Mackinaw City will be part of a $900,000 bicycle trail improvement project that is aimed to start next spring. The state project is backed by federal stimulus funding,

Village Manager Jeff Lawson met with members of the state's Trail Division Thursday, May 7, to discuss preliminary concepts for improvements to the village trailhead, which is next to Mackinaw Crossings parking lot off Nicolet Street. The trail, recently completed by the state, extends south to Gaylord.

Improvements would include constructing a restroom at the trailhead, landscaping along the trail, and paving the trail inside the village. The state, said Mr. Lawson, should be providing the village with conceptual plans within the next two months.

The project must get federal and Michigan Department of Natural

Resources approval by September to be eligible for stimulus money, said Mr. Lawson.

The village already maintains the trailhead, so there would not be any new costs to the village, unless it decides to improve landscaping on Cadillac Street, near the IGA store, during construction.

The Mackinaw City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will implement some portions of the village's walkability study during the 2010 resurfacing project for Central Avenue. The walkability study, completed by the village last year, provides ways to improve the village for tourists, making it easier and more entertaining and enjoyable to walk through downtown, with interpretive signs installed along the way, said trustee and DDA member Janelle Bancroft.

Incorporating parts of the walkability study with the repaving of Central Avenue, scheduled for next spring, would be cost effective for the village, she said.

Another cost effective project Council approved at the meeting was a $3,350 soil borings study for improvements to West Central Avenue. Mr. Lawson said a company is coming to Boyne City to conduct a similar project there and Mackinaw City could save $500 if Council hires the company to do it here.

"This will help us when we get engineering for that road," said Mr. Lawson. "It will tell us if there was actually a base put under the road, what the soil conditions are, so we can tell if we have to do a complete reconstruction or if we can take the pavement out and go over what gravel is there."

Once the soil borings study is complete, the village will be eligible for Emmet County's grant program for future improvements to West Central Avenue.

In other business, Jerry Prior was allowed to split his four lots on the corner of Henry and East Sinclair streets, where he plans to build a garage on one of the two homes there, said Mr. Lawson. All four lots will still be buildable after the split.

Council approved the second reading, without discussion, for two ordinance amendments involving the private property sale of 4.349 acres of village land on Trails End Road to Shepler's Incorporated and the rezoning of the property from municipal to manufacturing research. Shepler's is expected to build boat storage facilities there. The property sale will take place Thursday, May 14.

Butcher Shoppe owner Val Willis has removed her request to hold outdoor barbecues each Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. She misunderstood the village's special use permit, which only allows such events three times in one year. Instead, she will have one session for her grand opening in June.

Council approved a nonprofit fundraiser at Mackinaw Crossings May 23 through May 25 and July 4 through July 6. Homes for Troops, which assists military veterans with special needs, will raise money for a new home for a Michigan soldier injured in battle, said Mr. Lawson.

The venue for the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau's Red Hat Extravaganza, June 19 to June 21, was changed from Conklin Heritage Park to the grounds of the public marina, owing to a scheduling conflict at the park, as a kite festival will be held that weekend, as well. The Red Hat Society event is expected to draw up to 300 people. A tent will be erected at the marina for it.

Coordinators of the annual Zoode Mackinac Bike Tour are planning to place an inflatable, portable finish line at the public marina, providing participants a place to take photographs after finishing the tour, said Mr. Lawson. Police Chief Patrick Wyman said he has no objection to it.