Downtown St. Ignace will bloom again this summer with flowers and landscaping by Cedars of Mackinac, whose bid for $14,895 was accepted by the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Friday, March 12. The board also received an update on estimated tax revenue for the upcoming year and on the progress of the planned Chief Wawatam Park on the city's former railroad dock.

The DDA signed a two year contract with Carol Bell's landscaping firm, which will charge $30,385 for work over the twoyear period. The charge for work in 2011 will be slightly higher, at $15,490, and the contract includes landscaping at the Museum of Ojibwe Culture, which was billed separately in previous years.

One other bid was received by the authority Friday, from Little Man Services of Sault Ste. Marie, at a cost of $14,670 for 2010 summer landscaping. DDA members decided that the slightly higher cost of hiring Cedars of Mackinac was worth it because of the exceptional job Mrs. Bell's company has done in the past and because she is a local business employing local workers.

Board member Don Schairer said he has always heard positive comments about her work at his workplace, which he said is a rarity at an auto parts store.

“Why would we want to change a good thing? We always get so many positive comments and Carol's bid is so close to the other one,” Mr. Schairer said. “She is always down there working, even on Sundays.”

DDA Chairman Gene Elmer said he has seen many other landscaping companies take the downtown contract since he has been on the board and Cedars of Mackinac has “by far” done the best work.

DDA Director Deb Evashevski pointed out that in the bids submitted, the St. Ignace company charged $1.50 less per flat of flowers at Kiwanis Beach and budgeted for 58 more flats for that location than the Sault Ste. Marie company.

Cathie Sposito added that Cedars of Mackinac is a St. Ignace company and hires all local workers, something the city does consider when awarding bids.

Linda Bell, of no relation to Carol Bell or Cedars of Mackinac, said she has heard good things about the Sault Ste. Marie company's work in snow removal, but said she doesn't know of anyone in the region who can match the beautiful floral displays Cedars of Mackinac has given St. Ignace in recent summer seasons.

“Your flowers and the maintenance here is beautiful,” Mrs. Bell said. “You have the best flowers around.”

Mr. Elmer also reported that he estimates the DDA will receive $2,300 less in tax revenue for the upcoming budget. Mr. Elmer is also the city's treasurer and assessor so he is the first to know the status of property tax revenues for the downtown district.

Mrs. Evashevski said the proposed layout of the Chief Wawatam Park is nearly complete, and the DDA will soon be sending out a request for bids for the construction of the park, which she hopes to complete by this fall.

“We will start in late May,” she said, “after we get all the permits from the Army Corps of Engineers.”

Some ideas for the new park that are still being considered include a fountain that shoots water from one hole in the ground to another, inviting curious children to play with the fountain, and an interactive sundial where a child would stand at a specific spot, casting the shadow that tells the time.

The proposed park will also include a walkway to the lighthouse, a handicapped-accessible fishing platform, benches, and picnic areas.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources provided a $134,000 grant to help fund the project, which requires a $38,000 contribution from the City of St. Ignace. The DDA has also received $38,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for factoring handicapped accessibility into the park's design.