Problems with mapping, labor, and other complications have extended Moran Township's street and address sign replacement project one month, to Saturday, July 1. At this point, about 25 percent of the address signs are up and roughly the same percentage of households have received mailings confirming their new addresses.

Contractor Clayton Rooney told the board June 7 that 98 percent of the address and street signs would be up by July 1. The last two percent involves verifying addresses and putting up lastminute signs.

The July extension is not a violation of Mr. Rooney's contract, said supervisor Jim Durm, who acknowledged a series of problems that held up the project throughout the winter and spring, including evenand odd-numbered addresses appearing on the same side of streets and other anomalies that took time to work out. In particular, figuring out addresses for private roads has caused problems, he added.

The township received new street signs Thursday, June 8, said trustee Mark Spencer, who is now working directly with Mr. Rooney to help speed up the project, which was slowed, in part, because of breakdowns in communication between Mr. Rooney and the board throughout the year.

"I'm now Mr. Rooney's point of contact," Mr. Spencer said. "If problems come up, I'll fix them so his crew can keep moving."

So far, Mr. Rooney has not been not been paid for his services. At the meeting, he requested $3,500 of the $8,200 he was contractually promised, but the board will pay only $2,100, 25 percent of his labor fees.

All told, 800 address signs and 80 street signs will be replaced, and according to Mr. Spencer, "Mr. Rooney understands the urgency for getting them done."

The project is required under the Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency telephone system.

A new "performance subdivision" is being constructed eight miles west of St. Ignace by Mike Doud of St. Ignace. Performance subdivisions comply with a township ordinance, allowing developers to reduce the size and setbacks of lots in exchange for leaving what Mr. Durm called "green space."

In this case, approximately three acres of land between US-2 and the lake will be left permanently undeveloped, and four new homes will have access to Lake Michigan.

"I think this is a great idea," Mr. Durm said, noting the similarity of the performance subdivision method to the state's "cluster zoning" provision.

With this method, a 40-acre parcel can have the same number of homes on it and retain much more green space, Mr. Durm said.

Under the township's ordinance, the owners of the parcels will be required to pay for the maintenance of the road.

In other business, the Moran Township board has dropped its complaint against Slaggs Auto and Marine. The township has gone to court several times over the past two years concerning scrap metal, cars, other objects on the premises, which were not properly screened from view, Mr. Durm said.

The site is now being used by David May for a business called May's Service Center, which will provide oil changes, brake, and exhaust system work.

"It's nice to see the area cleaned up," said Kris Vallier, township clerk.

"There is a need in the area for this kind of business," added Mr. Durm.

Litigation brought against Moran Township by Charles Malcom, owner of Town and Country Motel on US-2, has been settled out of court by the township's insurance carrier, against the board's wishes.

Mr. Malcom's driveway was stripped and replaced in 2003 to make way for a new water line along the highway. A piece of the pipe ran beneath his property.

Mr. Malcom considered the new pavement of inferior quality compared to his old pavement and sued the township for $9,000 damages, Mr. Durm said.

The new asphalt had sunk and cracked under the weight of motorcycle kickstands, Mr. Malcom said.

At a mediation session, Mr. Malcom said he would settle out of court for $4,500. Half of the amount would be paid by the township's insurance, and half of would be paid by the township. The board rejected this proposal, and the insurance company subsequently paid the entire amount to avoid court and attorney fees, which would cost more in the long run, Mr. Durm said.

Trustee Lonnie Heuer strongly objected to the settlement and said that he didn't understand why Mr. Malcom would settle for $4,500 instead of getting his driveway repaved, since he originally claimed damages of $9,000, Mr. Durm said.

The township's bulk item cleanup day was well attended this year, said Township Treasurer Susan Dionne, and the board paid for one resident to dispose of his trash at the transfer station in St. Ignace, rather than hauling in another $400 dumpster at the last minute for the trash.

Expenses for cleanup day totaled $3,361.30, $271 more than budgeted.

"We had a lot of metal," Mr. Durm said, "and the price of metal is high enough that, next year, we will have a separate area for metal and allow someone to take it away."

As the township cleans up in preparation for summer, the trees along US-2 continue to grow and obscure scenic views of Lake Michigan and the Mackinac Bridge. This prompted resident Lee Ortman to request that the board send a second resolution to State Senator Jason Allen to have public areas trimmed.

"It's a good idea," Mr. Durm said. "Our views of the lake are important."

Township Treasurer Susan Dionne has established new hours. She will be at the Moran Township Hall each Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon, starting July 1 through the end of February, with the exception of August 12.