Adivers dock is the newest addition to St. Ignace's American Legion Park.

"This area is awesome for diving and this dock will make it much easier for divers to set up," said Deb Evashevski, the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director, during a DDA meeting Friday, August 11.

The 8-foot by 26-foot portable dock was installed by the St. Ignace Department of Public Works Thursday, August 17. The city workers attached an axle with wheels to the dock so it can be taken out in the fall and returned to the water in the summer for divers.

Cost of the dock was just under $4,800. It was purchased from Flotation Docking Systems in Cedarville by the DDA. The Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve Association donated $1,000 toward the purchase.

The dock, which was installed just in time for the Straits of Mackinac Underwater Treasure Hunt at the American Legion Park Sunday, August 13, will probably stay in the water until September, said Mrs. Evashevski.

In other shoreline improvements, city workers have added sand to Kiwanis Beach in downtown St. Ignace, a request from DDA member Pat Ramsay at last month's meeting. Some grass was removed, as well.

"We should do that every summer," said Mrs. Evashevski.

Shirley Sorrels, the director of the city's Marquette Mission Park and Museum of Ojibwa Culture, updated the board on the museum's summer status. She said May and June were good revenue-generating

months, however, July was down from last year. So far, she said, business in August is picking up.

Educational programs for American Indian youth have been well attended, she said, but there is increasing demand that such programs include non-native local children and visitors. She said she would pursue ways to include them in programs next year. The facility is publicly financed and operated by the DDA, and cultural education for youth has been funded by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

The DDA will make a counteroffer to a potential buyer of a city house on Glashaw Street, board members decided following an executive session to discuss a recent bid. The city has been advertising the two-apartment house for $92,000.