Grand Traverse County

Grand Traverse County The Official page for Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Congratulations to the Village of Kingsley on becoming the 89th municipality in Michigan to receive Redevelopment Ready ...
05/28/2026

Congratulations to the Village of Kingsley on becoming the 89th municipality in Michigan to receive Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification.

This designation means the Village has worked to make its development processes more transparent, predictable, and efficient for businesses, developers, and investors. The voluntary certification, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, recognizes communities that are proactive, business-friendly, and prepared for future investment.

Located in Paradise Township at the southern edge of Grand Traverse County, the Village of Kingsley is known as “A Little Bit of Paradise.” Home to approximately 1,500 residents, Kingsley is continuing to invest in the future of its downtown and broader community development efforts.
For more information about the Village of Kingsley, visit https://www.villageofkingsley.com/

Grand Traverse County and the Grand Traverse Conservation District are encouraging paddlers to be safe by being aware of...
05/27/2026

Grand Traverse County and the Grand Traverse Conservation District are encouraging paddlers to be safe by being aware of current river conditions within Grand Traverse County. Together both organizations are issuing a notice for paddlers:

River access between Brown Bridge Landing and Cass Road Jack’s Landing is CLOSED. Paddlers can access the Boardman River by putting in at Forks and Scheck’s Place Landing. Float time is expected to be in the range of four hours from Forks to Brown Bridge Landing.

RISK IS SIGNIFICANT AND LIFE THREATNING CONDITIONS EXIST. THERE IS MUCH DEBRIS IN CLOSED AREAS INCLUDING ASPHALT, REBAR, PROPANE TANKS, DOCKS, CHAIRS AND NATURAL MATERIALS.

“As a reminder, people recreating on the Boardman River, need to be cognizant that the river is not in the same state that it was before the flooding. All the flooding that occurred in the river valley took debris down river and that debris landed somewhere. We know there are hazards that include natural sources and man-made sources that were not there before the flood,” stated Nate Alger, GT County Administrator.

05/22/2026

Balancing Growth and County Services - Understanding TIF 97

Public service announcement ⬇️
05/22/2026

Public service announcement ⬇️

We are proud to officially break ground on Project Alpha, marking the beginning of construction on our new Emergency Ope...
05/12/2026

We are proud to officially break ground on Project Alpha, marking the beginning of construction on our new Emergency Operations and Communications Center (EOCC) and Centralized Operations Building (COB). We are projecting a late spring/early summer 2027 completion date.

To learn more about Project Alpha head here: https://engage.gtcountymi.gov/.

05/12/2026

Dubbed Project Alpha, Grand Traverse County is planning a new Emergency Operations and Communications Center (EOCC) and a Centralized Operations Building (COB) with public safety and long-term cost efficiencies at top of mind.

In our latest Straight From Nate, we chat with Bobby Peplinski, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Northwest Michigan for Cunningham-Limp, to discuss the latest updates and where the project currently stands.

To learn more about Project Alpha head here: https://engage.gtcountymi.gov/.

Grand Traverse County is planning for a future Jail and Justice Complex and is inviting community members to participate...
05/04/2026

Grand Traverse County is planning for a future Jail and Justice Complex and is inviting community members to participate in the process!

This phase will focus on gathering input through stakeholder focus groups, community engagement sessions, and an online survey. The goal is to ensure that future planning reflects both operational realities and community perspectives before decisions move forward.

Tuesday, May 12 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Paradise Township Hall ​2300 M-113 Kingsley, Michigan

Thursday, May 14 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Garfield Township Hall​ 3848 Veterans Drive, Traverse City, Michigan

Why is this project happening?

The County is planning for a new Jail and Justice Complex because the current facility no longer has enough space or functional layout to support daily operations. Recent assessments indicate the facility has an estimated remaining lifespan of 3–5 years, and some significant structural concerns, including shifting and cracking, have been identified.

These factors can affect day-to-day operations, including safety, staffing, and the ability to provide consistent programming. The County also faces a longstanding capacity challenge, with individuals regularly housed in other counties due to limited space, increasing costs and logistical complexity and interfering with effective programming and rehabilitation efforts.
County leadership has emphasized that this is not a question of if additional issues will arise, but when. For that reason, the County is choosing to act now, rather than waiting until more urgent issues arise and there is less control.

Where are we in the process?

The project is currently in the early planning phase. During this stage, the County is gathering information, working with technical experts, and seeking input from partners and the community.

Key details, including location, design, programming, and funding approach, have not yet been decided.

How can the community get involved?
Beginning in May, the County will host community engagement sessions and stakeholder discussions. An online survey will also be available for anyone who is unable to attend in person.

The sessions include the following dates and locations:

• Tuesday, May 12 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Paradise Township Hall ​ 2300 M-113 Kingsley, Michigan
• Thursday, May 14 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Garfield Township Hall​ 3848 Veterans Drive, Traverse City, Michigan

Community input will help identify key concerns, questions, and priorities to inform future planning discussions. Final decisions will be made by the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners.

More information, including engagement opportunities and project updates, details are available at https://engage.gtcountymi.gov/jail.

04/29/2026

STORM REPAIR UPDATE:

Road Commission crews have been working to identify and repair damages from last week's historic flooding. This work remains a priority, rearranging staff from our originally planned spring projects to these new emergency response projects. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to ensure all roadways and bridges are safe for travel.

SAWYER ROAD CLOSURE:

Good News! EGLE has approved the permit for repairs to Sawyer Road and work will begin tomorrow.

BROWN BRIDGE CLOSURE:

Staff met with MDOT bridge inspectors this morning to determine the extent of the damage to the structure, and they have approved our plan for repairs. We now have begun securing the contractors needed to complete the job as soon as possible. Our crews continue to work on the roads surrounding this closure area to make them as smooth as we can for the increased traffic. As these are mainly seasonal gravel roads, the task is difficult. Thank you to everyone for your courtesy to the crews as they work on this challenging task.

We will continue to update you as we receive information, and we remind you to help us by reporting any issues you see to the "citizen reporter" on gtcrc.org

The Grand Traverse County Road Commission has closedBrown Bridge Road between Ranch Rudolph Road and Arbutus Hill Road d...
04/27/2026

The Grand Traverse County Road Commission has closed
Brown Bridge Road between Ranch Rudolph Road and Arbutus Hill Road due to an emergency safety issue at the bridge.

The roadway is closed in both directions at:

• Ranch Rudolph Road (east)
• Arbutus Hill Road (west)

The closure will remain in effect until further notice. All public safety and first responder agencies have a plan in place for responding to the affected area if needed.

In addition, the Grand Traverse Conservation District has posted signage at all upstream launch points advising of no river activity on the Boardman River upstream from the bridge until further notice. Signage and caution tape are in place at all access sites.

Updates will be provided by the Grand Traverse County Road Commission as conditions change.

Address

400 Boardman Avenue
Traverse City, MI
49684

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5am
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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