The Leelanau Township Board is contributing $1,200 to the Leelanau Township Community Foundation for its ongoing Small Town Design Initiative (STDI) process.

At an abbreviated one-hour meeting Tuesday, Oct. 9, the board in a 4-0 vote approved a resolution providing $1,200 to the foundation provided the funds go to the design initiative effort. Trustee Victor Goldschmidt was absent from the meeting.

Supervisor James Neve said board members have been actively supporting the foundation’s effort to encourage a redesign of Northport and Omena. “At least two board members have attended the public input sessions the foundation has held concerning the STDI process. The township certainly supports the efforts to make Northport and Omena better places to live and hopefully bring in more businesses,” Neve said.

On Nov. 6, the images being prepared by 27 Michigan State University landscape architecture students will be presented for public review and comment. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the Northport Community Arts Center.

The students spent two days in Northport and Omena a few weeks ago to learn what design characteristics exist in the villages. They also talked with local residents and business owners to find out what they like about the villages and what they would like to see happen to enhance the living experience and possibly attract new businesses and families to the area.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a resolution of support for the county board to proceed with a county-wide effort to identify properties that could be eligible for Brownfield Redevelopment funds.

• Tabled consideration of a proposal from Fleis and Vandenbrink Engineering to provide construction monitoring for road construction within the Timber Shores development for Phase 1. The company would receive $5,700 for providing supervision. The board will revisit the matter at its Nov. 13 meeting.