.

As I have been here for a bit now, I have noticed the little things that differ from Michigan. For instance, at the supermarket, shoppers find eggs in the aisles and not in the refrigerated section. Eggs are not washed before going to market and hence do not need refrigeration as they do in the United States. Also, taco fixings and peanut butter do not routinely appear on shop shelves. Some places sell them, but they are not everywhere. One has to seek them out specifically. Another thing I have noticed is that the British have an unfairly stereotyped reputation for being bad cooks. I have found that to be no more the case than it is back home. Several particularly delicious desserts are sold just about everywhere here. Dishes like Bakewell tarts and sticky toffee puddings are absolutely heavenly.

As the seasons changed, another difference I noticed was the weather. While snow has yet to appear here, the atmosphere remains in a perpetual state of drizzle. Even in the midst of the Christmas season, the weather remained as it would in October in Michigan. Christmas traditions also differ here. Children do not leave milk and cookies for Santa. Instead, they leave mince pies for Father Christmas. The carols here sometimes differ as well. I had no idea until attending a carol service that the UK had different melodies to some classic Christmas tunes. I was left feeling like a dunce when I sang the melody I knew to “O Little Town of Bethlehem” only to find that the melody everyone was singing differed completely.

After everything, though, we arrived here in more or less fine shape. I am constantly in wonder of all the interesting and historical things around me. Still, you always miss some things. You miss everything being easier. Deciphering living somewhere new always presents difficulties. Doing so in a new country only amplifies those stressors. Sometimes it gets to be just a bit much and I miss the quiet natural beauty and clean air of Elk Rapids. There were certainly things that I took for granted in Michigan, but I am enjoying living here and am looking forward to the year ahead. I wish everyone in Elk Rapids the best as we all move forward into 2020.

Cassaundra Cohrs was formerly a civic reporter for the Elk Rapids News. She moved to the UK in 2019.

Miss Elk Rapids Pageant

The 91st annual Miss Elk Rapids Pageant will take place on Saturday, February 8, at 6:00 p.m. at Peterman Auditorium. A total of 14 contestants will be competing for a place on the 2020 Miss Elk Rapids Court. Scholarships totaling $6,200 will also be awarded. The theme for this year’s pageant is “Our Future’s So Bright.” If you have a favorite contestant, you are encouraged to purchase your tickets from her before February 6 to help her win the Miss Entrepreneur prize package. Tickets are $10 each (children 3 and under are free). A limited number of tickets, whatever is not sold by the contestants, will be available at the door. Please plan to attend and show your support for all 14 of these remarkable young ladies.

MTA student/parent information sessions announced

TBAISD Career-Tech Center Manufacturing Technology Academy (MTA) invites current high school sophomores and juniors from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties to attend its student/parent information sessions to learn more about the MTA program and its application and admissions process. Five session dates are offered and each one is 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the newly-built MTA wing (room 413) of the TBAISD Career-Tech Center located at 880 Parsons Road in Traverse City. Wednesday, January 22; Wednesday, February 12; Tuesday, February 25; Tuesday, March 10; Tuesday, March 24

Students interested in engineering, robotics, management, product design or other technology-related professions are encouraged to attend to learn more about MTA’s rigorous academic and technical curriculum.

To reserve a spot at an information session or to find out more about MTA, please contact Tim Wheatley at twheatley@tbaisd.org or 231-922-7846.

A whirl of winter workshops

Looking for new things to do with friends or family? Twisted Fish gallery in Elk Rapids is offering workshops for an assortment of tastes.

Saturday, January 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jeweler Cathy Brown offers her Viking Knit & Glass Bead Bracelet Workshop. Viking knit is a centuries old weaving technique. No prior jewelry making experience is necessary. Over the course of the day, Cathy will teach you to weave the copper bracelet which can be adorned with her beautiful hand-crafted glass beads. $125 includes personal instruction, sit down lunch and your new bracelet, of course! This is the perfect gift for self or someone you want to make something special for. Please note that this class is limited to 6 students.

Saturday, February 8, Doodle Day is every second Saturday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. This free event welcomes all who wish to express their creativity in a warm and inviting environment. Doodling requires no art background. Anyone can do it. Supplies are available, but guests can bring their own if they prefer. Light refreshments are served.

Sierra Bigham, of Bear Earth Herbals returns on Saturday, February 8 for an Aphrodisiac Inspired, Herbal Cacao, Valentine’s Day Treat. $40/Participant. Sierra will teach how herbs can be used to lift the mood and generate an open heart to give or receive love. Guests will make their own cacao balls to take home and enjoy. This is a heartwarming event to do with friends or a date!

Space fills up fast. Please call the gallery to register or reserve your space at 231-264 -0123 or www.twistedfishgallery.com/events/

VILLAGE OF ELK RAPIDS
Village Council Update

Michael Toscano is sworn in by Caroline Kennedy, Assistant Village Manager. Photo by Jennifer Griffin

The Regular Village Council Meeting was held Tuesday, January 21 at 6 p.m. Melissa West was absent. The first order of business was Caroline Kennedy swearing in new council member Michael Toscano. Once that and other formalities were completed Kennedy made a presentation to the public attendees on the process of making the budget as well as the budget for the 2020/2021 fiscal year. (An information packet was provided and can be found online at the website.) Some highlights are that expenditures are down and there will be no increase of this year’s millage. The budget was approved.

There was a discussion about the proposed fee schedule for the 2020/2021 fiscal year. James Janisse wanted to reduce the fee to 1-1 ½ while the rest of the council was content to keep it at the proposed 2-2 ½. After a short discussion the resolution passed 5 to1.

Paddle Antrim has reached their monetary goal and now needs to start putting up signs for the trail. The proposed sign recommendation was passed. Under the Reports Elaine Glowicki gave a brief summation of the Housing Commission and Royce Ragland gave a list of dates that Green ER would have events this coming year. This will include environmental presentation as well as recycling events.

The next meeting will be held Monday, February 3 at 7 p.m. – Text and photo submitted by Jennifer Griffin, Contributing Writer

MILTON TOWNSHIP
Where’d they come from, where are they going?

By Steve Yencich, Contributing Writer

One month has passed since Milton Township’s Board approved revisions to its Vacation Rental Ordinance that will go into effect in 2021. People opposed to its implementation, including realtors and others, spoke out loudly against its adoption, but there were those present who spoke in support. In the days since, the controversy has died down locally, but there’s still the sense that the last voice has not yet been recorded in a debate that has gone on for over a decade. But how did we get here, and why has Milton Township become such a focal point in the controversy? Elk Rapids News recently reached out to Dennis Fitzpatrick, Don Watkins, and Bobb Ford, township residents who’ve been involved in the issue for years. Their input regarding the history and context of the debate is reflected throughout this article.

Locally, the STR debate began in 2004 when the Torch Lake Protection Alliance sued a husband and wife who were short term leasing their Torch lakefront home in violation of deed restrictions forbidding commercial activity. The initial trial court and the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the plaintiffs labeling such rentals as a commercial and not residential use. Three years later, a couple of college students in San Francisco decided to try to generate rent money by developing a website and attempting to rent out three air mattresses in an extra room. They eventually called the company Airbnb, which just a few years ago surpassed Hilton Worldwide as the single largest provider of overnight rooms on earth. Absent the internet and the development of companies like Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO, it’s unlikely the debate would have ever been so broad and national in scope. But it was the opportunity to generate income from an extra room that first made the STRs so attractive, an opportunity that was particularly ripe in resort areas such as those in Milton Township.

As STRs began to increase in numbers, so did the complaints. Importantly, most STRs generate no problems, but those that did netted their share of local notoriety and the complaints were frequent enough to cause local officials to take notice. A few years after that, the township adopted its first vacation rental ordinance amidst controversy. The same pro-property rights, pro-regulation arguments seen recently were rolled out, and after multiple hearings and changes, the ordinance was adopted. Over the intervening years, Airbnb et al continued to grow exponentially, and STRs increased in numbers both nationally and in Milton Township. At some point, things changed. STRs were increasingly no longer-owner-occupied; more and more township lakefront properties were being purchased for the sole purpose of leasing them out as STRs. In recent years, the complaints increased in number and scope. Some were more notable than others, such as the STR that had 13 cars, and two pick-up truck campers parked outside, and allegedly contained 43 people. Currently, some Milton Township STRs rent for over $10K per week. While most STRs generate very few complaints, township officials say it’s a different dynamic when you have multiple families on the same site with various understandings of what constitutes appropriate vacation behaviors.

Ultimately this all prompted Milton Township officials to initiate efforts to revise their original Vacation Rental Ordinance. Multiple committee meetings, hearings, and board meetings were held to address concerns on both sides of the debate. One resident pointed out the fact that the township went through 11 versions of modifications before adopting the 12th and final draft. “This suggests that they were listening and reacting to concerns raised by both sides throughout the process,” he said. That observation recalls a planning commission hearing held earlier this fall, where the crowd appeared to be evenly split between those who supported regulating STRs and those that did not. Some claimed the ordinance was far too strict, where others said it wasn’t nearly tough enough. At meetings’ end, when asked by Planning Commission Chair Bill Hefferan, how many attendees supported the final document, nobody raised their hands. Clearly, all this has been a delicate act to balance, but if the classic definition of a compromise is an outcome that neither side is entirely happy with, it probably fits here. The board adopted the final draft of the ordinance at its December meeting.

At this point, it’s uncertain which direction the issue will take. Even last month, some residents were asking about possible modifications to the ordinance. Some wanted to expand potential rentals into other seasons when demand is low, and windows are closed due to the weather. Others have raised more diffuse, safety-related concerns. “This is where we raise our kids and families, and we don’t really know on a week-to-week basis who’s moving in next door,” said one resident. There are other revisions people would like considered, but township officials want to see how the ordinance works before making changes.

One of two things may happen before the ordinance takes effect in January 2021. Legislation (HB 4046) supported by the Michigan Realtors Association that would deny local government’s ability to regulate STRs could pass and be signed into law, but not without a lot of controversy. In that case, beyond regulating noise and safety complaints, there’s little local government will be able to do. The second possibility is that concerned groups like the Realtors could take this, or a different ordinance passed elsewhere to court. Considering the statewide implications, it could become a landmark case that will all turn on whether renting out a non-owner operated STR is a residential or a commercial use of that property.

One thing’s for sure, local government is where the rubber hits the road. One of their most important responsibilities is to be responsive to all the people they serve, and generally speaking, they fail to get reelected when they don’t. After two years of effort, and 12 drafts of modifications to the now adopted Vacation Rental Ordinance, it appears Milton Township staff and volunteers listened to all sides of this debate. All that is left to do now is wait for the next shoe to drop, and for STR owners in Milton Township to continue to comply with the original Vacation Rental Ordinance until 2021 when the new ordinance takes effect.

IRS RECEIVES FAILING GRADE FOR TAXPAYER SERVICE

The National Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) delivered their Annual Report to Congress this month, which focused on taxpayer service and IRS funding. The TAS is an independent organization within IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayer rights and can intervene, at no charge to the taxpayer, if you need assistance resolving an IRS problem.

The TAS also released the National Taxpayer Advocate’s Purple Book, which presents 58 legislative recommendations designed to strengthen taxpayer rights and improve tax administration. This report highlights that the Taxpayer First Act, enacted into law on July 1, 2019, has made the most comprehensive revisions to IRS procedures since 1998. This act requires IRS to develop four strategic plans: a comprehensive taxpayer service strategy; redesign of the IRS organizational structure; an employee training strategy that includes taxpayer rights training; and a multi-year plan to meet IRS information technology needs.

The TAS Annual Report found IRS to be among the lowest performing federal agencies in providing a positive customer experience, ranking tenth out of 12 federal departments. During fiscal year 2019, IRS received approximately 100 million telephone calls and customer service representatives answered only 29%, with an average wait time of 38 minutes. In recent years, the agency has scaled back in-person assistance, closing over 10% of its Taxpayer Assistance Centers, generally requiring taxpayers to schedule appointments in advance. IRS recently estimated it was unable to collect an annual average of about $381 billion in unpaid tax for tax years 2011-2013. During fiscal year 2019, in an attempt to collect unpaid taxes, IRS’s Automated Collection System more than doubled the number of levies it served, from 200,000 to about 428,000.

The report attributes IRS’s shortcomings mostly to budget constraints plus a culture in which the agency focuses on its own priorities without adequately factoring in the needs of taxpayers. Since 2010, the IRS budget has been reduced by about 20% and the number of full-time equivalent employees has declined by about 22%. In essence, answering 100 million telephone calls, conducting audits, and taking enforcement actions to collect unpaid taxes requires adequate staffing and IRS cannot substantially improve its performance without additional resources.

The report urged Congress to increase IRS funding and to change the budget rules to allow a comparison between the revenue collected by IRS vs. money spent by IRS. In 2018, IRS collected $3.5 trillion with a budget of $11.4 billion. In other words, for every dollar spent, they collected $318 in tax revenue. Thus, it is economically irrational to underfund IRS. If a CEO of a company spent $1 to collect $318 from its customers, that CEO would be fired if it underfunded the accounts receivable department.

The report recommended that Congress increase funding for taxpayer service and information technology, mostly because of antiquated computer technology. On April 15, 2019, for the first time, the IRS computer suffered a complete system failure and crashed. It was not able to keep up with the demand.

The report recommended that IRS conduct research into taxpayer needs and preferences, develop a detailed customer service strategy, ensure that taxpayers who cannot work with IRS electronically can work directly with an IRS employee, and address the needs of tax practitioners (such as CPAs) who interact with IRS on behalf of taxpayers. The report also identified that too many legitimate tax returns are being delayed because the IRS’s anti-fraud filters unnecessarily flag returns and delay refunds for weeks or months. The number of TAS cases generated by these filters increased from about 20,000 in 2017 to about 92,000 in 2019.

Overall this year’s report identified the ten most serious problems, provided status updates on two problems identified in previous years, made dozens of recommendations for administrative change, made 58 recommendations for legislative change, analyzed the ten tax issues most frequently litigated in the federal courts and presented four research studies. And remember, you may not like IRS, but if we do not have an effective IRS, the government will not receive the tax revenue required to provide the infrastructure and services we all use, such as highways, national parks, veterans programs, education and many more.

For more information, go to WWW.IRS/TAXPAYERADVOCATE.
Submitted by Char Kirchner, CPA, MSA and Rex Rudolph, CPA

Clue: On Stage

Elk Rapids Drama is proud to present Clue: On Stage Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1 at 7 p.m. at the Peterman Auditorium. Tickets are only $5 and are available for purchase at the door.

It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. So whodunnit?

Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue: On Stage is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist.

Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up.

Elk Rapids District
Library Corner

Preschool Story Hour with Miss Sue and Jacquie. Wednesdays, 10:30 am, when school is in session.

Sledding Party on the Hill. Sunday, January 26, 2:00 – 4:00. Bring your sleds and join us for some outdoors fun! Warm up by the bonfire and sip some hot chocolate while sledding on the Island hill. All ages invited!

Homeless in Northern Michigan. Thursday, January 30, 6:00 pm in the Library meeting room. Deb Lake from Goodwill will explain the problem, and what Goodwill Inn and Safe Harbor do to help. We will also discuss ways you can help! Please bring a donation to the program if you can.

February Fly Tying Series. Tuesdays, February 11, 18, and 25, 5:30 – 7:00 pm in the Library meeting room. Eric Crissman returns to teach three different flies and a variety of techniques that are essential to becoming a great fly tier. Class is limited to 8 people. Please call the Library to register.

The Giving Year. The response to our request for items to help homeless people at Goodwill Inn and Safe Harbor has been overwhelming! We have delivered two car loads already, and they are so grateful. Thank you all so much! Someone said recently, but we don’t have homeless people in Elk Rapids. If you think this please join us on January 30 to learn the facts about homelessness in our area. And keep the donations coming! We will accept them until Friday, January 31. No good deed is ever too small!