More cuts are in the works at the city marina this summer as the 136-slip facility tries to dig its way out of a $56,000 debt. The city will cut one full-time dock attendant, which is the second staff cut since last summer. Overtime pay, which amounted to $6,000 last year, has been eliminated. The cost to operate

the public restrooms at the marina building now will be shared with the city, coming from its Park Maintenance funds.

"Basically, the marina is in the hole and it has to get out," said Marina Director Gene Elmer during the city council meeting Monday, April 6.

The marina will be staffed with nine employees, including the harbor master. Hours of operation will remain the same, with staff available from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. seven days a week.

"It's going to be tough," Mr. Elmer told The St. Ignace News following the meeting, "but we're going to do it."

A portion of the debt, $25,750, was incurred when the Wawatam Lighthouse was installed. The project cost $51,500 and the Waterways Commission agreed to fund 50% of the project, Mr. Elmer said, but the city hasn't seen the money.

That is because Waterways has been waiting for documentation of project costs and a formal request for payment, which Mr. Elmer said he would do now that the Board of Review is over. He is also the city treasurer and assessor.

Last November, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) took over the $1,400 annual cost to illuminate the lighthouse with spotlights. A month earlier, the DDA agreed to contribute $10,000 a year for the next three years to support marina operations.

Electric costs to operate the bubbler system, which protects the marina's floating docks from ice damage in the winter, averaged about $4,500 a month. Mr. Elmer said he would like to cut some of that expense.

The city hopes lower fuel costs this summer will encourage more boat traffic. It needs slip rentals and it needs to sell some of its fuel. The marina is sitting on $12,000 more in fuel inventory at the end of the 2008 boating season than it had the previous year.

"When we got to $4.57 a gallon in gasoline at the marina, which was right at the start of the summer," said Mr. Elmer, "all boating stopped in northern Michigan."

Statewide, marina traffic at state marinas was down about 12% last year, according to the Michigan Department of Parks and Recreation.

Seasonal slip renters, mostly local boats that are docked here all summer, didn't travel much, either. The fuel cost to take a 38-foot boat 75 miles to Beaver Island and back, he said, was about $700 last summer.

Mr. Elmer said he would provide marina financial statements at council meetings in the future, at the request of Councilmen Tom Della- Moretta, who said he would like to be more informed on marina operations.

Portage Street Sewer Project

The city council approved a resolution of intent to sell bonds to fund a $1.4 million sewer project. This is the second phase of a plan to upgrade the city's wastewater treatment and sewer system. The bond principal is not to exceed $2,000,000 to fund the replacement of the gravity sewer line on Portage Street, between Fourth Street and State Street, designed to move sewerage more directly to the treatment lagoons north of the airport on North State Street. The former treatment plant was across the street from the post office.

Miller Canfield is the bond attorney. The bonds will be sold to the Michigan Municipal Bond Authority's State Revolving Fund program.

The city expects between $300,000 and $350,000 in federal stimulus money for the project, said Les Therrian, director of the Department of Public Works.

Water Tower Painting

The city will use about $94,000 from the capital improvement fund to pay for painting the Marley Street water tower. The DPW will pay the fund back at 3% interest over a two to three year period, said Mr. Therrian.

"It has to be done," he said of the painting, "and we're about 10 years late in doing it now."

In February, Council approved hiring LC United Painting Co. of Sterling Heights to paint the exterior and interior of the tower. The company has agreed to be paid in installments over a six-month period. Work is expected to begin in May and be completed by mid- June.

The tank supplies water to most of the city and the commercial district. The Evergreen Shores water tower will service to those areas for about five weeks until interior paint work is completed. No interruption in service is expected, said Mr. Therrian.

Hospital Resolution Council approved a resolution for Mackinac Straits Health System recognizing it as a nonprofit organization for the purpose of obtaining a charitable gaming license for fundraising.

Health Plan

A health care plan that would save the city money and help employees after retirement was adopted by the city council. Employees are able to contribute pre-tax money or invest unused sick and vacation time into the program and access it after retirement. Their account can be used for health care costs, including premiums, co-pay, and some medications.

The plan saves the city money by spreading the costs of sick time reimbursement. The health care savings program is offered through the Municipal Employees' Retirement System.

Emerald Ash Borer Mackinac County is being considered as a test site for injecting insecticide in ash trees to slow the progress of the tree-killing emerald ash borer. Such a project could be done this year and is being spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is conducting an environmental analysis. The state would oversee insecticide treatments.

The USDA is seeking comments on the plan from City Manager Eric Dodson, who has until the end of the month to respond. Mr. Dodson did not attend Monday's meeting, but a letter from Michael Prouty, a field representative with the USDA in St. Paul, Minnesota, was included in city council packets, although it was not discussed during the meeting.

In St. Ignace, up to 115 trees would receive the insecticide treatment, including about 50 trees in Straits State Park, where an infestation was found. An additional 50 trees near the park would be injected. Another 15 trees could be treated at a second infestation site discovered last summer on the north side of the city.

The plan also calls for a up to 110 trees to be treated in about 2,000 acres at Moran, near one of the county's infestation sites.

The tree have not yet been selected and a large area under consideration in Moran is privately owned. Under the voluntary project, the USDA would seek landowner permission.

Public Comment

Council defended its $70-permeeting pay when a resident suggested they reduce it to cut expenses during the recession. Dean Baker asked council members to consider cutting their pay to $25 per hour, noting that most meetings do not last longer than one hour.

Monday's meeting lasted onehalf hour. Councilman Don Gustafson said elected officials prepare for the meetings by reading information sent by the city manager, and that leads to more efficient meetings. He suggested the compensation committee, which recommends the pay, discuss the matter, but no action was taken.

Mayor Paul Grondin said council members are not paid for everything they do.

"I think we all donate a lot of our time," he said.

Councilman Tom Della-Moretta said council pay is based on meeting attendance, yet council members address resident concerns at any time.

Council next meets Monday, April 20, at 8 p.m. at city hall and is expected to continue city charter revision work. The city last addressed the matter in February.