About Powell Township
Powell Township, established in 1904, welcomes you to the Township website. The most common way to reach Powell Township’s town of Big Bay is to drive to the end of County Road 550, also known as “Big Bay Road”. Powell Township is a great place to live; Powell Township School (which received the 2022 Excellence in Education award) serves pre-schoolers through 8th graders, community events and trails provide year-round opportunities, and the peaceful pace offers a place to retire 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 so 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, applications for voting, zoning permits, and general questions (Transfer Station hours, tax due dates, etc.) 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.
Powell Township 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 Powell Township 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.
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The Ambulance Department meets the first Sunday of each month – 7:00 P.M. at Powell Township Fire Hall
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The Parks & Recreation Committee meets the second Tuesday of each month – 6:30 P.M. at Powell Township Hall
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The Powell Township Board meets the third Tuesday of each month – 7:00 P.M. at Powell Township Hall
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The Planning Commission meets the third Wednesday of each month – 7:00 P.M. at Powell Township Hall
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The Fire Department meets the last Thursday of each month – 6:00 P.M. at Powell Township Fire Hall
NOTICE – Powell Township Committee of the Whole Meeting – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
October 16, 2025, 7:00 P.M.
Powell Township Hall, 101 Bensinger St., Big Bay, Michigan, 49808
This meeting is open to the public. Board members and Trustees will also be present. The meeting purpose is to discuss items on the below agenda. No decisions requiring Board voting will be made. A committee of the whole is a meeting where multiple committees meet together, sometimes including the entire board. This type of meeting allows for more interaction between committees and board members. With rare exceptions, Committee of the Whole Meetings usually occur on the second Thursday of each month to discuss the upcoming Board Meeting’s Agenda.
AGENDA:
- Discuss the draft October 21, 2025, Powell Township Board Meeting Agenda
- Discuss potential additions to the Agenda
NOTICE – FLU & COVID VACCINE CLINIC IN BIG BAY
October 23, 2025, 1:00 – 4:30 P.M.
Powell Township Hall, 101 Bensinger St., Big Bay, Michigan, 49808
- Vaccines are AVAILABLE FOR INSURED AND UNINSURED people
- Please bring your ID and insurance card if insured
- Clinic is run by Marquette County Health Department; for more information call 906-475-7844
NOTICE – Extended Registration Hours for Special Election
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Powell Township Hall, 101 Bensinger St., Big Bay, Michigan, 49808
From the Powell Township Election Department:
- The Powell Township School Millage Special Election is November 4, 2025, 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.
- The Township Clerk’s office extended hours for election registration are Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
- The Public Accuracy Test for the election is on Monday, October 20, 2025, 10:00 A.M., at Town Hall. This tests the election ballot equipment’s accuracy.
- A job posting for additional Election Inspectors is also available on the site homepage, at the link in #6 below, on town bulletin boards, by inquiring at the township office Mondays or Thursdays 9AM – 12PM, or by calling 906-345-9345 extension 10.
- For all current Election Inspectors: please update your application if you wish to remain in place for any elections after January 1, 2026.
- Official notices of events surrounding this election are posted on the Powell Township Election Department page here.
NOTICE – SCHOOL MILLAGE SPECIAL ELECTION
November 4, 2025, 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.
Powell Township Hall, 101 Bensinger St., Big Bay, Michigan, 49808
From the Powell Township Election Department:
- The Powell Township School Millage Special Election is November 4, 2025, 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.
- The Township Clerk’s office extended hours for election registration are Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
- The Public Accuracy Test for the election is on Monday, October 20, 2025, 10:00 A.M., at Town Hall. This tests the election ballot equipment’s accuracy.
- A job posting for additional Election Inspectors is also available on the site homepage, at the link in #6 below, on town bulletin boards, by inquiring at the township office Mondays or Thursdays 9AM – 12PM, or by calling 906-345-9345 extension 10.
- For all current Election Inspectors: please update your application if you wish to remain in place for any elections after January 1, 2026.
- Official notices of events surrounding this election are posted on the Powell Township Election Department page here.
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.
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)
- 05 December 2025 (4 P.M. – 7 P.M.): Bay Cliff Health Camp Annual Open House
- 06 December 2025: Holiday Tree Lighting (1st Saturday)
ARE YOU INTERESTED? SECRETARY OF STATE MOBILE OFFICE EVENT IN POWELL
Powell Township can request a Secretary of State (SOS) Mobile Office Event, during which you can complete basic SOS transactions (listed below) locally. The likely event location would be Powell Township Hall. Full lists of transactions and requirements are available by calling or visiting the SOS in person or online. If you want a local SOS mobile office event, please call or e-mail Powell Township (906-345-9345 ext. 10 or clerk@powelltownship.org). If there is enough interest, the Township will schedule an event and post event notices throughout town.
- Get a first-time Michigan ID, or renew a driver’s license or ID
- Accomplish vehicle transactions (new or renew or correct plates or tabs, transfer titles, remove liens)
- Apply for or renew a disability parking placard
- Register to vote or update voter registration details
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. You can use the code below, or mail any donations to: Powell County Treasurer, P.O. Box 38, Big Bay, Michigan, 49808 and include in the memo “Fire on the Bay,” or drop donations off at Powell Township Hall offices (or the drop box outside of the offices), 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”:
- 2025 Accessibility Policy Pursuant to PA 660 of 2018 and Copying of Assessing Records
- 2025 Audit Procedures for Granting or Removal of Real Property Exemptions Policy
- 2025 Board Resolution to Adopt Poverty Exemption Income Guidelines and Asset Test for 2025
- 2025 Income and Asset Test Guidelines for Property Tax Relief
- 2025 Personal Property Annual Canvass Policy
- 2025 Policy Regarding Public Inspection of Assessing Records
- 2025 Property Exemption Policy and Procedures
- 2025 Resolution to Allow Property Owners to Protest to Board of Review in Writing
New items posted under “Administrative”:
- 2025 Earned Sick Time Act Policy
- 2025 General Appropriations Act – Budget
- 2025 Resolution for Powell Township Treasurer to Invest Funds
- 2025 Resolution for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate
- 2025 Resolution for Summer and Winter Tax Collection
- 2025 Resolution to Establish Salary
- 2025 Resolution to Approve Renewal of Operating Millage Proposal