18 Seek City Recreation Dept. Post
Dodson, Paquin To Choose
By Ryan Schlehuber

St. Ignace City Manager Eric Dodson hopes to hire a new coordinator of the St. Ignace Recreation Department before the second week of October, when hockey season begins. He will form a small committee to begin paring the 18 applicants to about eight, then interview the finalists, possibly as early as next week.

The application deadline was Friday, September 15.

Joining Mr. Dodson on the selection committee will be Fred Paquin from the city's Recreation Advisory Committee and possibly a member of the St. Ignace Hockey Association.

The new post will be called "programs coordinator and facilities manager" to reflect a new job description. The old position, that of recreation director, held by Phil Hinkson, has been absorbed by Mr. Dodson, who will now be responsible for the budget and overall operation of the department. The new coordinator will be a city employee, but not a department head, as was Mr. Hinkson, will be hired by Mr. Dodson without city council approval.

"The position is more than just being office personnel," Mr. Dodson said. "The day-to-day operations may include moving tables or going out onto the ball field, not just being behind the desk in the office."

Along with home games for St. Ignace midget hockey, the city will host hockey tournaments October 13, 14, and 28. The ice rink will open October 9.

In the meantime, Erica Cena, a graduate of Lake Superior State University, has been working parttime at Little Bear East Conference Center and Ice Arena since completing her 12-week summer internship with the city, assisting Mr. Dodson with the recreation programs until a coordinator is hired. She is one of the 18 applicants.

The new employee will coordinate and maintain the city's youth and adult recreation programs, such as youth soccer, baseball, and swim lessons. In addition, the person will oversee the swimming pool at LaSalle High School, athletic fields at McCann Field and at LaSalle, Silver Mountain Ski Hill operations, tennis and basketball courts, four parks, and Little Bear East, which includes a conference center, a hockey rink, and the fitness center.

"I have a mile-long list of new ideas that I would like to see us implement," said Mr. Dodson.

The city is offering between $26,000 to $32,000 a year, plus a health, dental, and retirement plan.

With the winter recreation season looming, said Mr. Dodson, "This will be a trial by fire for whoever we hire. Hockey will be rolling by then." The new person also will work

with the Recreation Advisory Committee in marketing Little Bear East to bring in more revenue generating events which will offset the mounting utility expenses the facility incurs each year, and

"We want to get more events, like the watercraft races we had in July," said Mr. Dodson.

"We'll be watching each of our expenditures for the Recreation Department much closer," said Mr. Dodson.