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Please update your bookmarks to www.watersmeetmi.gov

Watersmeet Township has moved to a new official website address:

www.watersmeetmi.gov

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

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 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!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026GoCoPub

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.

 

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

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

Click Here for More Information>

Michigan Broadband has provided the following update regarding the ongoing fiber internet installation project in portions of Watersmeet Township.

Construction Is Still Underway

While residents may see fiber lines and service drops being installed, the overall network is not yet complete. Michigan Broadband is still:

• Installing and activating the electronics needed to serve Sunset Cove, East Duck Lake, West Duck Lake, and Moon Lake.
• Continuing fiber placement in other areas of the project.

A completed service drop to a home does not necessarily mean the network infrastructure needed to provide service is ready to be activated.

Scheduling and Service Activation

Michigan Broadband understands that many residents are eager to have service installed and activated. However, they are unable to prioritize installations based on the number of calls received or individual circumstances.

The company reports that its customer service center is currently receiving a high volume of calls requesting installation dates. While tentative timelines have occasionally been shared, those dates should not be considered confirmed. As information spreads from neighbor to neighbor, misunderstandings can occur regarding who is being scheduled and when.

Michigan Broadband asks customers for patience as construction and network activation continue.

Current Timeline

Michigan Broadband is hoping to complete the required electronics work by the end of this week and tentatively begin scheduling installations for Sunset Cove, East Duck Lake, West Duck Lake, and Moon Lake during the week of July 20.

Please note that this timeline is subject to change based on construction progress and network readiness.

Customers who have already submitted an order do not need to continue calling for updates. Michigan Broadband will contact customers directly as soon as scheduling becomes available.

Residents who have not yet placed an order and wish to receive service should contact Michigan Broadband to begin the process.

Outbuildings and Boathouses

The waived installation fee applies only to the primary residence.

Michigan Broadband can provide a complimentary service drop to the main home, but not to outbuildings, garages, sheds, or boathouses. In many cases, these structures can be served using mesh Wi-Fi extenders. The installer will evaluate the property during installation and recommend the best solution, which may sometimes require a follow-up visit.

Thank you for your patience as this important infrastructure project continues to move forward. Michigan Broadband has indicated that they will contact customers directly as soon as service can be scheduled.

On September 10, 2025, Many Waters LLC notified the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Water Resources Division (WRD), Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) that they suspected non-native watermilfoil in Bass Lake, Gogebic County had been treated using a pesticide. ANC staff confirmed no ANC permit had been issued for Bass Lake, Gogebic County.

ANC staff immediately began an investigation to gather information from residents, local officials, and Lac Vieux Desert Tribe. Sampling of water, sediment, and plant tissue took place on October 16, 2025. Samples of water, sediment, and plant tissue were delivered to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Pesticide Laboratory and Eurofins Scientific Laboratory on October 17, 2025.

Click here to review the staff report from EGLE>

The Watersmeet Township Board of Trustees is currently seeking interested residents to fill vacancies for an alternate member on the Board of Review.

The Board of Review Alternate serves as a substitute member when regular Board of Review members are unavailable. The Board of Review meets to hear property tax assessment appeals and ensure assessments are fair and equitable. The Alternate must be available to serve during scheduled Board of Review sessions as needed.

Interested individuals must be residents of Watersmeet Township and have an interest in local government and community service. Prior experience is helpful but not required.

Those interested in being considered for appointment should submit a letter or email of interest.

Mail To:
Watersmeet Township
Attn: Town Clerk
PO Box 306
Watersmeet, MI 49969

Or Email To:
supervisor@watersmeetmi.gov
townclerk@watersmeetmi.gov