City Council Tackles Temporary Money Crunch, Overgrown Lilacs
By Karen Gould

Large lilac branches have encroached on the public sidewalk and are breaking through a fence. The lowest branch is slated to be trimmed off. The tree is in front of the Ste. Anne’s rectory on Huron Street.

Meeting Wednesday, June 8, the Mackinac Island City Council approved the temporary transfer of $75,000 from its dedicated fund accounts to the general fund to cover expenses until Mackinac County pays more than $100,000 in delinquent tax money it owes the city. The city expects to receive payment from the county by June 22. Alderman Mike Hart reminded council that with this new transfer, the total borrowed from the dedicated funds so far this year amounts to $225,000.

Council swiftly tackled a variety of other agenda items, including a decision to remove a large lilac branch that is blocking a public sidewalk and acknowledging a $15,000 donation from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians for an affordable housing project.

Council directed the city crew to cut off one of the branches on a lilac tree that was becoming a safety issue in the Mission district. Mr. Hart told council that a branch from the lilac shrub at the Ste. Anne’s rectory on Huron Street, across from the church, has grown over the sidewalk and people are hitting their heads on it.

Building Inspector Dennis Dombroski said the tree, whose base is approximately two feet in diameter, is healthy, but tipping toward the sidewalk because of the weight of two large branches. One branch, in fact, recently cracked one of the pickets on the fence.

“It has to be one of the biggest lilacs on the Island at the base,” said Mr. Dombroski.

Council officially thanked the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians for contributing $15,000 to the Mackinac Island Affordable Housing Corporation. The donation is made under the Tribe’s agreement with the State of Michigan to give two percent of its slot machine revenue to local units of government for services they provide to the Tribe and its members. The Affordable Housing Corporation is a private organization on the Island which is building single and duplex housing in Harrisonville. The Tribe’s check for $15,000 was made out to the City of Mackinac Island, which will direct it to the Housing Corporation, said Mr. Hart, who chairs the nonprofit organization.

Council directed Kelly Bean, the mayor’s assistant, to get additional information from representatives of the Chicago Yacht Club and the Bayview Yacht Club who want to post race results on the city’s public access cable channel during their races. They have asked the city to allow them to scroll the results on Channel 3. Ms. Bean is to receive assurance that there will be no commercial sponsors listed with the race results.

Council tabled a request from Stonecliffe Entertainment, Inc. to change its liquor license from a Class C Resort license to a Class B Hotel license until additional information is received. Council was advised by City Attorney Tom Evashevski that a resort license restricts service of liquor to the bar area while a hotel license will allow liquor service anywhere on hotel property. Mr. Evashevski said he does not know how Stonecliffe plans to expand its liquor service, so could not advise Council on the matter.

The following on-island business licenses were approved: Harbour View Inn, Inn on Mackinac, and Roses N Sadie. Maverick Construction of St. Ignace was given an off-island license. Upon Mr. Evashevski’s recommendation, Council also approved the business license for Great Turtle Lodge, contingent on its meeting the requirements of a bed and breakfast, as dictated by city zoning.

A motor vehicle permit was granted to Richard Coates, for cleaning property he just acquired by the Stonecliffe storage barn near the airport. He said he needs a tractor to help move material onto drays and will need to renew it in July, as the permit issued is good for only 30 days. Council acknowledge he is cleaning up an existing mess.

Council denied a motor vehicle permit for the Upper Peninsula Association Independent Insurance Agents, who are holding a convention at Mission Point Resort. They asked permission to trailer convention supplies to the hotel. City Clerk Karen Lennard said the group admits the request was for convenience and that the items can be moved by horse-drawn dray. A Grand Rapids Boy Scout Troop, however, was granted a motor vehicle permit to transport baggage and supplies for its eight-day stay at Fort Mackinac.

Council directed Mr. Evashevski to contact The Lake View Hotel to object to its practice of renting and repairing bicycles on the city sidewalk, thus impeding pedestrian traffic. Based on a site plan approved when the hotel received city permission for the Mackinac Island Bike Shop operation, Mr. Evashevski said, bicycles would not be placed on the sidewalk.

Use permits for demolition drays will be added to the agenda for the next council meeting. Alderman Smi Horn suggested Council consider the permits so as to set a time limit for being left at the curbs. Two-footer drays often are left on the street near building sites and are used to collect construction debris. The drays are called two-footers because they have a two-foot side around them to hold materials. When full, they are hitched to a team of horses and taken to the city’s solid waste recovery facility.

In other business, Council approved the purchase of four 24 inch by 36 inch mirrors for $720 from Straits Area Glass of Cheboygan. They will be used in the public restrooms behind the Tourism Bureau information booth.

Replacement of a non-functioning dehumidifier for an estimated $210 from True Value Hardware in St. Ignace was also approved by council. The dehumidifier is needed to help preserve relics in the Steward House.

Council scheduled a truth in taxation hearing for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22.

The next City Council next meeting will be 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22 in council chambers at City Hall.