ABOUT POWELL TOWNSHIP

Powell Township, established in 1904, welcomes you to the Township website. The most common way to reach the Township and its village, Big Bay, is to drive to the end of County Road 550, also known as “Big Bay Road”. The Township is a great place to live; Powell Township School (which received the 2022 Excellence in Education award) serves preschoolers through eighth graders, community events and trails provide year-round activity opportunities, and the peaceful pace offers space to relax and enjoy the beauty and wonders of nature. With the “big city” of Marquette, Michigan, 25 miles away on the opposite end of County Road 550, Powell is a township removed but easily connected.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Powell Township’s population as 830 in 2023, with about 70% being year-round residents. The Township has several lakes and rivers, ideal for recreation, and approximately 45 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. Within the Township is the community of Big Bay. Big Bay’s stores and restaurants include Cram’s General Store and Hungry Hollow Cafe, the Historic Thunder Bay Inn & Restaurant, the Lumberjack Tavern, Big Bay Pointe Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast, Picture Bay Motel, and Big Bay Motel. Additionally, for camping, Powell Township houses Perkins Park on Lake Independence, operated by Marquette County. Dock of the Bay, also operated by Marquette County, enables access to Lake Superior by boat. Powell Township maintains four additional parks: Draver Park and Ballfield, Thomas Rock Scenic Overlook, Burns Landing, and the Bill Dionne/Halfway Fire Hall Kids’ Park. Powell Township’s Parks and Recreation Committee also maintains multiple Noquemanon Trail Network trails, enabling year-round use.

Residents can find information about the Powell Township Board, monthly Board meeting minutes, voting information, zoning permits, general township questions and more on this website. In addition to this site’s Tax & Assessing page, residents and owners can view their assessing and tax information for free at this link.

OFFICE HOURS

General Office: Monday & Thursday, 09:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Treasurer: Monday & Thursday, 09:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M., or by appointment (email treasurer@powelltownship.org)

Assessor: Thursday, 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Zoning Administrator: by appointment only (email zoningadmin@powelltownship.org) 

2025 MEETING CYCLES

To see upcoming meeting notices listed, special meetings, cancellations, reschedules, or virtual instructions, click here. For a calendar view, click here. To see public comment guidelines, check the Rules of Public Comment Participation. 

  • The Ambulance Department meets the first Sunday of each month – 7:00 P.M. at Powell Township Fire Hall

  • The Parks & Recreation Committee meets the second Tuesday of each month – 6:30 P.M. at Powell Township Hall

  • The Powell Township Board meets the third Tuesday of each month – 7:00 P.M. at Powell Township Hall

  • The Planning Commission meets the third Wednesday of each month – 7:00 P.M. at Powell Township Hall

  • The Fire Department meets the last Thursday of each month – 6:00 P.M. at Powell Township Fire Hall

NOTICE – BILL DIONNE (HALFWAY) FIRE HALL FOOD BANK OPENINGS:

5 – 7 P.M. on NOV 5, NOV 19, DEC 3, DEC 17, JAN 7, JAN 21, FEB 4, FEB 18, MAR 4, and MAR 18

  • With donated funds and volunteers, the Powell Township Emergency Management Department will open the Bill Dionne Fire Hall at Halfway Food Bank starting November 5. Continuing it through summer will be determined in April.
  • The Food Bank will open from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on two Wednesdays per month: NOV 5 & 19, DEC 3 & 17, JAN 7 & 21, FEB 4 & 18, and MAR 4 & 18.
  • Non-perishable food, paper goods, hygiene and cleaning supplies are available for anyone in need.   
  • For more information, call Emergency Manager Kim Bourgeois (906-362-7275) or the township office (906-345-9345).

 

Food Bank Donations

  • You can make a monetary donation; make checks payable to Powell Township and note “food bank donation” in the memo line. A great holiday idea.
  • You can make a food/supply donation; drop off is available at the Powell Township office during regular office hours (Mon & Thu 9-12), or in the Powell Township Hall whenever it is open/active for events, or dropped off during food bank operating hours at the Halfway Fire Hall.
  • For more information, call Emergency Manager Kim Bourgeois (906-362-7275) or the township office (906-345-9345).

YOU ARE INVITED – HOLIDAY BAZAAR – NOVEMBER 29, 10AM – 2PM, BIG BAY

Powell Township’s Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and Community Presbyterian Church will join together to host the “Wonderland Christmas Bazaar” for everyone on November 29, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M., in the Fellowship Hall of Community Presbyterian Church. The community is welcome and the bazaar will include lunch fare (chili, hot dogs, soups), holiday items and gifts, short demonstrations, and a craft corner for children to create ornaments. Also, if you have a surplus of holiday decorations, the hosts would be happy to take them as donations during the event — the ornaments will in turn be shared with the community.

YOU ARE INVITED – ANNUAL POWELL TOWNSHIP TREE LIGHTING – DECEMBER 6, 6PM-8PM

You are invited to the annual Powell Township Tree Lighting ceremony on December 6, 2025, from 6 to 8 P.M., at Powell Township Hall. The event is hosted by the Powell Township Parks and Recreation Committee. Tree lighting outside, and warmth, treats, and photo opportunities inside Powell Township Hall — welcome to residents, friends, and family!

YOU ARE INVITED – COMMUNITY DINNER

December 9, 4:30 – 6:30 P.M.

Community Presbyterian Church of Big Bay, Michigan, 49808

Menu will be posted throughout the township prior to the event.

YOU ARE INVITED – BBSC SEASON OF SHARING FUNDRAISER – DECEMBER 12, 6PM-8PM

You are invited to a Season of Sharing Fundraiser on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 6 to 8 P.M., in the Thunder Bay Inn lobby. The event is hosted by the Big Bay Stewardship Council (BBSC).

  • NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS – Making sure every Powell Township School family has food for the holidays and beyond
  • Live Music
  • Holiday Sing-a-Longs
  • Multiple Raffles
  • Cookie Competition
  • Questions? Contact a BBSC member on their Facebook page or at bigbaystewardship.org 

POWELL TOWNSHIP TRAILS UPDATES: 

Trail maps are available at Noquemanon Trail Network. Powell Township’s trails are part of this network. Additionally, a trails traffic report is available here.

Mino-Kwe-Jiigibiik-Pink-Set-2024
Mino-Kwe-Jiigibiik-Blue-Set-2024
Burns-Boardwalk-to-Beach-Stairs
Boardwalk-View-Toward-Burns-Cabin
Burns-Long-Boardwalk-to-Beach

SAVE THE DATES

Powell Township residents, please keep these annual township events in mind. Further details, including times, are in local newsletters (including the site newsletter), on the site calendar, and/or will post as they become available.

  • January: Thomas Rock Showshoe Event (3rd Saturday)
  • February: Fishing Derby (2nd weekend)
  • February: Honey Bear Classic Ski/Snowshoe Event (2nd weekend)
  • April:  Easter Egg Hunt (Saturday before Easter) 
  • May:  Spring Cleanups, Dash for Trash, and Potlucks (1st week)
  • May:  Big Bay Relay (3rd Saturday)
  • June: Summer Concert Series season begins
  • June: Park & Trail Recreation Network Volunteers Picnic
  • July:  4th of July Parade
  • July:  Softball Tournament (weekend after July 4th)
  • July:  Fire on the Bay (2nd Saturday)
  • August-September:  Labor Day Softball Tournament (Labor Day weekend)
  • 20 September 2025 (11 A.M. – 4 P.M.):  Fall Festival (3rd weekend)
  • 06 December 2025:  Holiday Tree Lighting (1st Saturday)

FIRE ON THE BAY & CONCERT REPORT: Big Bay, July 12, 7:30 P.M. Concert, Fireworks Followed the Concert 

  • Powell Township’s Parks & Recreation Committee hosted the 31st Annual Fire on the Bay on Saturday, July 12, 2025. 
  • The concert was at the beach pavilion located at the Burns Landing boardwalk’s end.
  • This was the first night of electricity use — for gathering, burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, sweatshirt sales, and boardwalk string lights — in and around the restored LeClaire Cabin and Burns Landing areas.
  • The band “Ramble Tamble” headlined and played to the beach, multiple bonfires, and lake (swimming/boating) crowds for over 2.5 hours. 
  • Fireworks followed, and swimmers, boaters, and the shore crowd along Mino-kwe Jiigibiik were treated to good weather during the display.
  • Township members and volunteers rounded out the event Sunday morning with an early beach cleanup event.

 

The Township receives great support from the community in raising funds for the fireworks and is grateful for all event supporters. THANK YOU!

  • Fire On the Bay donations are accepted year-round and are used solely for the annual event.
  • Supporters can mail donations to: Powell Township Treasurer, P.O. Box 38, Big Bay, Michigan, 49808 and include in the memo “Fire on the Bay”.
  • Supporteres can also drop donations off at Powell Township Hall offices (or the drop box outside of the offices).
  • Supporters can also use the code below or donate online at https://givebutter.com/OI2fue. 

UPDATE – Ordinances, Resolutions, Policies, and Guidelines 

Fifteen (15) items were approved at February – April 2025 Board Meetings. They are also posted in full detail here. Additional poverty exemption updates, facts, procedures, and forms are available at the Tax & Assessing page here.

New items posted under “Lots and Land Use”: 

  1. 2025 Accessibility Policy Pursuant to PA 660 of 2018 and Copying of Assessing Records
  2. 2025 Audit Procedures for Granting or Removal of Real Property Exemptions Policy
  3. 2025 Board Resolution to Adopt Poverty Exemption Income Guidelines and Asset Test for 2025
  4. 2025 Income and Asset Test Guidelines for Property Tax Relief
  5. 2025 Personal Property Annual Canvass Policy
  6. 2025 Policy Regarding Public Inspection of Assessing Records
  7. 2025 Property Exemption Policy and Procedures
  8. 2025 Resolution to Allow Property Owners to Protest to Board of Review in Writing

New items posted under “Administrative”:

  1. 2025 Earned Sick Time Act Policy
  2. 2025 General Appropriations Act – Budget
  3. 2025 Resolution for Powell Township Treasurer to Invest Funds
  4. 2025 Resolution for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate
  5. 2025 Resolution for Summer and Winter Tax Collection
  6. 2025 Resolution to Establish Salary
  7. 2025 Resolution to Approve Renewal of Operating Millage Proposal

Employment Opportunities:

1. Front Office / Administration: Job description posts soon – contact Township if interested

2. Recording Secretary

3. Election Inspector

4. Planning Commission Member

Powell Township Hall & Fire/EMS Hall

Bill Dionne ("Halfway") Fire Hall

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