A new fire truck, repairs to the roof of Fire Station II on Pond Street, and heating system work at the Village Hall garage are among the projects included in the 2009/2010 Mackinaw City budget. City employees will receive a 3% raise and Village Manager Jeff Lawson will receive a 2.5% pay increase.

The village council adopted the budget Thursday, February 19, following a public hearing on the document and less than two weeks before the beginning of its fiscal year, March 1.

The new budget projects $5,223,792 in revenue and expenditures, an increase of $567,213 over last year's $4,656,579 budget.

Village President Ron Wallin was the only dissenting vote, objecting to several items in the budget or missing from the document. Pay raises and benefit increases, he said, should not be handed out during a poor national economy. City employees, he also said, should be residents of the village's two townships, although some are not.

Missing from the budget and raising criticism for the omission from Mr. Wallin were two line items he had previously suggested be added. One line item would include funds for blight clean-up and a second line item would include funding for the possible purchase of waterfront property.

"Budgets are about compromises," he told The St. Ignace News. "I agree with most everything that is in this budget, perhaps as much as 90% of it. However, the relatively small percentage of the budget that is important to me and those who elected me to office, they [council] will not accommodate."

Holding the public hearing immediately before a council meeting with the budget adoption on the agenda, Mr. Wallin said, made him uncomfortable. The implication, he said, was that council would listen to public opinion and then ignore it, if objections were raised, and proceed with adopting the budget.

Councilman Jeff Hingston said Mr. Wallin should have asked to have the public hearing moved to an earlier date. Council member Belinda Mollen agreed.

Chris Brown, a local builder who attended the meeting, objected to a $30,000 increase in attorney fees included in the budget. Mr. Brown thought the increase would be used for legal work on the proposed business license ordinance, which he opposes.

The projected increase in legal fees, said Mr. Lawson, was for reinstating the retirement system and two pending tax tribunal cases. Legal fees for the business license ordinance were about $5,600 in the last fiscal year, he noted.

After going into closed session for 50 minutes to discuss the police and public works contract, Council reopened the meeting and approved the four-year agreement. Mr. Wallin cast a "no" vote. He did not like the council locking in wage increases for four years, not knowing the future economic climate of the village, he said. The wage increases call for 3% for the first two years and 2.5% for the last two years of the contract.

The agreement still must be ratified by the union.

Council approved hiring Joe Stako of Petoskey for $800 for a property appraisal of village land Chris Shepler is interested in purchasing. It is adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant on Trails End Road.

Mackinaw Old Time Trolley got approval to continue to operate in the village in 2009.

Council next meets Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in the Mackinaw City Village Hall.

Salary Increases Adopted for Non-Bargaining Unit Employees

Manager, $68,062 to $69,764. Clerk, $39,140 to $40,314.

Treasurer, $43,820 to $45,134.

Police Chief, $54,360 to $55,990.

Superintendent of Public Works (DPW), $49,850 to $51,346.

DPW Maintenance, $15.53 per hour to $16 per hour.

Seasonal Maintenance (starting), $8.10, no change.

Secretary, $15.53 per hour to $16 per hour.

Recreation Director/Harbor Master, $43,404 to $44,706.

Dockhands (starting), $7.55 per hour, no change.

Cemetery Workers (starting), $8.10 per hour, no change.

Fire Chief, $9,075 to $9,347.

Assistant Fire Chief, $1,134 to $1,168.

Fire Department Captain, $658 to $677.

Lieutenant (two), $388 to $399.

Ambulance Director/ Coordinator, $10,030 to $10,330.

Meeting Payments — No Changes

Village President: regular meeting $90, special meetings, work sessions $75. Village Trustees: regular meeting $75, special meetings, work sessions $50.

Planning Commission Chair: $41 per meeting.

Planning Commission Members: $31 per meeting.