Four spotlights directed at the Wawatam Lighthouse were turned back on Friday evening after the St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority (DDA) agreed earlier in the day to take over the estimated $1,400 annual electric bill from the city marina. An estimated $10,000 additional tax revenue for 2009 will help the DDA cover the added utility expense.

Beginning January 1, the utility bills generated from the spotlights will be moved out of the marina budget and become a DDA expense. The authority now will keep the spotlights on and the boardwalk leading to the lighthouse illuminated year-around. Last winter, both lighting systems were turned off, although the lighthouse beacon continued operating.

Covering electrical costs of the spotlights, increasing funding for the summer wine tasting program, learning of plans for new 2009 community events, and attending an upcoming walkability study held the focus of the DDA Friday morning, November 21.

The spotlights aimed at the lighthouse were turned off last winter and again this fall to reduce expenses in an already stressed marina budget, said Marina Director Gene Elmer, who also chairs the DDA and is the city assessor and treasurer.

Responding to a request for financial assistance, the DDA had already agreed in October to contribute $10,000 a year for the next three years to support marina operations.

Electric costs at the marina for 2008 were $10,000 more than 2007, said Mr. Elmer, who asked the DDA to take over the expense. The highest meter expense of $16,000 came from running the winter bubbler system, which protects the docks from ice damage.

He hopes to reduce the bubbler cost to about $12,000, by using 20% less of the system. He also plans to turn off the system on warmer winter days, and will shut down the system completely by April 1.

"I'm trying to save on electric, but I don't want to damage the dock at the same time," he said, "but I've got to reduce electrical costs."

Mr. Elmer announced that the DDA will capture $10,131 more in taxes in 2009. The taxable value of property is going up 4.4%, he said, which is equal to the rate of inflation.

"We, as a city, do not control the values," said Mr. Elmer. "It is controlled in Lansing. Every house, every vacant lot in the State of Michigan is going up 4.4%."

Mr. Elmer agreed to have marina staff handle snow removal from the boardwalk leading to the lighthouse. The staff also will be keeping the snow removed from the marina docks. Last winter, the boardwalk leading to Wawatam Lighthouse was not cleared, said DDA Director Deb Evashevski, although many people tromped through deep snow and climbed over snowdrifts to walk there.

Wine Event To Add Beer

The DDA agreed to increase support for the downtown wine tasting and to cover the loss incurred by the first time event, which was held Tuesday nights for 14 weeks last summer.

The DDA pledged $2,010.64, with $510.64 to cover last summer's losses and $1,500 for the 2009 series.

In May, the DDA contributed $1,000 to promote the event.

DDA member John Ruegg suggested the Chamber of Commerce consider increasing the price of a ticket from $5 to $6. Last summer, the $5 admission included six oneounce samples of wine and free hors d'oeuvres.

Local restaurants took turns donating hors d'oeuvres, with some reporting additional business from the event.

Chamber expenses included liquor licenses, insurance, live music, signs, advertising, posters, wrist bands, wine tasting notes, and wine.

The event ran from July through September at the Pavillion retail mall on State Street and drew from 10 to 70 participants each Tuesday, with fewer attendees in September. With the DDA's support, said Janet Peterson, Chamber of Commerce director, wine tasting would continue in 2009, although for a shorter period of 10 weeks, ending in August.

Beer tasting also will become a part of the event, with six to eight different beers offered each week.

More than 400 volunteer hours were needed to staff the weekly event, Mrs. Peterson said.

Business Association Plans

Business Association members are supporting the Saturday night fireworks proposed for next summer and have agreed to keep stores open until 10 p.m. then, said Elizabeth Brown, association member and owner of the Pavillion.

Store owners also are asked to develop a theme or festive atmosphere each Saturday night.

The annual sidewalk sale will move to Saturday, August 8, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Previously, the sale was held during the day.

Also, through a letter, the association will be encouraging all stores to have fresh paint, new displays in windows, and clean storefronts in 2009, said Ms. Brown.

New Summer Events Planned

Art on the Boardwalk will be held Saturday, August 22. Artists will be able to display and sell their work along the boardwalk.

Chairs for Charity is a new event that combines downtown businesses with artists and charities. The businesses will buy Adirondack style chairs, from baby chairs to rocking chairs, said Ms. Brown. They will be painted by an artist and placed in front of the businesses by July 4, and remain through the summer.

Visitors and residents will be able to bid on the chairs until August 22, when the chairs will be auctioned. Details still are being worked out and could include a bid listing on the Chamber Web site.

The Chamber now is looking for volunteer artists.

The Business Association welcomes any suggestions to get more businesses to join the association, said Ms. Brown, who pointed out several businesses take advantage of events without joining the association.

"We're not just planning for 2009," said Ms. Brown. "We're planning for the recovery. When the recovery comes, which we're expecting in 2010, if we have all these things in place, we're going to be ready for the recovery."

Downtown Walkability Study

Mrs. Evashevski invited DDA members to participate in a walkability assessment of the downtown led by Jim Lucas of Michigan State University Extension (MSUE). The group will meet at the library Monday, December 1, at 11 a.m. and walk through town. Mrs. Evashevski asked for the assessment, which is offered at no charge from MSUE.

"I think it is always good to have a fresh set of eyes looking at your community," said Mrs. Evashevski.

The Michigan Department of Transportation also may send a representative, since it is assessing all crosswalks around the state to make sure they are handicap accessible.

Walking Tours

The DDA will consider a future financial commitment to the walking tours offered by the Visitors Bureau. For 2009, the Chamber of Commerce would like to hire Jim Couling of Sault Ste. Marie for $125 per evening to conduct the tours. He also has agreed to train others on how to be effective guides.

This summer, Mr. Couling would like to offer a mentoring program, taking potential tour guides along on tours, to improve the quality of the program. The tour in 2009 will focus on the boardwalk and downtown district from Marquette Mission Park to Fort de Buade Museum.

The tour will last about one hour on Wednesday evenings in July and August, beginning at 7 p.m.

Last year, about 50 people took the free tour.

Other Business

To promote downtown commerce, the Business Association requested the DDA support the move of Red Hacker back to the downtown district from Little Bear East Arena parking lots. The event moved from the marina to Little Bear East on Marquette Street in 2005.

"One of the most successful days of our season has turned into a flat nothing," said Ms. Brown.

Discussion of the move is expected to continue with the Recreation Advisory Committee, as the event is managed by the Recreation Department.

The 20 replacement lights for the American Legion park have been ordered, said Mrs. Evashevski. The cost was $533.37 each and the total bill is $11,467.40. Many of the lights were damaged by vandals this year and an insurance claim has been made.

Mrs. Evashevski and city engineer Brian Olsen now will seek bids for labor to install the lights.

The purchase of a new door was approved for the Chamber of Commerce building, which is owned by the DDA. The cost is estimated to be about $3,500. The DDA agreed to have Mrs. Evashevski and Mr. Olsen handle the project. It is under the $5,000 requirement to ask for bids.

The door now on the building is deteriorating and in the winter, staff shovel snow from inside the doorway.

The DDA also agreed to add heat to the kitchen at the DDA-owned rental house at 576 North State Street. The work is expected to cost about $550.

Eighteen trees were replaced downtown this fall for a number of reasons, said Mrs. Evashevski. Some of the trees were ash trees, which are prone to insect infestation, while others were growing into the sidewalk grates or blocking the signs of businesses. Five more trees are scheduled to be replaced next year.

The terms are up for DDA members Cathie Sposito and Heather Aukeman. Their reappointment will be at the Monday, December 1, City Council meeting.

Museum of Ojibwa Culture

Prison work crews have completed the drain field that will divert water from the foundation of the Museum of Ojibwa Culture, said Mrs. Evashevski.

The DDA next meets Friday, December 12, at 8 a.m. at city hall.