Posts by Zoe
Watersmeet Township Adds New EMS Response Vehicle
Watersmeet Township has purchased a new vehicle specifically designed to improve the Township Fire Department’s ability to respond to Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls throughout the community. The purchase was largely funded through Lac Vieux Desert (LVD) 2% funds, providing significant support for this important investment in the Township’s emergency response capabilities.
The new vehicle provides a more practical response option for Watersmeet’s rural environment. Many of the Township’s homes are located along narrow, wooded driveways where the larger emergency response vehicle can be difficult to maneuver—particularly during the winter months when snow and winter conditions can make access even more challenging.
The new vehicle is smaller and more maneuverable, making it better suited for reaching residents in these more difficult locations. It is also gasoline-powered, providing a more economical option for routine EMS responses compared with the Department’s existing diesel-powered rig, which has become increasingly expensive to operate.
Expanding the Department’s Response Capability
Another important benefit of the new vehicle is that it allows the Fire Department to respond to more than one emergency call at a time. The new EMS vehicle will be the primary response vehicle for EMS calls, while the larger emergency response vehicle can remain available to respond to an additional call when needed.
This provides the Department with greater flexibility and helps ensure that multiple emergencies can be addressed without one response delaying another.
The Larger Rig Remains an Important Resource
The Township’s existing emergency response vehicle will continue to play an important role in the community. While the new vehicle is designed primarily for EMS calls, the larger rig carries specialized equipment necessary for more extensive and technically demanding emergencies.
This equipment includes the Jaws of Life, HAZMAT equipment, water rescue equipment, and other specialized rescue gear. The larger vehicle will continue to be utilized when these capabilities are needed.
The addition of the new EMS vehicle gives the Watersmeet Township Fire Department greater flexibility in responding to emergencies while providing a vehicle better suited to the unique challenges of the Township’s rural roads, narrow driveways, wooded areas, and winter conditions.
Watersmeet Township is grateful for the support provided through LVD 2% funds, which helped make this important purchase possible. The investment strengthens the Township’s emergency response capabilities and provides the Fire Department with another valuable resource to better serve residents throughout the community.
This new vehicle is an investment in the safety of Watersmeet Township residents and in the Fire Department’s ability to provide timely, appropriate emergency response when it is needed most.
Watersmeet Township Receives Tribal Contribution
Watersmeet Township is pleased to announce that it has received a $33,500 Summer 2% contribution from the Lac Vieux Desert Tribe.
Watersmeet Township sincerely appreciates the Tribe’s continued generosity and support of our community. This contribution provides valuable funding for the Township and will be used to support Township needs and priorities.
The Township is grateful for the ongoing partnership with the Lac Vieux Desert Tribe and for the Tribe’s continued commitment to helping support the Watersmeet community.
Thank you to the Lac Vieux Desert Tribe for this generous $33,500 contribution and for your continued support of Watersmeet Township!
Watersmeet Township to Discontinue CodeRED Emergency Notifications
Effective October 15, 2026, Watersmeet Township will discontinue its CodeRED® emergency notification service.
The Township implemented CodeRED three years ago to provide residents and visitors with emergencies, severe weather and other critical notifications by phone, text and email. Other than automated weather alerts, the system has been used only once during that time for a Township emergency notification.
After reviewing the program, the Watersmeet Township Board has decided not to renew the CodeRED service.
The Township will continue to provide information about local emergencies and other important notices through the Township website and its news notification system.
When there is an imminent or ongoing threat to life, safety, or property and the public needs to take immediate action, Gogebic County has the ability to issue Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and/or Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
IPAWS is the national emergency alert system used to distribute urgent warnings to the public through multiple communication channels. These include Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), which target compatible wireless phones within a specific geographic area, and the Emergency Alert System (EAS), which targets the public through participating radio and television broadcasters.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for Watersmeet Township news notifications and regularly check www.watersmeetmi.gov for local information and updates.
Township Email Addresses Have Changed
Watersmeet Township email addresses have now been updated to the new @watersmeetmi.gov domain.
The usernames have not changed. Only the domain has changed.
For example:
jdoe@watersmeet.us
has changed to
jdoe@watersmeetmi.gov
Residents and others who regularly communicate with Township officials should update their saved contacts and email addresses accordingly.
The new @watersmeetmi.gov addresses are now active and should be used for all Township email correspondence.
If you accidentally send an email to an old @watersmeet.us address, there is no need to resend it. Emails sent to the former addresses will still be received.
Watersmeet Township Has a New Website Address
Please update your bookmarks to www.watersmeetmi.gov
Watersmeet Township has moved to a new official website address:
The change to a .gov domain makes it easier for residents and visitors to identify the Township’s website as an official government website. The .gov designation is reserved for verified government organizations and provides additional trust and security for the public.
The previous website address, watersmeet.us, will continue to automatically redirect visitors to the new website, so there is no interruption in access.
Township email addresses will also be changing to the new @watersmeetmi.gov domain. The change is not yet complete. A notice will be posted when the new email addresses are ready to use.
Residents are encouraged to update their bookmarks and use www.watersmeetmi.gov when accessing Township information, public notices, meeting documents, forms, news, and announcements.
Watersmeet Township
Official website: www.watersmeetmi.gov
Notice of Public Hearing: Zoning Board of Appeals
The Watersmeet Township Zoning Board of Appeals will conduct a hearing on Tuesday September 8, 2026 at 6PM in the Watersmeet Township Community Center, N4689 1st Street, Watersmeet, MI. The purpose of the hearing is to consider an appeal submitted by Julie Mathiesen of the Town Zoning Administrator’s decisions regarding zoning requirements for trailers on the property of John and Joy Schuster at N4765 Cisco Lake, Parcel No. 06-37-301-020, in Watersmeet Township.
Mrs. Mathiesen is also requesting interpretation of the Watersmeet Zoning Ordinance for Sections 6.02A.11, 7.06, and 10.02.
The public may express its views at this hearing or send written comments to: Chairperson, Watersmeet Township Zoning Board of Appeals, PO Box 306, Watersmeet, MI 49969 by Friday September 4, 2026. Documents associated with the variance request may be examined during normal business hours at the Watersmeet Township offices, also located at N4689 1st Street. You may contact the Town office at 906-358-4501 for hours.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER IS HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE
Gogebic County Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey
Gogebic County is updating its five-year Hazard Mitigation Plan, as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to remain eligible for federal hazard mitigation funding. Gogebic County staff and a local planning committee are working with the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) to complete the update.
Hazard mitigation includes actions taken before, during, or after a disaster to reduce risks to people, property, infrastructure, and the environment from natural, technological, or human-related hazards. Public input is an important part of this planning process. The information you provide will help us better understand local hazard concerns, prioritize mitigation activities, and guide future projects that can lessen the impact of hazards in Gogebic County.
Participation is voluntary but strongly encouraged. All responses will remain confidential. Responses are due by Monday, September 21, 2026.
If you have questions regarding this survey or would like to learn about more ways that you can participate in the planning process, please contact:
Rachael Pressley, Project Lead
rpressley@wuppdr.org
Click the link below!
Watersmeet in Bloom: A Summer of Community Pride
What began this spring as a new idea to bring residents together to beautify Watersmeet has blossomed into a summer filled with flowers, volunteers, community partnerships, and pride.
The Watersmeet Beautification Committee was formed with a simple goal: to enhance the natural beauty of our community through small projects that make a visible difference. Residents—both full-time and seasonal—were invited to lend their time and talents to planting flowers, caring for garden beds, and improving public spaces throughout the community.
One of the summer’s highlights has been the creation of pollinator gardens at Watersmeet Pavilion Park, made possible through a generous grant from the Gogebic Conservation District.
After weeks of preparing the garden beds, volunteers came together to plant all of the pollinator plants provided through the grant. The gardens will provide valuable habitat for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators while adding beauty to the park for everyone to enjoy.
The project has truly been a community effort. Volunteers have contributed their time, energy, gardening skills, and enthusiasm to help bring the gardens to life.
And the work doesn’t stop with the planting. Volunteers are now in the summer-long watering and weeding phase, helping ensure that the gardens become established and thrive. The committee is especially grateful to the Watersmeet Fire Department for the use of its UTV and 100-gallon water tank, which has made keeping the new gardens watered much easier.
The summer has also brought another lasting addition to Pavilion Park—the Watersmeet Beautification Committee community mural, created by local artist Sarah Zelinski. Inspired by the committee’s logo, the mural celebrates community pride and volunteerism. As people participate in beautification projects, they can add their handprint to the mural, helping the community tree grow and come to life—one volunteer at a time.
From the first call for volunteers to the planting of hundreds of pollinator plants, the creation of new garden spaces, and the addition of a community mural, this first summer has demonstrated what can happen when people come together with a shared vision.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered, donated, provided equipment, offered encouragement, or simply stopped to admire the work. And thank you to the Gogebic Conservation District, the Watersmeet Fire Department, our local volunteers, and everyone who has helped make these projects possible.
This is just the beginning. Together, we are making Watersmeet a more beautiful place to live, work, visit, and enjoy—one project, one flower, and one volunteer at a time.
If you are interested in volunteering for future projects please contact Denise Fauntleroy at 630-881-7252.
Summer Property Tax Collection Deadline ~ 9/14/26
Watersmeet Township
Summer Tax Collection
Monday, Sept. 14, 2026
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
This is the last day to pay taxes in person without interest being applied.
I won’t be in the office, but the Township secretary will collect payments, and they will be processed as having been received on 9/14/26 and receipts will be mailed.
Paul D. Kemppainen, Township Treasurer
Hospice Volunteers Needed
Aspirus Hospice is seeking caring volunteers to offer companionship and support to patients and families in our community. Volunteers provide a gentle presence, conversation, and comfort during an important time in a patient’s life. No medical experience is required – just kindness, respect, and a willingness to serve. Training is provided, and scheduling is as flexible as you need it to be.
To learn more, contact Aspirus Hospice or Brenda Trapp, Volunteer Coordinator Lead at (715) 847-2000 ext. 52436 or Brenda.Trapp@aspirus.org