The Clark Township board, meeting Thursday, April 21, narrowly approved a road project agreement with the Mackinac County Road Commission, hired an attorney to dissect its condominium laws and land-use issues, and agreed to apply for a grant to promote tourism in concert with the Eastern Upper Peninsula Nature Tourism Alliance.

A new list of road projects, scaled to fit the township’s $150,000 millage budget and including some tradeoffs with those previously planned, sparked some discussion in a crowd of about 20 at the Clark Township Hall. The board had delayed a decision on the projects because it wanted assurances as to exactly what its funds would cover, said Supervisor Linda Hudson. Nevertheless, she noted, a road project agreement was urgent to avoid higher materials costs and losing priority on the work. By the end of the discussion, which spun off into debates about the total costs, individual roads on or off the list, and the need for road, ditch, and culvert maintenance, the list was approved by just a 3-2 margin. Treasurer Katie VanEenenaam and Clerk Cathy Nordquist voted against it.

Of particular interest was the cancellation of the Swede Road Project at McKay Creek Crossing. Supervisor Hudson reported that two engineering studies have recommended against the proposed installation of guard rails on that road, saying it would not improve safety. That, combined with the overall cost of that project relative to the budget, $78,000, and available safety money, made it prohibitive, she said.

Conrad Izzard, a township farmer who resides on that road, vehemently disagreed, saying that the narrowness of the road and a 20-foot drop off make it extremely hazardous in the winter.

“We signed a petition on that guard rail,” he said. “All we got were stakes with ribbons. There have been seven or eight accidents in recent years where the cars came very, very close to going down and people close to getting killed. What are we going to do when we have a lawsuit on our hands?”

Mrs. Hudson said she would ask to see the engineering studies.

The other major decision was to revise the Grove Street project, from Beach Street to Bay Street, eliminating the resurfacing and shoulders restoration, judged to no longer be urgent, but continuing with drainage and culvert improvements. The changes lower the expense of that particular project from $80,000 to $40,000.

Work this summer will include a $10,000 county match program for gravel, and an estimated $4,000 (last year’s figure) for chloride to reduce dust.

“I don’t think we’re looking at frivolous projects here,” said Mrs. Hudson.

Adoption of the agreement included a stipulation that the Road Commission will confirm in writing that it has rescinded the contracts previously set aside in favor of the more urgent projects, and that Clark Township can use a $22,000 credit it has with the commission.

“If we don’t okay some of this, we’ll get nothing done,” said Tammy Cruickshank, helping to bring debate to a close.

Questions of road, ditch, and culvert maintenance were raised by Charlie Paquin, a retired Michigan Department of Transportation employee who serves on the township’s Road Committee. He said plugged-up drains and culverts also need to be addressed and asked how much of the township’s taxes were going toward that.

Board member Dana Leach said he would will look into that.

It was also suggested to invite Road Commission Manager Craig Kelso to a township meeting.

“The citizens pay $500,000 to Mackinac County each year, and we’ve never seen a pie chart of what we get back,” Mrs. Hudson said. “It might be a question to ask.”

Christine Rector of Northern Initiatives made a presentation on behalf of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Nature Tourism Alliance (EUPNTA), encouraging the township to apply for a $30,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service, which EUPNTA could then use to develop trail maps, signage for natural and cultural attractions, a Web site, and customer service workshops.

“We want to provide tools for people to work with, and make sure folks in the tourism industry understand how to promote this area,” Mrs. Rector said. “It will directly benefit Clark Township. We’re really trying to build the shoulder seasons,” she said, referring to spring and fall.

She added that the grant would cover 80 percent of the $30,000, with the township matching 20 percent, but the latter amount could come from in-kind labor. To that end, she said steering committee members would be able to document time spent on the project.

Mrs. Rector told the board it needs a proposal by May 1 and that all the township would need to do is collect the grant, distribute it, and provide appropriate reports. EUPNTA will work with the township on the specifics of how the funds will be used.

Clark Township had already approved participation in the project in a general sense, but unanimously approved this more specific plan. The funding, if granted, would be available in the late summer or fall.

Mrs. Hudson later proposed that the board get advice from an attorney on handling land-use cases that the board has been dealing with and any that may come up in the future. She recommended Jim Murray of the law firm Plunkett and Cooney, a Bloomfield Hills-based firm with an office in Petoskey. The board voted 4-1 to hire him for up to three hours at $175 per hour.

The board has struggled with interpretation of its zoning ordinance over a recent request to change a campground into site condominiums.