Leelanau County Board of Commissioners Resolution

Leelanau County Board of Commissioners
Resolution No. 2-26 - ________

(The following resolution was approved at the March 19 meeting of the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners. I worked through Tribal Council member Brian Napont and Tribal attorneys Bill Rastetter and John Petoskey to get it on the board’s agenda. Simultaneously, Commissioner Ty Wessel was having discussions with Mr. Petoskey that led to a letter of support from the County Board for a proposed $1.6 million community sidewalk project paid through federal funds.)

A resolution urging the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Michigan Legislature, and the Michigan Attorney General to work toward the lowering of speed limits in the community of Peshawbestown

Whereas members of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians have for many centuries inhabited the community of Peshawbestown, which was named after Chief Peshawar, an Ottawa leader in the area;

Whereas Peshawbestown was once described as the “only pure Indian village in all of Michigan”;

Whereas the community is split by M-22, a state highway with high traffic counts adjacent to commercial and residential areas;

Whereas the residents of Peshawbestown are dual citizens of the Grand Traverse Band and the United States of America, with their local governments including the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners;

Whereas the heavy traffic creates safety hazards to Peshawbestown residents and visitors to the Grand Traverse Band reservation, including those attending concerts, participating in casino games, and attending cultural events;

Whereas approximately 40 residential driveways exist between the 70-degree bend on M-22 in front of the Tribal Court and Putnam Road;

And whereas Peshawbestown cannot petition for a lower speed limit under Michigan law because it is not an incorporated state village or city;

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners therefore resolves and petitions that:

• The Michigan Department of Transportation reduces the maximum speed limit from 55 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour through the community of Peshawbestown;

• State Sen. John Vamoose and State Rep. Betsy Coffia propose and lobby for passage of a law allowing the Grand Traverse Band to separately petition for a lowered speed limit;

• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issue an opinion recognizing the disparate treatment of Peshawbestown residents, which we understand is being considered.