Mackinaw City Approves Wells for Geothermal Units
By Paul Gingras

Concern about ash trees lining Mackinaw City streets, voiced by Village Manager Jeff Lawson at the Thursday, July 17, village council meeting, led to approval for him to apply for state funding to combat emerald ash borer (EAB) infestations, which have destroyed trees throughout the Midwest.

He did not report any known infestations in the village, but noted there are many ash trees along South Huron Avenue and destruction by EAB would be a noticeable loss for the village.

State is offering $5,000 matching grants to help municipalities create databases and management plans for EAB, but projects must be complete by September 1, Mr. Lawson said.

Once an EAB program is in place, the village will be eligible for tree replacement programs.

Village resident Kay Stemkoski questioned whether black locust trees in the village may be sick. They appear to be blooming late or not at all, she said.

Council OKs Drilling Wells

for Georthermal Purposes

At the recommendation of the village utilities committee, Council approved drilling for wells to serve geothermal heat-exchange units within municipal borders. Businesses will use the wells to draw water into heat-exchange devices, providing buildings with efficient air conditioning or heating.

Recently, Mr. Lawson said the village can monitor geothermal wells easily. The intent of a geothermal well program would be to allow one system per building or building complex, depending on their configuration at a given property, he said. The program will involve permits and inspections.

Water drawn for geothermal systems is clean and will be returned to the earth. It will not be dumped in the sewer system, he said.

Most likely, the systems will serve small businesses, because large operations would require municipal-sized wells that would cost several hundred thousand dollars each, he added.

Mr. Lawson will provide the council and the public more program details at a future meeting.

Separate requests to drill wells for irrigation will be considered later.

Bureau Will Not Sell

Food to Art Vendors

After debate, a request for a special use permit to sell food at the Mackinaw City Arts and Craft Show August 24 was withdrawn by William Bertchinger, president of the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau.

Selling food at the event has the potential to draw business away from area establishments, council members said.

Mr. Bertchinger said the bureau's intent was to sell food to people displaying work at the event who would find it difficult to get away from the site, however, anyone passing through would be able to buy the food.

The arts and crafts show has been controversial in the past, council members noted. Without village oversight, businesses have found themselves in competition with craftspeople who sell similar goods.

Mr. Bertchinger said the artists are required to sell only self-made goods. In the past, when a commercial enterprise ran the event, there were problems with duplicate materials at the show and village stores. Since it has been run by the bureau, there have been no such problems, Mr. Bertchinger said.

A member of the visitors bureau staff will be on site to ensure compliance with village requirements, he added.

Village Ponders: Should Sidewalk Sales Be Reserved

for Shoulder Season, or Not

Offered at All? Council approved sidewalk sales at Mackinaw Crossings mall in early August. Owing to a slow season, the mall seeks to draw in business during the first days of the week. Most sales have been during weekends, said Sarah Grant of the Crossings.

Trustee Jeff Hingston noted that a city-wide sidewalk sale for summer was denied recently because area sidewalk sales were intended for the shoulder season, however, this would be a good test for such a sale in a private mall, he added.

Trustee James Alford insisted that the Mackinaw Crossings sale be conducted with more decorum and professionalism than sidewalk sales on village sidewalks have been handled.

Members of the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce will be asked if they desire to continue having sidewalk sales, said chamber director Dawn Edwards.

The city-wide sidewalk sales, sponsored by the chamber, was designed to help promote business in the fall, however, it may not be necessary, she said. She added that having tables on one side of the sidewalk has worked better than when shoppers passed between tables on both sides of the walkway.

Village Resident Ron Wallin made the following appointments to municipal organizations:

Building Authority - Village Clerk Elizabeth Clemens will serve until April 2012.

Historic Commission - Kurt Grebe and Sandra Planisek will serve until September 2011. Dorothy Krueger and James Alford will serve until 2010.

Downtown Development Authority - Dean Scheerens and Lisbet Bryan will serve until April 2011. Charlie Heilman will serve until 2010.

Economic Development Corporation - Karen Petrimoulx will serve until 2012.