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. NOTE: THE PLANNING COMMISSION NOW MEETS MONTHLY.
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.
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.
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.
June 23, 2025
Dear Powell Township Residents,
Thank you,
Coty Sorby, Water Operator, Powell Township
To the Qualified Electors of Precinct ONE of POWELL TOWNSHIP, COUNTY OF MARQUETTE, STATE OF MICHIGAN:
To the Qualified Electors of Precinct ONE of POWELL TOWNSHIP, COUNTY OF MARQUETTE, STATE OF MICHIGAN:
AT POWELL TOWNSHIP HALL, 101 BENSINGER STREET, BIG BAY, MICHIGAN, 49808
The Election is being held to vote on the following Powell Township Proposal – Operating Millage Renewal Proposition:
Shall the total tax rate limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be levied in the Township of Powell, in the County of Marquette, and the State of Michigan, for all general purposes be renewed, as provided by Section 21, Article X of the Constitution of the State of Michigan, by two and one half mills (2.5) of the tentative taxable value of all property in the Township of Powell for a period of five (5) years from 2026 to 2030 all years inclusive, for all township purposes. (This millage is estimated to generate $299,629.06 in the first year.)
The OFFICIAL NOTICE with all details is posted on township bulletin boards and available for viewing here.
2025 Marquette County, Michigan Plat Books are now available.
Powell Township was informed of unsanctioned, in-person tax collection attempts occurring around our town. At least one person, who is not a township representative or affiliate, has been going door-to-door to “collect property taxes”. This is not legitimate. Powell Township staff will never go door-to-door asking for tax payments, or any payment, for that matter.
If you encounter this issue, and you feel safe enough to do so, please contact the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department and/or Powell Township as soon as possible to report it. For additional questions or concerns, please contact the Powell Township Assessor, Dylan Jurasin, or Supervisor, Levi Ellis. The full notice letter from the Assessor is available here.
This is an opportunity to review and comment on proposed 2027 plans for forests in this region before the plans are finalized. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposed plans are viewable online at The Forestry Public Input Page or by request, and options for public comment or inputs are available. The DNR will host an OPEN HOUSE, 3 to 6 P.M., June 25, 2025, for in-person inputs. You can also submit comments directly via email (CarlsonB@michigan.gov) OR online via The Forestry Public Input Page. For the flyer with all details and primary contact information for any questions, click here. Further details:
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.
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.