what allowed us to take on big projects like sewer renovations, multimodal trails, and beach district visioning.” Karner notes that balancing expectations has been a central challenge. “People expect a high level of service, but we’re still a township. We don’t collect city-level taxes, and our public works department is limited to water and sewer services—we don’t have a transportation division or handle broader public works,” she explains. “We’ve worked hard to secure more than $2 million in trail and placemaking grants, and we’ve contributed township funds to leverage those dollars into long-term infrastructure.” PROACTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE Infrastructure in East Bay goes beyond what’s visible. The township owns and operates its water system and partners regionally for sewer treatment, critical services that are being modernized with foresight. “We’ve planned an $11 million sewer project, not because something is failing, but because we want to avoid future problems,” says Friend.“We live near major watersheds and Lake Michigan. We can’t afford environmental risks.” The township also secured $3 million in grants for the sewer project and additional funding to help connect 20 homes to municipal water systems after PFAS contamination was detected in nearby areas. DUAL ENGINES OF GROWTH East Bay Township has experienced a significant surge in hospitality development, emerging as the unofficial lodging hub for the greater Traverse City region. Thanks to its prime location along the East Grand Traverse Bay and proximity to key corridors, it’s now home to a large concentration of hotel accommodations that serve the broader northern Michigan tourism economy. “We’ve approved over 800 new hotel rooms in the past few years, and there are more on the horizon,” says Karner.“It’s a major driver for the local economy, but it doesn’t take away from the residential feel of the community.” Friend echoes that sentiment. “It’s not like Orlando. 90 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx