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)
NOTICE – Powell Township Committee of the Whole Meeting – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
May 12, 2025, 12:00 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. Due to schedule conflicts, this meeting is on Monday, May 12, but 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 May 20, 2025, Powell Township Board Meeting Agenda
- Discuss potential additions to the Agenda
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.
- 12 April 2025: Easter Egg Hunt
- 03 May 2025: Dash for Trash
- 17 May 2025: Big Bay Relay
- 04 July 2025: 4th of July Parade
- 12 July 2025: Fire on the Bay
- 20 September 2025: Fall Festival
- 05 December 2025 (4P.M. – 7P.M.): Bay Cliff Health Camp Annual Open House
- 06 December 2025: Holiday Tree Lighting
ROADS NOTICE – PARTIAL LIFTING OF SEASONAL WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS BEGINS 8 A.M., TUESDAY, MARCH 13
At 8 A.M. on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, weight restrictions will be lifted on all roads south of U.S. 41 and M-28 and east of M-95, including all of Chocolay, Marquette, and Humboldt Townships. Weight restrictions will continue to apply and will be enforced on all other county roads and streets until further notice. Restrictions apply to all motorized vehicles and loads. Normal legal loads are permitted on all roads designated as “All Season.” Weight restriction information and updates may be obtained by calling the Marquette County Road Commission at 486-4491 ext. 2.
NOTICE – FOOD BANK OPEN APRIL 23, MAY 7, MAY 21, 5 – 7 P.M. AT BILL DIONNE (HALFWAY) FIRE HALL
Powell Township Food Bank Open EXTENDED DATES IN APRIL AND MAY
- With donated funds and volunteers, the Powell Township Emergency Management Department will open the Bill Dionne Fire Hall at Halfway Food Bank starting November 6. Continuing it through summer will be determined in May.
- The Food Bank will open 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on two Wednesdays per month.
- Non-perishable food, paper goods, hygiene and cleaning supplies are available for anyone in need.
- Call Emergency Manager Kim Bourgeois at 906-362-7275, or the township office at 906-345-9345, for more information.
The Food Bank is open the following EXTENDED DATES IN APRIL & MAY:
- Wednesday, April 23, 5:00 – 7:00 P.M.
- Wednesday, May 7, 5:00 – 7:00 P.M.
- Wednesday, May 21, 5:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Food Bank Donations
- You can make a monetary donation to the township office, make checks out to Powell Township and “food bank donation” in the memo line. A great holiday idea.
- Food/supply donations can be dropped off at the Powell Township office during regular office hours (Mon & Thu 9-12) or dropped off directly to the food bank during operating hours.
- Questions? Call Kim Bourgeois at 906-362-7275.
SCHEDULED – Dam Inspection and Q&A Following – 20 May 2025
The dam between Lake Independence and the Iron River is scheduled for inspection on May 20, 2025. The inspector will stay for the 7:00 P.M. Monthly Board Meeting following the inspection to answer questions from the public.
NOTICE – Eagle Mine Community Forum – 3 June 2025
The Eagle Mine will host an Eagle Mine Community Forum on June 3, 2025, at Powell Township Hall. Mine information is available at the Eagle Mine website.
- 5:30 – 7:00 P.M.
- DINNER PROVIDED
- Contact: Meagen Morrison, Social Performance Supervisor
- Mobile: (906) 204-0587
- Email: Meagen.morrison@lundinmining.com
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
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