City OKs Wine Tasting Event, Adopts Budget
By Ryan Schlehuber

A proposed wine tasting occupied much of the discussion at the St. Ignace City Council regular meeting Monday, December 17, in which Council quickly approved its 2008 budget, which begins January 1, 2008.

Janet Peterson, director of the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce, received support from Council to work on holding wine tastings in the indoor walkway of the Pavillion Mall, which is owned by Elizabeth Brown. The city has a rightof way through the mall, which has access from the front on South State Street to the back alley, because the city maintains a public restroom in the mall.

Mrs. Peterson said she would like to hold a wine tasting at the Pavillion once a week through next summer, however, the state's Liquor Control Commission will determine how many events she can hold. She explained she must apply for a license for each event held.

The Chamber can apply for up to 12 liquor licenses, but also uses them for other events, such as the Fish Feast, which was held for the first time last August. Mrs. Peterson said she could also go through the St. Ignace Ambassadors program to acquire multiple liquor licenses.

Council members questioned whether an alcoholic event should be promoted at a public facility and turned to its attorney, Prentiss "Moie" Brown, Jr., for advice.

"As long as you make sure you're okay with the Liquor Commission and with our insurance carrier," he said to Mrs. Peterson.

She said security will be in place to be sure patrons stay within the walkway with their wine. They will not be allowed outside or in any of the stores with their wine.

Ms. Brown operates a wine shop in the mall.

Council adopted Ordinance 613, its 2008 appropriation ordinance, without any discussion, other than City Manager Eric Dodson pointing out that total appropriations for the upcoming year, $7,993,248, is $2,081 less than last year's.

The Downtown Development Authority will receive $233,000 in 2008, he said.

No discussion was held during the public hearing, which was held at the beginning of the meeting. Other than city department heads, the daughter of one council member, and media, no one attended the meeting.

Mr. Dodson updated Council on his and Mayor Paul Grondin's visit to Lansing last week to discuss with legislators such topics as the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) toll rate increase proposal, use of the state's prisoner community work program, which will resume in the spring, a proposal to add a St. Ignace representative to the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, and a plan to have the park commission develop an attraction in St. Ignace.

Mr. Dodson said he and Mayor Grondin spoke with about seven legislators and said he will continue to lobby for the best interests of the city, especially in its opposition to the MBA's toll rate increases.

Mayor Paul Grondin announced that Council will hold three regular meetings at different sites during the 2008 year, which will be January 21 at the St. Ignace Public Library, the Little Bear East Conference Room on February 18, and, on March 17, at the LaSalle High School. All meetings start at 8 p.m. except March 17, which will be held at 1:30 p.m. to accommodate the students in class.

A $200 fee was set by Council for the city's Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meetings and special land use meetings. Fees assessed to property owners who request zoning reviews are as follows:

• Regular ZBA meeting, from $100 to $200.

• Special land use hearing, from $175 to $200.

• Planning Commission review of off-premise signs, from 0 to $200.

• Special meeting for off-premise signs, from 0 to $200.

Council will no longer recognize special ZBA meetings because the ZBA does not meet on a regular basis, so when it does meet, it is for a special reason, such as an appeal to a decision made by Planning Commission, explained Mr. Dodson.

Previously, a $200 fee was charged to the property owner for a regular ZBA meeting and $250 for a special meeting.

The fee increases will recoup expenses from holding meetings and postage when sending out letters to property owners about a zoning request.

Mr. Dodson announced briefly that the city will receive a $20,000 donation from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to assist with its utilities expenses at the Little Bear East Arena and Community Center. He also said the tribe will be donating two truck plows and a snowblower worth $18,000.

The city's City Council Compensation Committee met earlier Monday to discuss possible stipend increases for council members attending meetings and events, however, the committee decided not to change anything.

Council members are paid $70 for regular meetings and $60 for committee meetings or gatherings at which the person is representing the city. The mayor receives $80 per council meeting and $70 for any other event at which the mayor says he is representing the city. There are no rules to govern what events are eligible.

Council allowed Police Chief Tim Matelski to sell by bid a 2001 and a 2002 patrol car, both Ford Crown Victorias, with a minimum bid of $300 and $500, respectively.

Council also allowed Les Therrian, the city's Department of Public Works director, to sell a 1965 road grader for a minimum bid of $750. The DPW received a new grader from the state two years ago, said Mr. Therrian.

Mayor Grondin reappointed Jack Ryerse to the city's cemetery committee as an honorary member and named Ollie Boynton to the city's newly formed Transportation Museum committee.

Downtown Development Authority Director Deb Evashevski announced there will be a presentation of the 70-mile-long recreational pathway, called the North Huron Scenic Pathway, that is being created between St. Ignace and DeTour, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 8, at the Little Bear East.

The city will seek to purchase a used snowmobile for no more than $500 to be used at Silver Mountain Ski Hill for emergency use, such as an injury on the hill, said Mr. Dodson. He said there is enough in the ski hill operation's capital outlay budget to make such a purchase.