Street Signs May Be Replaced Throughout Engadine, Naubinway, Garfield Twp.
By Paul Gingras

Street signs may be replaced throughout Engadine, Naubinway, and Garfield Township, and commercial vinyl tile may be installed at the Naubinway Pavilion this spring. Members of the Garfield Township Board of Trustees, meeting Monday, January 21, discussed plans for these projects and announced they are seeking help from legislators to improve the beleaguered Naubinway Marina.

There are about 200 street signs in Garfield Township, said Treasurer Debra Bennett, who offered to head the project. She addressed the need for a formal sign plan, has begun categorizing the number of signs of various sizes required, and is seeking estimates from contractors.

Mrs. Bennett hopes at the February township meeting to be able to detail what the township needs.

Clayton Rooney has assembled and installed signs in other areas and offered to provide signs, posts, and cross pieces for about $90 each. The total cost would be approximately $17,500.

Owing to greatly increased use of the Naubinway Pavilion, the board will advertise for contractors to install commercial vinyl tile at the facility. Mr. Rooney suggested porcelain tiles, but the board settled on less expensive vinyl.

"It is a good time to get this done," said trustee Donald Butkovich.

Linda Bennett said she would like to finish the project by the end of March.

Improvements needed at the pavilion are often taken on too close to July 4, Mrs. Bennett said, when the pavilion is used for festivities, leading to rushed projects.

The township has sent letters to U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak and State Senator Jason Allen requesting help to improve the beleaguered Naubinway Marina on Lake Michigan. The bay surrounding the marina is filling with sand and sediment, preventing most uses of the facility.

The marina requires improvements far beyond the township's financial capacity to provide, said Township Supervisor Cleo Smith.

The township has until April 1 to apply to the state for the next phase of marina improvements. There have been two phases of improvements at the marina in recent years. In January 2007, Township Clerk Linda Bennett reported that further improvements would total $2.5 million.

Mrs. Smith, after speaking with Mr. Stupak in Menominee, told the board, "He knows that there is no way we can come up with the money that they want us to come up with." The marina "is in limbo until we see if any of them can help us."

The board agreed to contact the state regarding what it will be allowed to charge for the few patrons who are likely to use the marina next season. The board wants to charge as little as possible, owing to the marina's problems.

Boats, including small boats, cannot be launched from shore. It is possible for boats to dock if they access the facility from deep water, Mrs. Smith said.

Road projects in Garfield Township to be paid primarily with state and federal funding were discussed by Mrs. Smith and Mr. Butkovich, who represented Garfield Township at the January 15 meeting of the Mackinac County Road Commission.

The permit process for installing culverts on Pleasant Avenue is proceeding, Mrs. Smith said.

Sandtown Road will receive improvements this summer, possibly including paving one mile of the route, from M-117 west, she said. Garfield Township objected to resurfacing the road with chip-andseal, owing to the amount of traffic the road receives.

Work will be done on Naubinway Road, Mrs. Smith noted. The Road Commission has scheduled work there in 2009 and 2012.

In 2010, improvements will be made to H-40 in Garfield Township. Of the $75,000 contribution from the state and federal governments, $60,000 will be needed to provide a specialized aluminum culvert required by the Department of Environmental Quality, owing to the presence of a designated trout stream, Mr. Butkovich said.

The fire department responded to five fire calls and four medical assistance calls during December, said Assistant Fire Chief Sean Feneley.

The department has applied for a $750 grant from Enbridge Energy. The township received the same grant last year and it was used to purchase equipment, he said.

The board accepted the resignation of firefighter Charles Bednarski, whose pager and turnout gear have been given to fire fighter Cory Luoto, Mr. Feneley said.

Linnea Ault, who gave the township's cemetery and beautification report, said improvements will be made at Mill Pond in Engadine. Signs will be upgraded, and seeds have been ordered for shrubs and flowers.

John Ross, assistant ambulance corps director, reported he has been named Garfield Township's contact person for the Luce County Medical Control Authority.

As part of improving medical reporting, at its next meeting the ambulance corps will discuss creating its own Quality Assurance Quality Improvement reports for Medical Control. The department will create a plan for decreasing the number of mistakes on run reports, he said, including proposed disciplinary measures for employees filing inaccurate reports.

Wayne Schroeder, Duncan MacArthur, and Merle Edwards were reappointed to the zoning board of appeals. Their terms will be from February 20, 2008, through February 20, 2011.

Linda Bennett said she would contact U.P. Consultants of Marquette regarding prices for assisting the township in developing a recreation plan. The plan needs to be in place for the township to receive recreation grants from the state.