One more vehicle is heading to Mackinac Island for the winter at the urging of Police Chief Jim Marks, although his request drew opposition from two council members during the Wednesday evening, December 16, city council meeting. C ouncil debated the request at length before voting 4-2 to ship over to the Island its mainland patrol car, which has been parked in St. Ignace.

The 2002 SUV has been used to transport prisoners from the boat dock to the county courthouse or jail, and now will serve as a winter back-up to the city's new 2009 SUV that was delivered to the Island five months ago. Council's decision to facilitate the request came with a strong warning to the chief of police

"One time, one time it is seen improperly used, it's done," said Alderman Mike Hart, who agreed that having a back-up transport vehicle would be good for Island residents.

During winter months, the police vehicle is used on the Island to transport senior citizens to church, the medical center, the airport, boat dock, and to stores.

Chief Marks assured Mr. Hart and other council members that the old vehicle would be used only if the new one broke from an accident or other malfunction .

"I can guarantee you that anybody who does drive that car around is going to be disciplined under my orders," Mr. Marks said.

The chief's assurance did not satisfy Aldermen Jason St. Onge or Frank Bloswick, who opposed the move to place more vehicles on the Island.

"We're trying to get away from all of the vehicles on the Island," said Mr. St. Onge. "I don't want to be part of the people who bring any more over."

He said he was voting against the additional vehicle, but, knowing he would be outvoted, he asked that the motion include the stipulation that the vehicle only could be used if the 2009 patrol car was not operational.

The 2002 vehicle was thought to be unreliable and too expensive to repair, according to information presented to city council by Chief Marks a year ago, Mr. St. Onge told The St. Ignace News Thursday.

At the meeting, Chief Marks said the vehicle should not be sold and was needed in St. Ignace for transports. Mr. St. Onge again disagreed and pointed to the mutual aid agreement the Island has with other law enforcement departments and suggested St. Ignace police, the state police, or the county sheriff's office could transport officers with inmates from the boat dock to the courthouse or jail.

Mr. St. Onge asked that those agencies be contacted to verify they would assist the Island, which would clear the way to sell the 2002 patrol car in the spring.

Council unanimously agreed to consider selling the vehicle in the spring.

This is not the first time council has heard Chief Marks' plans for the old patrol car. In a July council meeting, he suggested the city keep the vehicle for emergencies, in case the 2009 vehicle had a problem. Also at that time, he suggested storing the 2002 vehicle on the Island during winter months, which would give the city a back-up vehicle.

With the city's need for a vehicle to transport senior citizens, Alderman Armin Porter said he was in favor of having a second vehicle on the Island.

"Because we offer the senior transport, it effectively requires us to keep one extra full-time police officer year-around," said Mr. Porter. "That costs a lot of money. The limited expense of keeping another police transport around is really pretty minor compared to that, so I really don't see a problem with that."

In addition to the 2009 patrol car, the city has seven other emergency vehicles, including an ambulance, five fire department vehicles, and a Department of Public Works pick-up truck.

The other emergency vehicles are impractical as back-up for the senior transport program, Chief Marks said, because they are too difficult for seniors to climb into.

Moratorium

In a letter to the city council, the nonprofit group Save Our Island again sought city action to place a six-month moratorium on McNally Cottage. The group, which says it has more than 100 signatures in support of its efforts to preserve the 119-year-old building, urged the council to place a moratorium on demolishing it.

An appeal also was made in a letter by the group's attorney, Eric Starck, who requested a public hearing to discuss the merits of a moratorium as time is running out to protect the historic structure from being replaced with a hotel and shopping center.

"The city council has a history of acting cautiously and prudent[ly], but time is set to expire with regard to the McNally Cottage," said Mr. Starck. " Absent a moratorium, the impact of the McNally Cottage's demolition on the historic culture of Mackinac Island will never be known. The citizens of Mackinac Island deserve to have the city council discuss, in an open meeting, the merits of an emergency moratorium with regard to the McNally Cottage."

The letters were not read out loud during the meeting, but the council placed both on file. This is the second time since November the board has taken no action on the group's moratorium request.

Commercial Stable

A zoning variance granted in August by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) now can move forward with the acceptance by the city council of a copy of a five-year lease between James Chambers and the owners of Chambers Riding Stables.

Mr. Chambers is in the process of converting his private corral behind his Market Street house into a commercial stable.

City attorney Tom Evashevski said the city will have to take a look at the lease to ensure it is renewed in five years or the variance will be invalid.

The ZBA's approval came with the stipulation that Mr. Chambers present the lease agreement showing an arrangement with Chambers Riding Stables, which would supply horses for the corral.

With the lease's approval, a special land use request now can be considered by the Mackinac Island Planning Commission and is expected to be considered at the commission's January 12 meeting.

Council tabled consideration of a property swap to allow members to review information from city appraiser Joe Stakoe. The city was offered to trade its unit at Rowe Terrace Condominiums for a home on Cadotte and Fifth streets in Harrisonville.

The offer to exchange the property was made in September by property owner Margaret McIntire. The exchange was discussed by the city in a September at a Finance Committee meeting and again considered in December by the Streets Committee. The matter is expected to be taken up by council at its December 30 meeting.

Council agreed to allow interim school superintendent Michael Bootz to stay in St. Martin's Place, if necessary. The use of a room in the police housing building on Market Street would be needed if the boats stop running after the first of the year. Using the city housing would save the school the cost of a hotel room, said Mayor Margaret Doud's assistant, Kelly Bean, who also is a member of the school board.

St. Martin's Place on Market Street once housed the old medical center.

Mr. Bootz, a daily commuter from Mackinaw City, has agreed to stay longer at the school and help with the transition of the new superintendent, said Ms. Bean. If the boat continues to run, he would not stay at the city's building.

Two temporary motor vehicle permits for Belonga Plumbing of St. Ignace were approved. One will be used by the Stonebrook Homeowners Association for snow removal this winter at Stonebrook. The other will be used for work at Mr. Porter's "Red House" next to the Island House Hotel on Main Street.

City Council next meets Wednesday, December 30, at 5 p.m. on the second floor of Community Hall.