City Christmas Tree Will Now Be at Marina
By Karen Gould

St. Ignace will decorate a new community Christmas tree this year. A temporary pine tree will be set up just north of the St. Ignace City Marina this holiday season. The tree at Dock 1 used in past years has grown too tall to decorate, say Downtown Development Authority (DDA) members, and the tree lights often blew the electrical breaker in the area. The board also announced, during its Friday, November 9 meeting, the sale of its rental property on Glashaw Street is final. Proceeds from the sale of the house are earmarked for renovations at the Museum

of Ojibwa Culture, and the board approved some work to begin this month.

The DDA has asked the Department of Public Works (DPW) to assist with the tree substitution. Les Therrian, DPW director, who attended Friday's meeting, has been working with Martha Sjogren of the U.S. Forest Service, which has given the city permission to cut down a tree along Castle Rock Road.

The tree will be about 30 feet tall, said Mr. Therrian. Crews will trim branches from the lower trunk, and for stability, anchor the evergreen in the ground about six feet deep. Ties also will be used to secure the tree.

The new location is more centrally located, said Deb Evashevski, DDA executive director, and the marina will offer nearby parking.

"That sounds like a logical place," said board member Don Schairer.

The pine tree previously designated the city's Christmas tree, which stands near the Arnold Transit Dock on State Street, is difficult to spot by those driving down the street.

City Manager Eric Dodson, who attended the meeting, agreed.

"If you're just visiting," said Mr. Dodson, "there is no way to tell that's a city Christmas tree or that's just Arnold Line decorating downtown."

This year's Christmas parade and tree lighting will be Friday, November 30.

This year, the temporary tree will give the DDA a chance to see how the new location works for the community. The board will discuss the possibility of planting a tree this spring in the grassy area.

After three years on the market, rental property owned by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has sold for $88,000. The Glashaw Street house was put up for sale to raise funds to pay for needed repairs to the Museum of Ojibwa Culture building. The board decided on some work that should be completed this fall.

"The proposal was as soon as we sold 3 Glashaw," said Mrs. Evashevski, "we would put money into the museum. If you really look at that museum, we need to enhance the inside and the outside. Now is the time."

Originally listed at $95,000, an offer of $90,000 was accepted for the two-apartment structure this summer, however, the property appraisal came in at $88,000. A sale agreement was reached at the appraisal price. After all costs were paid associated with the sale, the DDA received $79,034, said Mrs. Evashevski.

With funds in the bank for renovations at the museum, the board agreed to add insulation to the structure at a cost of $4,825. Work is expected to begin this month.

Ceiling fans to help circulate the air will be added at a cost of $2,190. The board also decided to set up two heating zones to balance temperatures in the building.

Plans this fall also include the removal of trees, which are contributing to a moisture problem at the building, and they block light from entering through windows, say board members. The trees also reduce the visibility of the building to visitors. Landscaping work is expected to begin when the weather warms next year.

In the spring, plans call for painting the outside of the museum. The board agreed it would seek a guarantee for the work. Old paint on the wood siding never adhered to the wood because of a moisture problem, say board members, who now want assurances from the painter this will not happen again.

"We've got to do it right this time," said DDA Chair Gene Elmer. "We've got to get some experts to tell us why [paint] won't stick."

In other business, the board established a Transportation Museum Committee and a Sign Committee. The Sign Committee, which includes Barb Yshinski and Gene Elmer, will work on way-finding signs. The signs will include a map of the downtown area and provide visitors with locations of buildings.

Mayor Paul Grondin and Mr. Schairer will join Mrs. Evashevski on the Transportation Museum Committee. The proposed museum, said Mrs. Evashevski, will focus on the history of transportation in the area up to and including the building of the Mackinac Bridge.

Aletter has been received by Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry, said Mr. Elmer, withdrawing for sale the lake front property north of American Legion Park. The DDA had been pursuing a grant to purchase the 1.2-acre parcel, which is used by the boat line as a parking lot.

"They realize they need it for additional parking," he said. "We wanted to keep an open area down there and it's still going to be an open area. It's going to be a parking lot, just like it's always been."

If the boat line decides to sell the parcel at a future date, said Mr. Elmer, the land would be offered to the city first.

The DDA next meets Friday, December 14, at 8 a.m. at City Hall.