Please take some time to fill out this survey for our 2025-2029 Parks and Recreation Plan. This is your opportunity to weigh in on how you’d like our parks to be managed and what features you’d like to see, including down by the waterfront. The survey is available online here: Elberta Parks & Recreation Survey, in hard copy at the Village Office, and as a downloadable pdf.
Updated October 1, 2024
Because of the 9/17 resignation of Clerk-Treasurer Katherine Ralston and some prescheduled family obligations for other officials, the office will be open by appointment only until further notice. Please call the office for an appointment: 231-352-7201
In the meantime, the hunt for a new Clerk-Treasurer has begun!
The Village of Elberta is seeking a full-time (32 hr/wk) Clerk-Treasurer Official and part-time (up to 20 hr/wk) clerks to perform statutory duties, accounting, utility service, and clerical work. The Clerk-Treasurer is an appointed official position, and the Deputy Clerk-Treasurer and Utility Billing Clerk are at-will employees; all perform duties in accordance with the laws and statutes of the State of Michigan and the General Law Village Act. These duties involve the overall administration and operation of the Village of Elberta.
The Clerk-Treasurer serves council and manages the Village Office, helping to ensure that we follow our policies and fulfill all statutory requirements on time and within budget. Experience with BS&A software is a big plus. The Deputy Clerk-Treasurer assists the C-T in performing clerical and accounting duties to be determined, including tax collection, records retention, permits, correspondence, website, payroll, purchasing, mandatory reports, etc. The Utility Billing Clerk works with the Department of Public Works and Office to achieve accurate and timely water and sewer billing and also manages rentals of our minor properties.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Clerk-Treasurer: Graduation from an accredited college, university, or technical college, preferably with major coursework in public administration, business, accounting, or a related field and/or two (2) years of relevant experience. Clerk-Treasurer must receive Notary Public certification within 1 month.
All positions: Knowledge of computer hardware/software for office administration, including word processing, calendar maintenance, file sharing, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Excel, and accounting/bookkeeping programs. Considerable time-management and organizational skills; ability to prioritize, exercise initiative, and use sound judgment and discretion. Strong attention to detail. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Village departments, officials, and the general public. Must be bondable.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Clerk-Treasurer: Experience with BS&A software, prior municipal accounting or public administration experience, comprehensive knowledge of State Statutes, ordinances, regulations, and other legal provisions related to the organization and function of municipal government. Office management and leadership experience.
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer: Excellent writing and communication skills. Experience updating and maintaining a WordPress website. Proficiency in Excel.
Utility Billing Clerk: Prior UB experience with BS&A and Beacon software
COMPENSATION
Clerk-Treasurer position is salaried at starting at $49,920 with an additional health stipend. Minimum part-time Clerk pay is $18/hr (more with experience). Some potential for remote work for highly qualified candidates. Send letter of interest and résumé to Village President Jennifer Wilkins at jwilkins@villageofelberta.com. Promising candidates will be asked to complete our job application. All positions are open until filled.
Village of Elberta Clerk-Treasurer Job Description
Village of Elberta Deputy Clerk / Administrative Assistant Job Description (Contains Info on UB)
The Planning Commission approved and adopted the final 2024 Master Plan at its meeting on September 4. View and download the plan here and on the Planning Commission page. Copies are also available at the Village Office.
Three seats are up for election for four-year terms on the Village Board of Trustees (Village Council) in November. They are the seats currently held by Ryan Fiebing, Ken Holmes, and Brett McGregor. Fiebing and McGregor are on the ballot, and Holmes will be filing as a write-in candidate. In order to appear as an official write-in candidate for Village Trustee on the ballot for the November 5 election, you must submit the form below to Gilmore Township Clerk Dave Bissell by 4 pm, Friday, October 25. Your name will not appear on the ballot, but you can urge your supporters to write in your name (which must be spelled the way it is on the form). Village Trustee positions are NONPARTISAN, so do *not* add a party affiliation. If you do, your form may be rejected. Anyone who is registered and eligible to vote in Village of Elberta elections may run for Village Council. —Emily Votruba
The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail invites the public to participate in their first Trail Discovery Day on Sunday, September 22. [Autumn Equinox!]
“We put the event together to provide a venue where we can engage with the public,” said Heidi Bolger, Board President of the Friends. “We have lots of great news to share about the Trail. There are several trail improvement projects that have been completed, will take place soon, and are planned for near future – and beyond.”
Trail Discovery Day will take place at several locations along the Betsie Valley Trail. In Thompsonville, North Mitten Events’ Betsie Valley Trail Walk/Run will kick off at 8 AM. From 9 to 11 AM free bike checks will be provided at Coastline Cycles, 1100 Main Street in Frankfort. At 10 A.M. Yoga on Beulah Beach will be lead by Jean Weishaar of Life is Bliss Yoga.
Beginning at 11 A.M. at the pavilion in Beulah Village Park, the Friends will host a light lunch from East Shore Market. The Friends are also introducing new design tech bike shirts that will be available at the event for a special minimum donation of $15 (normally $25 minimum donation). “We wanted to do something different than the usual t-shirts,” said Jan Fiola, one of the event organizers. “We worked with Field Crafts to select and design a fluorescent tech bike shirt trail riders and supporters would really like to wear out on the trail.”
At 11:30 AM there will be a presentation about all that’s happening with the Betsie Valley Trail. More details about the event can be found on the Friends website.
Do you want the Betsie Valley Trail to connect to the Elberta waterfront and Elberta Beach someday? You can help us make that happen. Our excellent Trail Management Committee representative, Jon Ottinger, has stepped down due to a work conflict, so we are looking for someone to attend and report on meetings of the Betsie Valley Trail authority. These meetings tend to be monthly in the spring through fall and go on hiatus in the winter. Please contact the Village Office, County Commissioner Gary Sauer, or President Wilkins (jwilkins@villageofelberta.com) if you’re interested.
This Saturday, June 29, the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail (the trail’s booster organization), will be holding its 2nd annual Brew-to-Brew Trail Day fundraising event.
Per a press release from Jim Gribble, the event is a self-guided, go-as-you-like ride, walk, or run, up to a full 20-mile loop between Stormcloud Brewery in Frankfort and Five Shores in Beulah. For those who want to ride just one way, Benzie Bus will be running a complementary shuttle service (with bike racks) back to your car. The $50 donation/registration fee entitles participants to a free Brew-to-Brew t-shirt and vouchers for a beer at Stormcloud Brewery and a beer at Five Shores Brewery. The vouchers
are valid for one week following the event.
On the day of the event, registrants can pick up their t-shirts and vouchers at either the
trailhead building in the Village of Beulah or the Stormcloud pub in downtown Frankfort
between 10am and 2pm.
To register for the event, go to the Friends website betsievalleytrail.org/brew-to-brew or simply show up at either of the locations on the day.
About the Betsie Valley Trail and the Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail
The Betsie Valley Trail is 22 miles long and extends from Frankfort through Elberta and
Beulah to Thompsonville in Benzie County Michigan. The Trail is owned by the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and is operated and maintained by Benzie
County through the Betsie Valley Trailway Management Council.
The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail (FBVT) is a Michigan 501(c)3 non-profit corporation
formed in 1993 whose mission is the continued development and accessibility of the
Betsie Valley Trail. This is accomplished by creating awareness, raising funds, and
coordinating efforts of individuals, civic groups, local businesses, and government
entities. The Friends support the efforts of the DNR and County and intends to see that
the Trail is maintained and enjoyed. To achieve its mission, the FBVT relies solely on
generous contributions from individuals, families, businesses and organizations – no
county tax dollars are received.
