GRAND TRAVERSE: County expected to finalize $3M GO-REC deal

Peter Kobs, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
·4 min read

May 13—TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse County is expected to finalize its $3 million purchase of the 196-acre GO-REC property in East Bay Township, formerly known as Camp Greilick, this week. The site is expected to become a county park.

Long a topic of public speculation, the Greilick Outdoor Recreation and Education Center closed in autumn 2022 following a decision by then-owner Rotary Camps & Services.

In late April 2024, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy purchased the property on an interim basis so that the county could complete required due diligence work, including inspections, environmental assessments and title work. Pit toilets and a former shotgun target range were among those environmental concerns.

Financing for the GO-REC purchase came from a local philanthropist and "conservation angel" who has supported other major projects in the area. The donor asked to remain anonymous at this time.

The property features 4,310 feet of frontage on Rennie, Spider, and Bass Lakes. It also connects to numerous trail systems in the area.

"For 94 years, the former Camp Greilick provided an amazing setting for young people to enjoy the woods and waters of our beautiful area," administration officials said in a statement to the county board of commissioners.

"Grand Traverse County's vision for the property is to secure it for the benefit of all residents and carry on the tradition of outdoor recreation and education as a public park."

Brownfield redevelopment

Also on Wednesday, the county board will review a proposal from Keel Capital to build 149 "workforce housing" apartments in Garfield Township at 2105 U.S. 31 South just northwest of McRae Hill Road.

The three-building development is subject to further review before closing, which is currently scheduled for late June.

The developer is requesting brownfield tax increment revenues to help fund the project, which requires environmental mitigation because of the presence of contaminants in the soil and groundwater. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is reviewing the proposal and its eligibility as a brownfield redevelopment site under state law.

Several existing buildings will be demolished as part of the plan. The environmental work is expected to cost about $253,000. The housing development itself is projected to cost $9.9 million. It would provide rental housing units for local residents targeting 100 percent of the area media household income, which stands at $74,746, according to a 2022 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Road commission

In addition, an ad hoc committee of the county board is recommending a feasibility study of the county road commission, which maintains more than 1,000 miles of local roads and employs 56 people.

The study idea is an outgrowth of earlier discussions about how the road commission should be governed — by an elected board, by an appointed board or as a department of county government. A 2022 fiscal audit of the agency was also part of that review.

Currently, the road commission is governed by a five-member board appointed by the county commission. Although it is technically part of county government, the agency operates separately and is not a department of the county. It has an annual budget of about $22 million.

Michigan is the only state that has county road commissions, a system established in 1909. And, out of the state's 83 counties, only seven counties have dissolved their independent road commissions and made them departments of county government: Berrien, Calhoun, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Macomb and Wayne. (Macomb and Jackson operate under a special charter provision for counties with more than 750,000 residents.)

Of the remaining 76 Michigan counties, 42 have appointed road commission boards and 34 have elected boards.

Survey, appointments

Also on Wednesday, the county board is expected to authorize an agreement with survey company Polco to help conduct a community survey similar to surveys done in 2020 and 2022.

As in the past, survey results will be used to help develop the county's strategic plan. Alec Vice, a Polco representative, will attend Wednesday's meeting virtually to discuss survey system subscription options. Prices range from $5,500 for one year to $17,000 for an enhanced two-year package.

In addition, after several weeks of delays, the board is expected to appoint Carol Crawford to the Grand Traverse County Department of Health and Human Services board, which oversees Pavilions senior living center.

Also, Christal Frost Anderson is expected to be appointed to the Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority.

Appointments for the county Veterans Affairs board are still pending.