Saturday night fireworks received the support of City Council Monday, October 20, and a $2,500 financial contribution to help fund the proposed summer event. The Downtown Development Authority pledged its support with a $5,000 contribution earlier this month. The city contribution will be in addition to its sponsorship of the July 4 fireworks show.

The new fireworks program is being promoted by the St. Ignace Special Events Committee and will include fireworks shows each Saturday night for 10 weeks next summer, from July 11 through Labor Day. The displays, which are expected to cost $100,000, are designed to draw visitors to St. Ignace and help lift the stumbling local economy.

"Our program is not just an 18 or 22 minute fireworks show," said Chris Shepler. "We plan and are working to do festivities throughout the day so it will make it a family fun, all-day event here in the City of St. Ignace."

Through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau, the Special Events Committee has established the St. Ignace Friends of Fireworks, which will handle funding, and fundraising already has begun.

Mr. Shepler reminded council that at the last city council meeting, Monday October 6, some community members expressed concern over the effect that the fireworks noise would have on some pets.

"This board is completely respectful of that," he said, and is working with Kundis Fireworks Display Shows of Sebewaing to reduce the number of loud booms often created during a fireworks display.

Kundis is the same company the city has contracted with for the Fourth of July display. The city has four years left on its $7,500-a-year contract with the company.

The committee also is mindful of the significance of the July 4th fireworks, said Lynne Piippo, executive director of the Visitors Bureau, and that display will remain stronger than the weekend shows. The decision was in response to a resident who attended the last council meeting and expressed concern that a summerlong program would detract from the patriotism of the July 4th display.

The Special Events Committee plans to make the summer fireworks program the city's signature through a marketing campaign geared for Michigan and, possibility, nearby states.

"It's not just going to be, 'Oh, there's fireworks every Saturday night in St. Ignace,'" said Mrs. Piippo. "We plan to make this a signature event, just as the car show [did] 30-some years ago. We really feel there is some strength here and it can continue for more than one year.

"We really feel this may grow over the years," she continued, "into something really wonderful for our community."

A decision to contribute to the fireworks program was tabled at Council's last meeting until after a budget work session in November, but Council approved the matter Monday night after City Manager Eric Dodson said the city had made an agreement with the Visitors Bureau to support special community events to at least $4,800 annually.

The fireworks will be shot from a Shepler's freight barge, rather than from land, said Chris Shepler, because the barge can be maneuvered around Moran Bay, depending on the direction of the wind.

The committee will be work with St. Ignace Fire Chief John "Bucky" Robinson and the U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Ignace.

City attorney Prentiss "Moie" Brown Jr. asked the group to give a copy of their insurance policy to the city.

Lift Station Failure

The Reagon Street lift station suffered a "catastrophic failure" Sunday, October 5, said Mr. Dodson, causing a complete shutdown of the station when a motor shaft was sheered off. The cause will not be known until the wet well is drained, at a cost of $1,950.

Council approved hiring Downunder Municipal Services of Kalamazoo for the work.

The site now is operating with one motor, while another is under repair. If the motor can be repaired, costs are estimated to run about $25,000, however, if the motor requires replacement, the cost would be about $40,000.

Insurance could cover the cost, if the reason for the motor's failure was not general wear and tear.

Council also approved paying a $18,000 bill for the cost of the electrical repairs to the 22-yearold station.

Ground-breaking for the new bus station on US-2 has been delayed, said Mr. Dodson, until the the contract is approved by the State Administrative Board November 5. The delay could set back the opening of the station to June.

Department of Public Works Director Les Therrian told Council that partial remains of possibly two human skeletons were discovered on city property during work to add a sewer line on Balsam Street as part of the sewer improvement project.

On-site archaeologist Greg Walls, of the University of Illinois from the Public Service Archaeology and Architecture Program, told The St. Ignace News Tuesday, October 21, that the Office of the State Archaeologist was contacted and the remains were given to the Bay Mills Tribe for repatriation.

"There was very limited scientific value with what we found," said Mr. Walls, with only partial remains and no artifacts.

The state required an archaeologist be on site full-time to monitor the Balsam Street project.

A misunderstanding over easements and property lines has been resolved on Balsam Street, said Mr. Therrian.

Councilman Paul Fullerton, who lives on the street, said years ago the road was paved around a telephone pole, rather than the pole being relocated, which added to the misunderstanding.

Edison Sault Electric now is moving the pole.

American Transmission Company (ATC) of Waukesha, Wisconsin, is working with Second Street residents over tree trimming concerns around the power lines. The two groups will meet Thursday afternoon, and ATC representatives will walk the power line with property owners on Friday.

A resolution of support to involve the Mackinac Island State Park Commission in the Father Marquette National Memorial site is expected to be adopted at Council's November 3 meeting. The city and the Michilimackinac Historical Society are working with the Commission to establish a program in St. Ignace and to reestablish a state-operated museum there that was destroyed by lightning in 2000 and never rebuilt.

Council approved a resolution to become a member of the newly forming Michigan Small Harbors Coalition, which advocates funds be allocated for maintenance of small Michigan Great Lakes harbors.

Council went into closed session to discuss strategy regarding negotiations for the new employment contract with the police union. No action was taken following the session.

Council set Monday, November 3, at 6 p.m. for a budget review session.

Council next meets Monday, November 3, at 8 p.m. at City Hall.