March 24, 2012 - Groundbreaking for Luna Pier's new beachhouse was held today at the site of the old facility along the Luna Pier shoreline. Developers provided a 3D model made from a copy of the blueprints so guests could get a good look at what the new building will look like.
Click here to view WTOL channel 11's coverage of the beacchhouse groundbreaking.
December 8, 2011 - Mayor Mary Liske talked with 13abc's Amy Montgomery yesterday evening about the Consumers plant closing and some other difficult issues Luna Pier is facing. Watch Amy's video piece here:
"Dec 03, 2011 (The Blade - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Consumers Energy made it official Friday: The J.R. Whiting coal-fired power plant, which provides more than 50 percent of Luna Pier's revenues, will halt operations in 2015 ... But city officials, who have been working with Consumers Energy, began putting plans in place in 2008 to replace revenues lost by the power plant's closure ..."
Click here to read the rest of this article.
Click here for a brief but accurate history of Flood & Erosion Protection in the city of Luna Pier. Links at the bottom of the page will allow you to also order a post-construction design report (written in 1986) of the current flood protection, or download the 87-page erosion study which was completed in 2001.
“All my life, I have always really just cared about the welfare of those who live and work here in Luna Pier. Some days I believe I am a grown version of the teen who used to deliver newspapers around town, checking in on my elderly customers, talking for hours to Mr. Yingling so he would not be as lonely while volunteering endless hours at the Luna Pier Community church …”
Click here for the rest of Mary's platform, including a link to a downloadable version for printing.
| June 14, 2011 - At this evening's regular meeting, the Monroe County Commissioners passed the following resolution, presenting the resolution to Mayor Liske and City Administrator Greg Stewart:
"RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the City of Luna Pier has duly adopted their 2010 Master Plan under the guidance of Michigan Public Act 33 of 2008, the Michigan Enabling Act; and WHEREAS, the Plan was adopted only after seeking public input from the citizens of Luna Pier and surrounding communities; and WHEREAS, the Plan was approved by the City of Luna Pier Planning Commission, City Council and the Monroe County Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, the County Planning Commission provided invaluable support to the City in its recreation planning efforts through its Partners-In-Planning Program and helped the City secure a planning grant through the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program; and WHEREAS, the Luna Pier Master Plan takes a creative approach to the redevelopment of the community, with goals and strategies related to concerns which include community character, urban design, natural resources, economic development, infrastructure and housing; and WHEREAS, the Plan emphasizes maximizing the benefits provided by the Lake Erie coastline, increasing tourism potential and capitalizing on a 'first taste of Michigan' concept, implementing innovative storm water management through a 'green streets' program, recognizing outdoor recreation and urban design as important elements of the City's revitalization; and WHEREAS, the City of Luna Pier's Master Plan was recently given national recognition with the receipt of the 2010 Outstanding Comprehensive Plan Award presented by the American Planning Association's Small Town and Rural Planning Division. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that on this 14th Day of June, 2011, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners hereby honors and recognizes the achievements of the City of Luna Pier, the City of Luna Pier's Planning Commission, Mayor Mary Liske, City Administrator Greg Stewart and Planning Consultant Randy Mielnik of Poggemeyer Design Group for their vision, leadership and commitment to planning and economic development." |
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| April 13, 2011 - Yesterday morning in Boston, Massachussetts, Mayor Mayor, along with Randy Mielnik, Principal Owner of Poggemeyer Design Group, accepted the 2011 Vernon P. Deines Memorial Award for Outstanding Small Town or Rural Plan from the Small Town & Rural Planning Division of the American Planning Association for Luna Pier's 2010 Master Plan. The award had been announced on page 3 in the March 2011 issue of the Association's Small Town & Rural Planning Newsletter. The plaque the Mayor received, made of walnut with highlighted engraving and four inlaid ceramic tiles, is now hanging in city hall for viewing. Mr. Mielnik also recieved an identical plaque for display at Poggemeyer's offices. |  Click on the image for a larger version. |
| March 16, 2011 - Workers with Norfolk Southern have completed the installation of an overhead gantry signal on the west side of the triple set of railroad crossings on the west side of the I-75 overpass. This afternoon they'll also be replacing the crossing gate arm with one that's approximately a foot longer than the previous gate. Canadian National will be repeating this work on the east side of the crossings, as the track to the farthest east is theirs. Once both signal gantries and the new gates are in-place, the crossing lights between them will be removed to align with current signal requirements. |  Click on the image for a larger version. |
| March 12, 2011 - From the Mayor: "The American Planning Association will be honoring Luna Pier for Outstanding Small Town and Rural (STaR) Development Plan, given to the outstanding comprehensive plan or special project during 2010. Luna Pier, with the assistance of Poggemyer Design Group, has created a Master Plan that will rock our world. The award is based on the quality, community consensus and implementation of the new Master Plan for our city. The award will be presented to Poggemyer and an elected official from the city on April 12th in Boston, Massachusetts. We were given a $500 stipend to attend, from the APA. This is an amazing honor for us that will draw attention to the work we are doing. As we face the possibility that Consumer’s Energy may close and the loss of their tax base, this award will go a long way in propelling our plans to build up our downtown district to replace those dollars. We have come a long way over the past 3 ½ years. All of Council's hard work is starting to pay off and really good things are happening for us, an incredible feat in these economic times!" |  |
| March 6, 2011 - Yesterday evening at the annual Luna Pier Fire Department Banquet, former Luna Pier firefighter Cory Young returned for a visit with the gang. He performed his piece "The Call" which he wrote describing what firefighters go through including the foot of snow at 3 a.m. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. You can click the Play button (the arrow pointing right) in the widget on the right to hear the studio version of this song, which at the end includes a recording of Monroe County Central Dispatch calling the Luna Pier Fire Department. Thanks, Cory! |
