For Charlevoix by TRISH WRIGHT Denied Allegations That He Was an Agent Will Be a Great Thing for the Charlevoix Or a Front Man for That Country, Area," He Said
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EAST JORDAN EAST: JORDAN PUBLIC LIBRARY PUBLIC LIBRARY PO BOX G EAST JOHuAM, MI, W?21 Qharlevoix Gounty YourACommunity Newspaper, 1881-1981 Thursday, April.2, 1981 Vol. 101, No. 4 25 cents AAcGoff buys ferry, \ : plans 'dining ship' for Charlevoix BY TRISH WRIGHT denied allegations that he was an agent will be a great thing for the Charlevoix or a front man for that country, area," he said. CHARLEVOIX - A huge floating however. Annand said that acquistion of the restaurant and nightclub will probably According to Fred Annand, vice- several new boats, including the one to be operating as part of the Beaver president of the Beaver Island Boat be used as the restaurant, will probably Island Boat Company this summer, The Company, McGoff has acquired con- be finalized Friday at a meeting of the Charlevoix County Press has learned. trolling interest in the boat company boat company board of directors. through a corporation known as Water's The company already shuttles But perhaps even more interesting Edge, Inc. passengers to and from Beaver Island than the dinner boat is the company's Annand did not reveal how much on passenger ferries, the Beaver Is- new owner—John P. McGoff. McGoff paid to acquire the controlling lander and the South Shore. New ferry A summer resident of Charlevoix, interest. McGoff already owned some service from Petoskey to the island is McGoff is president of Panax Corpo- stock in the boat company, and one local also planned this summer. ration, a large newspaper chain which stockholder told The Press that McGoff "We have looked at several boats for published 83 newspapers before its bought stock for $90 per share from 30 the Petoskey ferry, and we also plan to stockholders decided to start liquidation to 40 stockholders and now owns well operate the dinner boat near Charlevoix of the company in August of 1980. over half of the 4,000 shares. that will serve dinner and provide entertainment on the nightly basis," Powerliffer In the last few years. McGoff has "Previous to McGoff's offer, there hadn't been an offer for more than $75 Annand said. WeightUfter Pat SUte Is one of 13 members of the Christiansen the club has been in existence for been a controversial figure. He was the per share." the stockholder said. Annand has been a summer resident East Jordan Powerllfting Club who will be three years. Several lifters in the club are subject of widely reported federal Speculation that McGoff was buying of Beaver Island and he is also a participating In a "llft-a-thon" this Saturday. The becoming quite proficient, Christiansen reports, investigations regarding his involve- and expanding the boat company has neighbor of McGoff's in Williamston. club is sponsoring the event from 1 to 3 p.m. at the and they will be participating in the Michigan ment in a South African government created a great deal of interest in the He owned his own security firm and high school to raise money for weight room Teenage Powerilfting Meet next month. See next secret propoganda fund scandal. He has Charlevoix area due to the stock worked as a private investigator for 27 equipment. Under the guidance of coach Bob week's Press for a feature about the local club. purchases, real estate inquires and even years, Now he plans to move to the a brief mention at a January city council Charlevoix-Petoskey area and devote meeting. "full-time" efforts to the boat company. Charlevoix Mayor Sam Supernaw He has been on the board of directors Salary freeze doesn't anger £J city supt. said he wasn't sure what plans McGoff for 16 years, has for the boat company. "We've just Annand said McGoff has been active- heard rumors," he said. iy involved in arranging the purchase EAST JORDAN - Friction between doing—way too much for this little town engineering himself. He felt that a city "Before they tried to fire' me a few Supernaw added that "There was and expansion of the company, but the council members and city superinten- to pay," said Nemecek. superintendent should not be paid such months ago, the mayor never once some discussion of (the ownership publisher would not take an active role dent Herman Rasch cropped up again a high salary, because the city hasn't contacted me to try to get information Gee agreed. He felt Rasch was change) at a council meeting around the in the day-to-day operations. last week in a special meeting to saved that much by hiring Rasch. straight from the horse's mouth." making enough money and that council first part of the year. McGoff's name Boat company manager Brie Kam- approve the proposed city budget. Although Morris felt Rasch had done a "Frankly, I don't lose very much members had to "hold the line" with was mentioned then." mermann reported that the 1981 Council members voted 4-1 to freeze top personnel. He was pleased with the good job on the newly built civic center, sleep over these things. It's sad, The city learned of the ownership summer schedule for the Beaver Island Rasch's $27,500 a year salary. way the budget was balanced. he felt other city areas had gone because it's not me they're destroying, change because the boat company has ferries has already been printed. "I The city council approved a minimum downhill. He listed mowing the banks of it's their city and the city's image." Morris and Joseph, however, cited been negotiating its dock lease with the expect that we'll have a good year. of five percent raises for all other city the waste water lagoon s stem, But he will work to try to improve his job performance as part of the reason city of Charlevoix. Reservations have already started to department heads. Rasch was not cleaning up the city property on Maple relationship with the council. "I think I Inquires have also been made about come in. We should have a boat running present at the meeting. See editorial, page 4 Street at the entrance to the new high am going to have to tread more softly acquiring real estate on Round Lake, out of Petoskey by Memorial weekend," Contacted later, he told The Press he school, and neglect of the water system from now on," he said. he said. for Christensen Ridge as examples. reportedly to provide additional parking was "not going to lose very much sleep they felt Rasch's salary should be The Finance Committee recom- for the floating restaurant. Kammermann added that the dinner Sweet, who supported a five percent about this. There are a lot more frozen. mendation to the rest of the council at For some time, McGoff has been a boat will be a floating restaurant with a important things than this to be "I felt Herman was paid enough," pay raise for Rasch, said it was "unfair the meeting had been to give Rasch the passenger capacity of about 400. It will to single out one person when the boating enthusiast in the Charlevoix concerned about." said Joseph. "Performance was part of five percent raise. Gotts. Gee. and area, where he docks his 100 ft. yacht. seat 200 for dinner and will have two my reason." Joseph preferred not to council was already talking about Sweet are on the Finance Committee, The main reason for freezing Rasch's The yacht is often a highlight of the dance floors and bars, "We may even comment on specific areas where he felt relatively small percentage raises for al! but (it'v chanperi Ins mind later salary was a feeling that Rasch was boat parade in the annual Venetian have an orchestra lined up, and we Rasch should improve. He felt that was city department heads." She also felt already making too much money. Clerk-Treasurer Kern Morris said this Festival. might be ready to serve dinners by Councilmen Al Joseph, Russ Gee, a personnel matter. that this topic should have been week that she and Police Chief Joe Memorial Day." discussed when the full council was One local businessman commented: Darwin Morris and Mayor Archie Councilman Morris felt too much city Hammond are the administrators af- Some Charlevoix businessmen have present. "1 think McGoff has just taken a fancy Nemecek voted to freeze Rasch's salary. engineering was being hired out. He fected by the five percent raise for city to getting into the boat business." "been speculating that the boat company Council member Pat Sweet opposed. said Rasch was paid considerably more Rasch attributed the salary freeze to administrators. And an official with one of McGoff's might begin using a hydrofoil boat for Councilmen Cal Gotts and Gil Fox were than previous superintendents because Morris will be earning $19,425 and politics, rather than criticism of his work remaining Michigan newspapers said passenger service to the island. Annand not present at the meeting. the council that hired him three years Hammond will earn $17,325 if the city performance. "I think they're getting McGoff has dreamed of starting a said that buying a hydrofoil had been ago thought it could save money in the "I figured that Rasch was making misinformation from someone "—per- council approves the raises as part of floating restaurant for 10 years. discussed but none have been pur- long run by having Rasch do most of thfc way too much money for the job he was haps a disgruntled city employee. the 1981-82 budget next Tuesday.