Caughtcha being Good!

Kim Antaya & Brian Sutter 

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Courtesy photo
Kewadin couple Kim Antaya and Brian Sutter have been giving away fruits and vegetables to those in need for several years now. What began as an overabundance of fresh fruits and vegetables at Sutter’s Farm during the Pandemic shutdown turned into an idea to share the extra produce with those facing hunger. “We didn’t want to throw it all out,” said Kim. “So, we set up a farm stand outside our property, but we then got permission and moved it to just outside Short’s Pull Barn in Elk Rapids.” Kim and Brian are delighted with the way things have worked out. The couple comes daily to fill up the stand and folks can take what they’d like. “We would like to thank everyone who has stopped by,” Kim said, once again adding that if anyone is hungry, they should go and pick up something. It is free!

VILLAGE OF ELK RAPIDS
Pickleball court installation green-lit for next season

By Douglas P. Marsh, Contributing Writer

The Elk Rapids Village Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 19 to discuss proposals to improve two riverside areas in the village, to establish pickleball courts, and to make a final decision on the updates to the village’s lighting ordinance.

Susan Hibbard, representing the Elk Rapids Beautification Commission, presented a proposal to update the terraced garden that sits along the river behind the building at 212 River Street.

“The timbers that are holding the current terraced garden have been in place for nearly 40 years and they are beginning to fail,” she said.

Council member Tracy Fosdick said that since the project is on the riverside, the upcoming shoreline assessment would need to be taken into account. Hibbard agreed to liaise with the committee to be formed around the assessment.

A proposal to improve the unpaved parking area and open space west of the Riverwalk Grill at Ames Street and U.S. 31, dubbed South Arrowhead Garden Area, was approved after discussion of the project details. Fosdick again questioned whether the project was tied to the upcoming shoreline assessment. Village Manager John Matthews said that the proposal would move parking and runoff away from the shoreline.

“Right now, the parking goes within the 50-foot limit to the river,” he said. “We’re moving this way back so we’re farther than 50 feet from the Elk River and then drawing the water—instead of flowing from that mud area to the parking lot area into the river, it will be going into the stormwater system, so it gets carried out to the wastewater facility.”

The council voted unanimously to approve the proposal, and then moved quickly to extend contracts for planning and zoning administrative services with Sara Kopriva and Beckett and Raeder, Inc.

Carol Heles presented a pickleball court proposal on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Commission.

“We propose converting the one, single tennis court into four pickleball courts,” she said, referring to the northernmost court. The council agreed to contribute up to $15,000 to the project. The courts will be installed next summer.

Ongoing plans to improve the Rotary Park were also reviewed by the council, after a presentation by Gourdie Fraser, Inc. While the overall design was pleasing to council, they took issue with the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation for white, wooden exterior walls for the restroom. They asked that the plan be revised with different colors and materials.

The next regular meeting of the Elk Rapids Village Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3 at the Government Center, 315 Bridge Street.

All Things Clearwater 

The Clearwater Township Planning Commission met for the second time this month on Monday, September 25 in a special meeting at the township hall to discuss the draft short term rental ordinance that had previously been sent to the township board for approval. 

With more than 50 Clearwater residents in attendence, and another dozen or so participating remotely via Zoom, the commission chair, Len Von See, opened the meeting with a recap of where the ordinance currently stands. Having received the document back from the township board as a result of a unanimous vote, just weeks prior, after the supervisor initiated a stop order to the township legal firm that was reviewing the document. Several of the commission members expressed a need for the township board to define more clearly where the deficiancies were in the ordinance, since there was no correspondence accompanying the request to modify it. The chairman went on to make a motion to return the draft document to the board, and requested that the township’s legal team finish the review and provide feedback as to what exactly is lacking. The motion passed unanimously, although there were some in the audience who thought that this action would only serve to drag on the passage process and delay enforcement throughout the township. Nonetheless, the commission continued to hear concerns and ideas from the polite and respectful members of the audience, both in person and on Zoom.   

With a good portion of the short term rentals already having been rented out for next summer’s season, some rental owners expressed concern and questioned how changes enacted in the near future will affect them and their guests who already have reservations. Others present feared that the additional delay would cause another season of little or no enforcement on some of the rentals that are causing disturbances in residential areas. 
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The township board will likely consider the Planning Commission’s request to return the ordinance to the legal department at their next regular meeting scheduled for October 19 or possibly at the budget hearing sheduleded for October 7 at 10:00 a.m. at the community center. Get involved in Clearwater Township at clearwatertwp.com.
–Submitted by Jim Leffew

Historic Elk Rapids Township Hall to receive award

Community members and guests are invited to the Historic Elk Rapids Township Hall (HERTH) on Friday, September 29, at 11:00 a.m., when the Job Winslow Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) presents the Historic Preservation Recognition Award to the HERTH board of trustees.  

HERTH is on both the National Register of Historic Sites and the Michigan Register of Historic Sites. The volunteer group Historic Elk Rapids Township Hall Association (HERTHA) has worked for more than 15 years to operate and renovate the hall. Projects have included new window treatments, a digital replica of the historic stage curtain, brick and mortar and tin ceiling repairs, theater lighting, new tables and chairs and more. Three large arched windows were recently replaced this summer. 

HERTH is a community asset and iconic structure in downtown Elk Rapids. All are welcome to attend the award presentation and to celebrate the beauty, history, and significance of this building at 401 River Street, Elk Rapids.

Free writing creative classes for students in Antrim County

Middle school students, grades 5-8, are invited to participate in a free creative writing class beginning October 12, sponsored by the National Writers Series in partnership with the Elk Rapids Library.

The class will meet once a week for six weeks in a hybrid format: the first and last classes will meet in person at the Elk Rapids Middle School, and the other classes will be held online. The classes will be held on Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. from October 12-November 16. 

The class will be taught by David Hornibrook, author of Night Manual and winner of the Moveen Prize in Poetry. Mr. Hornibrook holds an MFA from the University of Michigan.

“We are thrilled to offer this writing opportunity to middle school students as part of our ongoing support of literacy in our county.” said Pam Williams, Executive Director of the Elk Rapids Library.

All enrolled students will have the opportunity to publish their work in the 2024 issue of the National Writers Series Literary Journal, published each spring. 

The classes will be held on Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. from October 12-November 16. 
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This class is funded by a grant from the Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Network. Class space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Register by visiting https://nationalwritersseries.org/front-street-writers/ or call 231-486-6868.

VILLAGE OF ELK RAPIDS
Planning Commission Update

By Mark McAlpine, Contributing Writer

The Elk Rapids Planning Commission met for the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 26. All commissioners were present with the exception of Dave Lien. Sara Kopriva, Interim Planning & Zoning Administrator, participated in the meeting. Following the addition of one item to new business, the agenda and minutes from the past meeting and joint council meeting were approved.

A public hearing was held for proposed ordinance 2023-03, Permits and Approval Requirements. The proposed ordinance details requirements for permits in Elk Rapids. Changes to the ordinance includes property survey and site plan requirements as well as height requirements to existing grades. No public comment was presented at the public hearing. A motion was approved to send the ordinance to the Village Council for final approval.

Sara Kopriva submitted a motion for proposed ordinance change 2023-09 recommending the addition of “library use” to the industrial district as a special use. Currently, libraries are allowed by Special Use Permit in B-1, 2, 3, and P districts in the village. The building under consideration for the new library location is zoned light industrial. Dick Hults, representing the Library Board, provided an overview of the due diligence progress for the building purchase and explained the need for the ordinance change. According to a letter provided to the commission by Hults, “These changes, if approved, will allow the board to apply for a remodel / bldg. permit should we move ahead with the purchase.” The zoning amendment application was approved, and a public hearing was scheduled for October 24 at the next Planning Commission meeting.

Rob Bacigalupi, representing Mission North, provided an overview of where Elk Rapids stands in the hopes of being certified by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) program. According to Bacigalupi, MEDC provided incentives to communities achieving RRC status by making certain programs and grants available. Each community is expected to follow a designed “best practice” zoning and planning model. Mission North and Bacigalupi are assisting Elk Rapids with MEDC discussions to identify the path to RRC certification. Bacigalupi presented a progress tracking chart indicating that Elk Rapids met most requirements for certification. He will meet with MEDC to create a plan to bring Elk Rapids into full compliance and provide that plan to the Planning Commission at the October meeting.

The village master plan progress was reviewed. Kopriva hopes to provide a full document to the commission for review at the October meeting. Commissioners discussed the recent master plan open house and agreed that there was a great turnout for the event. Matt Conrad, Planning Commission Chair, announced that Dave Lein had submitted a letter of resignation from the planning commission, effective immediately. Royce Ragland provided an update on efforts to identify grants related to the Elk River Shoreline Assessment completed by the Tip of Mitt over a year ago. 
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The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24.

ELK RAPIDS SCHOOLS 
A successful start and new support!

Elk Rapids Schools has had a successful start to the 2023-24 school year! Despite our construction hurdles, ten new teachers, multiple administrators in new positions, and record-high heat and rainfall our school community pulled together in many ways! The entire ERS school community appreciates the never-ending support of the Elk Rapids and surrounding communities each day.

ERS is receiving support this year through two unique state-level grants focused on school safety and mental/physical wellness. Details of each grant and how they support our district are below:

School Resource Office: Last spring our district received funding to support school safety through the School Resource Officer Program. Throughout the summer ERS administration along with ERPD worked through a strenuous interview process and hired Officer John Rice for this position. Officer Rice’s position creates a partnership with Elk Rapids Schools and the Village of Elk Rapids with his priority focused on the safety and welfare of the students and staff of Elk Rapids Schools. Officer Rice brings with him many law enforcement experiences throughout the Grand Traverse Region and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Officer Rice’s main focus is on district-wide safety but is also fostering positive student/law enforcement relationships, mentoring, safety training for staff chronic attendance issues, and supervision of after-school events. In the summer months, Officer Rice will continue to support district summer programming and will also support the Village of Elk Rapids as needed. 

School Wellness Program: Last fall ERS also received a School Wellness Program grant in partnership with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. This grant supports a School Nurse and a School Mental Health Therapist available to students during the school day to help reduce absenteeism and keep kids healthy. These grant dollars also financed the renovation of a classroom at Lakeland Elementary School into a school wellness clinic. With parental consent, students can see staff in the school wellness clinic for frequent headaches, stomach aches, increased moodiness, minor injuries, anxiety, difficulty staying on task, or assist with the management of chronic illness like diabetes or asthma. Last school year we welcomed Nurse Sarah Harris who will support Lakeland Elementary and Cherryland Middle School. This school year we welcomed School Mental Health Therapist Rochelle Kreft who is primarily focused on the emotional welfare of students at Cherryland Middle School but is also assigned to Lakeland Elementary School. In addition to these staff at the School Wellness Program, in partnership with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, we have Nurse Olivia Miron who supports students at Mill Creek and Elk Rapids High School, and School Mental Health Therapist Bethany Kaiser who supports High School students. – Bryan McKenna, Superintendent, Elk Rapids Schools

A GUIDE TO THIRD-PARTY PAYROLL SERVICE PROVIDERS

Outsourcing your payroll management to a third-party service provider can be an effective step for small businesses seeking efficiency and accuracy.  However, not all third-party payroll service providers are the same.  A trustworthy payroll service provider can help keep a business tax compliant and secure, while an unreliable provider can result in missed deposits, theft, or unfiled returns.  IRS emphasizes the need for businesses to carefully choose their payroll service providers to protect their financial integrity and compliance standing.  When selecting a third-party payroll service provider, businesses should consider options like Certified Professional Employer Organizations (CPEOs), reporting agents, and Section 3504 agents.  These options come with varying degrees of liability and services provided.  

CPEOs are organizations that have applied to become certified through IRS and have met all the background requirements described in the statute and regulations of the CPEO program.  To be eligible for the CPEO program an organization must: 

1. Be a business entity.  
2. Have one physical location within the U.S.  
3. Have a history of financial responsibility, organizational integrity, and tax compliance.  
4. Be managed by individuals (a majority of whom are U.S. citizens or residents) who have knowledge or experience regarding federal and state employment tax compliance and business practices relating to those compliance requirements.  

A CPEO takes sole liability for filing employment tax returns and making required deposits and payments for their customers.  CPEOs use their own Employer Identification Number (EIN) for these transactions.  To participate with a CPEO, an employer enters into a service contract, and the CPEO submits Form 8973, Certified Professional Employer Organization/Customer Reporting Agreement, to IRS.  

Reporting agents are third-party payroll service providers mandated to deposit a customer’s taxes through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).  Reporting agents have the ability to share customer information with IRS to resolve issues.  However, it’s important to note that the employer, not the reporting agent, remains responsible for filing tax returns and paying taxes on time.  Reporting agents submit Form 8655, Reporting Agent Authorization, with the customer’s signature to establish their relationship with IRS.  
A Section 3504 agent is a third-party payroll service provider responsible for withholding, reporting, and paying employment taxes on behalf of the employer.  They share liability with the employer for Social Security, Medicare, and federal income tax withholding responsibilities.  Section 3504 agents combine all the returns for their employer customers and submit a combined return using the Section 3504 agent’s EIN.  Employers using a Section 3504 agent typically still file Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax returns using their employer EIN.  To authorize a third party as an agent of the employer, employers need to submit Form 2678, Employer/Payer Appointment of Agent, to IRS. 

IRS strongly encourages employers to enroll in EFTPS and ensure their third-party payroll service provider utilizes this system for tax deposits.  EFTPS is free to use and offers a safe and convenient online platform for employers to monitor their payment history.  IRS also advises employers to quickly contact them regarding any bills or notices the employer receives, especially if they pertain to payments managed by a third party.  This proactive communication ensures smooth resolution and compliance adherence.  Employers can reach IRS through the business tax hotline at 800-829-4933.  

For more information on choosing the right type of third-party payroll service provider visit WWW.IRS.GOV and search third party payroll provider.  Several options will appear.  

Submitted by Char Kirchner, CPA, MSA and Rex Rudolph, CPA

Elk Rapids District
​Library Happenings

The Library is gearing up for a festive autumn event, and we invite you to join in on the fun! On Saturday, September 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Friends of the Elk Rapids Library will be hosting a pumpkin decorating session as part of the Fall Festival on River Street. See you there!

If you’re a fan of knitting, needlepoint, crochet, or any other fiber arts, we welcome you to join the ER Knitters group. We gather on Thursdays from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on the library porch. Bring your ongoing projects and enjoy the company of fellow makers.

Elk Rapids District Library has borrowed a digitization kit from the Library of Michigan. We are offering free scanning services every Wednesday through October 4. Call us to secure a time slot and bring your old photos and documents for safe scanning. Preserve your memories with us.

Pokémon Club is making its return starting this Sunday, October 1, at 2 p.m. Come and join us for discussions, gameplay, and Pokémon-themed crafting. No registration is required; just drop in and have a blast with fellow Pokémon fans!

The Island House Readers will meet on Wednesday, October 4, at 12 noon. This month’s book selection is “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness.” Join us for an insightful discussion.

 Don’t forget our regularly scheduled weekly events at the library:
Tuesdays Drop in Tech Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thursday Drop in Tech Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Thursday Story Time 1:30 p.m.
Friday Story Time 10:30 a.m.
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