By winning a seat on the school board at Engadine Consolidated Schools, Ivan Johnson of Garfield Township will have to give up his position on the local board of review, owing to the Michigan Incompatibility of Public Offices Act, which states that no one can be a part of two units of government when one can exert financial influence over the other.

Mackinac County Prosecutor Clayton Graham explained that, in this case, the problem lies in how schools are financed. Schools receive some of their funding from property taxes, he said, and school board members are responsible to that entity. On the other hand, the township board of review "has the ability to increase or decrease property tax valuations," he added. "Thus, a board of review member would have at least some ability to impact the amount of revenue the school district receives."

In his explanation to the school board, Mr. Graham emphasized that he had no intention of passing judgment on any particular board member or attempt to speculate on how they may use their judgment, but after reviewing statements made by past Michigan attorneys general, Mr. Graham said Mr. Johnson could not legally hold both positions.

The state does allow residents within the same unit of government to hold positions on multiple boards, however. In areas with less than 25,000 people, for example, someone may be on the county road commission and work for the sheriff at the same time. In this case, both positions are part of one unit of government: Mackinac County. Mr. Johnson's conflict of interest arose because school districts are considered legally distinct from township boards and counties.

In other business, Township Clerk Linda Bennett will submit an application for a federal grant to obtain voting machines designed to serve the special needs of handicapped, hearing impaired, and blind residents. The machines should be in place by the August 8 primary, she said.

This initiative is part of the Help America Vote Act, and the devices are called "optical scan accessible voting systems." Mrs. Bennett said she does not know how many machines the township will receive. There will be no cost to the township.

Garfield Township residents and business owners are in need of high speed Internet service, she added, and members of the Garfield Township board will attend a forum on the matter, hosted by the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) Tuesday, June 20, at the Cisler Center at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie. The idea is to educate municipal officials concerning the uses and availability high speed Internet service, Mrs. Bennett said.

"Our service out here is slower than molasses," Mrs. Bennett said. "We only have dial-up service in the area, and people call and ask us about this a lot."

Some of them are seeking help obtaining high-speed Internet service for running home businesses, she said, and added that she believes obtaining high-speed service could bring more businesses into the area.

The sky above the Naubinway Marina will be lit with fireworks Tuesday, July 4, following the board's approval of a permit requested by the Engadine Area Merchants Association to buy fireworks for the holiday. Mrs. Bennett cautioned boat owners to dock their boats at least 700 feet away from the marina to avoid falling debris.

Larry Wyse will serve another year as harbor master at the Naubinway Marina. The board renewed his position, which pays $1,600, annually. Mr. Wyse has been harbor master for many years, and he will be on hand again this season to collect fees from boaters, provide maintenance to the facility, answer questions, and continue documenting marina traffic.

The Garfield Township Fire Department needs a new "trash pump," said Chief David Frazier Jr. The pump is used to draw water out of ponds and lakes on fire department runs in rural areas that lack hydrants or other water sources. The pump would cost $1,500, however,

and the township's fire fund is too tight to accommodate the expenditure. Mrs. Bennett is looking for donations to pay for the equipment.

The board hired Phil Linck of Garfield Township for $10 per hour to direct members of the Mayvillebased Wilkinson Corporation as they drive the township's gravel roads applying calcium chloride, known as well brine, to keep road dust down Thursday, June 1, and Friday, June 2.

Nearly all dirt roads in the township will be treated, Mrs. Bennett said. Last year, this cost $8,500. The board is making an effort to pave or chip-and-seal more roads in the area to avoid this expense, she added.

Craig Kelso, engineer and manager of the Mackinac County Road Commission, said residents should avoid walking or driving on recently treated roads for at least a few minutes after application because the chemical needs time to adhere. This happens quickly on humid days when the sun is shining, he added. On dry days, it takes longer for the chemical to take effect.

The board has decided to hire prisoners from the Camp Manistique correctional facility this summer to wash and coat the Mill Pond Bridge, sweep sidewalks, and help with cemetery maintenance. The group will work in several area townships, Mrs. Bennett said. They are likely to be in Garfield Township for about a week, working under the direction of Walter Frazier, township maintenance man. The precise number of prisoners has not been determined, she said. Prisoners are paid $15 per day for their efforts.