Accusing Mackinaw City Village Council trustees of political pandering and shirking their duties by not protecting the public's interest in a decision to approve a hot dog restaurant, Village President Ron Wallin faced those he accused during a tense council meeting Thursday, April 2.

Provoked by a letter written by Mr. Wallin and published in The St. Ignace News April 2 and Cheboygan Daily Tribune March 27, Trustee Belinda Mollen was the first to voice her objections during Thursday's meeting.

Her decision to approve the site plan for the hot dog restaurant at a March 19 council meeting, she said, was based on information from the village attorney, village engineer, planning commission, and residents.

"It was not a dismissive decision," she said, reading from a prepared statement, "nor do I appreciate the position your letter has put me in to have to defend my vote. If you feel that I don't have the best interests of Mackinaw City as my number-one objective as a Village trustee, you are mistaken."

Mr. Wallin responded, "I appreciate those comments and the seriousness of them. I disagree, however, my letter stands as is."

The letter also elicited harsh comments from Enzo Lieghio, whose family is building the restaurant.

"Not only do the people who sit on this board have to defend themselves, but so do we," said Mr. Lieghio.

"What do we have to do to convince you people that we're trying to do things?" he asked. "Everything we've done, we hope to better the community. We've definitely put everything we had into it and yet we've had to even defend ourselves on this. It never ends. We don't see an end in sight. What do we have to do, sue you personally for this? Is that what we have to do? Would that make it work? Would that end it?"

Mr. Lieghio asked for an apology and a response.

Mr. Wallin said he would not address Mr. Lieghio's questions.

"You're free to say what you want during public comments," said Mr. Wallin.

Former Village President Robert Heilman, who attended the meeting, said Mr. Wallin's history of "belittling good, hard working people" is why it has been difficult to find residents willing to sit on village boards.

"I think it's despicable," he said. In other business, Council approved a quote of $13,460.49 for drainage pipe and strictures for phase one of the North Huron Avenue reconstruction project. The bid was submitted by Kerkstra Precast of Jenison. Premarc Corporation of Cadillac bid $15,264.05 for the work.

Appointments of officers will be made at the next meeting, Thursday, April 16. The Village Charter requires they be made after the second Monday in April. Under consideration are James Tamlyn as Department of Public Works superintendent, Patrick Wyman as police chief, Pat Rivera as water/wastewater superintendent, Dave Paquet as recreation director and harbormaster, and Fred Thompson Jr. as fire chief and ambulance driver.

Village Clerk Elizabeth Clemens was recognized for her help in aiding a citizen who had slipped on the ice and fallen behind a barrier.

Approval was given to American Legion Post 159 for annual hot dog roasts on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

Council next meets Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m. in the Mackinaw City Village Hall.