Clark Twp. Seeks Road Board Representation
By Amy Polk

Adisgruntled group of senior citizens protested moving into a smaller room for weekly lunches three times a week, but ultimately accepted the Clark Township board's January 18 decision to close the main hall for lunches at the township's community center in Cedarville during the winter to save on heating costs. Meals will be served in the smaller room on the west side of the building, where the township once maintained the public library. Trustees said the township and seniors can return to the previous arrangement if it doesn't work out.

Trustees also approved two special events, hired a secretary to record board meeting, agreed to order a new ambulance chassis, voted to support Mackinac Island's progress on the Edison Sault electricity rate increase legal case, authorized the township's attorney to proceed with the next step of the Metzger sewer back-up case, appointed an airport advisory committee, approved Zoning Board of Appeals training, and discussed township concerns about Mackinac County Road Commission projects.

Swede Road Improvements

Supervisor Linda Hudson, Trustee Dana Leach, and some Swede Road residents said they planned to attend the Mackinac County Road Commission's January 22 hearing to determine why there are no Clark Township road projects slated for the next two years in the agency's proposed sixyear plan, and to find out why a proposed Swede Road project was removed from the plan. The project was subsequently reinstated.

Swede Road, which connects M-129 in Cedarville and M-48 in Goetzville, was originally slated last summer for work, that included 4.3 miles of subgrade strengthening, drainage correction, and resurfacing. Future work would pave the gravel portion of the road, from Oglebay Norton's quarry road to M-48. The project is expected to take four years, but the Road Commission's new priority list did not anticipate work on the road until 2009.

Mrs. Hudson noted there was only one east district project on the list over the next two years, and that was Town Line Road in Pickford. There were no east district projects on the list for 2008, and a proposed five-year Three Mile Road project in Marquette Township had also been removed from the list.

She cited the January 18 article in The St. Ignace News that mentioned how contracted work with townships is a major source of income for the Road Commission, and how local jobs keep road commission employees paid throughout the summer months. Clark Township levies one mill for road improvements, and spends all of the more than $168,000 collected from taxpayers on road contracts with the Mackinac County Road Commission.

"We do have a significant amount of money we spend with the Road Commission, and I would think that would bear some weight with the Road Commission in making Clark Township a consideration for rural (Category D) funds," Mrs. Hudson said.

The state and federal money for road projects comes from gas taxes, which are allocated to local municipalities and road commissions based on their populations, and need. The money is disbursed for projects related to economic development as Category D Funds, specifically given to projects that improve secondary, all-season road systems by building or improving roads that connect existing all-season roads.

Mrs. Hudson suggested the board get a new list of all proposed road construction and maintenance projects in Clark Township. Mike Patrick of Cedarville, who was seated in the audience, reminded the board that he was told "Clark Township is out of funds" for maintenance projects when he called the road commission requesting pot hole repair for Park Avenue. Treasurer Katie Carpenter, who lives on the road, said she didn't think there was any maintenance on Park Avenue last year.

"For the tax base along that road, that's a crime," Trustee Mike Lofdahl replied.

Mrs. Hudson said she has recommended the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners appoint former road commissioner John Duncan of Cedarville to the Road Commission if it is expanded to five seats. She wrote a letter to the Road Commission citing her concern about the composition of the commission, because there is no one on the commission representing the east end of the county. There is no requirement that commissioners serve a specific area of the county, and current commissioners include Paul Amacher and Frank Luepnitz of Moran and Lester Livermore of Engadine.

Clark and Marquette townships on the east end are approximately 30 miles from the Road Commission headquarters in St. Ignace. Mr. Duncan lost his bid for re-election to the Road Commission in November 2006 by 119 votes.

Mr. Patrick, who is now a county commissioner representing the east end of the county, said the Mackinac County board is considering expanding representation on the Road Commission, and if the measure is approved, he can recommend an appointment to represent the east end of the county. If Mackinac County adopts the appointment system, all future road commissioners will be appointed.

County commissioners are to decide whether it will appoint road commissioners this month.

Road Commissioner Manager Craig Kelso was to meet January 29 with East District Foreman Dale Williams and east district supervisors to review road projects and hear township concerns.

Senior Lunches

About a dozen regulars and servers who participate in senior lunches offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the community center attended the January 18 meeting to protest moving the lunches from the large hall of the Clark Township Community Center, to a smaller room. The lunches are sponsored, in part, by Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action, and senior citizens pay a nominal fee for the lunches. Clark Township provides a free facility and utilities. Activities are often scheduled during the lunches, which promote social interaction among senior residents of the community. Many more seniors join the lunches in the summer. Similar luncheons are coordinated through Community Action in DeTour Village, Pickford, and St. Ignace.

Clerk Cathy Nordquist, who supervises community center functions, first proposed the switch last year. Participation is more than 40 in the summer, but drops to about 20 in the winter. Clark Township will save money on heating costs, she said, and the renovated smaller room will be more comfortable because it is easier to heat.

Township administrators say the Community Center's expenses exceed its revenues by $19,000.

"We want to stay in the big room, and we feel you're pushing us into the small room," said Brad Smith, a member of the senior citizens group.

Community Action member Tony Autore said things are tough everywhere, and many counties levy additional millage to support Community Action programs. Mackinac County is one that does not, he said, in part, because communities like Clark Township pitch in by offering a free facility.

"What they are trying to do is cut back and economize," Mr. Autore said of the township. "Yeah, it's going to be a little inconvenient, but let's work at it."

Appointments and Permits

Supervisor Linda Hudson said she is going to continue taking names of prospective candidates for Clark Township Planning Commission, but plans to announce an appointment at the February meeting. She said she has received two letters of interest from prospective candidates, and she also has had a conversation with one interested person.

Trustees allocated $70 for each of the five Zoning Board of Appeals members, plus mileage for up to two vehicles, for any member who wants to attend zoning board training in Mount Pleasant, Gaylord, or Marquette.

Approved to serve on the Clark Township Airport Advisory Committee are Dan Carmichael, Tom Coyne, Ken Drenth, Fred Massena, Kent Stiner, Linda Hudson, and Katie Carpenter. The committee will review operations of the Albert J. Lindberg Airport in Hessel and make recommendations to the township board.

John "Moose" Strehler of Hessel was hired as airport manager in December and will receive $150 a month. He replaces Jeremy Ridings, who resigned. Loren Dingman was hired as the relief airport manager $50 a month. The men were two of the five applicants for the job.

The board authorized free use of Cedarville and Hessel parks by the Les Cheneaux Artisan Cooperative for Music and Art Dockside in Hessel Sunday, July 15, and Art in the Park Saturday, September 1.

Clark Township now charges $100 to use the Hessel Marina and Cedarville Waterfront Park, but Clark Township can enter into service contracts with organizations if the organization or event provides a service or benefit to Clark Township residents.

Trustee Dana Leach questioned whether there are any guidelines for determining which events the township can collaborate with.

Events are reviewed on a case by case basis, Mrs. Nordquist said, and they should bring revenue or business to the area.

Former Deputy Clerk Kathryn Hills was rehired to serve as Clark Township's recording secretary to allow the clerk to participate freely in meetings without having to record minutes and keep records of motions and actions. She will be paid $11 per hour to attend board meetings and listen to tapes of meetings she does not attend, and record the minutes for Clark Township board, Planning Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals. Mrs. Nordquist said there is room in the budget for the expense.

Clark Township authorized reserving an ambulance with a 2007 chassis, and ordered it immediately after the meeting to ensure a chance to buy one of five remaining vehicles. Clark Township Ambulance Corps Captain Mark Merchberger recommended the purchase, which will save Clark Township roughly $8,000 over purchasing a 2008 chassis. Early estimates on the vehicle were around $120,000, but the vehicle with the 2007 chassis will cost $111,575.

Mr. Merchberger said the savings on the ambulance can be applied to the purchase of a new fire department tanker.

The two vehicles will be paid for with ambulance replacement funds and money collected from ambulance and fire department millage that was collected in the 2006 winter tax bills.

The next meeting of the Clark Township Board will be Thursday, February 15, at 7 p.m., at the township hall.