KEWEENAW COUNTY — Faced with rising expenses relating to the zoning department while facing declining revenues, the county board last Friday unanimously approved a dedicated 1 mil request to adequately fund that department. The proposal will appear on the November ballot.

The zoning department has reached the point of overload, primarily with requests for zoning permits. The increasing workload recently compelled the County Zoning Administrator, Sara Heikkila, to submit her resignation, stating in her letter: “However, the workload is more than the time I have to work here each week and be successful.”

While the responsibilities of the office continue to increase, the county does not have available revenue to fund a full-time administrator.

A zoning permit is required for all new construction, alteration of building, additions, fences, patios, decks, saunas, etc., as well as any change of land use such as changing a house to an office or gift shop, short-term rental operation, operating a food service establishment. However, there is currently no fee attached to a zoning permit application.

That was something Planning Commission Chairman John Parsons addressed at last Friday’s special meeting. Parsons recommended to the board that the county stop issuing free zoning permits, and suggested implementing a permit fee from $50 to $100.

“That would raise some money towards zoning and towards paying an administrator,” Parsons said.

So far this year, he said, he is aware of 61 zoning permits, most of which are for short-term rentals, “which are exploding,” he said, “because they’re very profitable.”

The average number of zoning permits per month are 10 to 15 during the course of the year.

In addition to zoning permit fees, Parsons recommended that the county attach a fee schedule to STRs, such as a licensing fee, because they impose additional strains on county government, as well as infrastructure.

Parsons went on to say that the planning commission started editing the zoning ordinance close to two years ago, beginning with cutting out elements that were unnecessary to streamline it.

“But,” he said, “we got so hung up with the short-term rental issue, especially at Bete Gris, that we spent all our time on that.”

County Treasurer Eric Hermanson said that zoning permit fees and licensing fees would help in covering the expenses of the zoning department, such as software packages and office expenses. Zoning issues and complaints have been steadily increasing.

Mark Ahlborn spoke at the regular May board meeting regarding zoning. Ahlborn provided a letter to the board, the summary of which contained three points that he wanted to make:

≤ zoning administration needs help;

≤ updating the Master Plan is paramount; and

≤ additional expertise is needed to thoroughly and properly amend the zoning ordinance.

At the regular June meeting, six people spoke, all in opposition to recent zoning ordinance amendments; some of the concerns were regarding the number of people permitted to stay in a house, how this affects the environment with septic systems; opposition to what is defined as a family; allowing accessory structures to be built on a property without a primary structure, wanting neighbors versus strangers living next to you, trailers being parked and people living in them, non-enforcement of current zoning ordinance, and questions regarding how this all came about.

The answer is, in part, the COVID lockdown sparked a steady increase in visitors to Keweenaw County that has been faster than the county can keep up with, resulting in lack of adequate funding to cover the zoning department or a code enforcement officer.

While permit and licensing fees would assist in office expenses, Hermanson said that revenue alone would not be sufficient for paying a full-time ZA position. Because of the increase in tourism in the county, and the increase in rental units to accommodate them, the increases have also put more pressure on the Sheriff’s Office.

For June 2024 alone, the Sheriff’s Office dedicated more than 100 hours to ORV patrol, covering 681 miles, in addition to 22 hours of marine patrol, covering 36 miles, and logged 10 assists to other agencies, and logged 24 property inspections. The county is reaching the limit of its financial resources, which compelled the board to consider the millage request to fund the zoning department.

“Let’s face the facts,” Board Chairman Don Piche said at Friday’s meeting. “If we don’t do this, we’re not going to have the money to hire a administrator — period.” “We have no choice. The money gotta come from somewhere.”

Vice Chairman Del Rajala concurred.

“You’ve heard my opinion on this,” he said. “We need to do this. We need the protection for property owners, whether they want it or not.”

Rajala said he felt the millage request should be not more than 2 mils, and suggested splitting the difference, requesting 1.5 mils.

Piche again cautioned against asking for a larger millage, because the voters will turn it down, and asked Hermanson if he thought 1 mil would be sufficient.

“I think that’s reasonable,” Hermanson said. “If it’s sold well. If it’s clear to the public what they’re getting. We have four other extra winter voter millages that are continual. They add up.”

Hermanson said there are variables involved, though. While Eagle Harbor Township would be included in the millage, for example, they have their own zoning. Allouez Township’s supervisor spoke at two meetings, telling the board that the residents there do not want excessive zoning, and that is where the majority of the county’s voters live.