AUGUST 6, 2024 ELECTION

EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING & ELECTION SATURDAY OFFICE HOURS

Election season is underway, marked by the upcoming Primary Election scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

Early In-Person Voting

Early In-Person Voting will begin on Saturday, July 27, 2024, and will run through Sunday, August 4, 2024, from 9 am to 5 pm. The Early Voting Site for voters in the City of Traverse City is at the Governmental Center, Lower Level, 400 Boardman Avenue.

Saturday Office Hours

The City Clerk's Office will be open for election purposes on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 8 am to 4 pm.

Absentee Voting

For those who are enrolled in the Permanent Ballot List, or who have completed an Absentee Ballot Application, the initial mailing of ballots took place on Friday, June 28, 2024. Absentee ballots continue to be mailed as applications are received.

A voter may run their absentee ballot through a tabulator during Early In-Person Voting or at their precinct on election day (and of course, you may still return the ballot to the City Clerk's Office by 8 pm on election day to have it tabulated by the Absent Voter Counting Board).

Ballot Marking Instructions for Primary Election

In the August primary election, voters will choose the candidates they prefer for a political party to nominate in the general election in November.

You may vote in one party section ONLY.

You cannot “split your ticket.” If you vote in more than one party section, your partisan ballot will be rejected.

Voters can request a replacement ballot from the Clerk's Office if they do split their ticket on the ballot.

Precinct 9 Building Change at NMC

Precinct 9 was previously located at NMC's Health & Science Building and will now be at NMC's Innovation Center. The relocation will be effective for the August 6, 2024 election.

Voting Precincts 7 & 10 Relocation Reminder

The relocation of two polling places (used for in-person, election day voting) became effective with this year. Voting Precinct 7, formerly at Traverse Heights Elementary, and Precinct 10, formerly at Glenn Loomis Elementary, have moved locations.

Voting Precinct 7

Traverse City Area District Library Main Branch

McGuire Room

610 Woodmere Avenue

Traverse City, MI 49686

Voting Precinct 10

The Carnegie Building

322 Sixth Street

Traverse City, MI 49684

Third Party Voting Advocates

During election season, third party organizations that advocate for voter participation may send you text messages, emails, and absentee ballot applications (even if you are already registered, have completed a form, etc.)

Have a question on the status of your voter registration, absentee ballot, or more?

Call your local Clerk. We are happy to help! Or visit, michigan.gov/vote to check the status of your registration, absentee ballot, and more.

SEA LAMPREY SURVEY OF BOARDMAN/OTTAWAY

JULY 30TH TO AUGUST 8TH

Beginning July 30 to August 8, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will assess sea lamprey populations in the Boardman/Ottaway River. This effort aims to estimate sea lamprey abundance and determine the need for control measures. Sea lampreys, which invaded the Great Lakes in the 1920s, are highly destructive to local fisheries. They attach to fish, feeding on their blood and body fluids, with a single lamprey capable of destroying up to 40 lbs. of fish.

Sea lamprey larvae hatch in gravel nests and burrow into silty areas, living for several years before transforming into parasitic adults. Detecting and eliminating larvae is crucial to prevent this transformation. Surveys are conducted in Great Lakes tributaries using electrofishing or Bayluscide, a lampricide approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Health Canada. Bayluscide is sprayed over water, causing larvae to surface for collection.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, in collaboration with U.S. and Canadian agencies, has led sea lamprey control since 1958, significantly benefiting the $7 billion Great Lakes fisheries. The Commission ensures environmental safety and is researching alternative control methods, including barriers and biological controls.

For more information, call 1-800-472-9212 (U.S.) or 1-800-553-9091 (Canada). TTY users can contact the Marquette or Ludington Biological Stations via the Michigan State Relay Service at 1-800-649-3777.

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

WEEK OF AUGUST 5TH LOCATIONS

Michigan's 2017 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) designates galvanized water services as lead service lines if they "are or ever were" connected to a lead gooseneck, requiring utilities to pay for replacing private water services from the curb stop to the building. Lead goosenecks, installed before the mid-1940s, are 3-foot lead pipes used between the brass connection to the water main and a galvanized pipe.

The City has since installed copper services and has no known fully lead service lines. Not all private galvanized lines need replacement; those originally connected to City-owned copper services don't require replacement. The water service line replacement project started in April 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in October 2024.

The week of August 5th, the project will continue on the 400, 500, and 600 blocks of W. Tenth Street, the 600 block of S. Maple Street, the 600 block of Twelfth Street, and the 600 block of W. Thirteenth Street. The work will cause sidewalk and intermittent street closures.

INPUT SOUGHT ON DRAFT CONSOLIDATED PLAN

The City recently became a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement community. To access annual funding, the City must develop a Five-Year Consolidated Plan. This plan is a process that recipients of grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)—such as states, local governments, and public housing agencies—undertake to identify priority needs and goals for housing and community development. Additionally, the plan will help identify at-risk populations in the City, the prevalence of low-to-moderate-income households, and will include an assessment of the community’s housing needs.

After a review with the City Commission, stakeholder meetings, and community feedback, a draft Consolidated Plan has been developed and is available for a 30-day public comment period. The City estimates funding of $365,323 for the first year.

For interested citizens who are unable to attend the public hearing on August 12, 2024, please submit input via email to lsickterman@traversecitymi.gov or to the Planning and Zoning Department, 400 Boardman Ave, Traverse City, MI 49684, ATTN: CDBG/PUBLIC

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPEN HOUSE

Join the City and Jacobs Engineering for a public open house at the Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility on Friday, August 2nd, from 10 am to 2 pm.  

Tour-goers will follow the path of wastewater as it travels through the treatment process to remove pollutants, and protect the waterway. Attendees will learn how and what microorganisms remove organic matter, the role membrane filtration plays, how biogas produced during digestion is recycled as an energy source, what happens to the solids during and after treatment, and more.

Plant tours will be provided on the hour

• 10:00 am
• 11:00 am
• 12:00 pm
• 1:00 pm

Tour Requirements

• Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult
• All participants must wear close toed shoes
• Hard hats and safety glasses are required and will be provided
• For security purposes, photos are not permitted
• Tour may not be suitable for children under 6

MDOT PROJECT: SEGMENT 2

PRACTICE PATIENCE

Temporary traffic control measures during the MDOT Project deviate from the usual traffic controls. Your cooperation and diligence are essential for ensuring the safety of yourself, pedestrians, bicyclists, and fellow motorists during this period of construction. We urge all drivers to exercise caution, yield to pedestrians, and remain vigilant while navigating the MDOT Project detours.

Traffic Control Changes

Hall Street and Park Street will open to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, August 6th or Wednesday, August 7th, coinciding with the closing of the Union Street intersection for underground work.

Clinch Park Tunnel Closure

The Clinch Park Tunnel at Cass Street will continue to be closed on Friday, August 2nd, but will be open for the weekend. The tunnel will then close again on Monday, August 5th.

Bicyclists and pedestrians may cross at Union or travel east to the Murchie Bridge underpass.

The Clinch Park Tunnel will be open for the remainder of the project on Tuesday, August 6th and will be the alternate pedestrian crossing while Union Street is closed.

Front Street/Grandview Parkway Intersection Closure

Front Street continues to be closed on the west side of Franklin Street. The intersection at Front Street/Grandview Parkway will be closed for reconstruction until approximately mid-August, weather permitting.

Vehicular & Pedestrian Detours

Eastbound lanes of US-31/Grandview Parkway are closed as they are rebuilt, and one lane of US-31 traffic will be maintained in each direction on the westbound lanes.

Once the eastbound lanes are completed, traffic will be moved to those lanes, again with one lane open in each direction while the westbound lanes are rebuilt. The switch is tentatively expected to happen shortly after Labor Day.

While crews are working on the Grandview Parkway/Front Street intersection portion of Segment 2, pedestrians will be detoured across Front Street and Grandview Parkway at the Barlow Street signalized crossing and the Murchie Bridge underpass. While crews are working on the Division Street/Grandview Parkway intersection, pedestrians will be detoured to the High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signal crossing at the Elmwood Street/Grandview Parkway intersection and the signalized crossing at the Division Street/East Front Street intersection.

Additional Improvements

In addition to rebuilding the roadway, this project will include replacing concrete curb and gutter, upgrading sidewalk and ramps, improving storm sewer, and repairing the Murchie Bridge over the Boardman/Ottaway River.

During this project, the City has planned utility infrastructure improvements to coincide with the project, investing $3.2 million to replace underground water and wastewater utilities.

Businesses Open

Anticipate that the construction will affect businesses, particularly those situated along the construction zone. However, it's important to note that our local businesses will continue to operate, and by demonstrating patience, you can actively support them throughout this period of disruption.

IN THE COMMUNITY

THANKS VOTERS!

During only the second election since early in-person voting has officially been implemented in the City of Traverse City, we are seeing growth by more and more residents finding the ease of popping into the Governmental Center to vote at their leisure! Thanks voters!