Still No Buyers: City May Ask Agent To Sell Condos
By Karen Gould

The City of Mackinac Island may try to sell its two Rowe House Terrace condominiums through a real estate broker after failing to attract any bids twice this summer. In the latest advertisement, with an August 30 deadline, no bids were received, so at its regular meeting later that day, Council decided to get a proposal from Jim Smith of Mackinac Island Realty.

The City hoped to sell the units to help fund renovations to the old Medical Center building on Market Street. Alderman Armand "Smi" Horn said he would discuss the issue with Mr. Smith and have more information for the September 13 city council meeting.

Council originally advertised for bids last spring, asking a minimum offer of $800,000 for both units by July 5. When that failed to interest any buyers, the city said it would consider selling the two units separately, and asked a minimum of $350,000 for one unit and $375,000 for the other, with the August 30 deadline.

Council approved changing street signs along Main Street in the Mission area from their current designation as Huron Street, the old name for the street. Funds for the new signs will be paid with a grant from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The Cemetery Board will be

given $733 to purchase 270 corner markers for the newest surveyed sections of the Island cemeteries. The markers could prevent future confusion over the lots. The money had been earmarked in this year's city budget.

Alderman Frank Bloswick asked if the city could research Internet connection costs, to confirm that the city is paying a fair price. Kelly Bean, the assistant to Mayor Margaret Doud, was directed to investigate other Internet service providers and their costs. The city contracts with Maylone Enterprises for multiple staticaddress wireless broadband connections and pays the company $4,200 a year for all city locations, including the library, city hall, fire hall, and police department.

DSL service through telephone lines, an alternative to wireless broadband, would not allow the city police department to establish a virtual private network with the Michigan State Police in Lansing or a video conferencing system that the city would like to establish for arraignments at the district court in St. Ignace, according to Maylone.

Two temporary motor vehicle permits were given to Mission Point Resort for a 20- yard dump truck and a dumpster truck to deliver sand for the golf course. The vehicles would come from the Beaver Dock.

Council approved a race permit for John Gault Riverbend Striders of Flushing for the annual Great Turtle half-marathon and 5.7 mile run and walk October 21. The race will begin and end at Mission Point Resort. Alderman Jason St. Onge suggested that, in the future, the applications contain the number of people expected for the event. The information, he said, would help determine if police staffing needs to be increased for an event.

Last year, the Great Turtle drew 1,020 athletes. An annual Eight-Mile Run, sponsored jointly by Gault Race Management and the St. Ignace Kiwanis Club, to be held September 9, drew 1,398 athletes last year and 1,496 the year before.

A temporary trailer permit was granted to Dean Gillespie to remove old radiators and miscellaneous steel from the Island. The trailer would be pulled by a dray.

Council approved an off- Island business license for Phil and Lee's Homes of Wells. Council members noted surprise that the company did not already have the license.

Council scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, September 20, at 5 p.m. to consider the three-year contract for cleaning, sweeping, and flushing of Main Street between Mission Point Resort and the western end of the boardwalk.

Council next meets Wednesday, September 13, at 5 p.m. on the second floor of Community Hall in Council Chambers.