Leaders give updates at State of the Community event

A record crowd of 190 attended the event.

From the Petoskey News-Review: Representatives from five different governmental and business groups offered a wealth of information on activities around the Boyne City area and Charlevoix County at the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Community event. Speakers included Boyne City Manager Mike Cain, County Commissioner Chris Christensen, School Superintendent Patrick Little, Main Street Executive Director Kelsie King-Duff, and Hotel Walloon Marketing Manager Allison Bond. Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ashley Cousens, who recently completed her first year in the chamber role, said the event drew its largest attendance ever with 190 people on hand, provided an update on chamber activities. Full news story. Photo album.
> Full text of City Manager Michael Cain's remarks.
> Full text of Allison Bond's remarks about Walloon Lake.
> Thanks to our sponsor, 4Front Credit Union.

Chamber Executive Director Ashley Cousens

Main Street Executive Director Kelsie King-Duff

City Manager Michael Cain

Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen receives Federal Historic Tax Credits

Boyne City’s Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen has been awarded Federal Historic Tax Credits through the National Park Service. The tax incentive is used to offset federal income tax equivalent to twenty percent of the total qualified renovation cost, and remains good for 20 years. 

Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen started the Historic Preservation Certification in 2015. The three-phase process is available for historically certified buildings, such as the Boyne City Railroad Office Building, which Stiggs operates out of. In order to receive certification, stipulations needed to be met. This included keeping the building feeling like a railroad office, but also functional as a brewery and kitchen. No exterior changes could be made, such as vents through the walls, elevated patios, or changes in design that would take away from its historical relevance. 

“This is a huge win for Stiggs and Boyne City, as it seems it is usually very difficult for project under $5 million to receive historic tax credit,” Kelsie King-Duff, Boyne City Main Street Executive Director, said. 

Harold Remlinger, AIA Principal Architect, along with the team of design professionals, at DesignTeam Plus LLC did an excellent job keeping the building historically relevant and transforming it into Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen. Boyne City’s Todd Wright, from Wright Building & Design, was the general contractor.

Walking through the main doors visitors immediately get a feel for the old Boyne City, Gaylord & Alpena Railroad Headquarters. A corridor leads down the center with glass partitioned dining rooms and a kitchen to the right, and a large open dining room to the left featuring original wood floors, wood walls with 15 foot windows and a wood ceiling. 

“Stiggs is fortunate to operate out of a building circa 1899, and excited to keep carry on the building’s legacy,” Mike Castiglione, Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen Owner, said.  

Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen is one of two building on the National Register of Historic Places in Boyne City’s Central Historic District. An array of other buildings contribute to the Central Historic District being named as a whole to the Register. The building was originally part of White Timber Logging Company camp and was on the north side of the river. Except for the building, the entire camp burnt in 1916. It was picked up and moved in 1917 to its current location at 112 South Park Street in downtown Boyne City. At the time of the move it became part of the Boyne City, Gaylord and Alpena Railroad. After the railroad, 112 South Park housed the local paper, real-estate office and a wellness center until renovations for the brewery started in the fall of 2015. 

PHOTO: Mike Castiglione holds up the Historic Preservation Certification from the National Park Service. Pictured from left to right: Mike Castiglione (Owner, Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen), Ashley Cousens (Executive Director, Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce), Kelsie King-Duff (Executive Director, Boyne City Main Street), Mike Cain (City Manager, City of Boyne City).

Candidates forum recording: 5 compete for 3 City Commission positions

Five candidates will be competing for three Boyne City Commission seats in the November 7th election. All participated in an October 18th Candidates Forum sponsored by the Boyne Area Chamber and the Boyne City Gazette. 
> Listen to audio recording from the Gazette.  Youtube video from Petoskey News-Review.
> UPDATE - Solomon, Grunch and Page win city election. 
The candidates are: Chad Culver, 1035 Lakeview Dr.; incumbent Ron Grunch, 400 Silver St.; Sally Page, 817 E. Main St.; Andy Smith, 6 W. Main St.; and Dean Solomon, 859 Deer Run Dr. Incumbents Laura Sansom and Gene Towne are not running for reelection, so there will be at least two new commissioners. We asked each candidate to provide us with some brief background information:
> CHAD CULVER - I am excited with the opportunity to serve the people of Boyne City. I have lived in Boyne City for 20 years with two children going through our school system and two more currently in high school and middle school. My main goal is to find a way to help our citizens by supporting your voice as our community continues to grow and evolve. After over 20 years in public education, I now own and operate a car wash in town as well as work for Bluegreen Resorts at Boyne Mountain. My family and I love Boyne City and want only the best for our beautiful small town and those visiting our city. I would be proud to serve as City Commissioner and am interested in hearing the concerns of residents.
> RON GRUNCH is the only incumbent running for reelection. He has served on the City Commission for 18 years, include a period as mayor. "My motivation is to 'keep the dream alive. We have a great team working for you - city staff and management, City Commission, Team Boyne, and the greatest group of volunteers in Northern Michigan. Boyne City has a great business model. And I would like to, God willing, continue as a member."
> SALLY PAGE - "My roots in northern Michigan go back to 1962 and after a career in the legal world, from court reporter in Washington DC, to office administrator for law firms in California and New Mexico, my husband and I moved to northern Michigan in 1987. I managed the Emmet County Prosecutor's Office for 25 years. To supplement my income I also played piano for the Presbyterian Church in Harbor Springs, the Northern Michigan Chorale and for several musicals at the Little Traverse Civic Theater and in area high schools.
"Being widowed in 1996, I eventually moved to Boyne City in 2004 to be closer to my children and grandchildren. At 62, I bought my first home, a little cottage up the hill on Main Street. My son Josh and his family live nearby in Charlevoix, and my daughter Liz is a co-owner of Lake Street Market.
"Since entering the race for a seat on the Board of Commissioners, I have met with many of my fellow citizens to learn their concerns – everything from preserving our town's history, to providing more affordable housing, to protecting the open space park on the waterfront for the enjoyment of everyone. We live in a vibrant, relatively young, and growing resort community with a strong and creative community spirit. My goal as a commissioner would be to continue in that spirit and to listen to and serve all the citizens, from the youngest to the oldest; from those who have lived here for generations and those who are new to Boyne City.
"It would be an honor to serve as a commissioner, and to I look forward to the chance of giving back to the community as we go forward."
> ANDY SMITH - " I have been living year-round in Northern Michigan for three years, but have been spending portions of my years in Boyne City since 1999. My career in Northern Michigan began with Boyne Resorts. I currently work in marketing for Boyne Resorts. I see serving as a commissioner as a great opportunity to get involved in the community and help share my ideas and opinions on how we can all work together to grow the community in sustainable and successful ways. I would like to work with the community to find ways to facilitate sustainable growth as one of the premier cities in Northern Michigan. Boyne City is not just a beautiful vacation destination, it is an incredible place to call home and offers a multitude of recreational pursuits of wellness. I will work with the community to further develop these healthy outlets for people, young and old alike."
> DEAN SOLOMON is the recently retired head of the Boyne City MSU Extension office. "Since moving to Boyne City in 2006, my family and I have grown to love the area - its beauty, friendly people, and can-do attitude. We truly live in a special place. Two of our three children graduated from Boyne City High School. I recently retired from Michigan State University Extension after a 35-year career.  Eleven of those were in the Boyne City office as the Charlevoix County Extension Director, then as a natural resources and local government educator. Over the years, I’ve really enjoyed serving on the Boyne City Farmers Market Committee, facilitating the Boyne City biennial community goal-setting meetings, organizing and guiding the Boyne City to US 31 trail steering committee, working with local organizations to protect Lake Charlevoix and helping the Boyne Area Chamber during their annual planning sessions. I was also a member of the Charlevoix County Planning Commission for four years. 
As city commissioner, I will work hard to expand housing choices for Boyne City residents, protect our wonderful natural resources, promote Boyne City as a great place to live and do business, create more ways for residents to have a voice in Boyne City’s direction, and seek funds to complete the Veteran’s Park Pavilion renovation and improvements to the new Open Space.
I'd be honored to serve on the City Commission and help Boyne City continue to grow and meet our future challenges. Learn more about me at facebook.com/DeanBCcommission.