Final Repairs to Water Tank Expected Soon
By Ryan Schlehuber

Final repairs to the city water tank in Evergreen Shores may be completed by next week, reported Les Therrian, director of the City of St. Ignace Public Works Department, at a City Council meeting Monday, June 18.

Dixon Engineering, an engineering and consultant firm from Lansing, has replaced the city in supervising the repair plans being prepared by Pittsburgh Tank and Tower (PT&T), which was hired last year to install a stem extension to the tower. The tower cracked along its base during a blizzard in February, resulting in the evacuation of three nearby homes.

Bill Dixon, CEO of Dixon Engineering, told Mr. Therrian that PT&T's miscalculations of the repairs was caused by a flaw in a computer program the company used.

"They did the calculations by hand and discovered that the program they were using to figure out the repair calculations was off," said Mr. Therrian to Council. "They're also taking some things out they put in during repairs that aren't needed, like the rubber washers.

"Now it's just a matter of them getting here and getting a seal drawing in," Mr. Therrian continued.

Council will be given a final report from Dixon Engineering and still retains the authority of approving the final repairs, said City Manager Eric Dodson.

Mr. Therrian said the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is withholding final payments to PT&T until the city is satisfied with the repairs.

"There will be a warranty with these repairs and PT&T will be expected to pay for all the expenses we've incurred" since the tower cracked, he said, such as hotel expenses for the families that were evacuated.

Council agreed to renew the city's recreation funding contract with Moran Township and St. Ignace Township, which will run through December 31, 2010. The new contract has no new language compared to the former contract, Mr. Dodson said, which expired December 31, 2006.

The city's annual contribution is $86,404.60, while both the townships contribute $11,199.25 to recreation programs.

The contract funds recreation programs and facilities operated by the city's recreation department, which include Little Bear East Conference Center and Arena, the community swimming pool at LaSalle High School, tennis courts, and basketball courts. The St. Ignace Golf and Country Club and Silver Mountain Ski Hill have separate contract agreements.

The recreation department is supervised by the city's Recreation Advisory Committee.

Councilman Willie LaLonde asked if the public restrooms at the Pavillion Mall on North State Street could be kept open later, stating he has noticed the shops and the restrooms are closed before 5:30 p.m.

Deb Evashevski, the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director, said it has been an ongoing issue between DDA and mall owner Elizabeth Brown.

"We can't force her to stay open, and keeping the walkway and restrooms open is a big liability issue, considering the vandalism that we've seen at the American Legion Park," said Mrs. Evashevski. "We can request that she keep it open, but I can't imagine the liability risk there."

The restrooms were approved to be installed in the Pavillion as long as they were available to the public, one of the city's stipulations when it was built. The city maintains the restrooms, while Mrs. Brown covers the expenses of electricity and utilities for the restrooms.

Council made no action on the issue, but Mrs. Evashevski said she will forward the request to Mrs. Brown.

St. Ignace residents Michael Buby and Norman Tafelski were appointed as first and second alternates, respectively, to the city's Zoning Board of Appeals.

Mayor Paul Grondin and members of Council visited with officials from the Village of Mackinaw City Tuesday, June 19, as part of a Mayor Exchange Day between the two municipalities.

St. Ignace officials toured the village and its facilities, including its recreation complex, wind turbines, and its historic village project. The groups took a tour of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and ate dinner at a local restaurant.

Mackinaw City officials are expected to visit St. Ignace Wednesday, June 20. The group will be given tours throughout the city, visiting several facilities, including the public library, the water treatment plant, American Legion Park and the shoreline boardwalk, and Little Bear East Conference Center and Arena. The group will have dinner at the St. Ignace Golf Course and Country Club and finish the day with an airplane ride from Great Lakes Air.

Council approved two requests for special events status from the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce, for Arts Dockside at the city marina September 1 and 2 and Sidewalk Sale Days downtown July 13 and 14.

Mr. Dodson updated the city on events being planned for the Mackinac Bridge 50th anniversary celebration. The city's only responsibility during the events will be to provide permits for the parade that will travel from St. Ignace over the bridge to Mackinaw City, he said.

The basketball hoops donated by the tribe for the city's outdoor courts at Little Bear East and McCann football field have finally been located after a two-year hiatus and will be installed soon by city crews, Mr. Therrian said. The hoops were misplaced when their crate had been delivered to the city's Public Works garage, but workers there never knew what the package was, or who it was for. The city was never notified it had been sent, said Mr. Therrian.

Council authorized Mr. Therrian to ask for bids to repair damaged shingles on roofs at both of the city's water plants. Bids will be opened during the first week in July.

Eugene Elmer, the city's marina director, was directed by Mayor Grondin to work with Mr. Dodson to find a way to clean the Wawatam Lighthouse at Chief Wawatam Park. Mr. Elmer said the lighthouse has been infested with bugs, and he is looking for a cost-efficient way to keep it clean.