FINAL THOUGHTS ON TUESDAY'S ELECTION

Post by **Gillespie** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:18 am

I have read, and posted, comments regarding the upcoming election and just want to mention one final time that I want to keep my position representing the island and mainland townships! If you read some of the bio information on other candidates or districts you will find that in our district, now remapped, one of the candidates is claiming that they will bring more peace and civility to the county board. That is not lacking with your local representative but it is a good claim to swing votes in someone else direction! I agressively pursue benefits for the island but there has to be balance. One of the candidates claims it costs too much to bring me over! Really? Our island collective SEV is 180 million dollars, does that mean we should be without a local representative? More than that I look at the entire picture, not just the island! I could spend a lot of time on this but I think it best that if you have questions post them here.

I can tell you this, if the island loses representation our county garage which desperately needs replacement and at the very least, Kings Highway, which desperately needs upgrading, will be pushed back! As it is to keep our place in rotation is critical and requires representation. Currently I am chairman of the Public Safety, Building and Grounds and Judicial Committee as well as a member of the Ironton Ferry Board and numerous other committees. We have gained ground and in a second term we can gain more and particularly in mutual respect for our mainland friends and neighbors.

There are candidates both Republican and Democrat in this Tuesday August 4th primary. I ask you to consider our best options! This is NOT about me, its about Beaver Island and Charlevoix County and I ask you to vote to keep that representation, it will reap benefits! Thank you all!

JFPowers · Post by **JFPowers** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:53 am

Richie,

Do you have any influence on what goes on at our Municipal Marina? I have tried for years to get the current township officials to get it on the DNR Web reservation system and they just won't listen. During a summer when marina space all over northwest michigan is at a premium, our dock sits half empty most of the summer.

It is no wonder that we have the WORST rated public marina in all of Northwest Michigan On ActiveCaptain.com

Here are some of the ratings:
Boyne City 5.0
Charlevoix 4.9
Mackinaw City 4.5
Masckinaw Island 4.2
Petoskey 4.1
St James Municipal Marina 3.7

At the last township meeting here the board ignored a well written letter by a concerned boater that was unable to successfully reserve 3 slips at our marina. I know of several other similar incidents some that have recently occurred and yet the current township officials ignore the constructive criticism.

I hope you have some influence in your second term to do something about this.

The only person that has shown me any concern of this subject is Bill Haggard and that is why I am voting for him tomorrow!!

CB Paradise · Post by **CB Paradise** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:07 am

This is not a new problem. Boater friends of mine would jump at going to Beaver Island while on a vacation sail but will not because they can not reserve a space in the public marina. Beaver Island is in a location that if you get there and no slips are available, you are out of luck. The problem is and I have told them this, that spaces are available with the exception of the Mac Race.
It is lost revenue for everyone and lost opportunity for increased boater enjoyment.

CB

medic5740 · Post by **medic5740** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 3:09 pm

This has been discussed time and time again at the St James Board Meetings. You can view the minutes at this link:

http://beaverislandnews.com/St%20James% ... 202007.htm

There has even been some plans to do some reservations, but you will have to get the info from the link above.

Joe Moore, editor BINN

Chamber of Commerce · Post by **Chamber of Commerce** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:16 pm

Beaver Island Municipal Marina is currently operating a reservation system.

Beaver Island Marine has had a reservation system for over a decade.

Contact information for both can be found here:

http://www.beaverisland.org/transportation/index.html

Best wishes from Beaver Island to all potential visitors.

CB Paradise · Post by **CB Paradise** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:51 pm

Good information. I went to the Chamber's site and then over to the Marina's webpage and couldn't find any mention of reservations being available or a means to book them on either site. Did I miss something?
Thank you.

CB

JFPowers · Post by **JFPowers** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 6:40 pm

http://www.midnrreservations.com/SearchHarborPark.aspx

Above is the link to the marina reservations. One of the major problems here is no one with marina usage experience oversees the municipal marina operation. Last year a part time harbor master was fired because he brought a computer to work to assist boaters who asked for internet based assistance for their boating and weather related needs.

If anyone wants a copy of the letter that was sent by a concerned marina user who has visited countless marinas in the great lakes; a letter the current township supervisor described as a "baseless claim", please email me at jfpowers@tds.net and I will be glad and send it to you.

The letter is actually very clear and explains in detail situations that have been repeated many times in the past, and since the township board has now emboldened the actions of their harbor master they will likely go on in the future.

sailorman · Post by **sailorman** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:57 pm

I tried searching as Paradise did. The Chamber of Commerce indicated they did, but I could not find the reservation site. Was the Chamber confused? Powers offered a link which was great, but no public DNR Beaver Island Marina popped up. You must need to call? There is a phone # published, but I know there is an internet service on BI. I was hoping that the internet would work to reserve a spot.

Post by **Gillespie** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:18 pm

Again I would very much appreciate the vote of all who can participate. I have to leave here right after voting in the morning for a meeting in Mackinac City as backup liaison to the road commission. It is very important to stay in contact with these people for our best interests! That meeting will break up at noon and then back to Charlevoix to make contacts for the election and then back home. Back over Wednesday for 3 meetings! Busy times but necessary. Thank you all again!!

treehugger · Post by **treehugger** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 7:56 am

Me thinks in Peaine township's election there might be a closet republican on the democratic ballot.

BI Pirate · Post by **BI Pirate** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:08 am

Richie -
You have done your job and very well. Now it is our time to do our job and vote, vote to keep you in office representing the island's interest in Charlevoix. You are our voice and it shows in results.
I voted for you this morning and hope to vote a couple more times before heading back to Whiskey Island.
Speaking of Whiskey Island, we don't take no stinking reservations either and things work out well for me. Come visit but don't be looking for any slips or dockage.

Skull&CrossBones

BI Pirate · Post by **BI Pirate** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:16 am

I forgot to mention that if you come to visit Whiskey Island, bring your gold and silver, I don't take credit cards

Skull&CrossBones

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:21 am

I have heard of several instances of people wanting to bring boats to the Island and stay at the Munincipal Marina, but wouldn't because there was no reservatyion system. They didn't want to travel a long distance only to find there are no slips. Understandable. This was supposed to have been corrected last year. Are we going to continue to shoot ourselves in the foot economically by not providing something as simple as a reservation system? I see no mention of reservations here on the Chamber site or the State marina site. Do we really want to turn people away and then complain about the economy? C'mon this is a no brainer. Use a reservation system.

CB Paradise · Post by **CB Paradise** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:23 pm

Thank you Brad for the affirmation. I couldn't find a link or any mention of a reservation system with the Chamber or Marina. How can they say there has been a reservation system for a decade if no one can find it or use it? I'm not saying there isn't one but if there is it is not user friendly. It doesn't help anyone including the economy. Maybe someone can clarify how it works.

CB

CB Paradise · Post by **CB Paradise** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 3:57 pm

Good to know that you can book reservations in advance at the public marina. People will just have to figure it out on their own that reservations can't be booked online thru the DNR like all other public marinas. The Chamber and the Marina might want to indicate reservations are possible but not by computer so people know to call the Chamber or Marina number to book.
Thanks for the clarification.

CB

Beaver Island Michigan

FINAL THOUGHTS ON TUESDAY'S ELECTION

FINAL THOUGHTS ON TUESDAY'S ELECTION

Reservations