The board meets on a monthly basis, typically the third Monday of each month, at the Ford River Township Hall at 3845 K Rd. 

Upcoming at the 7 p.m. meeting of May 18 will be a public hearing about a stretch of M-35 that many see as dangerous. Residents have expressed concern for years, and multiple accidents — some fatal — have already occurred on the corridor.

Now, multiple parties are considering solutions. 

The area in question is from around the Delta County Airport southwards to the Ford River Bridge, but especially between Breezy Point Bar & Grill and the Ford River Bridge. Many homes have addresses on the highway, and locals feel unsafe pulling out of their driveways when traffic flies past at full speed. There’s no passing lane, and drivers often pass on the shoulder, putting at risk pedestrians and people trying to leave driveways.

Ford River Township holds its monthly meetings the third Monday of each month in this hall at 3845 K Rd. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

“For those of us who live here, pulling into our own driveways has become a daily gamble with our lives. The posted 50 mph speed limit is treated as a mere suggestion,” said resident Jack Ham. 

“Children waiting for the bus in the dark in winter or riding a bike have not enough shoulder for their safety given the speed and lack of proper shoulder,” Liz Snyder chipped in. “As a child … while riding my bike on narrow shoulder, I had to disembark into the ditch every time a semi-truck passed by because the draft was so strong it would blow me over.”

In February, a teleconference took place between several official parties: Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), State Representative Dave Prestin, Delta County Commissioner Christine Williams, Michigan State Police, Delta County Sheriff’s Office and Ford River Township Supervisor Steve Nelson all joined the brainstorming session. MDOT will attend the township meeting on Monday and discuss possible routes forward after members of the public have had their say.

“It is a very serious area that we do need to deal with,” said Williams, explaining that residents feel like nothing is being done despite obvious issues. 

“We have tried indicating our turns early. We have tried defensive driving. But individual caution cannot fix a lawless stretch of highway,” said Ham, announcing that he and multiple other residents will make their voices heard Monday evening.

Another item of new business that will appear before the Ford River Township Board on Monday is a proposed ordinance to regulate short-term rentals — the kind seen on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo.

The concept of staying in a cottage or other small space rented out by a homeowner has become massively popular in recent years, with travelers preferring the homey character of a unique place to the dull uniformity of a hotel. But, as has been seen in a number of locations, an overabundance of such short-term rentals can not only become a nuisance to neighbors, but also make it difficult for people who want to live locally to find available homes.

Recently, the Planning Commission for Ford River Township received a letter from a resident who was frustrated with the increase of short-term rentals in the Upper Peninsula. The Ford River resident illustrated the situation with problems that have arisen down in Florida and over at Garth Bluff in the Rapid River area due to careless renters.

“(There are) people wandering around residents’ yards, noise complaints. The (short-term rentals) seem to take advantage to add a bed wherever possible, regardless of ordinances,” read the minutes from the Ford River Planning Commission meeting of April 1.

As a result, the Planning Commission for the township, along with the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD) drafted a new ordinance, which passed the commission and is ready to be brought to the township board, relayed Clerk Debbi Brown.

A handful of other agenda items, a period for general public comment, communications and updates from township departments will also be on the docket for Monday, as for every meeting.

Last month, during the April 20 regular meeting of the Ford River Township Board, a scene unfolded that attracted the attention of area residents on social media as well as various news outlets.

When Fire Chief Brian Nelson, who heads the volunteer fire department for the township, brought up finances that night, tensions rose and multiple people lost their temper. However, since then, the township appears to be trying to move forward.

Money can be a sore spot for many, but in Ford River Township, the topic remains a fresh wound — it’s been barely a year since firefighter and former treasurer Todd Holland was sentenced in Delta County Circuit Court after embezzling $70,000 from the volunteer fire department.

Reminders of the incident were brought up on April 20, when Brian Nelson requested that invoices for fire department spending be sent back to him and that he be updated on account balances. Arguments ensued and devolved; in minutes, different officials were not listening to each other.

“I think there’s just some misunderstandings that got out of hand there,” said Superintendent Steve Nelson, who reportedly has no direct relation to the fire chief with the same last name. 

Funds are safely accounted for and designated properly, said Steve Nelson and Brown.

After it was discovered in 2024 that Holland had stolen money from the account he was supposed to be in charge of, the separate bank account that had been for holding fire department funds was closed. An amount of $99,444 — made up of the remaining money in the account, new funds raised, and the $70,000 that Holland repaid — was transferred relatively recently to a fire department capital outlay fund. Though it is within the general fund for the whole township, said capital outlay is earmarked solely for the fire department and can only be used for large purchases for that department specifically.

Invoices that the township receives and pays come from their respective departments, said Brown, explaining that it would be redundant work for additional copies to be sent back to department heads. She said one reason reports look different now than they used to was because after the Township updated QuickBooks (an accounting program), the new version didn’t allow for certain details.

To keep money collected through fundraisers for the fire department entirely separate from government funds, Brian and others helped form a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit. That entity is called the Ford River Township Firefighter Association, and technically has no legal affiliation with the township. In order for their funds to be used for fire department equipment, the 501(c)(3) must donate it to the township.

“The purpose of the Ford River Township Firefighter Association is supporting the Ford River Township Volunteer Fire Department and its firefighters through fundraising, donations, as well as public relations support such as picnics, community outreach, volunteerism and education on fire safety and response,” wrote Chief Brian Nelson to the Daily Press. “The officers and members of the association will be keeping track of their funds from the fundraisers they do and any donations they receive, and they will use those funds to help support the Ford River Township Volunteer Fire Department and its firefighters.”

Though Brian Nelson is concerned about transparency from the township, Brown insists everything being done is by the books, not hidden, and her hands are tied when asked for documents that don’t exist.

Signs that the two parties — township board and fire department — are working to improve their situation and relationship (though perhaps begrudgingly) may be seen in concessions being made on both sides.

The township’s insurance company requested that inventory be done of all equipment, and Brian said the fire department has been working on updating the itemized report. In response to the fire chief’s request, the clerk produced some reports.

Aside from the regularly scheduled bill payments, department updates and recent meeting minutes, the matter of fire department finances and invoices is not due to appear at Monday’s meeting.