Disc Golf, Paintball Requests on Board Agenda
Moran Twp. To Seek Bond for Pte. LaBarbe
By Paul Gingras

After extensive debate, the Moran Township Board of Trustees turned down a request by Steve DuFresne of St. Ignace, who asked for up to $10 a week of township funding to pay gasoline costs for mowing the 24-basket disc golf course at Doc Holle's Silver Mountain Ski Hill. The decision was made at the Wednesday, June 6, township board meeting. Mr. DuFresne built and maintains the course himself as a public service.

While other recreation activities at the site are shared between the City of St. Ignace and the township, the disc golf course does not have a contract, and township officials want to see one in place before considering taking on mowing costs.

The course, which is available free to the public, has been patronized frequently this season, Mr. DuFresne said. About 90 people have played there within the past month and a half. Mr. DuFresne has been spending about 20 hours a week mowing the course, at his own expense.

In 2005, Mr. DuFresne solicited donations to build the course. About $400 remains in the township-maintained fund, which the board said should be depleted before tax money is used for gasoline. Mr. DuFresne said he plans to continue paying for the gas himself, and will use remaining donations for other site maintenance.

Municipal funding could later be allocated for gasoline, if a formal contract with the city can be negotiated with the city, said Township Supervisor Jim Durm.

The township maintains two recreation funds, generated by two millages of 0.25 mills each. One is used to operate the tubing hill in the winter and the other is paid to the City of St. Ignace for township residents to take part in recreational events in town, at the same rates city residents pay.

The tubing hill and disc golf course are under the oversight of an ad hoc committee composed of representatives of St. Ignace and Moran Township. The disc golf course is not adopted as part of the official recreation plan and, therefore, is not included in any contract for joint operation with the city.

If St. Ignace were to consider absorbing the course into the city recreation program, it would probably want it to generate revenue, Mr. Durm speculated.

If the course were absorbed by the city, it would be included in the recreation contract between the city and the township, said Township Treasurer Susan Dionne. The township has not been able to convince the city take on the course, she added.

To tap municipal recreation funding, Mr. DuFresne could seek a contract between himself and the township, in which case the municipality would have to clear the matter with its lawyer, Ms. Dionne added.

Noting that disc golf is popular downstate and in other states, resident Cheryl Schlehuber suggested at the meeting that the course should be advertised. Doing so would "show the city it is worthwhile," she said.

Mr. Durm agreed that the course needs publicity. The township board has advertised the course on its Web site.

Owing to the time it takes to maintain the course, Mr. DuFresne said he has not spent much time promoting it, although it is listed on disc-golf Web sites.

In a related matter, the township identified a suitable area for a paintball course on a portion of Silver Mountain last March, but the township's insurer, Municipal Underwriters, has strongly advised the board not to host the activity, owing to potential injuries and liability, Mr. Durm said. He expects the board to act on Municipal Underwriters' advice and deny the project. The board will address both the paintball and disc golf projects at its next meeting Thursday, July 5.

To secure funds to repave three miles of Pointe LaBarbe Road without depleting the township's road fund, the board voted to pursue a $325,000 bond. Payment would amount to approximately $70,000 per year, for five or six years. The township will schedule a public hearing on the matter. No date has been set, Mr. Durm said.

Repaving Pointe LaBarbe will cost more than $600,000, but state, federal, and county contributions will bring the township's portion down to $475,000. To qualify for assistance, the township must begin the project this year. If the bond is secured, work will begin in the fall, Mr. Durm said.

The township has $636,470.08 in its road account. Funding the entire road project with existing funds would be a serious drain on the account, which should maintain about $200,000 for emergencies, said Trustee Mark Spencer, a member of the township's road committee.

The township is seeking the funding through the Miller- Canfield bond company.