A tourist complaint has spurred the St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to find a way to improve visitor relations. Some staff members at local shops, say board members, are not familiar with community events, services, and products in town. Business owners, they say, are not always on site and rely on their employees to welcome and assist customers.

"If your community doesn't greet people in a positive manner, they're going to go to a community that does," said Deb Evashevski, DDA director.

Meeting Friday, September 12, the board listened as Mrs. Evashevski relayed the story of a downstate couple who recently visited stores in the downtown district and found a lack of friendliness and assistance offered by store employees. The couple made no purchases.

"It makes me nervous that some of our front line employees are not serving people who come through the front door in a positive way," said Mrs. Evashevski.

"Yes, the economy is bad," she added, "but if the front line people are not greeting customers, then it makes it even worse."

The board also was concerned that some staff are not familiar with events offered in the community, like Bayside Live, and some tourists were directed to Cheboygan for services that they eventually found available in St. Ignace.

The DDA is expected to discuss the issue at its October meeting, after Mrs. Evashevski meets with Janet Peterson of the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce and Michelle Walk of Michigan State University Extension office. Both organizations have offered training programs to local businesses in the past, although participation was low.

Ms. Walk, director of the Extension office, told The St. Ignace News Friday that employee programs she has offered in the past had good attendance in other communities. A workshop offered in Mackinaw City and Sault Ste. Marie included 50 people from each town; about 40 participated in Alger County. Fewer than 10 people attended two sessions offered in St. Ignace.

DDA member Linda Bell said offering the programs free would be an incentive for owners to send employees.

Lights will be installed on State Street trees from Goudreau to Truckey streets in October. The DDA approved the $2,815 expenditure at its August meeting. Twelve oversize trees will be replaced before the lights are strung.

The DDA will contribute $500 a year for four years to replace a riding mower used by the city. Other city departments also will be asked to share the $10,000 cost of the machine, including the recreation department and the library.

Shirley Sorrels, director of the Museum of Ojibwa Culture, said she continues to work with historic preservationist Frank Pompa on the restoration at the 171-year-old museum structure. Mr. Pompa has submitted his report on the museum to the State Historic Preservation Office for its input before the report is presented to the DDA.

Mr. Pompa also is helping the city apply for restoration grants. He is volunteering his time and gives the restoration project credibility, said Mrs. Sorrels, and his expertise has been invaluable to the museum.

A fundraising sign is planned for the front of the building, as the museum also is seeking community support to help pay for the restoration work. The museum needs about $250,000.

A tile drain field to divert water from the museum building should be installed this fall. Exterior painting is scheduled to begin next summer.

The DDA next meets Friday, October 10, at 8 a.m. in city hall.