The November election is quickly approaching. Here's what's on Emmet County's ballots

Karly Graham, The Petoskey News-Review
·3 min read

EMMET COUNTY — Whether it's placing a vote for whomever will be sitting on city council or preparing to cast your vote for the Public Schools of Petoskey bond proposal, here's what Emmet County voters can expect to see on the ballot this election.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 7. Absentee ballots are available now.

More: Petoskey schools are asking voters to approve upgrading security. Here's what you need to know

Petoskey schools

The Public Schools of Petoskey's bond proposal is sitting on the ballots for Bear Creek Township, Petoskey, Little Traverse Township, Littlefield Township, Resort Township and Springvale Township.

The bond proposal is being offered with a goal of upgrading security across all of the district's buildings.

If approved, the proposal is expected to bring in $18.1 million in revenue and would set the millage rate at 0.85, the same millage rate approved for the Northmen Stadium construction project.

The millage is a 13-year proposal, to be paid back over 12 years and one month. The stadium millage was for 10 years. If approved, the bond proposal would allow the district to buy bonds in two different series to avoid collecting unnecessary interest — allowing the district to wait to get the money until there is time to do the projects.

The entire proposal is based on school safety enhancements, such as adding secure vestibules to each school, adjusting internal and external doors and hardware, and upgrading software and technology.

More: Public Schools of Petoskey hosts info session about November bond proposal

More: Get to know your next Harbor Springs City Councilmembers

Harbor Springs

This Nov. 7, two city council candidates will be on the ballot for Harbor Springs.

Michael Behrmann and Kathy Motschall are the names on the ballot. The two candidates will be filling the seats left open by John Lio, who has reached his term limit, and John Cupps, who decided not to run for reelection.

Behrmann currently works as a bus driver for Harbor Springs Public Schools. Previously, he worked as an educator for 35 years, working as a teacher, principal, and central office administrator. He worked as superintendent for four years before retiring in 2022.

Motschall worked as the Walstrom Marine CFO until her retirement in 2019. Currently, she serves as secretary of the Petoskey Sunrise Rotary and volunteers preparing income tax returns through the Petoskey Friendship Center RSVP program.

Additionally, Harbor Springs residents will be asked to vote on whether or not the city can sell public land, which is currently leased to the Jervis. B. Webb Company.

The city is asking to sell the land to the highest bidder, with a minimum bid of $425,000 required to make the sale. Jervis B. Webb Company would get the first option to match the price and terms of the highest bid, and is subject to a 50-foot easement along the eastern boundary of the property for access to the city airport. Solicitation of bids for the property would also be subject to approval from the city council.

The property is located at 8212 M-119 in Harbor Springs.

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Petoskey

In Petoskey, two different candidates are running unopposed to serve on the Petoskey City Council.

Tina DeMoore is running unopposed to serve as the Ward 1 city council member for Petoskey. She currently serves on the city council and her two-year term began in 2022. She's an attorney and mediatory and also served three terms on the Petoskey school board.

Brian Wagner is running unopposed to fill the Ward 3 seat for the Petoskey City Council. He has held a seat on the city council since 2020. He is an entrepreneur and serves on the board of directors for local organizations like the C.S. Lewis Festival and Big Water Creative Arts.

Sample ballots are available to be viewed at the Emmet County Clerk's webpage.

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Election day is coming up. Here's what's on Emmet County ballots