November 26, 2025
Township Meeting Location Change
The next Township meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, will be at the firehall in Whittemore and will continue to be held there until probably April, 2026.
November 7, 2025
Whittemore Chamber of Commerce Offering Free Thanksgiving Dinner
In the spirit of tradition and allowing everyone to have a place at the table on Thanksgiving day (November 27, 2025), the doors will be open at the Whittemore Area Chamber of Commerce from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. to offer a Thanksgiving meal to those seniors and individuals who are unable to prepare a meal, or have no one to break bread with. It costs nothing to attend (but you may donate if you wish). If you would like to attend, but need a ride? We will offer that for you. We will also offer card games and I will stream football, so in the true spirit of the holiday, you will be with family.
Nobody likes being alone on a holiday. And not many people want to eat canned soup for their Thanksgiving meal, so come and join us!
Thank you in advance to those who have donated/volunteered their time and money for this event:
Paul and Cathy Birkenbach
Kristan Shaffer Thompson
Darlene Miller
Rod Wood
Mike Currie
To make arrangements for a meal and/or ride, please call or text the Whittemore Chamber of Commerce at 989-756-5231.
Content source: From the facebook page of Gina Ott Kolevar
October 30, 2025
State of Michigan Announces $4.5 Million to Food Bank Council of Michigan, Additional Resources to Feed Families Before SNAP Pause Caused by Federal Government Shutdown
State also working with philanthropic partners to align funding for impacted families in all 83 counties
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the State of Michigan will provide $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to feed families amid the federal government’s decision to pause SNAP benefits starting November 1. The funding will help feed Michiganders in all 83 counties and provide food delivery to those who can’t drive to their local food bank. The state is also aligning philanthropic support to help assist families impacted by the disruption of SNAP benefits.
“Hungry families cannot wait for the folks in power in Washington, DC to do their jobs,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today, in light of the USDA’s decision to freeze SNAP, the State of Michigan is taking action to support the Food Bank Council of Michigan so they can continue feeding families in all 83 counties and deliver food to those who are unable to drive. We take care of each other in Michigan, and we will continue bringing together public and private philanthropic resources to feed people as we hit day 30 of the federal government shutdown and approach the November 1 pause of SNAP. We will continue to do what we can in Michigan to help impacted families.”
“SNAP helps countless Michiganders put food on the table and feed their families when times are tough,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “The federal government’s decisions have put SNAP in jeopardy, making it harder for families to stay out of poverty and stay healthy. That’s unacceptable. Today’s action will shore up community food banks who are working to fill the gap caused by the shutdown and get Michiganders relief. The State of Michigan will continue to Stand Tall so more families can get the resources they need to eat.”
“Republicans and Democrats in Michigan were able to come together and work across the aisle to keep the state government open and pass a budget that moves to Michigan forward,” said Speaker of the House Matt Hall (R-Richland Township). “Because we did the right thing and kept state government on the job, we are now able to step up with this critical support for our local food banks, ensuring they have the resources they need to protect our communities and keep Michigan families strong. But this will never be a long-term solution and state government can only make up so much of the federal government’s spending. Congress must follow our lead and keep more Michigan families from being hurt by this shutdown.”
State Budget Office Director Jennifer Flood directed MDHHS to direct funding to the Food Bank Council. This action builds on a letter sent this morning from 21 governors, led by Governor Whitmer, calling on the White House to release SNAP contingency funding and allow states to use those existing funds to feed people.
“No one should go hungry and that’s why we’re sending out these emergency funds to help Michigan children, seniors and people with disabilities who are facing food insecurity,” said State Budget Director Jen Flood. “The federal government shutdown has created serious uncertainty for millions of Americans who rely on SNAP to put food on the table. This emergency funding will help food banks across the state support vulnerable Michiganders.”
“With the delay in November SNAP benefits, the roughly 1.4 million Michiganders who receive food benefits are facing an impossible choice between putting food on the table and covering other basic needs,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director of MDHHS. “The Food Bank Council of Michigan and our philanthropic partners are stepping up to help fill the gap to ensure that our friends and neighbors have access to the basic nutrition needed to live, work and thrive.”
Administered by the federal government’s USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), SNAP is the nation’s largest food assistance program and one of the most effective tools to reduce food insecurity. Nearly 13% of Michigan households, approximately 1.4 million people, receive federal SNAP benefits. About 43% are families with children and 36% are families with members who are older adults or disabled.
SNAP participants should reach out to their local MDHHS office with any questions regarding their federal SNAP benefits or check MI Bridges for updates.
Additional resources
Dial 2-1-1 or visit Find Help – Michigan 2-1-1 for free, confidential assistance and referrals to local food programs and support services.
Visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan to locate nearby food banks and learn about additional hunger relief efforts.
Michigan’s Double Up Food Bucks Program – which is supported by a grant administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) – is a program that gives Michigan families money to purchase groceries, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Hunters Feeding Program, primarily funded through donations at the point of sale when customers purchase DNR licenses and/or permits, feeds an estimated 160 high-protein and nutritious meals per deer donated.
As part of the FY26 budget, free breakfast and lunch will continue being provided to Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students.
The Supper and Snacks program through which children participating in afterschool activities have access to dinner and snacks.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program helps supplement the diets of income-eligible individuals and households by providing them with USDA foods at no cost.
How SNAP works
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service administers SNAP at the federal level with states operating the program at the local level, determining eligibility and issuing benefits to eligible households. The program is funded by the federal government, not the state government.
SNAP benefits are provided on electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that participants can use to purchase food at grocery and convenience stores, farmers markets and other retailers, circulating money directly into the food supply chain and other retail sectors. SNAP spending generates revenue for grocery stores, farmers and other businesses, which helps pay local wages, keeps shelves stocked and boosts the local economy.
SNAP in Michigan
In FY 2024, the average SNAP household in Michigan received $335.03 in SNAP benefits per month, which is about $173 per person per month or $5.68 per person, per day. Households with very low incomes receive more SNAP benefits than households closer to the poverty line because they need more help affording nutritious food.
492,225 children benefit from SNAP.
38,513 veterans participating in SNAP.
36% SNAP households have older adults.
43% SNAP households have children.
51% households have a person with a disability.
78% of SNAP households include someone with earned income.
In Michigan, more than 9,700 retailers accept SNAP. In 2023, retailers redeemed over $3.6 billion in SNAP.
To be eligible for SNAP in Michigan, applicants must be a U.S. citizen (or acceptable non-citizen status) and must live in Michigan. Eligibility is based on the financial situation of all members of a household. Everyone who lives together, purchases and prepares food together is considered a member of the same household group. In order to determine if a household is eligible for SNAP, MDHHS will review a household’s expenses, assets and income. Expenses include rent, mortgage, utility bills, child support and dependent care expenses. For individuals with a disability or who are at least 60 years old, medical care, medical supplies and health insurance premiums may be included as an expense.
October 1, 2025
September 29, 2025
Consumers Power Planned Outage
The following is an excerpt of an email from Consumers Energy regarding a planned power outage in our area.
This email is to provide notification of a Consumers Energy planned outage slated for Reno Township and Burleigh Township in Iosco County and Logan Township in Ogemaw County. The outage is expected to take place on Wednesday October 8, 2025 from 10am to 1pm and with a backup date of Thursday October 9, 2025 from 10am to 1pm. The outage is needed to replace an isolator and related pole and will impact 156 customers. This replacement with help with the reliability of the electric system and help reduce the outages that have occurred in this area.
In Reno and Burleigh, the outage will specifically impact the area to the west of the Hope Creek bridge to Siegrist/East County Line Road on M-55 and will include Reno Road; the area north of M-55 along East County Line Road to Old State Road; and the area south of M-55 on Mill Station Road to Whittemore Road and will include parts of Meadow and Partlo Roads.
In Logan Township, the outage will impact the area of State Road west of East County Line Road to the Denstedt Road area.
September 2025 Board Meeting
The September 2025 meeting of the Burleigh Township Board will be moved to Tuesday, September 9, 2025, due to scheduling conflicts.
Reminder: Township Clean-Up Day is Almost Here!
Don’t forget that June 7th, 2025 is the Burleigh Township Clean-Up Day. It’ll be at the same location as last year, the Keystone Mining property on M-65 south of Keystone Road. We will also be collecting scrap tires again, so bring those if you have them.
New Township Hall
The township board is looking at the former bank building in Whittemore that is currently owned by Janish Woodworks, Inc. It’s 3600 sq. feet, which is considerably larger than the existing hall. It is within the city of Whittemore, but according to legal counsel, this isn’t an issue. We’ll be discussing this and maybe other options at the June 2025 board meeting. This will be at the current township hall on the first Tuesday of the month, June 3, at 7:00 pm. Since this will require spending money that belongs to the residents of Burleigh Township, it would be wise to attend and offer input. Your board of trustees can’t read minds and needs community input.
Keystone Road Update 05/17/2025
Double chip seal scheduled for June/July on Hottis Road (Keystone to Alabaster) and Alabaster Road (Hottis to Mill Station). Recycled asphalt (RAP) planned for Alabaster Road (Mill Station to Siegrist, excluding new bridge area). RAP placement begins May 20, expected to finish by May 22. Mill Station Road (Alabaster to Prescott) culvert replacements by May 19, asphalt wedge and overlay completed by July 26.
A petition was submitted to abandon a section of Keystone Road from M-65 west to ~700 feet east of Putnam Road, which will require signatures from at least seven (7) Burleigh Township property owners to proceed. Public hearing likely on June 23 or July 7, pending verification. A permit has been requested from MDOT to remove infrastructure and landscape the M-65 right of way section (about 190 feet off the shoulder). No plans to remove asphalt from the abandoned road segment. Due to a tributary crossing, the section must be offered to the township post-abandonment.
You can read the email communication from Bruce Bolen at the Road Commission on the Supervisor’s Corner page.
Annual Township Clean-Up Day June 7, 2025
Don’t forget that June 7th, 2025 is the Burleigh Township Clean-Up Day. It’ll be at the same location as last year, the Keystone Mining property on M-65 south of Keystone Road. Tires will be collected also.
Trash Pick-up Update (2024)
We have had a few issues with residents not getting trash cans dumped on the prescribed day. Please make sure your can is by the road either very early Friday morning or, preferably, Thursday night. If you are still missed, you can contact Chris Stone, Burleigh Township Supervisor, at (989) 756-3262 or burleightwpsupervisor.com, or contact Rick Fancon, GFL Manager, (989) 240-1042 or rfancon@gflenv.com.
Also, as a reminder, during holiday weeks trash will be picked up one day later than normally scheduled.
Ordinance Enforcement (2024)
The Burleigh Township Board of Trustees are retaining the services of retired Ogemaw Co. Sheriff Howie Hanft to help with ordinance enforcement.
Burleigh Township, Michigan 