Letters sent by Village President Ron Wallin to some Mackinaw City residents in April were intended to drum up grassroots support for waterfront property purchases by the village, and they were sent by him as an individual, not as a village council representative, the village council learned at its Thursday, May 1, meeting. To preserve the land for public use, Mr. Wallin has been encouraging the village to find a way to purchase waterfront parcels as they become available. Thursday, the council also agreed to consider a list of names Mr. Wallin proposed for an ad hoc committee to study the idea, and ways to fund it.

The letters, mailed in early and late April by Mr. Wallin, were part of a personal project, not a council undertaking, he said. For some recipients, they caused confusion about whether Mr. Wallin was speaking on behalf of the village government. The first letter, sent to about 40 people, encouraged residents to attend a planning commission meeting where waterfront issues were addressed. The second made reference to Mr. Wallin's idea to form an ad hoc committee to study creating a Native American and history theme tied to potential waterfront property purchases. It was sent to about 65 residents, he told The St. Ignace News.

Former village president Robert Heilman attended the meeting and reported "disturbed discussions" among community members regarding the letters.

"I am curious to know, with such an important item [as waterfront purchase], why you did not send it to all property owners, taxpayers, and voters because, if improperly handled, this could bankrupt the community. I think people are worried about that," he said, addressing Mr. Wallin.

Mr. Wallin agreed that, if improperly handled, buying waterfront could bankrupt Mackinaw City. He reiterated his desire to hire experts to study the matter.

He explained that he wrote the letters to drum up support for waterfront property purchase by the village.

The reason for limiting the number of letters was financial, he said. A mass mailing would have been too expensive.

The idea was to contact a sample of people in hopes of spreading the idea, Mr. Wallin told The St. Ignace News. He sought to increase participation.

Owing to the confusion, Mr. Wallin said he now considers the letters a mistake and any future letters will include a disclaimer that he speaks as an individual citizen, rather than as village president or a spokesman for the council.

Mr. Wallin's letters were identical to prepared statements he made at recent council meetings. Since the council had heard them, he said, he did not send copies to its members.

Council members questioned Mr. Wallin's technique. Several said they were questioned by community members and could not respond.

"It puts [the village council] in a bad light when we have no clue as to what is going on," said Trustee James Alford. "I am not saying that we have to agree with [waterfront purchase], disagree with it, or whatever, but at least be aware that [the letters are] out there and be able to give some kind of educated response when asked about it."

Trustee Belinda Mollen encouraged Mr. Wallin to be more careful. The public may not understand whether he speaks as president or a community member, she said.

Mackinaw City resident Kay Stemkoski said she understood the council's concerns.

"However, I am one who received a letter," she said. "I never once thought of the letter coming from the president. I thought of it as coming from Ron because I know Ron and I know his feelings about the lakeshore...Knowing that, and reading the letter, I did not even question the source being from management. I accepted it as being from Ron and...his desire to save the waterfront. However, at the same time, I did not know who got a letter and who did not. I did not even give that a thought. We all make mistakes, and I do not think it was meant as a slam to anyone."

Public hearings or council workshops are the appropriate forums for the council to involve the public and let them know what the council is working on, Mr. Hingston said.

The village has had several public workshops in which the public has repeatedly identified more open waterfront as a top desire, Mr. Wallin told The St. Ignace News.

The village is not ready for a pubic hearing regarding his idea to form an ad hoc committee for waterfront purchase, but Mr. Wallin anticipates the need for one soon.

Waterfront Property Purchase

After extensive debate, council members agreed to review a list of potential members of an ad hoc committee proposed by Mr. Wallin to study the pros and cons of municipal waterfront purchase, as well as how to fund it.

"The northeastern quadrant of Mackinaw is extremely sensitive and demands the highest degree of planning to balance residential, public, and commercial interests," he said.

His idea is to develop the area under a Native American history theme, and possibly include a museum on the south side of Huron Avenue that he hopes to bring decent-paying jobs to the area, and more tourists, he said, by providing a place to view the Straits throughout the winter.

Mr. Wallin cited Edward Conkling, who helped plat Mackinaw City in the 1850s, as a visionary because he set aside public space where Fort Michilimackinac once stood. Now, open waterfront in the area is key to the success of the city, he said.

"Clearly, history and beauty were central to his plat," Mr. Wallin said. "Regrettably...the amount of space Edward Conkling set aside for public use...falls far short of today's reality, as millions pass our way annually."

Mr. Wallin pushed to carefully acquire private property as it comes up for sale.

"Mackinaw would receive countless benefits by adding to that which Edward Conkling began in the 1850s," he said, noting that the ad hoc committee could speed up the process.

The village parks and recreation plan has mechanisms for purchasing property already, Mr. Hingston said.

"I do not think enough emphasis has been put on that," he said. "The village has...a large inventory of waterfront properties that we have acquired over the years that give access in the northeast quadrant."

The sentiment was echoed by Mr. Heilman, who listed waterfront purchases in recent years.

Mr. Hingston called for a public hearing on the matter to ensure that residents hear several perspectives, including the views of homeowners who may not want parks next to their houses.

Whether the proposed ad hoc committee would fit into existing village structure, such as the master plan and process of the village planning commission, was questioned by Trustee Lana Jaggi.

"I was hoping that a specific committee would be more focused on [the] topic," Mr. Wallin said.

"If you feel so strongly about [waterfront property purchase] why don't you form a private committee?" she asked.

Ms. Stemkoski said private interests already are buying waterfront. As a municipality, however, she noted, "what we want to do is somehow to find a way, through professionals, to raise money to set aside for the purchase of the property."