Mackinaw Crossings Files Property Tax Appeal at Mackinaw City
By Paul Gingras

Litigation is expected to begin soon between Mackinaw Township and Jim Wehr's Mackinaw Crossings in Mackinaw City, which appealed its property value assessment to the Michigan Tax Tribunal about one year ago and seeks to reduce its property taxes by about 50%. The township was notified in March by the tribunal that dates for litigation will be established shortly, said Cheboygan attorney Tim MacArthur, who is representing Mackinaw Township in the case.

Mackinaw Township, Mackinaw City Public Schools, and Mackinaw City stand to lose funding if the tribunal rules in the shopping mall's favor. For the village, "it would be a substantial reduction" that could reach $50,000 in lost revenue, said Mackinaw City Village Manager Jeff Lawson.

It is too early to speculate on how the village would respond to the loss, he said.

This case has delayed the village's attempt to formalize a threeparty contract to pay for fire service. Mackinaw Township recently refused to sign a contract with the village and Wawatam Township, owing to the need to save money for the tribunal case, said Mackinaw Township Supervisor Barry Dean.

Village President Ron Wallin suggested that the village safety committee and representatives from Wawatam and Mackinaw townships meet to discuss paying for fire service at the Thursday, May 1, council meeting.

The council approved a variance to allow a 50-foot sign to be placed on village property advertising the decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, which is now a floating museum under the auspices of the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum (IMMM).

Mr. Wallin said he voted yes only because the museum's board is nonprofit.

The sign will be incorporated into a landscaping project that will also include an historical marker.

"We have ultimate control over how [the sign] is going to look and where we are going to place it," Mr. Lawson said, responding to council concerns. Museum representatives agreed to work closely with the village on the matter. The council made a zoning amendment to allow the ship to remain legally docked in the village. Under the village ordinance, ships that cannot move under their own power cannot be docked on the waterfront. The rule reflects an earlier era when the port was much more active and the village had to ensure that derelict vessels did not clutter the waterfront, Mr. Lawson said.

Avote to approve signing a compact that calls for Michigan governments to protect the Great Lakes was postponed by the council. Council members said they needed time to study the compact, how it would affect the village, if at all, and its relation to Michigan Senate Bill 22, which is designed to protect the Great Lakes.