The Mackinac County Road Commission considered, but deferred selling timber from the property surrounding the Hanson gravel pit on St. Ignace Road off M-134 and 3 Mile Road Tuesday, October 13. The consideration was spurred when Manager Dirk Heckman was approached by Dean Reid, a local forester, who said the timber may be salable.

Mr. Reid explained he was preparing other timber sales in the area and could bundle the road commission's timber in with the other sales, Mr. Heckman said. Grouping the timber together could raise the overall price the commission would receive, Mr. Heckman noted.

Commission Chairman Lester Livermore expressed several concerns about the potential deal. Timber prices have declined significantly, he said, and the commission may receive little for what it sells. Bundling could also damage prices, as well, if lower quality timber is mixed in with the road commission's.

Thinning the trees may be prudent if the wood is of high quality, Commissioner Tom Doty said.

Mr. Livermore called Gerald Grossman, of Grossman Forestry, during the meeting and asked when was the last time the trees had been thinned out, and what the quality and type of wood is on the property. Mr. Grossman explained the trees had been thinned in 1997 and the trees are high quality hard maple.

The commission decided to contact Mr. Grossman again and have him examine a timber sale in the future. The commission took no further action on the matter.