Web Camera Will Be on Bureau

Approval was given by the Mackinac Island City Council to an online Web cam company to install a camera on top of the Tourism Bureau facing westward at their meeting Wednesday, July 1. The camera will be connected to the other cameras that stream to the site.

Councilman Armand "Smi" Horn said he likes the site.

"I think it'll be a great idea," he said. "I mean, any person in the world can look and see what is happening on Main Street on Mackinac Island. I think it's great to advertise."

The site, MackinacLive.com, owned by Ira Green, is the latest Web site to use cameras to record Island scenes, either as still photographs that are updated periodically or as video streams. The most sophisticated belongs to Chippewa Hotel, which allows viewers to pan the camera and even zoom in up to 16X.

Worried about encouraging others to post cameras on the Tourism Bureau, a city building, Alderman Armin Porter asked if the permission granted would set a precedent. Councilman Mike Hart suggested that Council will look at such requests on a case by case basis for city buildings.

Councilman Jason St. Onge asked Tourism Bureau employee Christopher West, who is working with Mr. Green, about the memory capabilities of the cameras, specifically, whether the video will be archived for possible police investigations later. Mr. West said the camera does not have that capability now, but it is possible. He suggested putting a server in the police station to record the video.

Mr. St. Onge also asked Mr. West how fast the cameras could be turned off to censor a bad situation, such as a carriage accident or a fire.

"If someone's hurt," he said, "we don't need the whole world watching."

Tourism Bureau Director Mary Slevin offered to install a cut-off switch at the bureau in case of such an incident. She said Web cameras are very powerful in drawing attention to the Island. The Chippewa Hotel's Web site went from being the 33rd ranked page to the 4th ranked page after posting its camera.

Council also approved access to the Stuart House Museum for a German documentary film company for Friday, July 10. The company, Mrs. Slevin said, will be traveling through the United States filming along the way for their documentary of John Jacob Astor. They will meet with Phil Porter and will probably take some shots of the fort and the streets, as well.

The filming in the museum, though, will take place after business hours and the company will probably need at least three or four hours to complete their shots, she said. The council also suggested to Mrs. Slevin that she arrange for the film crew to see the birchbark canoe stored in Community Hall, which she agreed to do.

A request to waive the Community Hall event fee was approved for a breast cancer fundraiser Thursday, July 30, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be a kick-off for resident Tim Leeper's planned bicycle ride from Los Angeles to Mackinac Island in January. He will be accepting donations at the event on a per-mile basis. Councilman Dan Wightman expressed his amazement at the planned trip.

"If anybody can do it, he can," Mr. Wightman said of the cycling enthusiast.

Ira Green's request to state of Michigan for the rights to the bottomlands in front of his three lots between Shepler's Ferry Dock and Orr Kids Bikes was given the city's blessing. Council had tabled the action at its previous meeting so the purpose of the application could be changed from building a dock to simply obtaining rights to the bottomlands. Council, two weeks ago, was concerned that including a dock in the request could commit the city to allowing a dock in the future.

The site plan for the bottomlands was also changed. The plans previously showed a dock next to Shepler's Ferry Dock, but Council asked Mr. Green to removed the dock and add a line that stated any future dockage would be reviewed with a construction application.

City Attorney Tom Evashevski said he found the changes satisfactory.

"The city and the public will have the opportunity to express any concerns that they have during the construction and permit application phase," he said. "I don't see any problem with this (request)."

Cloghaun B&B's request to hang two banners celebrating their 125 years in business was approved, after being tabled at the last meeting. Council said the banners could hang on the B&B until September 15.

Council approved the request for a Mackinac Island Horseman's Association parade July 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The parade, part of the Festival of the Horse festivities, will start at Mission Point and continue along Main Street to the school.

Association President Maryanke Alexander also outlined the festival for council members.

Jennifer Griffin, who asked two weeks ago that the city review its ordinance banning carriages on the upper half of French Lane, will be told in a letter to work with the police department and dray line if she requires a special delivery. Council directed the response at the recommendation of the Streets and Public Safety Committee.

"The decision was not to alter the ordinance," said Mr. St. Onge, "but to give the chief of police leeway with common sense and discretion with special deliveries and/or special needs persons that may need to get the low rider cab in there, the one with the gate in the back."

Council also approved, on the Streets and Public Safety Committee's recommendation, the a new color for the outside of the Mackinac Island Public Library, which will be repainted this summer. Its new color will be a pale shade of blue called "lighthouse captain's blue." It is now beige.

The oldest of the city's three police cars will be offered for sale on the recommendation of the Streets and Public Safety Committee. The Mackinac Island Police Department recently purchased a new vehicle.

The Ordinance Committee forwarded a sign and display ordinance, handbill ordinance, and blight ordinance to the city council with recommendations that they be approved at the next council meeting July 15.

Council received correspondence from Mackinac Island State Park Commission about the commissions May 22, 2009 meeting. The commission revised the British Landing dock fee to $250 per landing to cover administration and maintenance. The fee, effective June 1, will be waived for the City of Mackinac Island, contractors that work for the City of Mackinac Island, and the Department of Public Works. The meeting also revised motor vehicle fees in the State Park.

Mayor Margaret Doud's appointment of Mr. Wightman as the Planning Commission representative to the Annex Historical Preservation Committee was approved by the city council. Mr. Wightman will replace James Bazinau, who resigned from the Planning Commission.

Resident Alan Arbib was permitted to put a bench on the east side of his building, which is on the corner of Astor Street and Main Street. Mr. Arbib said the spot is a natural place to put a bench and there is a lack of seating in town.

Council approved the Wheelman Association's request to park antique bicycles in front of Murray Hotel and to park the overflow at the courtyard at City Hall from August 6 to August 9.

Mission Point was given approval to serve liquor at events such as weddings, receptions, and dinners. Mr. St. Onge asked Council why the Inn at Stonecliffe isn't required to seek a permit to serve liquor at its tent. Mr. Hart said he wasn't sure, but the tent was becoming a permanent structure, so the city would look into that.

The city council approved one business license renewal, which had been held off because of unpaid late fees. Three temporary trailer permits were approved, one for East Bluff residents Tom and Sandy Phillips, from July 3 to July 6, to move their household goods for the season. The other two trailers are for a Boy Scout troop for seven days starting July 11 and a Girl Scout troop for seven days starting July 25, to move supplies for their weeks of service as the Governor's Honors Guard.

A temporary motor vehicle permit was also approved for July 15 to July 23 for a Belonga Plumbing backhoe to move the Chicago Yacht Club trailer from storage to Windermere Point.

The next city council meeting will be Wednesday, July 15.