Parking fee for Empire Beach increased

Inflation touches everything. Even beach parking.

The Village of Empire voted June 26 to raise parking fees at Empire Beach from $1 to $2 per hour at the busiest beach in Leelanau County after a 4-3 vote at a regular meeting. Empire President Sue Palmer, and trustees March Dye, Meg Walton, and Chris Webb all said yes, while trustees Maggie Bacon, Tom Rademacher, and Linda Chase voted no.

The rates will most likely go into effect next year as Empire does not have material to change signage this summer.