People will not see any wind turbines on Mackinac Island, say Ordinance Committee members, who plan to draft a regulation that would ban commercial wind turbines and temporarily prohibit residential wind power generators. Whether the new regulation is incorporated into the city's zoning regulations or written as a standalone ordinance has yet to be determined, but the document is expected to be voted on by the city council within the next few months.

The temporary ban for residential turbines, according to the committee, is needed to give them more time to research decibel levels, appearance, height, and shadow flicker.

In September, the electricity generators were banned from land controlled by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, about 83% of the Island.

The committee discussed the issue at its meeting Wednesday, January 13, and also discussed drafting ordinances to ban bicycle taxi cabs and prohibit lewd businesses. The city also plans to remind businesses that the twosign limit will take effect this year and business licenses will not be issued to violators.

At last week's meeting, City Attorney Tom Evashevski told the committee that he believes the city can ban windmills, and committee member Dan Wightman, who is employed by Edison Sault Electric Company, asked to be excused from the discussion.

Committee Chair Mike Hart said he has been frustrated in getting technical information about windmills because companies selling them only want to give him a sales pitch.

"I want to know what is the noise level, what are the technical read-outs on noise," he said. "I want to know what the light-fall technical read-out is. I want to know all of these things and what I got was, 'Things are wonderful,' and that's fine, but I don't want to do it at the expense of ... noise and I don't want to do it at the expense of frightening horses with flashing lights."

Modifications to the sign ordinance

take effect this year, city building inspector Dennis Dombroski

reminded the committee. Businesses are allowed two signs and some have additional signage on awnings and valances. The wording on the awnings will either be counted into the two-sign limit for that business or be removed before a business license will be granted this season.

The committee discussed but rejected giving a one-year extension, with many businesses still out of compliance and under difficult economic conditions. If the city extends the deadline, it would be giving non-complying businesses an advantage with extra signage over those businesses that already have spent money to meet the ordinance requirements, said Mr. Hart, arguing against the extension.

"The argument is those who did comply thinking they had a 2010 [deadline] are now at a commercial disadvantage," said Mr. Hart.

Bicycle taxis that can transport up to eight people will be banned from the Island under an amendment Mr. Evashevski will draft to the bicycle ordinance.