A place of community and a township working to combine its agricultural tradition with the growing tourism of Northern Michigan.
Banks Township’s natural resources make it a recreational paradise for those who enjoy spending time outdoors. Its hardworking, friendly people make it a great place to live or visit.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that any qualified elector of Banks Township who is not already registered may register to vote at the office of the Township Clerk, the office of the County Clerk, a Secretary of State branch office, or other designated state agency. Registration forms can be obtained at mi.gov/vote and mailed to the Township Clerk. Voters who are already registered may update their registration at www.expressSOS.com.
The last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk is Monday, October 20, 2025.
After this date, anyone who qualifies as an elector may register to vote in person with proof of residency (MCL 168.497) at the Banks Township clerk’s office, located at 6520 Center Street, Ellsworth, MI 49729 at the following times:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Antrim County will be voting on the following public safety bond proposal as presented and listed below:
ANTRIM COUNTY:
SHALL THE COUNTY OF ANTRIM, MICHIGAN, BORROW THE SUM OF NOT TO EXCEED EIGHTEEN MILLION DOLLARS ($18,000,000) AND ISSUE ITS LIMITED TAX GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, IN ONE OR MORE SERIES, PAYABLE IN NOT TO EXCEED FIFTEEN (15) YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE, FOR THE PUPOSE OF PAYING ALL OR PART OF THE COSTS TO ACQUIRE CONSTRUCT, FURNISH, AND EQUIP A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER, INCLUDING A JAIL FACILITY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CENTER, 911 DISPATCH CENTER, AND COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES, TOGETHER WITH ALL RELATED SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE PRINCIPAL AND INTERESET ON THE BONDS SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM THE COUNTY’S ANNUAL OPERATING TAX LEVY, PROVIDED THAT THE AMOUNT OF TAXES NECESSARY TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL AND INTERESET ON THE BONDS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE LIMIT AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Central Lake School District will also be voting on the following operating millage proposal as presented and listed below:
CENTRAL LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
PROPOSAL TO ALLOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO LEVY THE STATUTORY RATE OF NOT TO EXCEED 18 MILLS ON ALL PROPERTY, EXCEPT PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE AND OTHER PROPERTY EXEMPTED BY LAW, REQUIRED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO RECEIVE ITS REVENUE PER PUPIL FOUNDATION ALLOWANCE.
SHALL THE LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT OF TAXES WHICH MAY BE ASSESSED AGAINST ALL PROPERTY, EXCEPT PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE AND OTHER PROPERTY EXEMPTED BY LAW, IN CENTRAL LKAE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ANTRIM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, BE INCREASED BY 2.2557 MILLS ($2.2557 ON EACH $1,000 OF TAXABLE VALUATION) FOR A PERIOD OF 7 YEARS, 2026 TO 2032, INCULSIVE, TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR OPERTATIN PURPOSES; THE ESTIMATE OF THE REVENUE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL COLLECT IF THE MILLAGE IS APPROVED AND LEVIED IN 2026 IS APPROXIMATELY $27,024 (THIS MILLAGE IS TO RESTORE MILLAGE LOST AS A RESULT OF THE REDUCTION REQUIRED BY THE MICHIGAN CONSTITUTION OF 1963 AND WILL BE LEVIED ONLY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO RESTORE THAT REDUCTION)
Full text of the ballot proposals may be obtained at the Banks Township Clerk’s office, 6520 Center Street, Ellsworth, MI 49729. A sample ballot may be viewed at mi.gov/vote.
Persons with disabilities needing accommodations should contact the clerk’s office.
Julie Chellis
Banks Township Clerk
Attached is the ordinance to repeal zoning. This will be the subject for the PC public hearing on Nov 18th. If anyone wants to inspect it or get copies of it prior to the hearing, copies are available at the Townhall, in the clerk’s office. Office hours are posted on the Officials page.
TO: RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF BANKS TOWNSHIP, ANTRIM COUNTY, MICHIGAN AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Banks Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on NOVEMBER 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Township Hall, located at 6520 Center Street, Ellsworth, MI 49729, to consider the following:
A proposed special use permit for the construction of a self-storage facility, located at 9914 US- 31 Ellsworth, MI 49729 (Parcel ID 05-01-018-006-00).
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a copy of the application for the proposed special use permit may be obtained from the Township Clerk, at times to be arranged with the Clerk and will be available at said hearing for public inspection.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that written comments may be submitted to the Township Clerk at P.O. Box 68, Ellsworth, MI 49729 before the public hearing, and will further be received by the Planning Commission at the public hearing.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township will provide necessary, reasonable aids and services at the hearing to individuals with disabilities upon seven (7) days’ notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address and/or phone number below.
All persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place to participate in discussion on the above.
BANKS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
Julie Chellis, Banks Township Clerk
6520 Center Street, P.O. Box 68
Ellsworth, MI 49729
231.588.6126
TO: RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF BANKS TOWNSHIP, ANTRIM COUNTY, MICHIGAN AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Banks Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on NOVEMBER 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Township Hall, located at 6520 Center Street, Ellsworth, MI 49729, to consider the following:
An ordinance to repeal the Banks Township Zoning Ordinance, adopted May 15, 2000, as amended, to repeal any former zoning with the intent that there shall be no zoning in effect within Banks Townships, to repeal all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict therewith and to provide an effective date.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a copy of the entire text of the proposed Ordinance may be obtained from the Township Clerk, at times to be arranged with the Clerk and will be available at said hearing for public inspection. The Banks Township Planning Commission and Township Board reserve the right to make changes to the above proposed ordinance at or following the public hearing.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that written comments may be submitted to the Township Clerk at P.O. Box 68, Ellsworth, MI 49729 before the public hearing, and will further be received by the Planning Commission at the public hearing.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township will provide necessary, reasonable aids and services at the hearing to individuals with disabilities upon seven (7) days’ notice to the Township Clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk at the address and/or phone number below.
All persons are invited to be present at the aforesaid time and place to participate in discussion on the above.
BANKS TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
Julie Chellis, Banks Township Clerk
6520 Center Street, P.O. Box 68
Ellsworth, MI 49729
231.588.6126
To comply with the Michigan Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.265):
The Banks Township Zoning Board of Appeals
6520 Center Street
PO Box 68
Ellsworth, Michigan 49720
Phone (231)588-6126
e-mail: bankstownship@bankstownship.net
will hold a special meeting of the Banks Township Zoning Board of Appeals (BTZBA) on Friday November 7, 2025 starting at 6pm.
In the Banks Township Hall, 6520 Center Street, Ellsworth, Michigan, to consider the following:
Banks Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as hand signers for the hearing impaired, audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting (and/or hearing) upon two weeks notice to Banks Township. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact Banks Township and leave a message which includes
(1) Who you are/how to contact you
(2) What meeting and date you wish to attend
(3) What aid you are requesting
Contact: Banks Township Clerk, voice phone, (231)588-6126; PO Box 68, Ellsworth, Michigan 49729; E-mail clerk@bankstownship.net.
This notice was posted by Julie Chellis, Banks Township Clerk to comply with Sections 4 and 5 of Michigan Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.265) at 1pm on October 16, 2025 on the bulletin board outside the Township Office and on the north basement entry door of the Banks Township Hall and was posted at least 18 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
I, Julie Chellis, Banks Township Clerk, certify that the foregoing notice has been posted as specified above in accordance with the Michigan Open Meeting Act (MCL 15.265) as amended.
Julie Chellis, Banks Township Clerk
Attached below is a check list from our attorneys on the steps to repeal zoning. If you have any questions, please contact Supervisor Busman at 231-676-1075.
Checklist for Repeal 10-1-2025
The memo attached below is from our township attorney regarding zoning. It is established law in our township and would withstand legal challenges regarding how it was originally implemented.
Read about the Chain of Lakes Water Trail that begins right here in Banks Township!
Breezy & Beautiful
Take this 26-mile road trip Up North.
Township residents wishing to burn fall leaves generally need a burn permit. For the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, residents can visit Michigan.gov/BurnPermit or call 866-922-BURN to find out whether burning is currently allowed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). For responsible burning information, contact Paul Rogers at 616-260-8406.
