Hospital Gets Break on City Water System Connection
Council Learns Marina Down by 10%; Ash Tree Grant Awarded
By Karen Gould

Cool and wet weather and high gasoline prices have caused Michigan boaters to curtail excursions and even leave their boats tied up at home, St. Ignace marina director Gene Elmer told the city council Monday night, August 18. The marina is seeing a drop in revenue and activity, especially among the smaller pleasure craft, he noted, and he has shortened marina hours to reduce expenses and is planning other cuts in anticipation of a slow season next year.

"I'd like to say that we're holding our own, but we're down 10% [overall] for the year," he told Council.

Revenue from overnight transient boaters is down by 20%, from $62,650 in 2007 to $50,506 this year, even with a 5% increase in rates this year.

Gasoline sales are down 60%, he reported, and sewage pump-out revenue is down 9%, from $1,170 last year to $1,050 this year.

Mr. Elmer said other marina managers report fuel sales down 80%, and they consider St. Ignace "lucky."

"Even though it looked like we were filled up in July," he said, "gasoline prices are keeping smaller boats from going anywhere."

He also is noticing an increase in the number of sailboats, although he doesn't keep statistics on the number of boats or the types of boats mooring at the facility.

Even seasonal boaters at the marina are not buying fuel, he said, and some owners have kept boats docked all season.

He considers small boats 36- feet and under, and no small boats were registered at the marina in July.

The drop in small boat activity also is reflected in boat launch revenue, which is down 50% through July, from $3,313 last year to $1,695 this year.

"Small boats aren't operating, nor are they coming into our marina," he said. "They aren't moving, they aren't buying any gas, they aren't coming here."

After Labor Day, the St. Ignace marina will close at 4 p.m., two hours earlier than now.

Included in the revenue figures for this year is $8,000 from the Chicago Yacht Club for the rental of 105 slips during the Race to Mackinac this year. That check has not yet arrived, however.

The Chicago Yacht Club already has committed 120 boats for the marina for the 2009 race.

State-wide, overnight slip rental at state-operated marinas is down 12.5% through July 29, Mary Dettloff of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) told The St. Ignace News Tuesday, August 19.

The decline is atrtributed to high gas prices, she said, but weather is always a major influence on boaters.

"Weather still remains the number one factor if people are camping or boating," she said.

The new hospital set to open in 2010 will receive a much reduced connection fee to the city's water and sewer system.

The city council acted on a recommendation from the Utilities Committee and approved a $15,000 tap-in fee for sewer and agreed no fee will be changed to connect to the city water line.

The city ordinance, allows a connection fee of $115,000 be charged to the hospital for water and sewer. The ordinance is based on the square footage of a building.

The hospital, said City Manager Eric Dodson, has agreed to rebuild a manhole that is just south of the site of the hospital. Also, hospital officials, who did not attend the meeting, have agreed to add a screening system to their sewer line to block larger items, including clothing, from being flushed into the system.

The city has reduced such fees in the past for public facilities that benefit the community, Mr. Dodson said, including the Community Action Agency building several years ago.

The bus station project continues to move forward. Council is scheduled to award the bid for it Tuesday, September 2.

With a completion deadline of the second week of May, Mr. Dodson said framing work must begin immediately so construction can continue inside through the winter.

Construction is expected to cost about $1.2 million.

The water fund is in the black $27,181.31, said Mr. Dodson, and the sewer fund has a balance of $68,383.05.

Council made an amendment to its ordinance to authorize the sale of bonds to finance improvements to the city's wastewater system. The ordinance called for the principal not to exceed $3,655,000.

The amendment now sets the principal not to exceed $4 million and came at the recommendation of the city's bond attorney, Miller Canfield, as a contingency.

In the city's efforts to battle the Emerald Ash Borer, DNR has awarded a grant for $5,250 to conduct a tree survey and management plan. The city must match the grant and spend it by September 15.

The DNR required the survey and management plan be done first, said Mr. Dodson, and did not approve an application for up to $20,000 to replace trees. The possibility still exists, said Mr. Dodson, to get that funding.

Recreation Director Scott Marshall told Council 20 more players are participating in soccer this year, which added two teams to the roster.

The new youth football program already has about 60 players signed up, which will make six teams. Next year, the program will include more age groups.

The community pool hours have been reduced because only one part-time lifeguard is available. Hours now are from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Mr. Marshall said he is trying to get a lifeguard training class scheduled so more lifeguards will be available in the future.

The first year of the family recreational weekend, St. Ignace Summer Daze, had a small turnout, Mr. Marshall said, although it was successful and is something that can be further developed. Next year, he plans to advertise the event and post a Web site.

"To sell our area is not hard at all," he said. "People are just looking for an excuse to come to our area."

Work on the fitness center addition continues and construction of walls is about to begin.

He also wants to schedule dance classes this fall and over the Christmas holiday.

A resolution was adopted acknowledging the assistance given from both the Mackinaw City Fire Department and the Brevort Township Fire Department for their assistance with last week's fire at Mackinac Ford Sales.

St. Ignace Fire Chief John "Bucky" Robinson said a mutual aid agreement between local communities increases the success of controlling fires.

With the next council meeting falling on Labor Day, Council changed its next meeting to Tuesday, September 2, at 8 p.m.