Individuals who are ordered by a court to take a preliminary breath test (PBT) at Mackinac Island Police Department will now be charged $5. The money raised will help replace the Island's PBT units, which cost $450 and are usually replaced each year, owing to frequent use.

Police Chief Jim Marks received permission from the Mackinac Island City Council Wednesday, November 5, to charge $5 per test.

The tests measure breath alcohol content.

The Mackinaw City Police Department began charging $5 per test May 22, but other departments in the Straits of Mackinac area, including the Michigan State Police and the Mackinac County Sheriff's Department, conduct PBTs free of charge.

Last year, 455 such tests were conducted on Mackinac Island, compared to fewer than 50 at the St. Ignace Police Department. The Mackinac County Sheriff's Department has the highest volume in the area, averaging five tests a day, or 1,825 a year.

Unlike at other police departments, officers on the Island are not equipped with portable PBT devices and must escort individuals back to the department for tests.

Tim Ahlborn, the chief corrections officer at the Sheriff's Department, said those tested are ordered by the court to come in daily, ordered by probation officers to receive tests monthly, or are brought in after being arrested.

The Sheriff's Department has at least three units at the county jail and all county law enforcement vehicles are equipped with portable testing devices.

Much of the tests on Mackinac Island, said Chief Marks, are given to summer workers who have been ordered by a court at the winter home to take scheduled tests.

10 Motor Vehicle Permits

Approved

A temporary motor vehicle permit for a truck and a temporary trailer permit were approved by Council to Jack Barnwell of Barnwell Landscape and Garden Services to remove cut trees at a summer home near Washout Road below Stonecliffe, pending a purchase of a business license from Searles Tree Service Dump for use of a chipper machine.

Mr. Barnwell said the chipping machine would be too heavy for horses to haul.

"I understand we've [the city] slipped over the years" with enforcing a hard line on use of motor vehicles, "but we are catching up," said Councilman Mike Hart. "I want it understood that this truck must be considered your last option, not your first."

Council, in the past few years, has rededicated its efforts in allowing motor vehicles to be used on the Island only when horse and dray or other means cannot complete the task, and has denied permit requests when it feels requests are being made only to make the job easier and not for safety concerns.

"Just remember," Councilman Mike Hart warned Mr. Barnwell, "'making it easier' isn't going to fly when asking for a motor vehicle permit."

Of the 10 requests for motor vehicle permits Wednesday night, six of them were from Belonga Plumbing and Heating, using vehicles to replace a sewer system at the Dennis Thomas cottage (formerly Dorothy Sharer home) on the West Bluff, haul pieces of broken concrete from the Charles Puttkammer home on Annex Road, and install a new sewer grinder at the Starkweather home on Spring Street.

Mission Point Resort was allowed to use propane trucks to refill the resort's tanks and AT&T's Kyle Christie was allowed to use a truck for the winter and spring for repair and installation of telephones.

Council approved the purchase of downtown Christmas decorations for $1,944.76 from Weber's Floral and Gift and allowed the fire department to conduct hydrostatic testing of its air storage cylinders at a cost of $578.75. Testing is done every five years, said Councilman Dan Wightman, a volunteer firefighter.

Recreation Director Leanne Brodeur was given permission to apply for a $750 grant from Mackinac Island Community Foundation for winter activities.

Council waived user fees for use of the Community Hall for Debra Carley, chairperson of the Children's Christmas Party Committee, which is planning a Christmas party from noon to 2 p.m. at the hall Sunday, December 14.

Mackinac County 9-1-1 Coordinator Bryce Tracy will meet Monday, November 17, with island public service departments to go over the county's 9-1-1 dispatching switch from Negaunee to Sault Ste. Marie. The county expects to make the switch Friday, November 28.

Building Inspector Dennis Dombroski a design plan to repave part of Annex Road, which Council discussed last month, is ready for the Streets and Sidewalk Committee to review.

British Landing Road resident Matt Myers asked the city to monitor the speed of motor vehicles traveling down the road. He said vehicles have been going too fast near the five residences on the road.

Chief Marks said he will look into the situation. The speed limit for all vehicles, including snowmobiles, is 20 miles per hour on city and state park roads.