To the editor:

I am very surprised and disappointed in the one-sided reporting presented in the Daily Mining Gazette regarding the Eagle Harbor Township STR Ordinance currently in development. In Mr. Jaehnig’s article “EH Twp Planning Commission may be posing a conflict of interest” dated 3/24/22, he seemingly bases his entire article on the opinion of one disgruntled man, Dr. David Moss, at Lake Madora, and an AirBnb owner from Wisconsin who doesn’t even have a stake in this issue. Did Mr. Jaehnig bother to attend any of the planning meetings or interview anyone on the Planning Commission, or any other person from Eagle Harbor for that matter? Or is he simply parroting what Moss has been saying?

Moss isn’t happy with the proposed ordinance. He wants more STRs on his property. The proposed ordinance would limit the number of units he can have and it sets rules for occupancy, maintenance, etc., among other things. He doesn’t like that. But, instead of working with the Planning Commission to suggest reasonable improvements to the document (like developing different criteria for STRs within the village limits and those outside), he is taking a scorched earth approach, disparaging the EH village residents as well as township leadership.

It seems as though Mr. Jaehnig is taking the same approach with his one-sided reporting. It’s a shame. The village of Eagle Harbor is a lovely, welcoming place, with families who have been there for generations. The residents of the village, some of whom are also in Township leadership positions, are not a bunch of “wealthy retirees” looking to keep all the spoils of STRs to themselves as Dr. Moss would have everyone believe. We are just people who love our town and want to keep it safe, clean, and welcoming for current and future residents and visitors.

I am a property owner in the village. My family has been in Eagle Harbor (as taxpayers) since 1969. I would invite Dr. Moss to come to the village instead of hiding behind his keyboard. Maybe come enjoy the July 4th celebration, run by EH volunteers, or visit the lighthouse, also run by EH volunteers. Maybe he could attend the CopperDog 150. Perhaps if Dr. Moss would take some time to get to know the village and it’s history he would see what we are trying to preserve. There is no nefarious plot at hand here.

I would invite Mr. Jaehnig to do the same. If nothing else, perhaps an interview with the Township Supervisor, or someone on the planning commission. If Mr. Jaehnig wants to cover this story fairly (which remains to be seen), he needs to talk with both sides and follow the ordinance development process from the beginning instead of just repeating the same talking points as Dr. Moss, most of which are misleading at best. If he wants to claim journalistic integrity he needs to do better.

Kerry LaPointe

Wixom