Northern Michigan could see a historic milestone next week, depending on how residents of the Village of Fife Lake vote on a proposal to disincorporate their village. Should the August 4 ballot initiative pass, the Village of Fife Lake would cease to exist as a legal government entity. The proposal itself is short and sweet, asking voters: “Shall incorporation of the Village of Fife Lake be vacated?” Proponents of the initiative have argued that the Village of Fife Lake is too small, without a big enough tax base to shoulder expenses like road repairs. Fife Lake incorporated as a village all the way back in 1889, 137 years ago.