Council Ends Motor Vehicle Requests
Permits Again Considered in Fall, Emergencies Are Exception
By Karen Gould

Following the approval of 28 temporary motor vehicle permits, Mackinac Island City Council, May 10, put a stop to considering any more applications for general construction vehicle permits as the 2006 tourist season gets underway. Council will only consider emergency applications.

"I just don't want more of these coming across the table lingering on and on and on," said Alderman Mike Hart. "We need to let it be known that, basically, this is it."

Mayor Margaret Doud and Alderman Smi Horn voiced their agreement.

Permits are scheduled to resume in late fall.

In a related matter, Council also asked Police Chief Bill Lenaghan to issue a ticket to Richard Coates, who has been operating a tractor on the Island without a motor vehicle permit. Council had approved a 30-day permit to Mr. Coates last June, which allowed him to clean up property he just acquired by the storage barn at Stonecliffe near the airport. At that time, he told the city he needed a tractor to help move material onto drays.

That permit expired, but the tractor remained on the Island. He later was denied an extension and the city attorney, Tom Evashevski, notified him about four weeks ago that he had to remove the vehicle from the Island.

During the May 10 meeting, Alderman Jason St. Onge advised Council that a tractor still was in operation in the Stonecliffe area.

Mr. Evashevski advised Council that the simplest way to address the violation would be to issue a ticket.

While approving 28 temporary motor vehicle permits at the meeting, two of which carried a special stipulation, Council denied two permits for Cliffe's Painting because the scaffolding and other supplies could be moved by dray from the Arnold Dock to the Robert Hamady house on the West Bluff.

Belonga Plumbing and Heating of St. Ignace was issued 11 temporary motor vehicle permits during the meeting. Two permits were issued on behalf of Wade Marshall, who would be moving materials and hauling dirt on the property of Lorna and Fran Straus in Hubbard's Annex. Council approved the permits with the stipulation that the City of Mackinac Island was not waiving any rights it may have to adjoining land by issuing the permits. Council's decision was based on a request the Streets and Sidewalks Committee received from the Strauses on May 9, to erect a fence on public property along Lake View Boulevard. The committee is in the process of reviewing their request, which involves using part of the street's right-of-way.

One temporary motor vehicle permit was issued for septic system work at the Dennis Bradley residence in the Village.

Belonga Plumbing will use a skidsteer to backfill around the Shannon Shuler residence in the Annex.

A permit was granted to install water service to the new Tom McGovern home at Forest Bluff.

Three permits were granted for site work and utility installation for the new Charles Puttkammer home to be built in the Annex.

A new drainfield for the Ron Dufina home in the Village required the approval of two permits.

A permit was granted to grade the Stonecliffe property in Manor Three, owned by Dan Wohletz.

Mission Point Resort received two temporary motor vehicle permits for the delivery of propane on May 16 and 30.

Four permits were issued and the fees were waved for Clark Highway Services of Lake City to paint the four-inch lane line on Island roads.

Seven permits were issued to H and D Asphalt Paving of Bayshore to finish paving the city's bicycle parking lot behind the Taxi Stand on Main Street.

The same permits also would be applied to equipment used to blacktop the Forest Bluff development on behalf of Suzie Staffan.

A temporary motor vehicle permit was issued to Grand Hotel to transport the Manoogian art collection, which will be displayed at the hotel.

A permit was granted to Edison Sault Electric to transport transformers onto the Island.

One trailer permit each was granted to Boy Scout Troop 114 of Big Rapids and to Boy Scout Troop 147 of Grandville. Both troops will be staying at the Scout Barracks at Fort Mackinac.

A trailer permit also was approved to transport a 50-foot lift down Main Street from the Lilac Tree Hotel to the Chippewa Hotel, where it will be used to hoist a new exhaust fan unit to the hotel's roof.

The City continues to receive business license applications for the 2006 season though the May 1 deadline has passed and licenses are assessed a $10 late fee. After June 1, the late fee increases to $20. Council approved 14 on-Island business licenses and 10 off-Island business licenses. Additionally, five new business licenses were approved, including Hill House Barn, Martha's Sweet Shop, Ink and Logs, and Island Portraits. Under new ownership, Patrick Sinclair's Irish Pub license was approved under the condition that personal property taxes would be paid.

Council next meets Wednesday, May 24 at 5 p.m. on the second floor of Community Hall on Market Street.