Manistee Area Tea Party Organization

10/12/2026

OCTOBER TEA PARTY MEETING

The Manistee Area Tea Party will welcome Ms Julie Herringa, executive director of the Manistee County Library, this Thursday, October 15th, 6:30 pm, at the Bungalow Inn. She will enlighten us on the Library’s past, present, and future ambitions and accomplishments. She will also explain the library millage that will be on the November ballot. See what your tax dollars are doing, so bring your questions.
Meet and greet will begin at 5:30., and the public is cordially invited to attend.

10/05/2026

BEAR LAKE BOND PROPOSAL

Bear Lake Township officials are hoping that voters will approve a midterm election bond proposal so that firefighters can stop using an 84-year-old auto mechanic garage as a fire station. On Nov. 3, voters will decide whether to approve a $4.065 million bond proposal to fund the construction of a new fire station on township-owned property along U.S. 31 south of Bear Lake. The release states that a new fire station building is needed to provide more room for larger firefighting trucks and equipment, a larger training area and a facility that meets current fire department codes and standards. The current property is not large enough to allow for proper expansion.
There are 4 Open Houses:
• 9 a.m. to noon, Sept. 29
• 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 8
• 7-9 p.m., Oct. 13
• National Fire Prevention Week open house from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 17

10/03/2026

Regional Fire Authority and the Nov. 3rd Ballot

The fire authority initiative was started more than a year ago and now includes the city of Manistee and Onekama, Manistee, Filer and Stronach townships.

Stronach, Onekama and Filer townships have the following millages on the Nov. 3 ballot to facilitate participation in the fire authority:
~ Filer Township is looking to levy 2.85 mills, or $2.85 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, over a five-year period, from 2026-30. If passed, the levy would be expected to generate $501,703 in the first year.
~ Onekama Township is seeking to levy 2.5 mills from 2027-31, which would raise about $604,295 in the first year.
~ Stronach Township has two millages required to join the authority. One is a 1.5-mill renewal from 2027-31 for fire department protection, maintenance, equipment and education. The other millage is an additional 1.68 mills over the same 5-year period.

There is another opportunity coming up for you to learn more about the Manistee Regional Fire Authority Initiative.
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM to 1 PM
Location: Onekama Township Hall

For more information, visit mrfi.info. Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

The Manistee Area’s fire and emergency medical services system is proposing the creation of a combined operation to improve local fire & EMS service coordination. Through shared staffing and equipment resources, we can improve the services provided to all community members in our service area in a...

10/03/2026

Notice of Public Hearings
2027-2031 Manistee County-Wide Park & Recreation Plan

Manistee County is seeking input on its Parks and Rec Priorities. The countywide plan is being updated to establish goals, objectives, and priorities for parks, recreation facilities, trails, open space and related recreational opportunities in the region.
Public Hearings are:
Arcadia - Oct. 8th at 7:00pm at Arcadia Township Hall, 3422 Lake St. Arcadia
Norman - Oct 13th at 7:00pm at Norman Township Hall, 1273 S. Seaman Road, Wellston
Dickson - Oct. 14th at 6:00pm at Dickson Township Hall, 14270 Brethren Boulevard, Brethren
City of Manistee - Oct. 20th at 5:30pm at City Hall, 70 Maple St., Manistee
Cleon - Oct. 21st at 7:00pm at Cleon Township Hall, 16632 Imhoff Drive, Copemish
Board of Commissioners Meeting - Oct. 27th at 9:00am at Manistee County Board of Commissioners Room, (Court House), 415 Third St., Manistee
https://www.manisteecountymi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3053/NOTICE-OF-PUBLIC-HEARING
A draft plan is available for public review and comment. Online at: https://www.manisteecountymi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3034/Proposed-2027-2031-Manistee-County-Wide-Park--Recreation-Plan-DRAFT-PDF
or in person at the Planning Dept. 395 Third Street, Manistee
Written comments regarding the draft plan may be submitted during the 30-day public review period by emailing [email protected] or by mail to: Manistee County Planning Department, 395 Third Street, Manistee, MI 49660

10/03/2026

Board Opening on Airport Authority

One (1) At-Large vacancy on the Airport Authority to fill an unexpired term to start immediately and expires Dec. 31, 2026.

Application packets are available at the Manistee County Clerk's Office, Manistee County Government Center, 415 Third Street, Manistee, Michigan or at manisteecountymi.gov.

The deadline for filing is Friday October 9, 2026 by 4:00 pm at the County Clerk's Office. The appointment will be made at the Manistee County Board of Commissioner's Meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

09/13/2026

TEA PARTY MEETING
Thursday, Sept. 17th, 2026

National Constitution Day is celebrated every year on Sept. 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. It was taught in public schools until the mid 1970s. On this day, the Manistee Area Tea Party will host Greg Berg who will recite the Constitution of the United States of America, the Bill of Rights and those Amendments that followed with a brief reflection on each Amendment. The meeting will be held at the Bungalow Inn, with a 5:30pm social hour followed by the presentation at 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome. Come learn more about our U.S. Constitution.

09/04/2026

 APPLICANTS NEEDED
MANISTEE COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
VACANCIES FOR THE FOLLOWING: One (1) vacancy on the AIRPORT AUTHORITY, this vacancy is to fill an unexpired term,
to commence immediately and expires December 31, 2026.
One (1) appointment will be filled with an At-Large representative in the County. **Detailed descriptions of Boards and Commissions can be found at www.manisteecountymi.gov or by contacting the Manistee County Clerk's Office at
(231) 723-3331.+* Application packets are available at the Manistee County Clerk's Office, Manistee County Government Center, 415 Third Street, Manistee, Michigan 49660 or at manisteecountymi. gov. The deadline for filing your application packet is Monday, September 14, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. at the County Clerk's Office. The completed application packet may be sent to the County Clerk's Office at the above address, deposited in the Drop Box located at the main entrance to the Courthouse and Government Center (place in an envelope addressed to the County Clerk), or emailed to [email protected] The appointments will be made at the Manistee County Board of Commissioner's Meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. If there are no applicants, the vacancy will remain open until
filled, and late applications will be considered at the next month's meeting.
Shelli Johnson
Manistee County Clerk
231-723-3331

08/19/2026

MATP meeting change of plans

We were just notified that our speaker for this Thursday’s, August 20 meeting can't make it because the Michigan Bureau of Elections and Secretary of State, Joselyn Benson, are challenging the random sample of the 750,000 petition signatures. The Citizens Only Vote team is challenging this decision and will be busy contacting the signatures in question. Kristin Colms, our guest speaker, is heading up this initiative and can't make our meeting. We will discuss this development and other problems they may run into trying to get COV on the ballot so the citizens of Michigan can vote on it.
We will also discuss other issues relevant to the upcoming mid-term election in November.
Please join us

When: Thursday, August 20th

Where: Bungalow Inn, 1100 28th St US 31 South, Manistee

Time: 6:30pm with a social hour and optional dinner starting at 5:30pm.

The public is cordially invited.

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

AUGUST TEA PARTY MEETING
Thursday, August 20th,
MATP will have Kristin Combs from 'Citizen Only Vote' come speak to us about the Ballot Proposal that should be on the November Ballot this year. We'll be back at the Bungalow Inn, Manistee. Kristin will inform us of what is actually in the proposal and dispel some of the myths going around about it. Be sure to bring your questions. The meeting will be Thursday, August 20th at the Bungalow Inn, 1100 28th St US 31 South, Manistee and starts at 6:30pm with a social hour and optional dinner starting at 5:30pm. The public is cordially invited.