Letters to the Editor
Where Is the Outrage on Water Rate Increase, City Loan?

To the Editor:

The citizenry of St. Ignace has now been paying for the financial mismanagement of our community for some two months now. I would ask, “Where is the outrage? Does anybody realize what is happening?”

Our community, the beautiful town of St. Ignace, has been dealt an unfair and bloated water rate. Personally, I am now paying 20 to 30 additional dollars per month as a result of someone’s fiscal irresponsibility.

Perhaps my fellow community members do not realize what is going on here. Our city not only raised our water rates, but additionally committed another half a million dollars of our money to save themselves from a potential shut-off of gas and electric utilities.

The accumulating deficits began in 2001 and continued until this year, despite warnings from auditors. It would appear to me that our city leaders are unable to manage our tax dollars and water revenue responsibly. Why should the people be held responsible?

The talk of additional taxes to support our government irresponsibility has been raised at the City Council. Any additional costs to the citizens of our community should be greeted with some anger and outrage.

The fact that our community is at least half a million dollars in debt needs to be addressed at all levels. The fact is that I’m uncertain whether this is only as far as we have sunk.

Questions abound. Does anyone beside myself care? Who was responsible for the “interdepartmental” transfer of funds? How did our leaders allow our community to fall into such debt? What are they really doing to insure there is no additional costs to me or you?

The big question, however, is who was responsible for this water rate increase and the mammoth loan the city needed to maintain gas and electric service? Was it Mayor Dodson, Treasurer Elmer, or City Manager Heckman? Someone, anyone looking out for the interests of St. Ignace, should have been listening to the auditors since 2001.

The city of Marquette recently recalled several commissioners. It may be time for us to consider the same. Our government is supposed to work for us. The time is now to make these people responsible and hold them accountable.

I, for one, will do so on an ongoing basis and I hope others will do so as well. The fiscal mismanagement of St. Ignace cannot be tolerated. It costs us money.

Kenneth Perala

St. Ignace

County Should Be Thankful

for Animal Shelter Volunteers

To the Editor:

I just finished reading the article regarding the Mackinac County Animal Aid Association (MAAA) concerns. I read in disbelief! Is Dawn Nelson talking about the same organization that I know of? The organization which prides itself on a shelter more immaculate than any I’ve ever seen? An organization run by enthusiastic volunteers who love animals, feed them top quality foods, and don’t want to have any dog or cat euthanized? The people I’ve met who are connected with MAAA put in hours and hours of labor cleaning and caring for animals, many dollars of their own money, and much of their time raising money to give the animals top-notch treatment and care. The fundraising events have been well run by dedicated, hard working, well organized, and professional volunteers.

After reading the article, I can only think that there has been some major miscommunication somewhere along the line, or that there is some other political motivation for the negative comments made. Mackinac County should be bowing, scraping, and thankful that they have these well-intended MAAA volunteers around, instead of chastising them and their work.

Louise A. Anderson

Phillip N. Schaeffer

Moran

People Need To See Shelter First-Hand

To the Editor:

With all the negative publicity that the Mackinac County Animal Shelter has been receiving lately, I felt compelled to give credit where credit is due. The Mackinac Animal Aid Association (MAAA) has worked very hard to improve the shelter since they took over operations in April. I had adopted animals from the shelter before MAAA took over and have since volunteered at the shelter. Let me tell you what a difference MAAA has made. The shelter has gone from smelling and looking terrible, to a place where I would recommend everyone go and visit and adopt a wonderful pet.

It is very saddening to me to pick up the paper in this small community week in and week out and read of the animosity among community members. The animal shelter is open daily from 10 a.m. to noon. If you can’t make it at these times, you can make appointments that better fit your schedule. Take the time to stop by the shelter and see for yourself that some opinions about the shelter aren’t necessarily true. People need to see for themselves. Thank you, Ginger Valentine, for the outstanding job you do and the hard work you put into making the shelter a nice, clean environment. I’ve volunteered, so I’ve seen it firsthand.

Christina Bigger

St. Ignace

Highly Recommends Father-Son Course

To the Editor:

For several decades, my family and I have enjoyed the beauty of the Les Cheneaux Islands as we have spent several weeks each summer living in the area. There, we have enjoyed the friendship of many of the year around residents and wondered in the natural beauty throughout the area. This year we added another jewel to our experience as we became acquainted with Paul Wilson and his work at the Maritime Museum in Cedarville.

My son, Paul, and I read of Paul Wilson’s sponsorship of a mentoring project for father and son combinations at the museum through a series of articles in The St. Ignace News . We embarked in the program in mid-June and spent several hours each week working with Mr. Wilson building a working model of a Marblehead class, radio controlled, sailboat. This is not a model “kit” but rather a “from scratch” model which, when completed, will stand 84 inches tall and is 50 inches long. While we are not yet finished with the boat, we anxiously await its completion and the opportunity to sail it in the waters of Les Cheneaux and admire it on the mantle of our home in Ohio during the off months.

While we were working on our boat, we had the pleasure of watching Mr. Wilson build a canoe before our eyes, along with absorbing his expert advice as we built our model. He is, indeed, a craftsman who taught us never to use a power tool if a hand tool was available and to always carry a pocket knife. In building the model, we actually used many of the same techniques that would be involved in the construction of a full-sized sailboat. Most important, this model project provided a dad and lad the opportunity to spend time working together building a model sailboat that will certainly be a keepsake for both of our lifetimes and hopefully beyond.

We commend the staff of the Les Cheneaux Historical Society for their sponsorship of this program and enthusiastically recommend it as a future project for any father and son who would enjoy spending time together while studying and enjoying the nautical history of the Les Cheneaux Islands.

Paul and Dale Dentel

Swanton, Ohio