Festive promotional banners will hang from downtown lampposts in St. Ignace this summer. Using a consistent and readable format, each banner will highlight a specific event or activity. The banners will include an illustration and provide just enough information that would be noticeable to residents and visitors driving or walking along State Street.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is considering banners that feature the boardwalk, music festival, fireworks, farmers' market, and the Museum of Ojibwa Culture.

Discussion on the banners began last month and continued during the DDA meeting Friday, February 13.

"What I'm trying to do is show people there are things going on in our town," said DDA Director Deb Evashevski.

The cost is estimated to be about $5,000 for 50 banners. The banners would retain their condition for at least three years, she said.

Sam Staffan of Mackinaw Art and Sign in Mackinaw City attended the meeting and presented the board with layout ideas and solicited their design preference. Board members said they favor using illustrations rather than photographs on the banners.

In other business, an insurance check for $11,217 has been received. The money is from an insurance claim to recoup costs of walkway lights damaged at American Legion park last summer. The lights were damaged by vandals, who have not been caught.

The check nearly covers the cost to replace the lights, Mrs. Evashevski said. Twenty new replacement lights already have been purchased for $11,467.40. The DDA will seek bids for the labor to install the lights and Mrs. Evashevski also will file an insurance claim to cover the installation costs.

Mrs. Evashevski presented the board with a new format for a detailed budget report, which gives them an up-to-date picture of planned contributions to community events and the budget balance.

Shirley Sorrels, director of the Museum of Ojibwa Culture, said she has been applying for grants for the museum. She also is looking into using inmate labor to scrape and paint the front of the museum before it opens in May.

Last year, the gift shop was moved into the museum. Previously, it was in the same State Street building as the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce. Since the move, the old gift shop space has been used for storage.

Mrs. Evashevski suggested the board consider offering the area for rent. The utility costs are too much to pay for a storage area, she said.

Last month, the heat bill for the space was $134 a month, and electricity has been about $50 a month.

Upon further discussion, the board questioned if utility costs were for the entire building. Mrs. Evashevski said she would look into the situation and would provide more information at the March meeting.

The DDA next meets Friday, March 13, at 8 a.m. at City Hall.