The City of St. Ignace will be allowed to move its sewage treatment drain pipe 300 feet to the north of its present location to get it, and the birds it attracts, away from the Mackinac County Airport runway. The effluent outfall now discharges warm water into the lake at the end of the runway, which attracts small fish and invertebrates, which, in turn, attracts seagulls and other water birds for dinner.

The birds get in the way of airplanes at the airport and cause a safety hazard.

The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners granted an easement to the city at its meeting Thursday, August 26, allowing it to install the outfall pipe across county property.

As for a proposed dam at East lake, the other big item on their agenda, commissioners said they want to hear more from residents before they reach a decision.

Wastewater Outfall Easement

St. Ignace receives complaints about the location of its discharge pipe at the end of the runway, said City Manager Eric Dodson, because of the birds the warm effluent attracts. The original plan for the outfall, which was constructed with the wastewater plant in 1987, was to build it 300 feet north from the runway at the proposed new location, he said, but that was rejected by the county then owing to concerns relating to future construction on waterfront property.

Concerned about the bird hazard near the airport, the city asked URS of Traverse City in the spring of 2009 to study the feasibility of moving the outfall, and the company concluded that the city could either extend the outfall out into the Lake Huron bay to the depth of 26 feet, which could cost $3.5 million, or move the pipe north, where it would be less of a hazard to airplanes and would cost less than $100,000.

Commission Chair Dawn Nelson said she is concerned that residents of a nearby condominium might try to stop such a project, but Commissioner Mike Patrick responded, “I don't see why. It doesn't infringe on their property.”

Commissioners approved the easement, 4-1, with the contingency that Equalization Director Jim Fenlon review and approve the agreement.

Ms. Nelson, who voted against the proposal, said that, in her view, it was passed without due consideration.

“When we do something this fast, I never know that we've done it right,” she said. “This is not a good thing for our board. You [only discussed] it for 10 minutes.”

If moved, the outfall would be about 600 feet from the condominiums and into the bay about 60 feet from the shore. The effluent, according to the city’s Department of Public Works Director Les Therrian, is filtered twice and is clean and odorless.

East Lake Dam Discussion

County commissioners met Thursday morning with eight property owners from East Lake to see if they want to proceed with a project to dam the lake, despite rising costs.

Not all residents at the meeting opposed the project, but those who did pointed out that the $350,000 projected cost of the dam could double and that there is no guarantee the application would be approved. The preliminary feasibility study for the project, which is needed to conduct studies to submit with the application, would cost the county $53,000. The costs for the project would be paid through a special assessment on the property owners.

Commissioners were informed at their meeting Thursday, August 5, that the original project cost of $350,000 could double, spurring the special meeting with landowners to see if the project is still wanted. The proposed dam, which would be about 300 feet long and four feet high, would be situated at the outlet of the lake near the intersection with Carp River's east branch.

Commissioners said they will seek further input from property owners before committing to fund the required environmental analysis.

Commissioner Calvin “Bucky” McPhee said, in his view, the property owners need to organize a meeting in Brevort Township and make a decision on whether they want the project. He pointed out that there has been a lot of misinformation concerning project costs that should be clarified.

“Everyone on the lake has to get together to decide whether they want to move forward with this thing,” he said. “I recommend they get everyone together, all 70 parcel owners, and let them know what's going on before they bring it to us.”

Added Commissioner Lawrence Leveille: “Now that we have a contingency of people saying no to the project, I like Bucky's idea of getting people together and saying yes or no on this. It should go back to the township.”

If the $53,000 preliminary study is approved, an additional $100,000 to $400,000 would also be required to conduct an environmental assessment, which could take up to two years to complete.