Bois Blanc Township will soon meet with the City of Cheboygan to reconsider a lease of a Cheboygan dock for a ferry service to the island.

Inland Boat Works ferry service’s lease was not renewed by the city, said Bois Blanc Township Clerk Joan Schroka, to make way for more space for the U.S. Geological Survey Department, which operates two survey boats in the area.

“There was an uproar earlier about the idea,” she said, “because some people didn’t like that it would be a private enterprise, but anyone can bid on this lease, even Inland Boat Works.”

Plaunt Transportation is the other ferry service that operates between Cheboygan and Bois Blanc Island.

Initially, the township board declined the offer of a 99 year lease for $1 a year. Now, owing to clamor from some Bois Blanc residents, the township board, at a regular meeting Wednesday, October 12, decided to at least hear out Cheboygan’s proposal. Board member Cheryl Gahn voted against the motion.

A meeting between the two boards has not yet been scheduled.

In other business, Bois Blanc Island resident Mitch Begle submitted a petition with 18 signatures that supports his effort to put the township board’s zoning ordinance revisions to a public vote during an election in 2006. Mrs. Schroka said Mr. Begle does not agree with some of the zoning proposals, such as continuing to allow accessory buildings to be built on a residential lot before the dwelling is.

In related matters, the board was informed that its Planning Commission denied the Begle-Van Voorhees Trust’s request to rezone its property from Light District Residential to Commercial II, owing to the Commission’s view that it was spot zoning. Township board member Lani White voted against denying the trust its rezoning request.

Bois Blanc Airport Manager Dale Hoffman told the board that the Michigan Aeronautics Commission plans to approve increased funds for a terminal building in a form of a 50-50 match. Also, the township will begin receiving entitlement grants for the west end tree clearing project, which will be completed next year.

Mrs. Schroka said demarcation lines have been painted on the runway and grass is now growing on the areas that were graded for the runway extension. She said only clean-up and minor maintenance is still needed.