We would start last Monday at MTU where I would put in a 3,000-yard swim. Charging up with my second cup of coffee afterwards, I would then complete the Chassell Planning Commission’s annual report which I had started on Sunday and then shared with the planning commission members ahead of our meeting that evening. I would also leave a message for Curt Wemple with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Waterways program to give me a call so we could discuss the potential availability of grant funding for marina projects.
A good deal of our planning commission meeting that evening would focus on resident concerns on Lakeshore Drive over the drainage infrastructure and concerns over what was seen by them as lack of coordination and action by state and county agencies. These residents are looking to establish what they are calling a Chassell Flood Victims Coalition to redress their grievances. We would also review and approve the annual report and discuss changing ordinance pertaining to long grass.
Tuesday morning, I would work on the Keweenaw Land Trust’s Boston Creek bridge project. Mark’s objective for the day was to construct the cribbing on which the bridge would be affixed on both sides of the creek.
We would then fill the cribbing with rock and stage the laminate beams in preparation for our work on Thursday.
You can see my YouTube short video that I put together using the GoPro app at this link: https://youtube.com/shorts/lgOjSarWdUI?si=WY8CopH9ynxAJJGZ
That afternoon, Julie and I would stop by the Chassell Heritage Center to drop off a key with a volunteer and I stopped by the old ice rink to check out the progress the Houghton County Road Commission was making with the new culvert project under Hancock Street.
We would then drive up to McLain State Park to take a walk along the Lake Superior shore. There was a nice breeze coming off the lake, so the surf was up!
You can see my GoPro videos from our walk at these two links to the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel:
Wednesday would start with a 2,700-yard swim at MTU and an MTEC SmartZone Board of Directors meeting. Julie and I would run over to the Chassell Farmers Market where I had really nice conversations with the Beirings and Chassell remote worker Steve Tenorio. From there I would meet up with the Chassell Township Board members there at Centennial Park where they were discussing park priorities. From there I went to the Fire Hall for the Township Board meeting where, during the Planning Commission report, I would secure board approvals for extending Brian Waters and Rich Smith’s terms by three years, moving forward with an RFP for the engineering required for the decking and railing of the Pike River bridge on the rail-trail, moving forward with work by the Planning Commission to revise the tall grass ordinance, moving forward with an Eagle Scout project for up to $5,000 from the Recreation Millage for materials for a gazebo and a couple of new features for the Chassell Bark Park off-leash dog park, and board acceptance of the Planning Commission’s Annual Report.
Thursday morning, I would pick up Jim Vaught who would be helping us with the bridge project. Along with Mark Roberts, Stan Vitton, and Wolf Meingast (with some awesome baked items from Jill Fisher), we would complete the construction of the bridge portion of the project by adding the joist hangers, fastening the joists, taping the tops of the beams, and then fastening down the decking!
You can see a YouTube short video of our work to complete the bridge at this link to the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/shorts/NN8mDehWAsY?si=8e_yT0yV8UAJieui
Do you embrace winter and have the ability to work remotely? Consider locating in the Keweenaw where you will find ubiquitous natural beauty, no congestion, and lower crime! Not sure? Come UP for a workcation to check it out! Learn how at Visit Keweenaw at https://www.visitkeweenaw.com/plan/trip-ideas-itineraries/workcations/ Visit Remote Workforce Keweenaw at https://remoteworkforcekeweenaw.com. Learn about those making the decision to locate here by following the Remote Workforce Keweenaw Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RemoteWorkforceKeweenaw.