While the St. Ignace city recreation director's position remains empty, City Manager Eric Dodson, with help from volunteers, is filling in, operating Little Bear East Conference Center and Ice Arena and planning recreation programs. Meanwhile, the city's Recreation Advisory Committee is reassessing the position, hoping to bring in a person with more marketing experience to promote Little Bear East Conference Center and Ice Arena.

Phil Hinkson's last official day as the city's recreation director was Friday, April 14.

With the help of people like Marianne Huskey, who is supervising the soccer program, Mr. Dodson told the City Council Monday, April 17, that the upcoming summer recreation program can be covered, but the city still needs to prepare a schedule and staff for the city's swimming pool at LaSalle High School.

"We're operating under the premise that this position will not be filled tomorrow," he said. "We're putting the feelers out there for the swimming pool. We're going to have to farm out a lot of projects."

Summer baseball teams will be formed in May and there are several special events already scheduled at Little Bear East, including a comic and sports card show, visits from former Detroit Tigers baseball players, quilting seminars, and the Visitors Bureau's Chenille Sisters concert in June.

Sean Pelon, a marketer at Visogi Entertainment and a former employee of the Visitors Bureau, said he has been working with Mr. Hinkson since October and will continue to work with the city to run the scheduled events and continue to mold Little Bear East into a financially sustainable facility.

"My main concern is that progress at Little Bear doesn't end," said Mr. Pelon. "Marketing is on everyone's mind there and we need to keep going with getting events in there."

Mayor Paul Grondin invited Mr. Pelon to participate in upcoming recreation board meetings.

Mr. Dodson assured Council that daily operations and telephone calls will be covered either by him, city staff, or by Little Bear East's secretary, Tonya Valetta, who continues to work at the Little Bear East office.

City Attorney Questions

Recycling Process

In another matter, city attorney Prentiss "Moie" Brown asked Council to address complaints about Waste Management not having regular open hours on Saturdays. He also believes the company is not disposing of recycled items properly, since blue box items put out by residents have been dumped in the same truck used to pick up the garbage.

The building Waste Management operates out of on Cheeseman Road is owned by the city.

Mr. Brown asked Mr. Dodson if he could invite representatives of Waste Management to Council's next meeting to explain the situation.

Mr. Dodson said Waste Management officers told him they do use the same truck to pick up garbage and recycled items but not at the same time. He said it is sorted back at the building.

"With them being closed on Saturdays," said Councilman Willie LaLonde, "it's a hardship on residents."

Mr. Dodson gave a brief update on the progress of the water and sewer fund, which has taken a step backward. The sewer fund deficit actually increased since Mr. Dodson's last progress report in March. It is now $293,934.35, or $1,315.23 more than last month, however, Mr. Dodson explained not all of April's receipts have been collected yet.

The water fund deficit now sits at $215,463.55, down $3,550.50 since Council's last meeting.

Mr. Dodson is hoping to provide Council with data and charts to compare the city's deficit forecasts to the actual numbers at the May meeting. He said it is unlikely, at this point, that rates will be lowered this summer, as Council had hoped.

Mr. Dodson said the city will be ready for its annual audit, which is scheduled for its May 1 meeting.

Council did not take any action on Robin Lechner's request for her and her husband's company, John Lechner Construction of Dafter, to be allowed to pile limestone at Dock 3 while it constructs a breakwall for the state's new dock in Mackinaw City.

The Lechners are bidding on the project, which will be decided Wednesday, April 19, however, the state is allowing building materials to only be transported by boat and barge, since it is honoring a request from Village of Mackinaw City to keep truck traffic to a minimum for downtown business.

Mayor Grondin said Mr. Dodson has to collect more information on the project before Council makes a decision.

City Marina Director Eugene Elmer told Council that Edison Sault Electric Company has offered the city a transformer at no cost, which allows the city to improve electrical power at the Chief dock for new light poles and the model the city hopes to install at lighthouse at the end of the pier. A boardwalk and fishing pier will also be built there this summer.

"It will give us unlimited power," Mr. Elmer predicted.

Downtown Development Authority Director Deb Evashevski informed Council she is awaiting legislative approval for funding to extend the boardwalk and resurface the city's parking lot behind the downtown stores. Once received, she said, the construction can begin.

Mr. Dodson said he is also waiting for the State of Michigan to approve his request for architect qualifications for the construction of the new bus station. The city can then hire an architect and begin the design stage of the project, which will include input from Indian Trails and Greyhound bus companies.

City Clerk Rene Vonderwerth said the city's new computer server system is up and running smoothly so far. The new server was purchased from Megabites Solutions of Escanaba for an estimated $17,000, well below the $25,000 budget Council approved in late winter.

Council announced the annual curbside yard waste pick-up program will begin Monday, April 24 (see advertisement on page 32).

Mr. Dodson said Waste Management will also hold its annual bulk item pick-up day Saturday, April 29. He said the company will keep a strict policy this year of picking up only three items per household. Any extra items will be left at the curb and will need to be removed by the next day.