Editor's Notes: This blog is Commissioner Betsy Coffia's remarks on the Line 5 resolution discussed at the August 21 Meeting. You can see the whole meeting, including over 2 1/2 hours of public comment at: http://www.tacm.tv/watchgovtv.asp?sdbfid=12149 Betsy Coffia's comments begin at 2hr 54min into the video. You can use a slider to get to any part of the video you wish. Mr. Chairman, We are meant to be a deliberative body. I think the public should be able to reasonably a

The meeting, once again, started and centered around a slideshow presented by Steven Baldwin Associates Airport Management Consultants. Steven (presumably Baldwin) spoke about what is involved in the process of moving the airport commission to an airport authority. FAA Transfer Process - The process of switching begins with passage of resolutions by Leelanau and GT counties per state law. The simplified process would include coordination with the Federal Aviation Administrati

Editor's Note The following article was submitted to us by the Chair of the Anishinaabek Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party A Bridge Hello Democrats! We have found out that sneaky Enbridge is sending a farce of a resolution to ALL the County Commissioners in the state of Michigan in an attempt to cause a divide in Michigan regarding their tunnel. As you know, this tunnel is not in Michigan’s best interest and only serves to deepen Enbridge’s pockets. We must fight this

August 14, 2019 Woodmere Library Traverse City, MI Yesterday, August 14th, concerned members of the Grand Traverse Co. Community gathered to hear updates on the Recall Inman Forum held at the Woodmere Library. At this point, the language of the recall petition has been accepted by the State Board of Canvassers. On August 12th, Inman filed an appeal. The State Court of Appeals must make a decision within 40 days. If it does not, we will be eligible to begin gathering signatur

The following Article was provided by Leonard Page, Vice Chair, Straits of Mackinac Alliance Cheboygan. We are posting it here as a service to our members. This responds to the various pro-Enbridge columns recently published. What Michigan needs is an immediate guarantee of no oil spills anywhere in the Great Lakes basin. The State is morally and legally required, under the public trust doctrine, to preserve and protect the Great Lakes from harm. Michigan has no obligation

As I sit here on my patio overlooking my garden and try to process the amazing turnout we had at the Traverse Area Indivisibles & Friends Picnic held at Peterson Park, Northport, yesterday afternoon, I scarcely know how to sum it all up, but here goes: First off, thanks to all the volunteers, issue table groups, the four county Democratic parties who took part and boosted the event, and of course our wonderful line-up of speakers. These included Carolyn Moss, President of the

Editor's Note: This is one of the comments given to the BOC in response to an item on the agenda by Commissioner Jewett to support the Enbridge Line 5 Proposal. The BOC does not publish public comments. We feel the comments made were worthy of note and consideration and are publishing them in this blog. Normally, I’d be working right now. But since I heard, last night, there was a proposal to support Enbridge’s Line 5, I thought I’d come hang out with y’all this morning an

Editor's Note: This is one of the comments given to the BOC in response to an item on the agenda by Commissioner Jewett to support the Enbridge Line 5 Proposal. The BOC does not publish public comments. We feel the comments made were worthy of note and consideration and are publishing them in this blog. Submitted for inclusion in the minutes and public record to the: Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners Thank you, Chairman Hentschel, and fellow members of the Grand Tr

Editor's Note: This is one of the comments given to the BOC in response to an item on the agenda by Commissioner Jewett to support the Enbridge Line 5 Proposal. The BOC does not publish public comments. We feel the comments made were worthy of note and consideration and are publishing them in this blog. To: Grand Traverse County Board From: Ann Rogers, co-chair of NMEAC Over 5 years ago Oil and Water Don’t Mix (OWDM) was organized to protect the Great Lakes from a 66 year

Editor's Note: This is one of the comments given to the BOC in response to an item on the agenda by Commissioner Jewett to support the Enbridge Line 5 Proposal. The BOC does not publish public comments. We feel the comments made were worthy of note and consideration and are publishing them in this blog. Since Enbridge first laid claim to the bottomland of the Straits in 1953, opportunistic politicians and interconnected parties on both sides of the border, who have chosen