by Sandy Planisek Mackinaw News Events in Mackinaw City Satellite image of Great Lakes Feb. 15, 2019 WEEKLY Senior Chair Yoga - Tuesday 10 am Church of the Straits Food Pantry - Wednesday 10 am - 11 am Church of the Straits Pickleball - Sunday and Wednesday 6 pm; Monday thru Friday 9:30 am (subject to change) or anytime you bring a friend

February 20 Wednesday • Memorial Day Parade Dinner Fund Raiser, Audie’s, 4 - 7 pm $12

February 23 Saturday • State Historic Parks Job Fair, St. Anthony’s, 10 am - 2 pm

March 3 Sunday • Benefit breakfast dinner at St. Anthony’s for Naomi Gomez, 4 - 7 pm

March 5 Tuesday https://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/buf_img/ t1.19046.1656.CIS_Great_Lakes.143.250m.jpg • Hawk count begins

March 10 Sunday • Cabin Fever Dinner by Historical Society, Audie’s, 5 - 7 pm, $10 adults

February 17, 2019 page 1 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Straits of Mackinac Job Fair

Saturday, February 23, 10am - 2 pm

MACKINAW CITY, MICH. — Mackinac State Historic Parks, along with several other state parks in the region, will host a summer job fair on Saturday, February 23 at St. Anthony’s Hall in Mackinaw City from 10 am – 2 pm.

Mackinac State Historic Parks will be hiring for seasonal positions in park operations and maintenance, sales and guest services, and natural and historic interpretation. Other parks attending include the Cheboygan Field Office, Straits State Harbor, , Straits State Park, Mackinac Island State Harbor, and .

There is no cost to attend this job fair. More information can be found at mackinacparks.com or by calling 231.436.4100.

Free Fishing Weekend - Hurry still open today Sunday

February 16-17

Everyone in is invited to fish for free Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17, during the 2019 Winter Free Fishing Weekend. A license is not required to fish those two days, but all other fishing regulations still apply. Throughout the weekend state parks will waive the Recreation Passport entry fee normally required for vehicle entry. February 17, 2019 page 2 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek The Mackinaw Area Historic Society Needs YOU!

Rescheduled Wednesday, February 20, Library, 4:30pm

As you probably are aware, the MAHS operates Heritage Village a Historic Village set in the era of 1880 – 1917. Volunteers are vital. Could you donate a couple of hours to be a docent conducting tours? Could you be part of our grounds crew? Are you interested in helping build nature trails through May Woods? We are grateful for whatever you can do to assist. Please come to talk about Heritage Village’s opportunities.

Parade Fund Raiser - Formerly Called Fish Fry Wednesday, February 20, 4 - 7 pm

Come out and enjoy a great meal while helping fund the Memorial Day Parade. This is a major fund raiser and it needs your help and appetite. Fish Fry at Audie’s, all-you can eat buffet Adults $12, Children $5 at door

FISH

page 2 FRYFebruary 17, 2019 page 3 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek Register for Raptor Fest

February 17, 2019 page 4 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Jeff Lawson – Administrator, Cheboygan County

Twenty-five years ago, in 1994, Mackinaw City was undergoing a major change in leadership. We were getting a new village manager. Joe Duff, manager since 1987 was leaving and Jeff Lawson was arriving. A change in manager is not unusual; managers stay in one position on average about five years. They then move on to broaden their experiences. Joe left for Archbold, Ohio, home of Sauder furniture. He later returned to and is City Manager of Gaylord.

Jeff arrived in Mackinaw having worked as city administrator of Auburn, Mich. near Bay City. He came with experience in grant writing and community development. He was young and received unanimous council support. Little did anyone expect that he would stay 17-1/2 years. But he did. And during that time he enjoyed the community working together to achieve many goals. During his years several streetscape projects were completed and many recreation facilities expanded. But the time came for him to broaden his experience. When the Cheboygan County Administrator job opened in 2011 he applied and got the job. He continued to live in Mackinaw for six more years until the kids left home and a new house was better suited for just he and his wife, Becca. Now he lives in Cheboygan.

Jeff explained to me that county government differs greatly from village government. The types of services differ. At the county level there is a co-employer relation between the Board of Commissioners and elected officials, and the county provides the joint services to the departments. These departments include the Courts, Prosecutor, Treasurer, Clerk and Sheriff’s Department. Departments that report directly to Administration are building safety, emergency management, equalization, finance, IT, human resources, maintenance, planning and zoning, recreation and the veteran’s office. While the village deals with utilities, roads, and ordinances, the county does not deal with utilities, has an independent road commission, and has very few ordinances. The county has a workforce of about 130 people.

The county is just finishing several large projects. Top among them is a $3 million renovation to the county jail. The work added 20 beds and an on-site kitchen. The county now has 104 beds and averages 80 detainees. The kitchen, with a payback of 15 years, allows on-site food production thus reducing costs.

Another project just completed is a 4,000 square foot storage facility for the sheriff’s department. This building will be used to house a communication center and department equipment. These pieces include rescue equipment, four patrol Sheriff storage boats used on Mullet and Burt Lakes and other inland waters as well as on the Great Lakes up to Mackinaw City. The county also houses two snowmobiles they use for patrol. page 4 February 17, 2019 page 5 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Another project that is still in process is renovation of the Doris Reid health department building is located behind the county building. The building got a new lab and the women’s resource center space was re-organized and updated. So far the work has cost about $300,000. Next the focus will be on the lower level of the building housing MSU Extension and Community Mental Health.

The marina in Cheboygan is a county asset that needs dock repairs and new fuel tanks. That project is estimated to cost $800,000 but with the jump in steel import tariffs the price for tanks has increased enough that the work is temporarily on hold.

The Planning Commission is just ready to vote on new solar regulations in February. Regulations will differentiate rules for residential units, small commercial units, and utility units. These regulations will be in place in anticipation of utility interest in renting large parcels of land for a solar field in the county.

This large list of projects has been paid out of county savings. Now it is time to re-build the savings account. So no big projects are planned at this time except for the 911 radio upgrades that will be paid for out of the Jail kitchen 4-year, $2.8 million millage we approved in the November election.

Cheboygan County facilities are in overall good repair and the budget is solid.

Just so you know! The Centers for Disease Control says, “Extreme heat events, or heat waves, are one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the United States”

But I am not worried.

Jail control room

February 17, 2019 page 6 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Solar power expected to significantly increase

Michigan’s Public Service Commission (PSC) just ruled on Consumer’s Energy’s plans for meeting their renewable energy requirements. The PSC accepted Consumer’s plan for wind energy but felt its plan for solar was too expensive and sent the plan back for further work. As Cheboygan County prepares for utility-sized solar fields, here are some national trends. Notice from the map at the bottom that Michigan has one of the lowest levels of solar radiation in the country, only the far northwest and far northeast have less.

The growth in solar power since 2012 has been in utility-size solar fields, rather than home installations, accounting for 60% of all new solar output in 2017 in the country. This has been driven by the 2015 extension of a 30% federal tax credit, meaning 30% of the cost of solar equipment can be deducted from the tax bill for any size installation, homeowners to corporations.

Michigan has more than three dozen utility-sized solar installations, but the nearest is Traverse City. The trends are: • The solar fields are spreading from areas of high solar radiation, like the southwest, to areas of less solar radiation like Michigan • Solar trackers are being included in 80% of new installations; even one dimensional tracking is cost effective • In big projects the cost of installation has fallen steadily • Price of the electricity produced has fallen dramatically • Battery storage options are increasingly discussed

Source: https://emp.lbl.gov/utility-scale-solar/

Solar Radiation at Ground Level

page 6 February 17, 2019 page 7 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Get your news at the Library! by Jolene Michaels In January, the library added subscriptions to several current newspapers. In addition to print versions of the Petoskey News Review, the Cheboygan Daily Tribune and the St Ignace News the library has subscribed to the Soo Evening News and USA Today. Because of the interesting activities going on in the State Legislature and the events surrounding Line 5, the library has subscribed to Gongwer News Service. This, digital only, news service covers everything that is happening in Lansing with the State Government. Gongwer can be accessed on the public computers at any of the library’s three branches. USA Today is also available on-line and can be accessed at all three branches. The print versions of the papers are on the round table to your left as you enter the main library.

The money for these resources comes from a trust left to us by Dr. Jack Detzler. This trust is enough to cover all of the library’s needs for books, newspapers, magazines, audio books and online e-book subscriptions thru Hoopla and Overdrive. His gift makes it possible for the library to have one of the best collections in Northern Michigan. We have also used some of the money to provide items for a Books and Blankets Program in partnership with the Mackinaw Woman’s Club. The program provides the book “I Want More Pizza”, about financial literacy, to high school seniors graduating from Mackinaw City and Pellston and provides books to the Mackinaw City Schools that replace tattered copies, completes series, or provides new books for students to read in the classroom.

We don’t know much about Dr. Detzler except that he lived in Mackinaw City in the summers when he was a boy and he used the library when it was located in the Mackinaw Woman’s Club building. He taught at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana where he retired. During his life he wrote at least seven books, mostly about the history of the South Bend, Indiana area. He never married and had no children. Dr. Jack Detzler February means we need to start thinking about taxes. If you need photocopies of forms or other tax documents, the library has a half-price sale for tax related printing and copying. Unfortunately, we haven’t received any federal or Michigan forms or books yet. If you are used to getting the forms from the library, keep checking back, stop in, or call 231-436- 5451. You can also email [email protected]

Remember we have other services available including, scan-to-email, one-on-one tech help, and there is a notary at the main library on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. February 17, 2019 page 8 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Music Students Earn High Awards

Congrats to all band students who competed in solo and ensemble this Saturday in Gaylord! All students played for judges, were scored according to how well they did, and received feedback and help from the judges.

The following earned a I, the highest reading you can get and are now eligible for state. Evan Duffin solo Samantha Somers solo Caroline Somers solo Samantha and Caroline duet Evan Duffin and Evan Cronk duet. The following earned a 2, Jaren Valot solo Evan Duffin, Jaren Valot, Evan Cronk and Rose Siebigteroth saxophone quartet. Good job all! Katie Anderson

From left to right, Evan Duffin, Jaren Valot, Evan Cronk, and Rose Siebigteroth performing their saxophone quartet for the judge

Mackinaw City’s e-team met and discussed possible uses for the Recreation Center from a Youth Center to Chamber events. Caroline Somers performing her flute solo page 8 February 17, 2019 page 9 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek Road Repairs and Car Insurance - Two of Whitmer’s Priorities

Some issues seem to suddenly appear in politics and average citizens, like me, wonder how we got where we are. Here is what Bridge Magazine says about the high cost of car insurance. Car insurance in Michigan is the most expensive in the nation.

National average $1,365 1 Michigan $2,239 2 Louisiana $2,126 3 Florida $2,050 4 Rhode Island $1,852 5 Connecticut $1,831 6 DC $1,827 7 California $1,731 8 Georgia $1,668 9 Delaware $1,646 10 Texas $1,589

The unlimited personal injury coverage that is required on every insurance policy is the cause. “The average cost of a Michigan auto injury claim is over five times higher than the next highest state.” The Bridge Magazine article goes on to state, “Premiums that were once dominated by the cost of repairing vehicles are now swamped by the growing cost of treating injured drivers and passengers.” Since the year 2000 the cost of repairing a car has dropped 6% while the cost of fixing a person has tripled.

Why can’t we fix it? “Despite mounting pressure, breaking the impasse will be difficult. Past efforts have failed to yield a compromise among powerful groups that lobby on behalf of the insurance industry, medical providers and trial attorneys — all of which have built businesses around Michigan’s no-fault system and are among the state’s largest campaign contributors.” Bridge Magazine Feb. 11, 2019 Where does Michigan get money for roads?

Bridge Magazine gives this report. “Three taxes are charged on the sale of gasoline — a federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon (24.4 cents for diesel), a state gas tax of 26.3 cents per gallon and the state sales tax of 6 percent.” MDOT

February 17, 2019 page 10 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek 25 YEARS AGO February 1994

Headlines in February 1994 were about the weather. It had been cold and the ground was frozen deeper than in a long time. As a result water lines were bursting and the village entered an extended period of “LET THE WATER RUN” to keep both the water and the sewer from freezing. This went on until the middle of April. In January 1994 we had 22.35 inches of snow, the coldest had been -22 with wind chills hitting -80 three days in January with 15 days below zero, 2 days where it never got over zero, and 7 days with winds over 40 MPH.

The village council moved to sell land on the south side of W. Central Ave., across from the cemetery, to developer Thomas Mannausa for low and moderate income housing. The plan would include 12 elderly units, 23 family units, one manager’s apartment, community/office building and laundry facilities. A public hearing was scheduled.

If the weather was cold the politics were hot. Two candidates were running for village president: Paul Desy and Bill Bertchinger. At “Meet the Candidate,” night sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the topics were low wages, a shortage of housing, need for water and sewer service to the west side of town, and tax abatements to draw business.

February was the month for Mackinaw Mush and Snowmobile Drag Races on Carp Lake. Mush drew 3,000 spectators, 90 dog teams, and Hobo Jim.

Proposal A and school funding, upcoming ballot issues, were discussed. The plan would raise the state’s sales tax to 6% and triple the tax on cigarettes to 75¢. It would decrease the state income tax from 4.6% to 4.4%. But in the long run the biggest effect was to limit property assessment increases to the inflation rate or a maximum of 5% a year. It is this provision that has caused so much financial strain on municipalities in Michigan since the 2008 recession. The Proposition was one of two methods proposed to fund Michigan schools since the legislature abolished funding through property tax in July 1993 on the belief that it was unfair. Proposal A passed.

The Woman’s Club was celebrating its 80th birthday. Usually foregoing meetings in Jan., Feb., and March, this year they met in February (1994). Pat Wyman brought his police dog “Zeto” for a demonstration of his skill for finding missing persons.

The village bought a new Crown Victoria police car for $14,756.

A very old police car with Police officer Helius (John) Swantek and Bob Babcock (date unknown) page 10 February 17, 2019 page 11 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek 25 YEARS AGO Cold Outbreak of January 1994 Here is the official National Weather Service record (edited) of this nearly unprecedented cold outbreak in January 1994:

An arctic air mass of historic proportions settled over the state of Michigan during January 13 - 20. Low temperatures on the morning of the 19th reached near all-time record low levels nearly statewide as readings of 20 to 40 below zero were quite common. The all-time record low for the state of Michigan was challenged on January 19th with Amasa, Michigan coming in with a remarkably low temperature of -53 F surpassing the old record of -51 F. Unfortunately, this reading can not become an official state record low since the thermometer site was too close to the observer's house!

At Detroit, this was the second longest stretch of below zero temperatures in its recorded weather history. The temperature was below zero for 57 consecutive hours! The combination of the high and low temperatures gave a mean temperature of 12 below zero, that made the 19th of January, 1994 the coldest day in Detroit weather history!

If you think that is cold, consider Marquette. It had seven days continuously below zero! The lowest temperature was 27 below zero on the 19th. Sault Ste Marie fell to 29 below on the 15th.

Strong winds with the snow and record cold temperatures combined to cause numerous problems across the state. On Wednesday the 19th, over 300 schools across the state were closed because the very low wind chills. Michigan State University closed on the 19th. This was only the fourth time in Michigan State University's history it closed due to weather. Detroit Edison, after just having set a record of daily power usage on the 6th of January, set another record on the 18th, with 7,237,000 kilowatts.

This made the problem of frozen water pipes in many areas even worse. Many areas, especially in the Upper Peninsula, had whole towns with frozen water pipes for over a week. Damage just from the frozen water pipes in the Upper Peninsula alone was estimated at over $2 million! Added to that was the cost of repairing downed power lines, lost school and work days, replacing damaged engine parts due to the extreme cold. Total damage costs easily exceed $5 million for the entire state! Many hospitals reported numerous cases of frozen lungs and frost bite. All in all, the arctic outbreak of January 1994 will not be soon forgotten.

February 17, 2019 page 12 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Safety Tips for Downed Power Lines

The Michigan Public Service Commission offers tips and resources for storm-related issues such as what to do if power goes out, proper use of supplemental heating sources indoors, and portable generator safety.

Stay at least 25 feet away from any lines on the ground and always assume they are live. Call 911 or your local utility to report downed power lines.

If you lose power, contact your local provider by phone or online to report the outage. Be sure to tell the service provider if there is emergency medical equipment in the home. Unplug appliances and other devices to prevent electrical overload when power is restored.

Never use a portable generator indoors or in closed spaces because they give off dangerous carbon monoxide, which is odorless and colorless and can be deadly. When running generators outdoors, keep them away from house openings to keep carbon monoxide from entering a residence.

Electric ovens or stoves should never be used as a supplemental heating source. Fireplaces and kerosene heaters must be properly vented and oxygen depletion detectors need to be installed.

During crisis situations, be aware of utility imposters who are trying to take advantage. If a residential or commercial customer’s power is out for more than 120 hours, they may qualify for a credit on their bills. Customers should contact their electric utility. The MPSC’s Customer Assistance line is (800) 292-9555.

page 12 February 17, 2019 page 13 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Lunch is a time to catch up with friends, especially after what is it 11, 12 snow days?. Here Abigail Smith and Leilah Dominowski enjoy everything but the lettuce

It is hard to run a newspaper when you can’t get out. The drifts on the east side of town are horrendous. Can you see the 3-foot plow ridge at the foot of my drive?

February 17, 2019 page 14 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Linda Orlow is waiting for mail page 14 February 17, 2019 page 15 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek Winter of 2019 in Mackinaw City

February 17, 2019 page 16