Wayne Honnila was honored for his years of service to Clark Township in a resolution adopted by the township board Thursday, August 18. The resolution recognizes Mr. Honnila for 45 years on the Clark Township Fire Department , 12 years on the Les Cheneaux Community Schools Board of Education, and long service on the Clark Township Planning Commission, for which he “provided essential input for the first Clark Township Master Plan adopted in 1994.” He was a member of the Les Cheneaux Islands Association and chaired the Marine Committee, for which he developed the global positioning system (GPS) method for accurately placing more than 120 buoys that mark shoals and rocks in the Les Cheneaux channels. He was named Guest of Honor at the 1994 Les Cheneaux Antique Wooden Boat Show “for his lifelong contributions to Les Cheneaux area boating and boating enthusiasts.” He had been owner of Viking Boat Harbor in Cedarville since 1976, and had been involved with the Les Cheneaux Area Boy Scouts and Toastmasters International.

An anchor and chain cemented to a rock will memorialize Mr. Honnila at the municipal waterfront park in Cedarville in a project undertaken by former planning commission and Island’s Association member Mary Baker.

In light of two recent memorials approved by the Board for the Cedarville Waterfront Park, Cedarville resident Mike Patrick suggested that Clark Township consider establishing a large plaque or memorial to honor deceased civic figures.

“Pretty soon you’re going to have more memorials than you’re going to have people in that park,” he said. “There are a lot of deserving people around here who could be put up on the plaque.”

Cormorant Update

Supervisor Linda Hudson said she recently attended a meeting on double-crested cormorant control with Mike Hamberg of the Les Cheneaux Islands Association’s Fish and Game Committee. The meeting in Houghton Lake focused on cormorant control in the Les Cheneaux Islands, Mrs. Hudson said, and featured the Department of Natural Resources Vice Chairman of Appropriations. The Les Cheneuax Islands are in the second year of federally funded, lethal cormorant control, and people at the meeting were overwhelmingly supportive of continuing the control program here, she said.

“Everybody was well-versed on what’s been going on here, and the people in Houghton Lake were on pins and needles to hear how the Les Cheneaux Islands program is doing,” she added.

A committee was established to discuss continuing funding for the control program, and Mrs. Hudson said she will write letters to petition United States Senator Debbie Stabenow and State Representative Gary McDowell for their support.

Sign Replacement

Clark Township will also replace caution signs notifying drivers of disabled children in the area on Swede Road in Cedarville. The signs are stolen every year, trustees said, and Mackinac County Road Commission agreed to install the sign if Clark Township buys two new ones for $72.10. Trustees agreed to suggest the Road Commission use “one-way” bolts when they install the sign.

In a related matter, trustees plan to replace two memorial name plaques that are missing from lamp posts in Cedarville. Supervisor Hudson said people donated at least $1,500 to have names attached to lamp posts when the streetscape was being revamped a few years ago.

Tree Replacement Claim Refusal

Trustees refused a bill for tree planting at Carl McIntire’s property on M-134. The trees were planted in front of his home to replace some that were uprooted when the township extended its sewer line to Hilltop Drive, where Bob Vanderbough built a housing development. Mr. Vanderbough is now selling the development and has sold his storage business to move closer to family in southern Michigan.

Mr. Vanderbough and Clark Township struck an agreement to extend the sewer line if the township and he shared the cost. Costs included replacing vegetation in some residential yards. Clark Township and Mr. Vanderbough agreed to split the cost of replacing trees in Mr. McIntire’s yard by having Clark Township buy the trees and Mr. Vanderbough plant them himself.

Supervisor Hudson said Mr. McIntire ordered the trees and their installation himself, having Green Thumb of Cedarville plant the trees. Mr. Vanderbough now refuses to pay for the installation because “he only agreed to plant them, not to pay someone to plant them.” Because Mr. McIntire acted before talking to Mr. Vanderbough or Clark Township, Mrs. Hudson suggested that “Clark Township is not responsible for the planting of the trees, unless there is some documentary evidence that says Clark Township is responsible for all the work.”

High Speed Internet Service

Clark Township Hall will be wired for high speed Internet, which is expected to free the township’s fax line and allow multiple users to be online at the same time. The equipment and installation will cost $599, and the monthly usage fee is $120 from MOTHERS Computers of Cedarville. Township employees have been struggling with dial-up access. The money for the new service will come from left-over sewer audit funds.

Fire Boat Storage

Trustees elected to store the township’s fire boat at Viking, owing to the years of free docking the Honnila family has provided Clark Township, and other contributions. Prompted by a question by Tom Augugliaro, a Cedarville storage building owner, about whether the township sought storage quotes, Trustee Dana Leach suggested the township seek other bids for winter storage. Clark Township Fire Chief Chet Kasper said that Viking would probably have to amend its bid if other companies were invited to bid. Tony Autore of Cedarville reminded the Board of Viking’s docking contribution, and said it should be considered as part of the quote.

Clerk Cathy Nordquist ended the discussion by moving to accept Viking’s quote, and trustees unanimously agreed.

In previous conversations, Clark Township firefighters have told Supervisor Hudson that Viking is the best location for launching the boat in the summer, since it is centrally located in the chain of islands.

Cemetery Policy Regarding Tree and Shrub Planting

Clerk Nordquist said overgrown roots are causing trouble at township cemeteries, so trustees adopted a policy that restricts people from planting trees or shrubs at grave sites. Trustee Leach voted against the policy.