Taking action against the aggressive emerald ash borer (EAB), the St. Ignace Tree Committee is expected to recommend participation in a matching grant program totaling $10,000. The grant would pay for an inventory of the city's ash trees and offer a management plan to treat them. The city's cost would be about $5,000.

A similar grant, for the same amount of money, is available to replace dead ash trees.

The decision to have the Tree Committee review the grant requirements and make a recommendation to council was reached at the Monday, July 21, city council meeting.

Council likely will take action on the committee's recommendation at its next meeting, as the grant has to be used by September 1.

City Manager Eric Dodson, who recommended the city participate in the program, said the study and inventory would be done on trees on city-owned land, which would include the downtown area and the golf course.

More than 80 ash trees are estimated to be on city property.

Bernard Hubbard of Curtis, a consulting forester working with Michigan Technological University, outlined the EAB grant program, administered through the Department of Natural Resources. He told Council the management plan would include recommendations for each tree, with two options, either treat the ash trees or cut them down.

The pesticide treatment is made by injection into the tree and has to be done every two years. It is 98% effective, Mr. Hubbard said. The chemical travels through the tree's vascular system and can be found in its leaves within 24 hours.

"What we are trying to do is slow the spread of it so that research can catch up and try to figure out how to live with the creature," he said of the quickly-spreading EAB. "When it first came in, our goal was to eradicate it, but I don't think that is possible any more. Now we need to figure out how we can live with it and not lose the ash trees within the state, and within the country, actually. "

In China, where the bore originated, where EAB originated, the insect has been known to move on to kill lilac and walnut trees, once it has destroyed all ash trees.

Michigan State University, said Mr. Hubbard, is leading the county on research of the emerald ash borer and Michigan Technological University leads the way on research for managing the trees.

The project, said Mr. Hubbard, is called Slam, to slow the spread of the emerald ash borer. The project uses the resources of both universities, state and federal departments of agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and it also will be expanded to work with private land owners.

In other business Monday, following a public hearing on the matter, council approved a renewed lease with Arnold Transit Company for use of city property at Dock #3, near the Coast Guard station. The company ships freight between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island from the dock. No public comment was offered during the hearing.

The five year lease, which expires December 31, 2012, is for $20,000 annually with increases each year beginning in 2009 and based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). At the suggestion of Councilmen Don Gustafson, Council approved the lease with the stipulation that the CPI used be consistent each year and specified in the lease.

The old lease called for annual payments of $18,000.

Council also voted to abandon a clear-vision corner at Ferry Lane and Bertrand Street, following a public hearing on the matter.

The request was made by Fred Paquin, whose family is purchasing Gateway Lanes bowling alley. He attended the hearing and said they would like to pave the gravel area, which has been used as parking for the establishment.

The site contains 1,639 square feet and resembles a triangle with sides of approximately 64 feet by 65 feet by 75 feet. The Paquins will pay to have the abandoned right-of-way added to the bowling alley property description, and the bowling alley will be liable for the property taxes on the piece.

Council agreed to spend approximately $10,000 for a new wrestling mat to be kept at Little Bear East Arena. The money will come from the community center fund, which has a $61,000 balance.

Recreation Director Scott Marshall presented the request.

The wrestling tournament held earlier this month, he said, generated $2,500 in revenue, and mats were borrowed from schools in St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie. A second event now is scheduled for September 21 and six more are scheduled for next year. He said the mat would pay for itself by next year, if the revenue holds up. Such mats have an estimated life of 15 years.

Participants commented on the quality of this month's tournament, said Mr. Marshall, and noted the St. Ignace venue gave them a minivacation, as well.

Mary Maurer of St. Ignace was reappointed to the St. Ignace Library board for a five year term. Her current term expires this month.

For the monthly water and sewer report, said Mr. Dodson, the sewer account is at a positive $63,952, while the water account has a $10,110 deficit.

"If you're only $10,000 in the red," said Mr. Gustafson, "and you've already met 95% of your debt obligations, we are in much better cash status than we have been."

The city's total water debt payment is $440,000 a year, said Les Therrian, director of the Department of Public Works, with $8,200 remaining to be paid this year in November.

A recognition proclamation was given to James Schlehuber. He is the chief water/wastewater plant operator for St. Ignace and has been named 2008 Upper Peninsula Waste Water Operator.

During public comment portion of the meeting, Councilmen Tom Della-Moretta said he had been approached by residents who are unhappy over the deposit increase to $80 for a commuter card for the Mackinac Bridge. He has contacted Senator Jason Allen's office, he said, seeking a way to change how the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) operates.

Council offered no comment.

Bob Sweeney, executive secretary of the MBA, told The St. Ignace News Tuesday, July 22, "Mr. Della-Moretta has never contacted me nor any board members that I am aware of and we would be happy to meet with him to discuss the issue."

Council moved its next city charter review session to August 18, at 7 p.m. it had been scheduled for August 4.

City Council next meets Monday, August 4, at 8 p.m.