Water Department Budget Tops January 3 City Council Agenda
Fullerton Appointed To Fill Rec Board Seat
By Ryan Schlehuber

At a brief meeting Wednesday, January 3, City Manager Eric Dodson reported that the city's water budget has a deficit of $160,526, owing to a $280,000 bond payment due January 1.

The bond payment, for the 1985 upgrading of the city sewer system is 60 percent of the department's expense for this year, said Les Therrian, director of the city's water and sewer department.

The sewer budget deficit shows a deficit of $249,600, a $29,366 improvement from last month.

City attorney Prentiss "Moie" Brown asked Mr. Therrian why the city's water tank in Evergreen Shores has yet to be back in operation. The tank, which helps provide water pressure for residents and businesses in St. Ignace and St. Ignace Township, was extended 27.5 feet higher in August but has yet to be put into operation owing to unsatisfactory electrical reconnections.

Mr. Therrian said the tank is empty still because the contractors for the electrical system of the tank have yet to reconnect it to the city's specifications.

"Basically, we're not going to take over the keys to the system until they get it right," said Mr. Dodson.

Mr. Therrian said residents will not notice a difference in water pressure when the tank is on or off. The extension project, he said, mainly improves availability of water and water pressure for firefighting in the township area. Mr. Therrian said he hopes to get the tank up and running this month.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians provided full funding for the extension project, since its newly expanded hotel and casino will benefit from it. The City of St. Ignace will be in charge of operating and maintaining the system.

Council passed a resolution to open a bank account to hold any funding the city receives for the scheduled upgrade of the city's wastewater system, for which planning and designing is expected to begin this year. Construction will begin in 2008.

Emily Fullerton, a resident and teacher in St. Ignace, was appointed to the St. Ignace Recreation Advisory Committee by Mayor Paul Grondin. She is a physical education teacher at St. Ignace Elementary School and replaces Miki Della-Moretta as one of two citizen representatives on the 14- person board. Mrs. Della-Moretta has moved from the area. Steve Peterson is the other citizen representative.

Mrs. Fullerton is the second person to be appointed to the board in recent months. Lynne Piippo was named to the board at Council's last regular meeting. She was recently hired as the new executive director at St. Ignace Visitors Bureau.