Mackinac Island will have a new auditor, following a City Council decision to hire Anderson, Tackman and Company of Kinross during its Wednesday, February 24, meeting. Previous auditor Rehmann Group will continue to provide monthly accounting assistance and advice. The Kinross company bid $11,000, or $1,500 less, to do the work than the Rehmann Group. Other companies submitting bids were Dennis, Gartland and Niergarth of Bay City at $9,000 and Campbell, Kusterer and Company of Traverse City at $11,200.

The Finance Committee recommended the change, noting that, although there had been no problems with the previous auditor, the change would save the city money. The Rehmann Group charges the city about $12,000 annually with accounting assistance, although city employees preform the daily accounting tasks.

“There have been no problems with Rehmann, no complaints about Rehmann. The committee felt that it might be the better, wiser course to have a separate set of eyes on daily operations,” said Alderman Mike Hart, who serves as chair of the Finance Committee.

The Rehmann Group will continue as the auditor for the Department of Public Works.

Council adopted in error a new lewd business ordinance during its February 10 meeting. The regulation stipulating where such businesses could be located eventually will become part of the city's zoning ordinance and should have been referred to the Planning Commission. Before planners would consider the ordinance, a public hearing should be held, after which council will consider the Planning Commission's recommendation before voting on the measure. At Wednesday's meeting, Council rescinded last month's vote and sent the proposed ordinance to the planning commission.

Alderman Jason St. Onge asked Police Chief Jim Marks for an update on transporting inmates to the Mackinac County Courthouse after they arrive on the mainland in St. Ignace. The department has been keeping a car in St. Ignace and the city has been considering eliminating one of its two patrol vehicles.

There is no mutual aid agreement with the other departments to assist with inmate transportation, said Chief Marks, although they would assist if they had an officer and vehicle available.

Alderman Armin Porter asked building inspector Dennis Dombroski to look at the sidewalk in front of Horn's Bar, which is buckling.

Mr. Dombroski said he would look into the situation and that other areas have done the same at this time of the year, and they often tend to settle as the weather warms.

The discussion spurred renewed interest in the condition of the old opera house on Main Street. The building was constructed in 1870. Last May, a rotting window frame and caulk nearly caused a storefront window to fall out. The building has been pitching forward by approximately six inches at the top, estimated Mr. Dombroski.

The city began addressing its concerns about the building with its owner, Frieda Novick of New York, in December 2008.

“Recently, it has been brought to my attention the building still looks bad,” said Mr. Dombroski. “It definitely has some issues.”

The city has been given a copy of an engineering report from the owner, he said. The 2009 report indicated the building is not in any imminent danger, although the city required that some work be completed on the structure.

“There were some minor things we wanted fixed,” Mr. Dombroski said. “We wanted the parapet braced and that was never done.”

He suggested the city council consider hiring an independent engineer to examine the building. In the meantime, he and city attorney Tom Evashevski will contact the owner about bracing the parapet.

Council was advised the Board of Review will meet Monday, March 22, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Tuesday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.