—-jonny on the spot—-

121829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

No Decision Yet on Extra Les Cheneaux Dredging Proposal

Members of the Les Cheneaux Islands Waterways Restoration Group met with representatives from Representative Gary McDowell’s office, Waste Management, and the Michigan departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources in Lansing last week to propose additional dredging and work to Cedarville Bay when the federal navigational channels are dredged next summer. Group representatives told state officials about the area’s need for greater access to hundreds of shorefront properties and hopes that the project will help improve tourism to the area, because channels choked with silt and weed growth are hampering boating. A decision on the group’s proposal is expected by the end of November.

Gary Reid and John Torsky of Waterways Restoration, Clark Township Supervisor Gerald Hill, Cedarville resident Mike Patrick of the Mackinac County Commission, and cottager Bob Brown of St. Ignace, a member of the state Waterways Commission, proposed to state officials Thursday, October 22, that Malcolm Marine of St. Clair, which was awarded a contract to dredge the Les Cheneaux channels in September, could set up its transfer site adjacent to the public access dock in Cedarville Bay to unload dredge spoils from barges. The group is proposing the public dock on Meridian Street be extended 100 feet south to accommodate the contractor’s large barges. The project would also remove invasive weed species in that area of the bay.

Once the dredging project is completed, Waterways Restoration wants to turn that extended site into additional transient docks and boater access ramps.

Angie Mundell, operations project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, told The St. Ignace News last month that Malcolm Marine is approved to dredge far enough into the bay to be able to maneuver its barges and equipment to a transfer site to unload spoils. Additional work, however, would not be federally funded, she said. Waterways Restoration is lobbying to make the proposed public dock extension part of Malcolm Marine’s approved transfer site.

Mr. Reid, the group’s chairprson, said he feels the meeting in Lansing last week went well and he is hoping for a positive result.

Officials “heard our comments and took them under further advisement,” he said. “I would hope we made an argument for a favorable review.”

Mr. Torsky said more than 200 letters from Les Cheneaux residents were presented to state officials during the meeting, documenting the community’s support for the proposed project.

“It didn’t hurt to go in there with a lot of support letters,” he said. “We came away with a positive feeling. They were very receptive.”

Malcolm Marine was awarded a $1.64 million contract September 24 to dredge about 52,000-cubic-yards of spoils in federal navigational channels between Cedarville and Hessel. Dredge spoils from the project will be dumped on Taylor’s Pit in Cedarville.

In April, the Corps of Engineers allocated $24 million for various Michigan waterways projects, including the Les Cheneaux channel dredging project. Federal navigational channels in the Les Cheneaux waterways have not been dredged since 1971, after residents complained maintenance dredging would disrupt fishing.

121829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Tina Champion Celebrates Medical Miracle

Tina Champion was born in a military hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, and spent the first few weeks of her life separated from her parents while at hospitals in California and Texas for surgery after surgery. She was diagnosed with two life-threatening birth defects, spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and doctors didn’t give her long to live. Tuesday, October 27, the St. Ignace woman turned 40 years old, defying all odds.

Her mother, Yvonne Weaver, said she is a miracle. During her life, Miss Champion has had 22 surgeries, been in a coma three times, and was resuscitated after several severe seizures. Ms. Weaver said time after time, her doctors are dumbfounded by Tina’s story of survival.

“Back when Tina was born, the hospital told me, ‘Your daughter was born with this birth defect and she’s not going to make it through the night,’” she said. “She didn’t ask for this. I decided I’m going to give her a chance at life, so I learned everything about this disease as I could, and I’m going to take care of her as long as possible.”

Spina bifida is a spinal column defect in which some vertebrae do not form properly around part of a baby’s spinal cord. In more serious cases, like Miss Champion’s, the defect can make walking and daily activities nearly impossible. She has no feeling below her waist and, as a result of the defect, uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility.

Children born with spina bifida commonly develop another defect called hydrocephalus, which prevents the free circulation and absorption of spinal fluid through the spinal cord and brain, causing swelling around the brain. That build-up of fluid causes extreme pain and pressure on the brain unless properly drained. Miss Champion has had three surgeries, the last when she was 13 years old, to have tubes put in place to drain spinal fluid from her head into her stomach.

She has limited mobility in her arms, is blind in one eye, and poor vision in the other eye. As a result of these birth defects, her ability to learn and mental capacity is limited, too.

“On a social-level she’s a teenager, but on an academic-level she’s at an elementary age,” Ms. Weaver said.

But all that doesn’t stop her from having fun. Every Tuesday, Miss Champion and her mother, who live together in St. Ignace, go bowling at Gateway Lanes. She has a special ramp that attaches to her wheelchair so she can push her bowling ball down the lane. She has her own bowling ball with her name engraved on it.

Miss Champion also has some responsibilities at home. She is responsible for brushing her teeth and administering her own medication. Each day she takes six pills. Her mother has taught her to let her know when she is running out of pills so she can order more. Miss Champion also enjoys many activities that keep her busy.

“She loves crafts, she crochets, likes to put puzzles together, and do word searches. I try to give her things that will stimulate her mind,” Ms. Weaver said. “She leads a good productive life in that wheelchair.”

Ms. Weaver has a lot of help from family and friends in caring for her daughter. Longtime friend Brenda Spencley has helped her care for Miss Champion for 30 years. She comes over at least three times a week to help take Miss Champion around town.

Ms. Weaver said getting her daughter ready to leave their apartment is probably the most cumbersome part of a day. She said it takes two people to lift her out of her wheelchair and into a seat in their station wagon; the wheelchair is placed in the back.

“If it wasn’t for my guardian angel, Brenda, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. I would probably have to put Tina in a home,” Ms. Weaver said. “She’s like Tina’s surrogate mother.”

Miss Champion and her mother came to St. Ignace in 1978, where she was enrolled in public school. She was educated in St. Ignace schools until she was 26, under state law the oldest age students can be enrolled in public school.

Ms. Weaver said her daughter is friendly and easy to get along with, so she has made many friends over the years. More than 300 of those friends helped her celebrate her 40th birthday Saturday, October 24, at Timmy Lee’s Pub on US-2.

“I never in a million years thought she’d be 40 years old. Doctors said it would never happen, and I told them, ‘If she lives to be 40, I’m going to show the world,’” Ms. Weaver said. As for the party, ” Everything was perfect. Nothing is too good for my daughter.”

121829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Plan Moves Forward for Building Cedarville Store

A Family Dollar store might be established in Cedarville, now that a first step has been taken in the process of rezoning and developing land for it. Township and county approval must still be secured for the project.

In the first step, the Clark Township Planning Commission is recommending that the township board of trustees rezone a 40,000 square feet on the northwest corner of the M-134 and M-129 intersection in Cedarville from agricultural use to commercial. The recommendation came in a 6-3 vote of commissioners during a public hearing Thursday, October 22, at the Clark Township Hall.

The matter will go before the Mackinac County Planning Commission for support and then to the township board for final approval. If zoning is approved, Joseph Perazza plans to develop an 8,000-square-foot Family Dollar store on the site. He is purchasing the land from James and Susie Martin of Cedarville.

Commissioners had differing opinions concerning the rezoning. Commissioner Steve Honnila, who voted against rezoning, said commercial development there will detract from the rural character of the Les Cheneaux area, as stated in chapter six of the township master plan under the future land uses section. Commissioners John Grenier and Joe Eger also voted against. In September, Commission Eger announced he was leaving his spot on the commission at the end of October to move south for the winter. This was his last official duty as a commission member.

“I think it goes inherently against what our master plan states. It’s definitely not going to be something that’s going to be a draw to the people that are coming here for the specific reason of the Les Cheneaux Islands, which is to have the quaintness of small businesses,” Mr. Honnila said. “I do not believe Family Dollar is within the character of what Clark Township and the Les Cheneaux Islands represent.”

Two motions denying a recommendation for rezoning, made by commissioners Honnila and Grenier, were voted down before a motion supporting the rezoning was approved. Commissioner Mike Freel suggested the property adjoins other commercial properties, allowing for the change in zoning.

“The fact is, what we’re determining here tonight is whether that should be commercial or not,” he said.

The future use of the property was not in question at Thursday’s public hearing and was not to be considered in the rezoning recommendation. Some commissioners felt that because Mr. Perazza is committed to building the store if the plot is rezoned, its future use should be taken into consideration. Commissioners Freel, Pam Thompson, Paul Smith, Gary Wellnitz, Vaughn Rye, and Jeff Davis voted to approve the recommendation to the township board.

Most of the members of the public who spoke at the hearing endorsed the rezoning, owing to their desire to see a Family Dollar operate in Clark Township. About 30 township residents attended the hearing. Family Dollar sells general merchandise and groceries.

” I think a Family Dollar would be beneficial, because I think people will travel to it. It will enhance our other businesses because they may come to Family Dollar instead of going up to the Soo. It would be housed here, the tax base is here, and the employment would be here,” said Cedarville resident Rose Miller. “Family Dollar is not a dollar store. It does carry higher quality things and it does carry things that people do travel to.”

Cedarville resident Diane Patrick said, “I would recommend and support the changing of this plot into a commercial use. I think it makes sense. It’s in a natural commercial area; everything around it is commercial.”

Carl Rich, the owner of Cedarville Inn, which is near the intersection, said he wants the parcel to be changed to commercial to help stimulate the local economy and create jobs.

“It’s a prime piece of commercial property on a state road,” he said. “The community could use another business.”

Not everyone who spoke was in favor of the rezoning. Cedarville resident Bob Smith questioned how such a store would fare in Cedarville.

“It’s too bad [Mr. Perazza] isn’t here tonight, because I want to get some idea what his business plans are,” Mr. Smith said. “If there is one in Kinross, one in Cheboygan, and one in Pellston, how does he expect to turn a profit and not saturate the area?”

Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, and Newberry also have Family Dollar stores in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Added Cedarville resident Bob Dunn: “I’m not totally against it, but I’m not totally for it, either. That corner, if we let it go to cheap construction metal buildings and no landscaping, we’re going to detract from the rural character of the community.”

Jim Granger, who represented Mr. Perazza at the public hearing, said the building will likely be made with cement blocks and the project contracted out to local builders.

If the rezoning is approved by the township, Mr. Perazza will have a green light to develop the Family Dollar store because such a retail outlet is permissible in a commercial district, according to the township zoning ordinance.

“This would go through without a special land use permit,” said Ken Waybrant, the township zoning inspector. “It would not need a special land use, because typically these stores have groceries and food, hardware items, hobby-shop items, and variety-store items,” which are all permitted uses for retail stores on commercially zoned properties.

121829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Zoning Ordinance Review Continues

The review process to update the Clark Township Zoning Ordinance is waiting on the Clark Township Board of Trustees. The Clark Township Planning Commission has reviewed and accepted most of the township board’s review notes thus far and is waiting for the board to send more articles for the commission’s final review. The only revisions not accepted by the planning commission were the board’s suggestion to scrap article nine completely, which outlines landscaping requirements for new commercial developments. The commission hopes to find some middle ground with the board to include the article, as commissioners believe setting landscaping requirements is important for beautification.

Updates to the ordinance and its 23 articles were completed by the planning commission and handed over to the township board for review in March. The board is reviewing the individual articles and recommending changes to the planning commission for final revision before being enacted. Eight of the articles are approved by both groups. The planning commission is waiting for the township board to complete its review of the remaining articles.

The planning commission reviewed article 10, zoning districts, Tuesday, October 13, to catch itself up with the township board’s revisions. The commission accepted each of the board’s additions and deletions, including updates to the zoning district table of permitted uses.

The additions to the table of uses will give the township better defined control of what types of structures can be built in which districts, Commissioner John Grenier said. The goal is to encourage development in the area.

“My initial reaction when I looked at this was suddenly it got more restrictive, but then it became clear that it actually makes it less restrictive,” he said.

Several “special uses” for future developments, which will require special use permits under the new ordinance, were added to most districts, including civic and social organizations will be allowed in resort, single-family residential, rural residential, industrial, and light industrial districts, and philanthropic institutions will be allowed in commercial, industrial, and light industrial districts. Other special uses to be allowed with permits are: apartments, two-family, and multiple-family dwellings in commercial districts; charitable organizations in industrial and light industrial districts; retirement, assisted living, and nursing homes in agricultural, resort, single-family, and rural residential districts, and public utility buildings in industrial and light industrial districts.

Under the proposed ordinance, hunting cabins will be permitted, without special use permits, in agricultural, resort, single-family, and rural residential districts, and community buildings will be permitted in industrial and light industrial districts. Charitable and civic organizations will also be permitted in commercial districts under the revised table of uses.

Article Nine: Landscaping

The planning commission and the township board have different views on the impact of setting minimum standards for commercial landscaping. The township board feels that guidelines in the article will discourage future development from coming to Clark Township owing to an extra cost to developers, while the planning commission feels the article will beautify new businesses that do come and keep minimum landscaping standards. The township board wants to scrap the entire article.

Township Clerk Mike Miller, who attended the planning commission meeting last week, recommended to commissioners that they send the article back to the township board with suggestions on finding middle ground to leave the article in.

The planning commission will discuss, at its November meeting, possible reductions in landscaping requirements, which were previously reported in the September 17, edition of The St. Ignace News, from the article to appease the township board to have some form of the landscaping article in the zoning ordinance.

120829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Nichols Challenges Grondin for Mayor

St. Ignace residents will head to the polls Tuesday, November 3, to vote for either incumbent Paul Grondin or challenger Mary Elizabeth Nichols to be mayor of St. Ignace. Both candidates in the nonpartisan race say they are up to the task of being mayor and feel fully capable of doing the job, but only one will win the two-year seat. Mr. Grondin calls on his experience in city government as his greatest strength, while Ms. Nichols would like to bring a bottom line, business perspective to city finances.

Mr. Grondin, who has been the mayor of St. Ignace since 2006 and served on the city council before that, since 2002, said his experience and longevity in the city’s government sets him apart from his challenger.

“I have over seven years of experience as a city council member and as mayor. I’ve been involved in many aspects of city government, from the hiring of a city manager to budgetary issues to contract negotiations and utility and infrastructure issues,” he said. “I think I’m a positive person who has the qualifications and experience to continue to be mayor. I believe I’m doing a good job and feel comfortable asking the people of St. Ignace to re-elect me.”

Mr. Grondin became mayor in a special election in March 2006 after long-time mayor Bruce Dodson resigned so that his son, Eric Dodson, could become city manager. Mr. Grondin is a sergeant at the Kinross Correctional Facility and has been employed by the Michigan Department of Corrections for more than 20 years.

Ms. Nichols said because Mr. Grondin is a state employee, he may be too reluctant to make cuts or reassignments within the city’s structure when necessary. She contrasts that with her experience in the private sector, which she said will help her to make tough decisions with the city’s best interests in mind.

“My experience is within the private sector, where the setting and completion of tasks is critical to the very continuation of an organization. Timely performance and satisfaction of the client, in this case the citizen, is paramount,” she said. “I am conditioned to the stress of budget and internal cost accounting as well as the supervision of a variety of skilled and unskilled laborers.”

Ms. Nichols has completed undergraduate studies in English and French literature, administration of criminal justice, and graduate studies in social work. She ran unsuccessfully for a seat on city council in 2007.

Mr. Grondin earned an Associate’s degree from Kellogg Community College in 1976 and a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice with a minor in political science from Western Michigan University in 1981.

City Finances

Both candidates believe that the city’s finances need to be closely monitored and managed. Mr. Grondin said whoever is elected mayor will need to work with the city council and city manager to spend tax dollars wisely.

“The way the state is faring right now isn’t too good,” he said. “That impacts not only St. Ignace, but communities all over the state. We, as a council, are closely monitoring the budget information and updates that the city manager provides us. The council and I don’t always agree on everything, but we’re able to discuss our differences in a civil and respectful manner with each other to come together to make the decisions necessary that impact our citizens.”

He said the potential 11% cut in state revenue sharing, in the yet-to be approved state budget, may require the city council to trim a budget that’s already “bare-bones” in some areas.

“Right now we have a balanced budget, but that’s not to say we’re not going to be impacted by the lack of funds that we get in revenue sharing from the state,” he said.

Ms. Nichols is displeased with the performance of the current council and Mr. Grondin and believes there is room for improvement. She is claiming that the city is running on a deficit budget, but according to the city’s auditors, the city has money to pay the difference between revenue and expenses.

The city brings in money from taxes, state revenue, charges for service, and other miscellaneous sources, which totaled $1,764,905 in 2008. City expenditures were more than that last year, $1,969,732, but additional transfers into the city’s general fund from other city funds paid the difference, leaving the general fund with an additional $30,625.

Annette Eustice of the Cheboygan firm Rehmann, which audits the city’s budget each year, said it is legal for the city to spend more than it brings in as long as it has enough money on hand to pay that difference.

Nevertheless, Ms. Nichols thinks it is unwise for expenses to exceed revenues.

If elected, Ms. Nichols wants City Manager Dodson and Treasurer Eugene Elmer to provide the mayor and city council with up-to-date and accurate financial data for each of the city’s funds to pinpoint and prioritize where cuts can and should be made, if state revenue sharing does decrease, to keep city spending in line with revenues.

“My concern is that city operations are brought into line with revenues, particularly as the revenue sharing from Lansing will be substantially reduced, whenever the state budget is finalized,” she said. “I consider debt to be the primary concern. I don’t think it’s prudent to proceed on an unwise basis.”

She also wants city expenditures to be more clearly outlined at each council meeting, so that there’s no question of where taxpayer money is spent. She wants this information to be readily available to the public, as well.

Promoting the City

Mr. Grondin said it is important to be visible during the many events in St. Ignace that attract visitors from around the region, state, and country, throughout the year.

“One of our responsibilities as a council is to contribute to a climate which encourages visitors from across Michigan and across the country to visit and enjoy our community,” he said. “Some of the events that we have during the year, like the car shows, truck show, Arts Dockside, Bayside Live, Fish Feast, Fourth of July, and pond hockey in the winter. These are all quality events and we must continue to do the promotional activities we do to convince people to come to visit St. Ignace and enjoy St. Ignace.”

Ms. Nichols wants to keep in closer touch with city residents, rather than tourists. She said it is important for city residents to have a voice in city government.

“The mayor’s role is to listen to the stated needs of the citizens of the City of St. Ignace, to oversee the operations of city hall and its management, and to see that those prioritized needs are met to the best of the mayor’s ability,” Ms. Nichols said. “There is a distinct difference between a leader and a cheerleader.”

The city of St. Ignace has a strong-city manager, weak-mayor governmental structure, which means that the mayoral seat is largely ceremonial and the city manager runs day-to-day operations of the city. The mayor and council, which represent city residents, possess both legislative and executive authorities and primary control over the city budget.

120829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Outside Service Working Well for School

Hi-Tech Building Services, the third-party custodial vendor contracted to operate custodial services for Les Cheneaux Community Schools, told the district board of education that things are moving smoothly after three months on the job. Hi-Tech Vice President of Customer Relations Ryan Rinvelt, meeting with the school board at its Monday, October 19 meeting, distributed a schedule that outlined where and what Hi-Tech employees clean each day. He said employees are in each room every day, but are not necessarily cleaning each room every day.

“We are going into every room and emptying trash, checking the room to make sure its actually safe and secure, closing windows, turning off lights, and cleaning door-handles,” he said.

“We’ve actually become more regimented in our cleaning processes” since Hi-Tech began servicing the school in July, he noted.

Employees check each room nightly for graffiti, spills, or messes, which are cleaned up if found. Classrooms are cleaned three times a week, including vacuuming and disinfecting.

When Hi-Tech took over custodial services during the summer, it began sorting through old equipment, textbooks, and other items that had been accumulating, and recycling and throwing out what could no longer be used.

“They’re very good at recycling,” said Kris Hill, the district’s business manager. “I think that’s a very strong suit that they have. They try to recycle everything they can, whether it’s with Habitat for Humanity or wherever, to get something removed.”

She said Hi-Tech recently sorted through and removed old computers, refrigerators, and textbooks, which were recycled.

Mr. Rinvelt said Hi-Tech is prepared and equipped if flu and H1N1 viruses become a problem in the school. He said the best way to combat virus germs is for the inflicted to stay home until fully recovered. One option the district could do in that situation is provide disinfecting-wipes and handsanitizer dispensers in each classroom.

“We’re going to be in every room, every day, sanitizing every flat-surface, every doorknob, and anything that has personal contact with a child or staff,” if the viruses become a problem, he said.

The district signed a $87,600, three-year contract with Hi-Tech in June to have the company perform custodial and maintenance services. The outsourcing of custodial services is expected to save the district more than $78,000 annually.

120829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Vendors Consider Pickford Market a Success; Will Resume in June 2010

Brenda Meloche and her mother, Eleanor Wark, both of Trout Lake, have spent every Thursday evening since June in the parking lot behind the Pickford Township Hall selling homemade baked goods. The mother and daughter team start their Thursdays around 5 a.m., baking pies, loaves of bread, brownies, and rolls to be sold from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the weekly Pickford Farmers Market. They consider the market venture a great success. The event was revitalized this year after a multi-year hiatus.

The two bakers also attend the farmers market in Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesdays and Saturdays. They enjoy the market at Pickford because of its more relaxed atmosphere and vendor camaraderie.

The bakers, along with about 20 other vendors, set up their tables and booths at the Pickford market each week to sell a wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, baked goods, eggs, meats, and canned-goods. Market Master Sheila Bergdoll said the market averaged about 100 customers each week from the Cedarville, DeTour, Sault Ste. Marie, and Kincheloe areas.

“We had a lot of local people. I think the community was very interested in seeing the market here,” she said. “I think the community was very supportive. I do feel like the community really did embrace it.”

Market attendance, however, has declined in the last couple weeks owing to seasonal residents leaving, summer tourism dropping off, and the beginning of the school year and school activities, she said. The Pickford market is scheduled through Thursday, October 22, and will re-open for business in June 2010.

Tammy Obermiller of Pickford can attest to school and its activities taking time away from the market in the past several weeks. She was at the market Thursday, October 1, watching her daughter Alyson’s booth while she was at a school function two blocks away. Alyson, a 10th grade student at Pickford High School, makes, sells, and repairs beaded jewelry at the market, as well as sells vegetables grown in her garden.

“I’m amazed with some of her creations,” Mrs. Obermiller said about her daughter’s work. Working at the market “has made her grow up real fast, especially with learning how to handle money.”

Alyson has set up her Aly’s Lil’ Bit of Everything table at every market this summer. Mrs. Obermiller said her daughter plans to participate in the market again next summer.

Mrs. Bergdoll said she is strongly considering scheduling the market earlier in the afternoon next summer to better accommodate vendors and customers.

“We noticed our crowds significantly dropped off by 6:30 p.m.,” she said. As for the vendors, some of whom start their days in the early morning, she said, “It’s a long day for someone to sit there.”

Betty Jones of Cedarville, who sells fresh vegetables grown in her small garden, said Mrs. Bergdoll emails vendors each week to keep them up to date with market information, makes sure to talk to each vendor during the Thursday markets to see how they are doing, and promotes the market.

“She’s super about communicating with us,” Ms. Jones said. “It’s been a very successful market… There’s a good relationship among the vendors, too.”

Ms. Jones, who joined the market in mid August, sells flowers, peppers, gourds, squash, onions, sugar beets, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and Indian corn. She said as the market winds down each week, vendors have been known to trade items so that one person is not going in with an excess amount of one item and nothing goes to waste.

“”There’s no competition” among vendors, she said. “It’s just like, ‘I’ll help you, if you help me.’”

120829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Clark Twp. Joins Escanaba Economic Development Alliance

The Clark Township Board of Trustees hired a new township assessor, filled a vacancy on the township planning commission, joined a regional economic development consortium, and outlined a wish list for a new township work truck at its Thursday, October 15, meeting.

The board unanimously agreed to join the Upper Peninsula Economic Development Alliance to help promote the Les Cheneaux Islands. Treasurer Katie Carpenter said the board joined the development and marketing alliance to be proactive in promoting and developing the area, rather than waiting for a similar group to be formed in Mackinac County, which is currently being researched by the county commission and county planning commission. She also hopes joining the alliance will help to rehabilitate vacant businesses in Cedarville’s business district.

“If our township wants to know what’s going on with economic development in the Upper Peninsula, since we don’t have an EDC, we need to join this organization. If we had a county EDC, obviously that would be the resource,” she said. “It’s up to us locally to decide and take a stance and be proactive to at least go get the information and bring it back to the community.”

The cost to join the Escanaba-based alliance is $125 annually, based on the township’s population. In joining the alliance, the township will be able to use the group’s resources to better attract and retain businesses. A Les Cheneaux representative is yet to be chosen to attend quarterly alliance meetings.

The economic development alliance is comprised of private companies, utilities, and local and regional economic development agencies in the Upper Peninsula. Its goal is to enhance, link, and promote the U.P. as a location for businesses to invest and conduct business. The group is funded mainly through grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Thompson Hired as Assessor

The board voted 3-2 to approve Christina Thompson of Cedarville to replace Polly Cairns as township assessor. Ms. Cairns was released from her contract last month owing to contract violations, including not being avail- able and accessible to township officials and residents as often as her contract required.

Mrs. Thompson, a level-two assessor, agreed to a three-year contract and $45,000 per year compensation, with no annual increases.

“It’d be nice to have somebody local in here. I think that’s real beneficial,” said Trustee Gary Wellnitz.

Mrs. Carpenter and Clerk Mike Miller were the two dissenting votes. Both said they wanted to hire Mrs. Thompson, but at a lower rate of $40,000 with annual pay increases. Mrs. Thompson will hold office hours in the township office Mondays through Thursdays between 9 a.m. and noon.

“I support you 100%, it was the dollars and the numbers. I’d rather see annual raises,” Mrs. Carpenter said to Mrs. Thompson.

Bob Dunn Is New Commissioner

Township Supervisor Gerald Hill appointed Cedarville resident Bob Dunn to the Clark Township Planning Commission to fill a spot vacated by Joe Eger of Cedarville. Mr. Eger resigned his position with the commission because he is moving south for the winter.

The board was enthusiastic to approve Mr. Dunn’s appointment, noting he typically attends planning commission meetings and has a basic idea of how the commission operates.

“I’m familiar a little bit with what’s going on” in the planning commission, he said.

Mr. Dunn will complete Mr. Eger’s term ending in December 2010. Mr. Eger was appointed to the planning commission in July 2007 to complete the remainder of Selma Edsinga’s four-year term, which started in January of that year.

New work truck

The board outlined features and amenities for a new township work truck to replace an eight-year-old truck used by township employees. The wish list will be sent to nearby automobile dealers, seeking truck quotes. The board plans to purchase a work truck from the dealership with the most appealing offer.

Features the board is seeking in the truck include four-wheel-drive, eight-foot-wide snowplow, trailer hitch, auxiliary power outlets, automatic transmission, and air conditioning. The purchase will be paid for with money from the township’s general fund.

112829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Pickford Fall Festival Raises Money for Library

112829

As it appeared in the St. Ignace News:

Drugs Collected for Safe Disposal

The Clark Township Neighborhood Watch is teaming up with Arfstrom Pharmacy in Cedarville to collect and properly dispose of expired and unused prescription drugs. The goal behind the program is twofold: to protect unprescribed users from taking those drugs, and to discourage wouldbe thieves from entering homes.

Scott Skinner of Arfstrom Pharmacy said people with expired or unused prescriptions can bring them to the pharmacy on M-134 during regular business hours for proper disposal. The pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prescription drugs brought in will be shipped to Sault Ste. Marie for proper disposal.

Prescription drugs are diluted in water and taken to a landfill where they won’t be able to enter into waterways, said Don Corbiere of Sault Community Pharmacy. It is not recommended to dispose of expired or unused prescriptions oneself.

“We put them in a plastic container and then simply add water to that container so it will render everything in there unusable,” he said.

Coordinator for the volunteer neighborhood watch Loren Dingman pointed out it can be hazardous for people to take drugs that are not prescribed for them. Such unprescribed drug use, he said, is a growing concern in other parts of the country. He hopes the program helps prevent such a situation from developing in Clark Township.

“This is just another phase of trying to keep a curb on the drug situation,” he said. “Nationwide, it’s a really big problem. We really haven’t been involved in that situation here.”

The Partnership for a Drug Free America reports that one in five teens has abused prescription pain medication, stimulants, or tranquilizers, and that one in 10 has abused cough medicine. The drug-abuse watchdog group claims many teens think prescribed drugs are safe because they are legal and have practical uses, but actually they can be just as dangerous and addictive as illegal drugs.

Mr. Dingman said the drug collection program also discourages people looking for prescription drugs from breaking in to homes. He said people that do this are typically looking for pain-killers.

Arfstrom Pharmacy manager Michelle Sheckler said the program will give would-be thieves one less reason to break into a home as well as provide a valuable service to the community.

“We’re doing this more as a community service. Mostly what we’re concerned with is that there’s a lot of expired medications out there,” she said. “We want people to know there’s a place to bring them.”