Mackinac Island is negotiating with Union Terminal Piers to purchase property in St. Ignace, Mackinaw City, and on Mackinac Island. Specific parcels have not been determined, nor has pricing or financing, said Mayor Margaret Doud during the Wednesday, August 25, meeting of the Mackinac Island City Council.

Union Terminal Piers operates the Arnold ferry, which was purchased in June by Petoskey attorney Jim Wynn. The company owns docks and other property in all three communities, outlined in The St. Ignace News June 24 edition, available in the newspaper’s free online archives.

“This is a rare opportunity, and we intend to further pursue the matter and determine the benefits that would be provided to the city,” said Mayor Doud. “It is one way that the City of Mackinac Island can secure, that we will always be protected in having property to run a boat line if and when the city ever needed to do so.”

Final decisions will be made at open meetings, she promised. In the meantime, closed sessions will be used to discuss possible options. Council went into an executive session two weeks ago to discuss the matter, she noted.

Following the announcement, the city council directed its attorneys to continue to evaluate the property purchases.

Last winter, the city said it may eliminate its franchises with three ferry boat operators and sign an exclusive agreement with only one company.

Also during the meeting, the city council upheld its decision of Wednesday, August 11, to deny a business license to Loren Horn for his proposed company, Rebel Hawking/Vending/Peddling. Mr. Horn, a veteran, has been seeking to operate a vending business from a bicycle, but the business does not comply with city ordinances, according to council members.

His request was denied two weeks ago for lack of a permanent location. With his application Wednesday, he included a map denoting where he plans to operate the business, including many downtown streets and all of M-185, which encircles the Island, where he planned to operate the business.

Mr. Horn also presented the council with photographs of other businesses that he said already are peddling items on the streets, including restaurants with employees who hold menus and solicit business on city sidewalks.

Alderman Frank Bloswick was the only council member who supported the Mr. Horn's business license application.

“They're veterans, I want them to peddle,” he said following the meeting and referring to Mr. Horn and his son, Benjamin.

At an Ordinance Committee meeting earlier that day, the committee agreed to review city regulations and consider a peddling ordinance.

Benjamin Horn did not resubmit an application for his bicycle vending business, Voyageur Peddling/Hawking/Vending. He found an exemption in the city ordinance that permits him to operate without the city business license, he said.

City attorney Tom Evashevski said he had discussed the issue with Mr. Horn.

While Mr. Horn's state-issued veteran's license to peddle exempts him from having to acquire a city license, and also waives the city license fee, said Mr. Evashevski, the business must comply with the local municipal rules, and in the case of the Island, it does not, he said. The state also puts limits on the license, too, he said. It does not allow the veteran to hire employees.

With no application, the city council took no action on Benjamin Horn's operation, however his business was discussed at length during an Ordinance Committee meeting prior to the council meeting. Mr. Horn presented the city with a letter listing other businesses that are hawking and peddling, including wedding photographers who operate on streets and sidewalks, off-island wedding services which perform wedding ceremonies without permits, offpremises vending machines, and food deliveries.

One business on the list is an artist who is painting and selling her work from a bicycle and in bars and restaurants. Committee members said they were not aware of the business and noted that no license had been issued to it. Police Chief Jim Marks said he would look into it.

Mr. Horn said his plan is to sell bottled water and eventually expand his wares to T-shirts and hats .

Mr. Evashevski said he does not believe Mr. Horn's proposed business complies with city ordinances.

“We don't have a direct hawking, peddling ordinance that says you can do it here or there, or not at all,” he said. “You have to read the various sections of the Zoning Ordinance to determine that we just don't allow it as a form of conducting business.”

Traveling on the streets with a bicycle is not the issue for the city, it is conducting business on the streets that creates the problem, he continued.

Mr. Evashevski suggested the Ordinance Committee look into the matter to see if there would be a form of the business that would be allowed.

“I just want to figure out a way to work this license out somehow because there has to be a way to do it,” said Mr. Horn. “Otherwise, there is a direct conflict with the state law,” which allows him to peddle, and the city and Mackinac Island State Park Commission, which may not.

Mr. Horn said he had been working with the state park and it did not look like they would allow his business.

Other communities like Traverse City and Flint allow it, said Mr. Horn. They put regulations in place over hours of operation and location.

“I think there are options here,” he said.

Committee member Armin Horn said those cities were not comparable to Mackinac Island and Mayor Margaret Doud suggested they contact Beaver Island and Drummond Island to see what they do.

Alderman Mike Hart, the committee chair, said the committee would study Mr. Horn's request.

In other council business, council meetings were moved from 6 p.m. to 5 p.m. beginning September 8.

At the recommendation of the Finance Committee, council approved spending $2,388.87 for lumber to replace the stairways at the Community Hall. The money will come from the Capital Projects Fund.

Also at the recommendation of the committee, the city will spend $1,632 to replace one jail cell door. The money will come from the Police Department's budget. A second door already was paid for by the inmate who damaged it.

Council renewed 11 on-Island business licenses, two new local business licenses, and two new off- Island licenses. An off-Island business license for Conway Prowash/Prevention Fire and Safety of Harbor Springs was denied for lack of a state license. Council recommended the business resubmit an application for its exterior pressure wash services.

Council approved three temporary motor vehicle permits for Grand Hotel to move artwork off the Island. A temporary motor vehicle permit was approved for Sean O'Boyle for three soil borings, about 15 feet deep, at McNally Cottage over three days beginning September 14.

A lawn tractor permit for Jack Armstrong was tabled until he can resubmit the request. Two separate permits are required for use of the tractor at the Cannonball on British Landing Road for mowing in the summer and at his home on Cedar Point Lane for snow blowing during the winter.

Alderman Sam Barnwell asked that the city review the ambulance contract following billing questions raised during a Finance Committee meeting. The city contracts with Allied EMS Systems and the agreement is renewed June 1 of each year. The matter will continue to be discussed by the Finance Committee before coming to council. Mr. Barnwell is a paramedic employed by the company.

The city council next meets at 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 8, on the second floor of Community Hall.