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 2010 Census and Voter Registration files indicated a Powell Township population of 816, 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)

POWELL TOWNSHIP TRAILS UPDATES:

A complete and interactive map with the most current trail conditions is available at Noquemanon Trail Network. Powell Township’s trails are part of this network.

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

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.

Click here for the latest Big Bay Events Newsletter

About Powell Township

POWELL TOWNSHIP TRAILS UPDATES:

SAVE THE DATES

NOTICE – FOOD BANK OPEN APRIL 23, MAY 7, MAY 21, 5 – 7 P.M. AT BILL DIONNE (HALFWAY) FIRE HALL

SCHEDULED – Dam Inspection and Q&A Following – 20 May 2025

NOTICE – Eagle Mine Community Forum – 3 June 2025

UPDATE – Ordinances, Resolutions, Policies, and Guidelines

New items posted under “Lots and Land Use”:

New items posted under “Administrative”:

Employment Opportunities: Planning Commission

Powell Township Hall & Fire/EMS Hall

Bill Dionne ("Halfway") Fire Hall