Underground Power Lines Need Repair
Mackinaw City
By Paul Gingras

Mackinaw City residents accustomed to bright and elaborate Christmas lights in the village have complained about the lack of holiday lighting this year, a problem addressed by Village Manager Jeff Lawson at the Thursday, January 3, village council meeting. He said the dwindling number of lights on East Central Avenue is related to underground electrical-system failures. The electrical system along East Central needs to be replaced, he said, and the cost is estimated at $350,000. The village is likely to receive $240,000 in state grants for the road work, he added.

A section of lights on the 100 and 200 blocks of the road has failed, owing to broken and corroded electrical lines underground. So far, no street lights have gone out, probably because they are connected to thick power lines. Thinner underground wires that power Christmas lights have succumbed to surges and corrosion, Mr. Lawson said.

"If we do not correct this situation, we could get [more breaks] in the future, and probably will," he said. The electrical system involves 15 to 20 lines beneath the sidewalks.

In the meantime, the village is looking for a new electrical company that specializes in tracing specific types of underground wires. Charlevoix Electrical Service, which installed the system in 1989, is under new ownership and no longer does this type of work.

"The objective is to replace the system over the next several years, prior to resurfacing [Central Avenue] in 2011," he wrote in his report to the council.

The village must pay to repair the electrical system. Mr. Lawson noted that as much as $175,000 worth of the project can be done by village crews.

Village President Ronald Wallin called for a "responsible party" to explain the reason for the council's vote to remove Florence Tracy and Nancy Dean from the planning commission last month, one meeting after they were approved. He called for an explanation at the next village council meeting Thursday, January 17.

Mr. Wallin discussed the need for council business to take place in public view, referencing the Open Meetings Act, which enables citizens to know what their elected officials are doing by mandating that they meet and deliberate in public.

While a question-and-answer period with city attorney Tom Evashevski Thursday, December 20, and resulting newspaper coverage brought public attention to the workings of the village government, Mr. Wallin said, he charged that a lingering concern remains for Mackinaw City residents regarding the attempt to remove Ms. Dean and Mrs. Tracy.

"Regrettably, the chair has little doubt that whoever initiated the Tracy/Dean reconsideration vote misled Council into violating the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, by prearranging every trustee's vote before the meeting ensued," he said. Mr. Wallin added that he still does not know why the action took place, and that village residents have a legal right to know why decisions are made.

"Hopefully, by next meeting, a responsible party will claim some ownership [of the attempt] and shed some sunshine to quell rumors and speculation floating about town. From there, we can move forward as a more unified body," he said.

No action was taken on a suggestion to remove village trash barrels that are not used during the winter.

Joan Leal, who attended the meeting, said she counted 46 trash cans between US-23 and Central Avenue, and 35 between Central Avenue and Nicolet Street.

Most of them are high quality cans designed to withstand the elements and do not necessarily need to be moved, Mr. Lawson said.

Mr. Wallin said that area residents often do not notice such details because they are accustomed to seeing them, however, numerous trash barrels may be an eyesore to visitors.

"It basically looks untidy," he said. "Whether it is cheaper or not cheaper, convenient or not convenient, the chair would certainly encourage Council to instruct the manager to remove most of those cans."

Council approved a special event application for the longstanding Dick Allen Lansing-to- Mackinaw bicycle tour.

Cyclists plan to pass through Mackinaw City August 31 and use the Mackinaw City High School Pavilion on West Central Avenue.

The tour begins at Michigan State University and ends in DeTour Village. The race, sponsored by the Tri-County Association Bicycle Association in Lansing, raises money for bicyclerelated projects throughout Michigan.

No problems have been associated with the event in the village, said Police Chief Patrick Wyman. More than 1,000 bicycle riders crossed the Mackinac Bridge on the tour in 2007, he added.

Council approved an application by Christine Michalak to hold historic trolley tours in the village. Trolleys pass down major village thoroughfares. Any major changes in the tours should be directed to him, Mr. Lawson said.

Village Clerk Elizabeth Clemens announced that she would resume posting municipal government information on the village Web site Friday, January 4. The site is to include agendas for upcoming village council meetings, zoning board of appeals meetings, village subcommittee meetings, and approved village council minutes. Over time, she will fill in archives of approved council minutes.