Business owner Enzo Lieghio told the Mackinaw City Village Council Thursday, July 2, he is being unfairly singled out in the application of city ordinances and he asked the village to be more evenhanded in its enforcement. If not, he will take legal action, he said at the meeting.

His complaints were outlined by his attorney, Brandt Fisher Alward and Roy, in a printed notice to the council that Mr. Leighio asked be read aloud.

The council also received an update on the bicycle trail, referred proposed ordinance amendments on overnight parking and window displays to its attorney, and consented to the formation of a census count committee.

Mr. Lieghio's complaint cited a number of examples, including being unfairly restricted in the use of his transportation company, being singled out for overnight street parking at his businesses, and being cited under the blight ordinance, while others are not.

Wheeled trolleys in Mackinaw City are operated primarily as sightseeing tours, but they also are used for limousine service.

The notice cited the Mackinaw Old Time Trolley Company, which Mr. Lieghio owns, as having unfair restrictions placed upon it. Trolley companies operate under village permit, and stipulations for use are discussed during the approval process . Mr. Lieghio said, when his permit was approved in February, he was told he could not travel into residential areas. A subsequent letter from the township said he is not allowed to operate on Old School Road.

When a competing trolley company was issued a permit, he noted, no such restrictions were place on the operation.

The restriction prevents his company from conducting business, for example, in picking up residents for weddings and taking them to the ceremony or reception. This gives the competition an unfair advantage, he said, and he asked that either the restriction be placed on the competitor or lifted from his company.

City Manager Jeff Lawson said no trolley companies are allowed to operate in residential areas, and because there are no attractions along Old School Road, that road is off limits, too. The rival trolley company does not have an explicit restriction that states it cannot enter residential areas, Mr. Lawson said, but the rule is the same for that company.

"The bottom line is there are no trolleys approved to enter residential areas," Mr. Lawson told The St. Ignace News.

A village response to the trolley issue will be mailed to Mr. Lieghio, Mr. Lawson said.

Mr. Lieghio also said the proposed amendment to the village's parking ordinance is targeted at his one of his businesses. He said he believes the amendment proposed at the Ordinance Committee meeting June 24 targeted an employee who has been parking on the street all night.

The ordinance has always limited street parking to three-hours, Mr. Lawson said, and the intention of the amendment would be to make it clearer that it applies all year, not just during the winters to accommodate snowplows. The ordinance now only specifies it is illegal to park overnight during the winter.

The council fines residents who park overnight at commercial properties every few years, Mr. Lawson said. In most cases, it is because their apartment complexes lack sufficient parking space. The council works with those residents to find suitable parking, and usually they do not receive a fine.

The amendment is under review by the village attorney, and has not yet been adopted.

Another example of uneven treatment, Mr. Lieghio claimed, was a warning he received when several of his businesses were in violation of the blight ordinance. He complied with the warning, he said, but other businesses had not been notified or pursued as aggressively.

Mr. Lawson said eight businesses, two of which are Mr. Leighio's, were notified of blight conditions, Mr. Lawson said, but Mr. Lieghio contends more than eight are in violation of the ordinance.

The council keeps records of all properties cited for blight, Mr. Lawson said, and these are public records. Mr. Lieghio and other members of the public can view the records to see which properties have been cited and be satisfied that the ordinance warnings are being applied equally, he said.

Bike Trail Update

In other news, the council asked Mr. Lawson to contact the people who will have the new bicycle trail pass through their property. Several own fields that the trail will pass through, and the council will require permission to construct the trail through those areas.

Village President Ronald Wallin said the bike trail will enhance property values, as it will make them more attractive to potential buyers. Mr. Wallin said he wanted Mr. Lawson to accumulate data on those increases and present them to the property owners to make them more willing to allow the bike trail to pass through.

The Trail Committee also reported that the trail will be accessible to snowmobiles. The committee also discussed placing picnic tables and maps at the trailhead, placing a new sign for the trailhead off Nicolet Street, and possibly adding a shower in the new bathroom building at the trailhead.

Parking and Signage

Ordinance Presented to Council

Village Trustee Jeff Hingston told Council that the Ordinance Committee, indeed, discussed amending the parking ordinance at its June 24 meeting to make it clear that overnight parking is forbidden throughout the year.

The sign ordinance was also examined because businesses have been cluttering their own windows with signs. (The committee meeting is reported separately in The St. Ignace News.)

The village council referred both amendment proposals to its attorney for review.

Census Count

Committee Formed

Mr. Lawson suggested a census committee be formed to make the residents of the village aware of how important the census is and encourage them to be counted in 2010.

Obtaining a complete count of the population of Mackinaw City is important, Mr. Lawson said, because it affects federal funding the city will receive. It also directly affects the representation the state will receive in Congress.

"We really need everyone to be counted," he said. "It affects 10 years of funding."

The committee will have three members and will be appointed at the next Mackinaw City council meeting Thursday, July 16.