City Council Passes New Cemetery Fees, Millage at June 21 Meeting
By Leslie Rott

At the City Council meeting, Wednesday, June 21, the millage for 2006 and 2007 was approved. The City's general operational millage will stay at 7.95 mills and another mill was added for the Department of Public Works. Adoption followed a public Truth in Taxation hearing.

In other business, Council signed a resolution congratulating Cecelia Flanagan on her 99th birthday July 4, decided to set a hearing on rezoning Maple View Manor for July 5, and approved a number of permits for motor vehicles, fireworks, and trailers.

Council placed on file a letter from attorney Robert Shaver of Rhoades McKee on behalf of property owner James Azzar, who wrote, "Allowing the Maple View Manor to be 'used' as a condominium and then subsequently authorizing its physical conversion into a 'Condominium Structure' is akin to allowing Mr. Green to simply construct a nonconforming use in the first instance. This is wrong. It is respectfully requested that this City Council reverse and abate the prior decision of the Planning Commission."

Mr. Shaver had originally sent a letter on behalf of Mr. Azzar against the proposal to convert Maple View Manor into condominiums. This letter was an appeal to the Mackinac Island City Council to reverse the decision of the Planning Commission at its meeting Tuesday, June 13, to allow conversion of the nonconforming employee dormitory to a non-conforming condominium.

The Zoning Board of Appeals will need to schedule a public hearing on the matter. This will be scheduled at the Wednesday, July 5, City Council meeting.

Mayor Margaret Doud commended the Mackinac Island Fire Department for saving Cable Cottage the evening of Friday, June 16. The Mayor said that it "showed Mackinac at its finest" and displayed great collaboration on the part of the police, firemen, and ambulance staff. The situation, she said, could have been a "tremendous disaster" if it had not been for all units responding quickly to the scene.

A request by the cemetery committee to increase cemetery fees was approved. Right of Burial for a resident will increase from $200 to $300. Right of Burial for a non-resident will increase from $1,500 to $1,700. Cost of Perpetual Care will stay the same at $300. The fee increase goes into effect August 1.

The 4th of July fireworks display was approved.

A request for Winberg Masonry to replace the concrete apron at Fire Station 2 at Surrey Hills and to resurface the basement floor of the Stuart House was tabled until a review of the budget is made to see if the City has money available to fund the projects.

A temporary motor vehicle permit was approved for Belonga Plumbing to move a trailer to Windermere Point for the Chicago to Mackinac Yacht Race.

Atrailer permit was approved for Jeff Lubbers to transport his remote control race cars to Grand Hotel for a 4th of July carnival.

Annual motor vehicle permits were approved, with fees waived, for the Mackinac Island Fire Department for a 1973 fire truck with ladder, a 1977 pumper, a 1990 ladder truck, a 2003 Ford fire truck, a 2003 Freightliner fire truck, and a 1984 Chevy pickup; the City of Mackinac Island crew for a 2005 Kubota tractor, a Kubota riding mower for the cemetery, and a Kubota riding mower for Great Turtle Park; the EMS for a 2005 Ford conversion ambulance: the Mackinac Island Police Department for a 1993 Ford Explorer and a 2002 Ford Explorer, and the Department of Public Works for a 1989 Chevy S-10 pickup truck.

Approval was granted for annual motor vehicle permits for Grand Hotel for four Toro golf course mowers, three Yamaha golf carts, two Ford tractors for golf course maintenance at the hotel's downtown course, three Toro golf course mowers, one Cushman truckster with a spreader, three Yamaha golf carts, and one Ford tractor for maintenance at the Woods course, and two backhoes and two forklifts for the hotel.

Approval was granted for annual motor vehicle permits at Mission Point Resort for one John Deere tractor, two Kubota tractors for lawn maintenance, and two Cushman golf carts to transport elderly people at the Resort.

Approval was granted for annual motor vehicle permits at the Inn at Stonecliffe for one Kubota riding lawn tractor, one Kubota bucket tractor, and one small utility cart. The utility cart was approved with the stipulation that it only be used for handicapped persons on the property.

An annual motor vehicle permit was approved for Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry for an electric tug to pull luggage and freight carts on the dock. Although the permit was approved, Aldermen Armand "Smi" Horn and Jason St. Onge voted no on the issue.

Pre-approved permits were ratified for a trailer to bring a sound system to Grand Hotel for the Michigan Bankers conference and a trailer for Robert Brown to remove a wood chipper from the Island.

Business licenses were approved for Maeve's Arts, which is an on-Island business and Prestige Construction, which is an off-Island business. New business licenses were approved for Applewood # 10, 11, and 12, Pinewood # 4, 5, and 6, Cedarwood # 4, 5, and 6, Annie's Cakes, Great Turtle Toys, and Foxy's.

Police Chief William Lenaghan noted that the water in the Harbor is safe, after ashes were reported floating there Sunday, June 18.