Trying to address existing runoff problems, which could be further exacerbated by the construction of several new houses, Department of Public Works Director Les Therrian presented work plans for the south side of High Street, between Chambers and Church streets, to the St. Ignace City Council Monday, April 18. The plans were a result of concerns expressed by city residents at the Monday, April 4, council meeting about runoff and other problems that damage homes and yards. The residents, Elgie Dow, Donna Bassett, and Marcy North, all live in an area bordered by McCann, Chambers, High, and Church Streets, with Boynton Alley running through the middle, parallel to McCann and High. The streets are some of the lowest in town and many of the residents in that area have flooding problems related to the excess water produced in the spring by melting snow and rain.

Mr. Dow and Mrs. North had come to support Mrs. Bassett, who had sewage backup problems that they thought to be related to problems previously expressed by the other two. It turned out Mrs. Bassett’s problems were related to her own sewer line, and not the runoff problems once experienced by the others. Given the city’s awareness of what other residents on High Street have been experiencing, however, Mr. Therrian developed a plan to address those problems.

“The storm water on High Street has been a problem for years,” he said. “The newest concern is actually the development on the (Duane) Hughey property, up the hill on the south side of the street, across the street from some of the residents with the biggest problems. Mr. Hughey is willing to do whatever is needed.”

The property was once the Urseline Academy, where several new homes have been built. Mr. Hughey told the department he will plant trees on the hill below the new Della-Moretta residence and along a path parallel to the road several feet about the street. The dirt removed from the planting will be used to alter the grade so the water from the development will stay along the hill and travel down to the east.

There will also be a culvert dug for about 30 feet leading up to the High Street stop sign at Church Street for the water to continue its flow, and a catch basin directly in front of the sign. A pipe will connect that basin to the storm drain along Church Street.

“This installation should keep water from crossing High Street and causing problems along the North property (northeast corner of Church and High) and the adjoining sidewalk,” said Mr. Therrian. “That should also deal with the water we are diverting from the Hughey development.”

The department, which also includes foremen Gary Bigelow and Bill Fraser, may also be constructing a berm, with either dirt or blacktop, along the McGinnis and McDonald properties on High Street, closer to Chambers, to divert water flows from individual walkways and to a point where it will minimize problems. If the trees and altered grade on the south side of High Street don’t help, the city may install a “sock pipe” along the hill to catch water and filter out dirt. The cost for the repairs was estimated at about $500 to $600.

With little rain in the past month, except for one day, storm water problems have been nonexistent, since the snow melted and water runoff in general wasn’t a big problem this year. Mr. Therrian, however, said his department still will make correction of these problems a major priority this summer.

“We’ve identified 10 areas of concern,” he said. “Also, (city building inspector) Paul Sved and myself are looking at all new building sites to develop methods of dealing with runoff. Our responsibility is to keep the water on the street and not where it affects residents. We have to give residents a way to get rid of water and keep as much water as we can from going down into low areas.”

At the meeting, Mr. Therrian was also designated as the city’s “street administrator” to meet a state public acts requirement for all incorporated cities and villages to have a representative for any business transacted with the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Council also heard a presentation from Jim Miller of the Straits Area Sportsman’s Club during a public hearing for the proposed plan to add a 224-square-foot fish cleaning station to the existing restroom building at the St. Ignace Mill Slip boat launch. Mr. Miller said the club would be providing skilled tradesmen to construct the facility and that money from the club, the Salmon Derby, and the St. Ignace Community Foundation would provide enough funds that the city’s costs would be minimal.

“We really need a cleaning station there to make it a package deal,” he said, referring the needs of tournament and recreational fishermen using the launch, who now have to go elsewhere to clean their fish.

Because the exact cost to the city could not yet be determined and City Manager Gary Heckman is on vacation, council will wait until it’s Monday, May 2, meeting to vote on the proposal.

Receiving a recommendation from the city’s Real Estate Committee, council discussed whether the city would try and sell or lease the old public library on Spring Street to recoup $90,000 it had put into the new library and possibly make additional money from a sale that would allow it to contribute toward the items the library still needs. Council decided to advertise for sealed bids to purchase it with a minimum of $90,000.

The St. Ignace Visitors Bureau had met earlier with the committee with a suggestion that the organization lease the building for office space. The bureau would like to move out of the building at the Marquette Mission Site that it shares with the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce.