URGENT CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

[Marie LaFreniere]

URGENT - CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: On Wednesday, November 10th at 9:30 AM, the Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss the future of the former Beaver Island Lighthouse School on the island's south end. The meeting will be held in the Charlevoix County Shirley Roloff Center Board of Commissioner’s Room at 13513 Division Street, Charlevoix, MI 49720. For Beaver Island residents and any others who cannot attend the meeting in person, public comments regarding the future use of the historic lighthouse and surrounding 171-acre property can be sent to Shirley Roloff, representing Charlevoix County's District 6 which includes Beaver Island. Roloff's office contacts are:
Email: district6@charlevoixcounty org
Phone: 231-547-2169

In addition, public comments posted here will be forwarded to Commissioner Roloff; and Beaver Island Historical Society Director Lori Taylor-Blitz, who has made significant efforts to keep the lighthouse property a viable historic and educational entity, shares this: "Please, if you can attend, your presence is needed to demonstrate why "This Place Matters." For more information feel free to give me a call either at home or the office - Office: 231-448-2254; Home: 231-448-2259."

Some background on the recent history of the Beaver Island Lighthouse School follows, sources linked in the comments below.

"The lighthouse, school and surrounding property had been under the ownership of Charlevoix Public Schools since 1975. The school was operated by Networks Northwest — a regional planning and workforce development agency — as an alternative educational opportunity for students aged 16-21 until 2016, when it closed. Students from across Northern Michigan attended the school while it was in operation.

1. “We have a decades-long relationship with the property and with the island, so really our interest was maintaining that relationship,” said Matt McCauley, chief executive officer for Networks Northwest. “The school itself was an alternative school providing students a learning opportunity in a place that was outside the norms of the classrooms on the mainland. It was generally for those students that were in trouble within their own school districts and at risk of not completing high school, so it was an opportunity for them to receive that accreditation but in a different spot. That school closed down four years ago. What we’re looking for moving forward is, what other educational opportunities can we use the property for moving forward?" ... McCauley said the long-term hope for the property would be to provide some sort of educational opportunity, whether it be a school, a work study program, a summer camp, historical preservation or another type of program... “To operate a facility on the island that provides educational opportunities to youth is of great interest to Networks Northwest,” he said... Kevin Shepard, administrator for Charlevoix County, said the county wanted to ensure the property was kept in the public realm... “It’s the third-oldest lighthouse in the Great Lakes and it needs to be enjoyed by the public for years to come,” Shepard said. “First thing we’re going to do with Networks Northwest is start looking at public use plans.”

2. "A historic northern Michigan lighthouse has new owners. Charlevoix County has partnered with Networks Northwest to purchase the Beaver Island Lighthouse School property from Charlevoix Public Schools. The property had been used by Northwest Michigan Works!, a program of Networks Northwest, as an alternative education site for more than twenty-five years. That program was suspended in 2016 due to changes in federal regulations and funding... The property includes the lighthouse and fog signal building, three residential cabins, a classroom building, a dining hall, and a wood shop. The County and Networks Northwest plan to work in conjunction with the Beaver Island Historical Society and island residents to identify potential future uses of the site that will increase the presence of the historical asset and surrounding property... “Charlevoix Public Schools is pleased that the sale will likely mean preservation of this historic property,” said Mike Ritter, Charlevoix Public Schools Superintendent. “The property served an important purpose for many years as part of our school district, and it’s great to know that it will remain in the hands of the public for generations to come.”

The Beaver Head Light/Beaver Island Lighthouse School/'South End Lighthouse' has served the island and region for generations in different capacities. Beyond being a historic icon, in it's educational role it has served thousands of at-need youth through the decades, and been a destination point for countless island visitors as well as residents. Now is the time for everyone interested in the preservation and continued public use of this state and national gem to come forward and encourage both Charlevoix County and Networks North to honor their original intentions to preserve and revitalize this precious property for future generations. Please take the time to convey your thoughts on the lighthouse's meaning, value, and potential to those empowered to protect it.

And thank you to Dick McEvoy for suggesting we reach out to everyone and to Robert Cole for helping me pull this together.
If you're going to comment here, please do so by noon on Tuesday, the 9th so I can email all comments to Shirley Roloff. And please do the same if you're emailing or calling her yourself.

www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2 ... JPGsPkpfTY


www.networksnorthwest.org/news-events/n ... SqXj12wKmQ

[jacquel]

While I cannot attend in person, I would like to add my two cents worth to the discussion.
I well remember the deteriorated state that the lighthouse and surrounding property was in prior to the Charlevoix Public Schools obtaining it and working to utilize it as an alternative school. It would be a shame to see it deteriorate again.

While it may not be cost effective to use it as an alternative school, I do envision it being used as an education center. Perhaps it could be used in the summer months for various camps....maybe MUCC would use it for a summer camp featuring hunting and fishing for both kids and adults. Maybe a camp to teach people about living off the land. Sustainability camps in conjunction to the sustainability fair held in June. Artists could utilize it throughout the year teaching skills or just offering opportunities to hone their crafts. Senior citizen camps too. CMUBS used to offer them in the fall. Boy Scouts and Girl Scout camps. Maybe other colleges could offer sessions there. Finally, retreats for organizations or corporations could also be offered. I think the list is endless.
But we should not let it fall into disrepair again.

Jacqueline LaFreniere, former teacher at BICS, secretary of BI Wildlife Club and Beaver Island Historical Society, librarian at BI District Library and full time (12 months) resident of Beaver Island.

[Pam Grassmick]

Scott Hankins is the Island's Charlevoix County Board Representative:

                      1018 Lake 26 Rd., Charlevoix, MI 49720
                      231-675-0852
                      district5@charlevoixcounty.org

Please contact him on Monday or Tuesday and tell him your thoughts regarding the county's capital development to preserve the lighthouse. It needs to be kept in public domain. Island chatter says that he is not interested in the county developing the site as a park. Find out his thoughts first hand and thanks to all who will carve out time to respond to the call.