City To Seek 'Deconstruction' of Webster Island Home in Hubbard's Annex
By Ryan Schlehuber

Mackinac Island City Council will seek a court order to "deconstruct" Len and Sue Webster's partially built home in Hubbard's Annex after it learned at its meeting Wednesday, March 12, that the May deadline to finish the project will not be met.

After closing the public meeting to discuss litigation options with its attorney, Tom Evashevski, Council agreed to direct Mr. Evashevski to seek a court order from 11th Circuit Court in Mackinac County to require the Websters to remove any construction material from the property, refill the land, and pay fines for not meeting the May 15, 2008, deadline.

Only the foundation of a twostory home has been constructed over a nine-year period. The court order required the Websters to have a framed and erected home near completion by the deadline.

Council, as well as Annex residents, have charged the unfinished project is a blight and hazardous to public safety. The Websters have already been fined $500 for not meeting construction deadlines, said Mr. Evashevski, after the meeting.

"The premise was that the court gave the Websters one more chance to finish the project," Mr. Evashevski told The St. Ignace News Friday, March 14. "Now we're at the end of the road, and we know that's not going to happen, so we are ready to go back to the court and determine what degree of deconstruction needs to be done to remedy the blight."

Seven permits for temporary use of a tractor to deliver building material to the Webster property were withdrawn by the couple's builder, Weiss Builders of St. Ignace, prior to the council meeting.

Council was presented a proposed $2.18 million operations budget from Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Bruce Zimmerman for the 2008 fiscal year. Council may decide on it at its next meeting Wednesday, March 26.

The proposed budget is $611,114 less than the current budget that expires April 1, however, the new budget would include a 3.5% increase for water and sewer rates and continue a one mill levy that will raise $187,500 this year. The rate increase is part of a 10-year, $9.8 million expansion project of the city's wastewater treatment plant, which is close to capacity.

Mr. Zimmerman estimates DPW should be $180,000 ahead by the end of the next fiscal year, under the proposed budget.

Residents would see the commodity rate for water increase from $3.52 per 1,000 gallons to $3.64, and the sewer rate would increase from $6.33 to $6.55. Flat rates, monthly charges for readiness to serve, would increase from $9.60 to $9.94 for water and $15.75 to $16.30 for sewer.

DPW is planning to replace pumps at its water station. One is being replaced with a new pump this year and the other will be rebuilt in 2009. This year's project is estimated to cost $150,000, Mr. Zimmerman told Council.

Also, $40,000 has been budgeted for a matching retirement plan for DPW employees.

Seasonal users of water and sewer would see a 10% increase in reconnection fees. Costs vary depending on the size of meters, said Mr. Zimmerman.

Mr. Zimmerman said his DPW board will review the numbers annually and make fair adjust- ments to the millage or water and sewer rates.

DPW board member Ron Dufina reassured Council that the board will seek to lower rates if revenue continues to improve.

Council deliberated for five minutes in a closed session over litigation involving Betty BeDour, who began construction on her Mission Street home without having a city-issued building permit and a variance. She was granted approval by the city eventually, however, the work had already been done, thus Council agreed she violated the city's building ordinance and will be charged with a civil infraction.

The cost of the fine has not been determined, said Mr. Evashevski after the meeting.

Debra and Sandra Orr's request to change the areas of their two logs on Cadotte Avenue so that both will meet the city's 5,000- square-foot minimum building requirement was approved. They will take 1,993 square feet of Lot 3 and add it to Lot 2 to create a make it 5,004 feet. The remainder of Lot 3 will still have 5,530 square feet.

Council readopted its permits and fees ordinance, making no changes this year. Mayor Margaret Doud's assistant, Kelly Bean, said the ordinance should and will be reviewed yearly and updated accordingly. She and building inspector Dennis Dombroski reviewed the ordinance and updated fee changes that have occurred since 2002.

Council approved some requests for temporary use of motorized vehicles.

Richard Coates was allowed temporary use of a backhoe for 30 days, starting Saturday, March 15, to move building materials on site and clean up the grounds, such as snowplowing, at Mr. Coates' employee housing property on Green Shed Lane.

Maverick Construction was granted temporary use of a crane for lifting and erecting building supplies for the reconstruction of Edward's Gifts building on the corner of Main and Astor streets. Council also gave permission to park the crane on Astor Street during a two-week period or as soon as the crane's work is finished.

Maverick Construction was also issued a 30-day use permit for a forklift to move material from Cindy's Riding Stable on Market Street to the Mustang Lounge on Astor Street, starting March 15.

Councilman Jason St. Onge stipulated that the forklift, as with all vehicles approved for a specific job by the city, can only be used for the job that is identified on the permit.

"I've heard and seen motor vehicles being used for more than the jobs they were intended for," he said. "We can't let that stuff go on anymore."

Council accepted without discussion or action a letter from the Darbee, Bosco, & Hammond, P.C., regarding Mr. Coates' notice of intent to establish a condominium project on Green Shed Lane near the airport.

Council allowed Police Chief Jim Marks to bill Phil and Lee's Home Builders $310.88 for police escorts that required overtime for officers. Police escorts were needed to allow the company to transport large building material from British Landing to the Plutchak property near Stonecliffe.

Mr. Evashevski reported to Council reasons why his January bill to the city was double the usual monthly costs. He stated in a letter that $3,000 of time was spent working with the city's master plan.

Other hours logged were for more meetings in January than normal, he said, relating to the city's building development moratorium issues. Council took no action on the issue, other than accepting his letter and placing it on file.

Council approved the purchase of three free-standing voting booths for city elections, a total cost of $523, and funded $900 for the purchase of up to three bulletproof vests for the police department. That purchase is also being funded by a $700 grant that had been approved a few years ago, said Chief Marks.