Youth Discuss City Issues With Council
By Karen Gould

Third grade students and their teachers Amy Metz, Pat Shiemke, and Nicki Lee, and LaSalle seniors from Gregg Fettig's social studies class attended the St. Ignace City Council meeting in the LaSalle High School cafeteria Monday afternoon, March 17.

One year ago, when the St. Ignace City Council met at the LaSalle High School, the agenda and questions asked by the students were similar those at this year's meeting, which was held in the school cafeteria Monday afternoon, March 17. Topics discussed then and now included water and sewer rates, work on the city's Evergreen Shores water tower, the lack of equipment at the skate park on Marquette Street, and work needed at the tennis counts on the corner of Truckey and Chambers streets.

Attending Monday's council session were third grade students who were learning about local government and senior social studies students. The seniors will receive extra credit for their attendance.

In the classroom, the elementary students are learning about community government and already have held a mock election. As part of their assignment, seniors attending the council meeting will write a summary of the meeting and participate in class discussion about local issues and the meeting format.

Third grade students attending the St. Ignace City Council (from left, front row) are Thomas Conguy, Hunter Frazier, and Austin Marshall, who was elected governor in a mock class election, and Alex France, who was elected mayor. Other third grade students, who attended their first city council meeting were (second row) Ayssa Start, Michael Lennington, Kate Bentgen, and Jade Edelman, and (third row) Melissa Worden and Paige Hettel.

During public comment, senior Jesse Becker advised Council that improvements and needed equipment at the skateboard park near Little Bear East would provide a needed activity and help keep students out of trouble.

"I don't even own a skateboard," he said, "but it seems like a lot of our kids like to go to the parking lot downtown."

Mayor Paul Grondin said he has often stopped to talk with the young people who use the area.

"I am a big supporter of the skateboarding people," he said. "That is a legitimate sport and they need an area and they need the equipment."

The equipment at the park needs to be upgraded, he agreed, but noted that such equipment would need to meet safety and liability insurance standards. That could be costly, and the city has no budget for such things, he told the students.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," he said, but "as it is with anything, money is the object. Skateboard equipment is terribly expensive for the city to purchase. That's not to say that we aren't looking at it, but that's where we are there."

He also noted that the city has had to remove old furniture brought to the site by skateboarders, leading resident Steve DuFresne to suggest the city provide seating, such as benches or picnic tables, to accommodate the youth.

"I don't believe Council is opposed to having picnic tables or benches down there for people to sit so we don't have old dilapidated chairs," Mr. Grondin said. "If we can do that, I would like the city to provide that this summer."

Senior Jessica Massaway and daughter of Councilwoman Susan Tamlyn Massaway, asked about repairs to city tennis courts.

At her suggestion in 2006, Mayor Grondin had appointed an ad hoc committee to raise money to improve the courts, which the city had let deteriorate. The committee included the mayor and City Manager Eric Dodson, Miss Massaway and her mother, Councilman Tom Della-Moretta, and three other students, some of whom have since moved away. Mayor Grondin suggested he and Miss Massaway meet to discuss possible appointees. The city, he said, also will look at the practice board at the courts to see if it should be removed.

Students also were interested in receiving an update on a paintball facility discussed in 2006, but council members said the issue was taken up by the school board and they suggested the students contact Superintendent Mike Springsteen as to its progress.

Third grade student Jade Edelman sought an explanation of council's duties.

City manager Eric Dodson said council sets policy and make rules like forbidding bicycles from being ridden on city sidewalks.

Councilman Don Gustafson, who also is the high school principal, offered details to students throughout the meeting about city government and the differences between elected and appointed positions.

Equipment needs, security, and needed volunteers, said the city politicians, have slowed any plans to televise council meetings, although the Cable Committee continues to work on the project. The delay was a concern of St. Ignace resident Mary Nichols, who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Mr. Gustafson offered an update from the Cable Television Committee. The city has budgeted $2,500 for a new local channel system that should be operating by summer. The city's old system no longer works. The new system will be kept at the school and the city has decided it will not impact cable user fees.

Council was given an update on the water and sewer funds, which are near projections, said Mr. Dodson. The water fund is $52,933.39 and the sewer fund is $47,509.03. About two years ago, said Mr. Dodson, the funds had a combined deficit of $765,000.

A comparison rate survey reviewed by Mr. Dodson showed St. Ignace water rates are $4.72 per 1,000 gallons, while Ontonagon is at $10 for the first 1,000 gallons, Township Sault Ste. Marie is $12.89, L'Anse is $7.75, and Norway is $3.50.

"Comparatively speaking, we seem to be on the lower side," he said. "When you hear St. Ignace is the highest around, we're just not."

Painting of the water tower by Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors of Kentucky is expected to begin at the end of April, depending on weather. The city also has been paid $5,500 for all incidentals after the tower cracked, including housing and food for evacuated families.

The sewer improvement project remains on track for the fall, said Mr. Dodson, and affected residential property owners will receive an environmental impact letter from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The letter will be sent within the next six weeks and will explain what is planned near project work areas, including North State, Antoine, Portage, and the Bluff Avenue area.

Electrical repairs have been completed at Fort de Buade Museum, caused when heavy snow sliding off the roof in January knocked down an electrical pole. Snow piling up between the museum and the neighboring building, said Mr. Dodson, is being monitored, since a gas meter is located in the area.

Council approved a five-year contract with Kundis Fireworks Display Shows of Sebewaing for the annual Fourth of July celebration. The company's previous fiveyear contract had expired. The cost for this year is $7,500, with incremental yearly increases. Councilmen Della-Moretta asked for a clarification about the increase. As listed, he said, their was confusion as to whether the yearly increase was based on $7,500 or on the price of each preceding year. The increases include 5% in 2009, 8% in 2010, 12% in 2011, and 15% in 2012. Fire Chief John Robinson said with the last contract, the increase was on the base amount, which in this case is $7,500.

City Council next meets Monday, March 31, at 8 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall on State Street.