Houghton City Council selects participants for pre-charrette workshop
Just a couple of noteworthy things in the last Houghton City Council Meeting; incremental movements in ongoing issues.
I was able to boost and scrub the audio from the botched recording. I found my error and it shouldn’t happen again, but I apologize for the delay and the below-par sound quality. It’s not up to standards, I’ll do better.
City Manager’s Report - City Manager Eric Waara gives the council an update on the recent and upcoming goings-on in the city. It starts at about the 8-minute mark. He typically includes ‘10 good things’ toward the end, which is kind of nice, too.
Pre-Charrette Workshop Participants - The council selected who among themselves and who from the members of the public that applied will participate in the upcoming workshop moving toward creating an inclusive process for development in Houghton. The discussion and vote start at about the 31:30 mark.
Rules of Order Discussion - An ongoing discussion about altering the council’s rules of order was continued with a brief subcommittee report and request for more information. The discussion starts just before the 34-minute mark.
Ontonagon pursues federal MERS relief, approves more sidewalk dining
A full Council was present as well as Interim Manager William DuPont at the Ontonagon Village Council’s May 24 meeting.
DuPont reported that the village currently owes the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) $139,563.76. The village will manage to make the Feb. 20 payment of $35,400 within the next 30 days. DuPont also added that the possibility of receiving funds from the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Relief Act is being pursued. On March 11, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, President Biden signed the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Relief Act into law. The law will preserve and restore the pensions of more than one million retirees and workers in an estimated 200-225 severely underfunded multi-employer pension plans.
Another restaurant in the village, the UP North Cafe has made an application to conduct sidewalk dining on River Street. The necessary insurance and other required permits are in place.
In the ‘new business’ portion of the meeting, the following items were discussed and acted upon:
• Resolution 2021-14: A resolution to designate May as Motorcycle Awareness Month in the Village of Ontonagon was approved. This resolution would call attention to motorcycle and moped traffic from this time forward during the month of May in recognition of the increase in two-wheel traffic in the village.
The local ABATE organization supports this resolution and the council wishes it to be known that motorcyclists are welcome in Ontonagon
• River’s Edge Boat Rental: A request from Bryan Hamilton and Donna Nethery to use the former State Police Post and JJ’s Tackle Shack Building near the marina as a base for their boat rental business. Plans are to also offer kayaks and canoes and the sale of fishing tackle and other recreational items. The matter was referred to the Building Committee to work out the details.
• Heritage Antiques Request: Penny Jilbert and Pattie Roehm propose to hold a one-Saturday–a-month sale of antiques, or miscellaneous items, and homemade goodies on the vacant lot next to the current antique store location. The first sale date was scheduled for May 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Permission to also use the adjoining former site of the Wagar Restaurant which was demolished last fall, was requested.
There will be no fees charged to sellers. It is to be considered something of a flea-market/garage sale enterprise.
• The Ontonagon Eagle’s Club #2239 requested the closure of the street in front of the lodge building in order to provide for outside street dancing, once a week or on the occasion of special events. As this is not a state road, no road closure permit is necessary, however, proof of liability insurance will be required.
• County Road Commission offer: Some years ago the former SPEC building, which was built by the Ontonagon Village Downtown Development Authority, was sold to the Ontonagon County Road Commission for $75,000. A part of the purchase was an agreement that the village would receive $50,000 in cash and $25,000 in services to extend Giesau Avenue through to the Rockland Road thus connecting M-38 to US 45.
The street extension has not been undertaken and instead, the County Road Commission is prepared to simply pay the Village $25,000 in cash and terminate the commitment to extend the street.
The matter was tabled in order to review the contract. The road was to be put through by 2021.
• Kori Weisinger rehiring: Weisinger had resigned as Village Clerk and Treasurer in the fall of 2020 and William DuPont was hired to replace her effective Jan. 1. In the meantime, Weisinger had been retained on a part-time basis to continue serving as clerk until DuPont was available to assume his new duties and then continued to work part-time until DuPont became familiar with his new duties.
Subsequently, then-Village Manager Joseph Erickson was discharged and DuPont was retained as interim viIlage manager and Weisinger continued part-time as clerk on a contract basis.
Weisinger has now completed college coursework and is now available to resume full-time employment with the village, adding, “With the amount of items we are trying to correct and move forward on, I have been working nearly full time since March. I can’t see leaving the village when we are moving forward in such a positive way.”
The Personnel Committee, all of whom were present, were in agreement to recommend reinstating Weisinger’s full-time status and this was carried on a roll call.
• Housing Commission Vacancy and Appointment: The Village Housing Commission has had a vacancy for some months. The housing commission, which oversees the operation of the Cane Court federally subsidized housing complex in the Village, consists of five commissioners who are appointed by the village council.
Currently, the Housing Commission consists of President Rich Ernest, Dorothy Phillips, Robert Seid, and Steven Maass.
An application was received from Danielle Reath of White Pine for an appointment to the vacancy. It was moved and approved to appoint Reath to the Village Housing Commission.
• An inquiry from a council about the severance benefits to be paid to the former village manager was explained. As Erickson was terminated without cause, he is entitled to specific benefits which could be a total of $81,910.36, which includes insurance, however, if Erickson secures paid benefits from other employment, these costs could be less.
Hancock City Council approves service contracts, grant agreements
The Hancock City Council meeting this week was pretty routine, but there were still a couple of highlights worth mentioning. You can view the agenda and board information packet through the link below.
Above is the recording of the entire meeting, but the only parts that are particularly worth hearing are the city manager’s report, and Councilor Ron Blau’s plug for the upcoming Guts Frisbee Tournament.
City Manager Mary Babcock’s report - This is the report the manager gives to the council at every meeting and is a great way of finding out what’s been happening and what’s on the horizon. It starts about six minutes into the above video if you want to skip to it there.
Councilor Ron Blau on Guts Frisbee - I only interact with Councilor Blau at these meetings, but I’ve never seen him more excited about something than this. It’s at about the 37-minute mark. You can also peruse the Official Guts Frisbee website.
Legistlative Update, May 2021
Sen. Ed McBroom
Email: SenEMcBroom@senate.michigan.gov
Phone: 866-305-2038
Sponsored bills introduced:
Senator Ed McBroom introduced three bills during the month of May.
Senate Bill 443 - This bill would require the secretary of state to develop a license plate that featured the outline of the Upper Peninsula, and offer that license plate to vehicle owners. The proceeds from the specialty fundraising plate would go to the Great Lakes Sports Commission. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, led by Sen. Tom Barrett(R).
//I might actually need to find someone to explain this one to me. The Headlee Amendment is already near-incomprehensible. From what I can discern, the bill is intended to more clearly define what an unfunded mandate from the state is, and create a legal path for municipalities to hold the state accountable for not meeting those obligations.
An excerpt from S.B. 449
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Oversight, led by Sen. McBroom himself.
Senate Bill 486 - This bill would require that all members of the Wolf Management Advisory Council be residents of the Upper Peninsula, until such time that tracking finds a wolf population in the Lower Peninsula. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, of which Sen. McBroom is the chairperson, and has already been reported back to the Senate.
Sen. McBroom also offered an amendment to Senate Bill 90 which would require the state to pay the legal fees of Enbridge if the company wins the lawsuit currently being fought over Line 5. The bill passed the Senate along party lines with Republicans in support, but the Senate unanimously voted against a substitute approved by the House which only budgeted $100.
//A full list of Sen. McBroom’s sponsored legislation is available on legislature.mi.gov.
Votes of note:
May was a full month of legislative sessions, and there were many, many votes in the Senate. Many of them were for appropriations and spending. Below I’ve highlighted votes on items you may have seen elsewhere in the news, or that you might expect to see soon.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed legislation that Sen. McBroom proposed. Senate Bill 118, to reduce the sanctions on schools that hire staff that doesn’t meet licensure mandates, passed the Senate and House unanimously before being signed by the governor on May 19.
Another bill from Sen. McBroom may also be destined for the governor’s desk soon. Senate Bill 400, which would allow for the expungement of a first drunk driving offense under some conditions, passed the Senate 35-1 and the House 91-18, where Rep. Greg Markkanen also supported it. It needs another concurring vote from the Senate before heading to Gov. Whitmer.
Sen. McBroom voted in favor of Senate Bill 428, which would ban the state or local health department from requiring children under the age of 5 to wear a mask.
Sen. McBroom supported the recently-vetoed legislation that would have exempted high school graduation ceremonies from state pandemic restrictions.
Senate Bill 457, to ban requirements for minors to get vaccinated under emergency orders, also received a stamp of approval from Sen. McBroom. The bill is now in the House.
Sen. McBroom supported House Bill 4448, which prohibits the limiting of open records disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act during emergencies, as was done for two months in 2020. The bill was forwarded to the governor and vetoed.
In an interestingly split vote, Sen. McBroom and six other Republican senators voted against the rest of their party and Senate Bill 429. The bill would establish a state permit mandate for sand and gravel mining that would preempt locally imposed restrictions and mandates. It passed the Senate, 19-17. Sen. McBroom also opposed two related bills, Senate Bills 430 and 431.
Sen. McBroom is also among the majority who support making county commissioner terms four years instead of two, with Senate Bills 242 and 245, having sponsored SB 242 himself.
Rep. Greg Markkanen
Email: GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov
Phone: 517-373-0850
Sponsored bills introduced:
House Bill 4788 - This bill would create a process for putting term limits on elected village officers through a ballot initiative. It’s been referred to the House Committee on Elections and Ethics, led by Rep. Ann Bollin.
House Bill 4748 - This bill waives the written driver’s license test in addition to the skills test for “an individual with military commercial motor vehicle experience…” It’s been referred to the House Committee on Transportation, which is led by Rep. Jack O’Malley.
House Bills 4806 and 4807 - These bills revise the law that prescribes the steps and requirements to acquire easements under condemnation to install power lines. More specifically, it changes the definition of who can undertake the process.
//I’m not sure of the significance of this, but it must be important to someone for Rep. Markkanen to spend time on it.
The bill has now been forwarded to the House Committee on Energy, led by Rep. Joe Bellino.
//A full list of Rep. Markkanen’s sponsored legislation is available at legislature.mi.gov.
Votes of note:
Rep. Markkanen cast more than 100 votes in May, many of them on budget and appropriations bills. The following are votes that stand out.
Rep. Markkanen voted with the rest of the House to pass House Bill 4591, which would prevent the state from entering severance and confidentiality agreements similar to the one entered with former MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. The bill has been sent to the Senate, and is now in the Senate Committee on Oversight, chaired by Sen. McBroom.
Rep. Markkanen voted in favor of the newsmaking House Bill 4728, which would have exempted high school graduation ceremonies from pandemic restrictions had it not been vetoed by Gov. Whitmer.
Rep. Markkanen also supported House Bill 4001, which expands the conflict of interest rules to prohibit members of the legislature from voting on an issue in which they have a personal or professional interest. It passed the House 105-3 and is now in the Senate Committee on Government Operations, led by Sen. Mike Shirkey.
Rep. Markkanen supported House Bill 4293, which would add substitute teacher jobs to the things teachers’ unions cannot bargain over. The bill passed 56-52 and is now in the Senate Committee on Education and Career Readiness, led by Sen. Lana Theis.
Rep. Markkanen was one of the 62 representatives that support House Bill 4667, which prohibits the creation or issuing (or even the incentivization to use) a “vaccination passport.” The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Health Policy and Human Services, led by Sen. Curtis VanderWall.
The 2nd Annual ORV Waterfall Adventure
Before we get to the photos, a little background.
I was given a special invite to go on this trip, and rather than focus on writing a story with interviews, I decided to focus on photos and video.
Rather than write a formally-styled story like usual, I’m going to place as much information as I can in the photo captions.
Ontonagon Village approves sidewalk dining, sewer line correction
At their May 10 meeting, the Ontonagon Village Council approved Syl’s Cafe for sidewalk dining this year again. Last year the outdoor dining saw good use and the restaurant wants to offer it again this year. Approved dates are May 25 to Sept. 6.
Interim Manager William DuPont presented a brief report and update, in part, as follows:
• The documents for the forthcoming audit are due on June 1, and the interim manager foresees no problem in gathering this information on time. The audit is expected to be completed by July 1. DuPont reaffirmed that his priority is to have the village’s financials where they need to be. Council can expect to receive relative financial statements by July 1 and every month thereafter.
• One more auditor’s finding, as reported in the 3/31/2020 audit has been addressed but DuPont reported; “We are still bogged down in issues that we have frequently uncovered but once we get through these, we will make solid progress.”
DuPont added; “I feel good about the direction the village is heading and we will do our very best to resolve any outstanding issues.”
It was moved by Councilor Donald Chastan to approve the Interim Manager’s report and carried.
The Village of Clinton had sent a letter dated March 10 inviting the Village of Ontonagon to become a participant in a class action suit against the mandate of the State of Michigan to require municipalities to pay for replacement of specified water lines on private property. They claim this is contrary to General Law Village Charter.
If the legislature is unwilling to change the law(s) involved it may be necessary to take legal action against the State of Michigan. Ontonagon was asked to pledge $2,500 as a share in the legal costs of such a suit. At issue was whether or not it is legal for one municipality to donate to another community to carry on litigation of this nature.
In the opinion of the Michigan Municipal League, this would be quite legal and further more the MML would like to see this matter considered by the courts. The village was advised, however, to consult with its local attorney if there is any uncertainty in the regard.
A recent communication from the Village of Clinton updates the matter in their taking a “different route.” Further action was tabled until matters develop further.
Two bids had been received for installation of the new lift station on Tin Street, as follows:
Northland Electric, $125,531
FA Industrial Services, $187,166
The review of the bids by GEI (engineers) found that both bidders satisfied the requirements. It was recommended that the contract for the 2021 Tin Street Lift Station be awarded to Northland Electric.
It was moved by Councilor Mike Rebholz to accept the Northland Electric bid for the amount listed and this was carried.
A proposal by GEI was considered, in response to the questionable installation of sewer service for the Kulis residence on Gorman Avenue. The project had been authorized by the former manager but was not supervised by a certified engineer and the property owner whose parcel the new sewer line was to serve had serious doubts about the installation. After investigating the situation, the interim manager recommended correcting the problem. GEI Consultants presented a proposal to provide professional engineering services to install 300 feet of 8” sewer main. This is for the design work only and not for the actual construction. The project could total up to $15,000.
It was moved by Trustee Elmer Marks to make matters right by approving the GEI contract for the Gorman Avenue sewer line installation and this was supported by Sarah Hopper and carried.
The US Coast Guard will be holding a free boat inspection on May 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the marina pavilion.
Rebholz reported that he has applied for three sizeable grants:
-Marina Travel Lift: $373,725.00
-Turnout gear washing for the fire department $ 16,134.00
-Rescue truck also for the fire department, $227,995.00
Local campgrounds and parks face new stresses, some opportunities
“Welcome to the Beaver Lodge Trail at the Bob Lake Campground, please surrender all dog treats and remember to hike safely!”
Wally investigates some mysterious honking at Bob Lake Campground in the Ottawa National Forest. Photo courtesy of Trail Mutt Reports
Gromit, Wally, Sandy and Arlyn Aronson have been working on the trails together since 2017. Wally wasn’t born until that year, but he’s a full-grown member of the family now, and contributes just as much as Gromit, who started in 2011.
Gromit and Wally are, of course, the canine friends of spouses Sandy and Arlyn, but their perspective takes the forefront on Aronson's blog, ‘Trail Mutt Reports’.
They started the blog as a way to show people how great it is to have a trained, well-mannered dog.
“Almost all the photos are set up,” Aronson said. “The dogs are trained”
Aronson said if they aren’t told to stay in one place, they’d be nothing but a blur on the camera most of the time.
Wally says, “Welcome to the Beaver Lodge Trail at the Bob Lake Campground, part of the Ottawa National Forest. Please surrender all dog treats and savory meats and remember to hike safely!” Photo courtesy of Trail Mutt Reports
He thinks good training is important for a dog to be happy and healthy plus, “If they’re polite… they’re a lot more adorable.”
Both Wally and Gromit are social and like to be touched, but they’re trained not to jump at people. Aronson said Wally will greet people but quickly wanders off. Gromit, who’s getting older, is a bit different.
“She’s a leaner,” Aronson said.
That is to say, she’ll stand on your foot and lean against you until you pay attention to her.
For several years now, the little group has voluntarily taken care of some National Forest Service camps and trails in the area, with a particular fondness for the Bob Lake and Lake Ste Kathryn campgrounds inside the Ottawa National Forest. They visited Bob Lake at the beginning of the month.
Arlyn Aronson clearing a deadfall at Bob Lake Campground. Photo courtesy of Trail Mutt Reports
“Bob Lake is kind of a small campground,” Aronson said. “Now it’s really pretty because there’s no leaves and you can see things.”
There’s a boat ramp, tent and trailer campsites, vault toilets, and a hand pump for drinking water. It’s maintained through a subcontractor, Calderwood Services, rather than directly by the National Forest Service.
There’s also a 1.2-mile long hiking trail, the Beaver Lodge Interpretive Trail.
“And that’s what we keep cleared for the Forest Service,” Aronson said.
At the Lake Ste Kathryn Campground, they care for the roughly 3-mile long Deer Marsh Interpretive Trail.
Aronson said they step up to do this work voluntarily because even though the NFS is responsible for taking care of the trails, they don’t have the budget or workforce to maintain them.
“It’s not really the Forest Service’s fault,” he said.
While legislators and even local organizations like to establish new trails, it’s less attention-grabbing to devote money to maintaining older ones. Maintenance projects that the forest service staff can’t do and they can’t afford to hire out will go on a deferred maintenance list. Aronson said small trails like the Beaver Lodge and Deer Marsh trails can fall to the bottom of that list, so they step in to care for them.
”We are always enthusiastic about volunteers,” Kate Salm said.
Salm is the Public Affairs Officer for the Ottawa National Forest. She said that last summer saw a definite boost to the use of ONF campgrounds, with even normally empty campgrounds full many weekends and dispersed camping also on the rise. There were more requests for printed material like maps, and collected campground fees were higher.
Also, due to pandemic precautions, many campground amenities were unavailable, including toilets.
“There were some sanitation issues,” Salm said.
(I let her leave it at that.)
This year, campgrounds opened on May 14.
“It already seems to be that it’s going to be another very busy summer,” Salm said.
Preparation for extra visitors is pretty minimal according to Salm, but the wealth of deferred maintenance in the national parks system is starting to be addressed.
Last year’s passage of the Great American Outdoors Act means billions of dollars will be spent on maintenance projects inside national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges in the next five years, including on deferred maintenance inside the Upper Peninsula’s nationally managed properties.
Work has already begun at the Black River Harbor Recreation area. Bridge and dock replacements and work to the parking lot and entrance are underway there, according to Salm.
“That should be done in a couple of weeks,” she said.
They’re also updating the Courtney Lake Campground to be equine-friendly.
“This will be the only horse campground on the Ottawa,” Salm said.
So far, nine projects inside the Ottawa National Forest have been funded by the GAOA, which Salm said will cover a significant portion of the deferred maintenance there. Some projects are more labor-intensive than others. Inside wilderness areas, trail workers aren’t allowed to use mechanized equipment.
“So everything that’s going to be done in there is going to be done by hand,” Salm said.
Wally enjoys a sunset sit by the lake. Photo courtesy of Trail Mutt Reports
To the north, at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, park managers aren’t as fortunate, with no extra federal funding to help with the maintenance of public facilities.
“It’s the crush of tourism versus the money that is there to supply the amenities,” Grant Township Supervisor Scott Wendt said. “Most of the parks in Grant Township are run by the township.”
Grant Township covers the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, including Copper Harbor and Bete Grise. The official population during the 2010 census was 219, but Wendt estimates the year-round population is around 100. Some days of last summer, Grant Township saw up to an estimated 5,000 visitors. As restaurants capitalized on takeout food, the need for public garbage collection spiked. The only public toilet in Copper Harbor is also maintained by the township.
“We’re being overrun in all aspects,” Wendt said.
While the township sees many visitors to its parks, most are fully public, and so the only revenue the township collects is through property taxes. They don’t receive sales tax or use fees, and the shops that visitors buy most of their gear at aren’t local either, so they don’t have much retail property to collect taxes from either.
Additionally, Wendt says the distance from population centers like Calumet, Hancock, and Houghton means that help can be hard to find even when they can pay for it.
“I have one open position right now that I’ve been unable to fill,” Wendt said. “Just getting warm bodies is difficult.”
When properties go up for sale in the community, they’re often bought by people who want to live there seasonally or operate a short-term rental unit rather than live in the area full-time, Wendt said.
Wendt just entered his role as township supervisor a few weeks ago and said he’s still getting a handle on the problems and possible solutions there. One thing he did immediately is to make an agreement for increased police presence in the area, particularly on weekends.
Grommit likes to sit on feet and lean against legs. Photo courtesy of Trail Mutt Reports
“We couldn’t wait until next year,” he said.
One place that seems to be weathering the increased traffic quite well is the Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary.
“It’s got all kinds of stuff and it’s close to Copper Harbor,” Dickie Selfe said.
“And people have a long-standing love of that place,” Cindy Selfe, his wife, said.
The Selfe’s are volunteer stewards at Estivant Pines. They said that they’ve been seeing increased traffic there even before the pandemic started, although there’s no way to track exact numbers. Two years ago, the donation box near the trailhead was “stuffed”. Even during winter, snowshoers and skiers leave donations. They said that during the pandemic the donations didn’t come in as much, “but people were struggling.”
Dickie and Cindy have been stewards there for just a handful of years.
“There’s a long history of Copper Country support for that preserve,” Cindy said.
Donations pay for needed materials and services, but much of the work is done by volunteers and work parties organized by the Michigan Nature Association. They spread gravel, fix boardwalks, cut back brush, and more.
“It’s a huge volunteer effort that goes back in time, but also spreads out right now to many members of the community because they love that place,” Cindy said.
Last summer the extra traffic was noticed, but not too much on the trail.
“The trail itself is pretty hardened,” Dickie said. “So that part isn’t problematic.”
However, informational pamphlets at the trailhead were disappearing much faster, and so was toilet paper in the outhouse. Volunteers planned extra trips to the site to replenish supplies. The pit toilet had to be pumped out for the first time in 15 years, the couple said.
The road to and from the trailhead also required some extra attention.
“Keweenaw County has done a fantastic job of that the last couple years,” Dickie said.
The Selfes say haven’t noticed a problem with litter or vandalism with the increased traffic. They think people take care of their own garbage in the sanctuary, and some people go out of their way to take care of others’ garbage, too. They haven’t seen any tracks from bikes, which aren’t allowed on these trails. On the other hand, dogs are allowed on the trails.
“And I’ve never seen any ‘sign’ for dogs on the trail as I’ve walked,” Dickie said.
Cindy said that is the kind of thing that gives her hope for the future; To see places like Estivant Pines well-preserved and long-surviving.
Area businesses putting community, staff above ease and profit
Pulling into Ontonagon on Wednesday, the roads were wide but empty. Empty roadside parking lined the street in front of the village businesses. Until I got near the end of the street. For almost a block in either direction, cars filled the parking in front of Syl’s Cafe.
David and Deanna Morin after their lunch at Syl’s Cafe. Behind them, the photography of Bryan Byrnes adorns the walls. Photo by Joshua Vissers
“Syl’s is our social event,” David Morin said.
David sat at a table near the window with his wife Deanna and Wanda McKay having lunch.
They’ve ordered takeout regularly during shutdowns as well as the tourist season--to keep away from the vacationers. Now that it’s an off-season, they were happy to feel safe coming back to the dining room. David called Syl’s Cafe a lifeline of Ontonagon through the pandemic. He said Kathy Wardynski, the owner, has an eye for hiring good staff.
“The kids that work here are just outstanding,” he said.
The Morins even started going to some of the local ball games to cheer for the girls who waited on them. Wardynski says she hires as much as a quarter of the local senior class.
Linda, who declined to give her last name, said she didn’t like the pandemic regulations, but came out to support Syl’s Cafe, and got takeout regularly, especially the Friday night salmon.
“I think they’ve handled it really, really well, I think they’ve outdone themselves,” Linda said.
The group also really appreciated the outdoor dining that was set up for the first time.
“She took care of tourism as well as her regular customers,” Sandy Morin, sitting with Linda, said.
They complimented Wardynski’s creativity in adding new menu items, like breakfast bowls and a weekly Chinese food night. They were also supportive of the way she took care of her staff.
One of Joseph Del Real’s arrangements on a table at Syl’s Cafe. Photo by Joshua Vissers
“Which is wonderful, and lots of people didn’t, which is so sad.”
Wardynski’s care for her staff didn’t start or stop with the pandemic. Her core staff is full-time with retirement and paid vacation benefits. She hires college and high school students part-time to handle tourism seasons and fill in the rest of the regular schedule.
When the pandemic struck, she was able to keep all the full-time staff on part-time, and secured government assistance for them to cover the lost wages.
Kristy Strauch has worked at Syl’s Cafe “off and on for probably 12/13 years.”
She jumps back and forth between working in the kitchen and serving tables.
“Kathy is one of the best bosses that we could have,” Strauch said. “She has taken care of us through all this.”
Joseph Del Real, one of the cooks, also makes silk flower arrangements. When Syl’s Cafe reopened with social distancing restrictions, Wardynski partnered with him to decorate the blocked-off tables with flowers. He said the extra exposure hasn’t helped much yet but hopes it will as the pandemic eases and people feel safe spending more money again.
Melissa Preiss, who has worked at Syl’s for about ten years, said they’re staying pretty busy, despite the seating restrictions. She said a lot of the locals are still coming out, even though snowmobilers aren’t around as much this year.
Dawson Pollard works the grill at Syl’s Cafe. Photo by Joshua Vissers
It has also been a little more difficult interacting with even the nice customers.
“When I smile, they would smile,” Preiss said.
Now that they can’t see her face, she says she talks with her hands a little more.
Preiss has also had to deal with some customers not wanting to comply with pandemic regulations.
“There are definitely some people that give you a hard time,” she said. “Don’t want to fill out the papers, won’t wear the mask…”
She said while it’s been hard to deal with, Wardynski has always helped out with difficult customers.
“We’re just happy to be back open and have our locals back,” Preiss said. “And we are ready for whatever is next.”
Stephanie Ferrard has worked at Syl’s Cafe for about five years now. She said that initially, the pandemic was really scary.
“You know, just not knowing,” Ferrard said.
Once the lockdown opened up in the summer, she said things bounced back fast.
“It was the most-wildest, crazy summer we have ever worked,” Ferrard said.
She said it was hard to keep up with impatient, “hangry” people while also keeping up with extra cleaning and sanitation steps.
“And then we closed up again,” Ferrard said. “We went down to take-out only after that, because the numbers went up.”
Kathy Wardynski
At 25% capacity, they had to create a waiting list for many people, which was another thing for the servers to handle alongside their tables and sanitation.
She said when people argue with her about the rules, she tries not to let it bother her.
While we spoke in a booth, a customer nearby pushed back against Preiss about leaving contact tracing information.
“It just is what it is,” Ferrard said. “And we have to follow the rules and you know, try not to make a fuss about it.”
She said there are also customers who have been extra nice because they see those who aren’t.
Wardynski’s grandmother, Sylvia, opened Syl’s Cafe in 1972. When she decided to sell in the early 1990s, she offered it to her family first. Her daughters were grown and moved away and were busy with other things, but Wardynski and her husband were living downstate and looking for an opportunity to start their family closer to some of their grandparents.
“So on June 1, 1994, was my first official day as owner,” Wardynski said, “and I was 25 years old at the time.”
Wardynski has steered Syl’s Cafe through other economic troubles before. The nearby paper mill closed about ten years ago, and the highway, which used to run over a bridge down the block, was rerouted to a new bridge about half a mile away, too.
“So we used to have first crack at all of the snowmobilers that came into town because they would come across the bridge and be here,” Wardynski said.
When the bridge moved, Wardynski took a job at Michigan Technological University, and worked there for 12 years as the manager of purchasing and process improvement for dining services. It was there that she first realized the impact the pandemic would have.
“We got really lucky,” Wardynski said. “We were already planning to be closed.”
She was starting a renovation project about the same time as the pandemic regulations began. Wardynski called the sheriff and confirmed it would be okay for the three contractors to work during the shutdown. While Syl’s Cafe closed down, the staff worked out of the local golf course clubhouse, as they are also contracted to feed inmates at the Ontonagon County jail. Once it was allowed by regulations, they started serving curbside meals to customers out of the golf course kitchen, too.
Wardynski is developing a new menu that will be easier and faster for her waitstaff to sanitize between customers. She experimented with different packaging to improve the takeout dining experience. She bought a $1,000 electrostatic sprayer that mists with a sanitizing solution and they use that through the dining room every day.
A proof of Syl’s Cafe’s new menu. With a larger spiral binding, Wardynski anticipates her servers being able to slide a dowel through it, dunk it in sanitizer, and hanging it to dry. This will be a lot faster than wiping down each page one at a time. Photo by Joshua Vissers
“You can do the whole restaurant in like 10 minutes,” Wardynski said.
Syl’s Cafe is putting the work in but is still caught between trying to keep people safe and serve as many people as possible.
“It feels like you’re continually walking on a tightrope of just trying to do the right thing and keep employees safe,” Wardynski said. “I tell them, we wear a mask to keep us safe from you. Because we don’t want to be sick, and we all have families, and we have grandparents and different things. And so we’ve tried to do everything that we possibly could to keep everybody healthy, and not be the ones that spread it because my worst fear would be to be the one place that was identified as the super spreader place because of something that happened.”
Wardynski also recognizes how well-positioned her business has been. For instance, she pointed out there are no nearby drive-thru restaurants to compete with. The serendipitous planning of their renovation was also a lucky break. And because they’re a fair distance from the Wisconsin border, the more relaxed restrictions there didn’t poach her customers, either.
Syl’s Cafe is a stand-out, both in terms of precautions and successes, but a lot of other businesses and their employees in the area have been fighting the same fights with varying degrees of success.
Leanne Weeks, the manager of Swift’s Tru Value Hardware in Houghton, said she figured something serious was happening when they started checking people at the airport.
“Usually, the government doesn’t spend money to have a precautionary effort like that,” she said.
She kept a close eye on CDC and WUPHD guidelines after that and made every effort to follow them. Cleaning frequently-touched areas, requiring facemasks, instituting social distancing, and check-in and check-out procedures for staff. At first, masks were difficult to source, so they used painter’s masks and respirators off the shelf.
“We just tried our very best to make sure that we could help protect the community,” Weeks said.
After a year, she said a lot of the procedures have become “old-hat”. They also continue to provide curbside service for those who don’t want to come into the store.
Weeks said she appreciates the community support and the people who make the extra effort to shop at the store.
“It’s definitely not an easy time for anybody,” Weeks said.
Marilyn Swift, the store’s owner who was traveling to see family after being vaccinated, said in a text message, “Even when some didn’t want to wear masks in the store for whatever reason, we wanted to stay in business and felt that this had nothing to do with truth or lies. I obey the law. I follow rules. I believe in police and military. I fly the American Flag in front and in back of my business every day. I am proud to be an American and am grateful for all of my customers.”
Peg Kauppi and her husband have run The Mariner North in Copper Harbor for 44 years. They were traveling home from a wedding last March when they heard about an outbreak in the Boston airport.
“So we kind of knew something was going on,” Kauppi said.
The small size of Copper Harbor, with only about 100 year-round residents, made people feel safe initially, until they considered the scope of their business. Their guests travel from 42 different states, and Washington, D.C..
“We were like ‘Wow, we are as out there as any metropolitan area,” Kauppi said. “We felt very, very vulnerable.”
During the initial shutdown, they searched for guidelines to implement. They put up plexiglass screens, switched to individually-wrapped silverware, and more. They also didn’t reopen immediately after being allowed to, because their staff still felt exposed.
“And we knew we couldn’t make them do anything that we wouldn’t do ourselves,” Kauppi said.
When they did reopen, and diners didn’t honor the tables that were blocked off for social distancing, they decided to entirely remove those tables.
“We had to reinvent the whole thing,” Kauppi said.
Over the winter, when indoor dining was banned, The Mariner North hosted outdoor fire pits for their takeout customers to dine around. This allowed snowmobilers a chance to warm up and socialize even though they couldn’t eat inside around a table.
Kauppi said that while “95%” of their customers have been thankful for the extra precautions, a few have been “angry, and so rude”.
“Our staff has taken a huge amount of abuse,” Kauppi said.
Kauppi has had to postpone reopening for dine-in in part because they can’t find the staff to support it. Some staff have quit over the stress of the regulations and having to enforce them.
Despite the difficulty, Kauppi said she thinks The Mariner North and Copper Harbor as a whole has been fortunate through the pandemic and “weathered this pretty well”.
Jesse Hannon-Manderfield opened NV Salon in Houghton more than ten years ago, when she was 26. COVID-19 has hit her business hard, in no small part because she enforces the pandemic restrictions.
“We’ve lost quite a few people,” she said.
During the initial shutdown, NV Salon sent home its stylists, who aren’t technically employees but independent contractors. After the initial shutdown, the schedule filled up, but not everyone would comply with mask-wearing or social distancing policies.
“I’d have to say it so many times a day, ‘Can you please wear your mask appropriately?’” Hannon-Manderfield said.
Eventually, she took to asking people in advance of their appointments if they were alright with wearing their masks throughout the entire appointment. Not everyone was. Other people would show up for an appointment only to walk away after seeing signs on the door about the requirements. NV Salon lost not only clients but also stylists, who pay rent on the chairs in the salon from their earnings, rather than being paid a wage.
“I just had to change my budget and be okay with it,” Hannon-Manderfield said.
She said some of her clients went out of the way to support her financially, which was very kind and appreciated.
“We’re going to push through this,” she said.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated, March 24, 2021.
Syl’s Cafe on River Street in Ontonagon. Photo by Joshua Vissers
Comments on original story:
Mike Needham
Jessie and NV Hair are great, and I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone and everyone.
Edna Yonker
My husband and I own the Nonesuch Gallery across from Syl's Cafe and have been in business for a little over 20 years. We have been recommending visitors from all over the country to eat at Syl's saying their food and service is unmatched anywhere. People have come back to thank us often. Also, we have been grateful to have people recommended to our shop as well by Syl's staff. I don't know what we would do without our mutually beneficial relationship and are so very happy with the ability of Syl's to weather the pandemic crises. It has been such a big challenge for everyone. In our own business, we were shut down for 9 weeks last year. Worried about what the summer would do to our business when we reopened was a big one. We initiated thorough cleaning and sanitizing constantly throughout the day, putting up a plexiglass shield and washing or sanitizing our hands between every customer. We wore our masks all day long and required anyone who entered to wear one, providing masks by the door for those who didn't have one. Very few people turned around to leave which was good as nearly everyone had no problem with the rules. Now that things seem to be getting better with so many getting vaccinated we will continue to follow all the restrictions until the threat of the virus has gone away. Last summer turned out to be a successful one for us as so many folks came to the area to enjoy the scenery and be able to re-create in safety with camping, kayaking, hiking and doing things outdoors. We have and will continue doing our best to keep them safe in our business and know that Syl's is doing the same. We wish them the best as we all move forward.
Joshua Vissers
Thanks, Edna. I saw your shop, and nearly stopped in, but I, unfortunately, ended up leaving Ontonagon in a hurry for unrelated reasons. Maybe next time!
Steve Knudstrup
Black Ice Comics in downtown Houghton has been super great about keeping the staff and customers safe. They have a walkup window, can do curbside, and will work with anyone to help out how they can.
Tom
So, it can be done, and done properly within the rules. No whining, no complaints about business being destroyed. Decent wages and benefits. Apparently, good food. Kudos to Syl’s, and the owner and staff.
Debbie P
I have driven to Ontonagon for takeout from Syl's numerous times during this pandemic. They evolved a takeout menu to stay operating and I found it worth the 50mile drive to support small business that was complying with mandates. I will continue to make the drive.
Legislation in February
McBroom’s bills and resolutions-
(resolutions are non-binding)
Sandhill cranes grazing in a field. Photo courtesy of Mark Moschell/Creative Commons.
This week, Sen. Ed McBroom(R) introduced Senate Resolution 20, to encourage the Natural Resources Commission to add Eastern sandhill cranes to the game species list. The resolution has been referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which McBroom chairs.
McBroom’s co-resolution with Sen. Jon Bumstead(R), Senate Resolution 15 urging the NRC to authorize--and the Department of Natural Resources to organize--wolf hunts, was returned from the Natural Resources committee favorably, and without amendment. On the Natural Resources Committee with McBroom are Senators Bumstead, Rick Outman(R), Wayne Schmidt(R) and Sean McCann(D).
Also referred to the Natural Resources committee is McBroom’s Senate Bill 178, which would allow for reimbursement from the Department of Treasury if drink distributors have redeemed more 10 cent bottle deposits than they charged. This is a bill reintroduced from an earlier legislative session.
He also reintroduced a bill from before, now Senate Bill 177, that would allow for the expungement of the first offense for operating while intoxicated, under certain conditions. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Senate Bill 160, embedded below, would require that DNR officers would need a warrant in most cases to search or enter private property. McBroom introduced it this week and it has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
On Feb. 18, McBroom introduced Senate Resolution 16, which is in support of the mining industry. It’s been referred to the Senate Committee for Economic and Small Business Development.
A recent success for McBroom came in the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 119, which he introduced early in February. This week it passed the Senate and has now been sent to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation. The bill, embedded below, would change the details of mine-inspector requirements, notably requiring one in any county with an abandoned mine.
McBroom has introduced several other bills this year, but none of them has received a vote yet.
Markkanen’s bills and resolutions
House Rep. Greg Markkanen this week introduced House Bill 4329 (included below), which would apply the same standards of legislative approval applied to the emergency health and safety orders in House Bill 4330 to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The two bill are tie barred together, and neither has received a vote.
A bill Markkanen proposed, with support from other Republicans and three Democrats, would remove the caps on distributed generation of renewable energy in the state. House Bill 4236 hasn’t left the House Energy Committee, chaired by Rep. Joe Bellino.
Significant Votes
The House of Representatives voted on House Joint Resolution A, which passed with a comfortable margin, 102-7. The bill decides whether a two-thirds majority should be required to pass lame duck legislation. Upper Peninsula Reps. Sara Cambensy and Greg Markkanen supported the bill, and Rep. Beau LaFave voted against it.
The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Government Operations.
Sen. McBroom alone opposed Senate Bill 0049, which modifies the details for brewery tasting rooms. There was no protest logged in the day’s Senate Journal to explain his vote. The bill received otherwise unanimous support and now moves on to the House.
Senate Bills 29 and 114 are the controversial appropriations bills. They each eventually passed the Senate, 20-15, strictly along party lines, but not before at least ten amendments were proposed and voted against on Senate Bill 114.
Democratic senators widely condemned the dispensing of only a portion of federal relief funds as a political move made to hurt Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, but at the expense of the Michigan public, in the Senate Journal (below).
The bill now moves to the House.
Republican Senators also passed Senate Bill 46 without support from any Democrats. This bill exempts some broadband equipment from property tax.
The House Fiscal Agency concluded, in their analysis of SB 46, that
“As written, the bills would reduce state and local tax revenue by an unknown amount. Because it is not possible to know how much equipment would be classified as exempt under the bills, what the taxable values would be, and the appropriate local millage rates, the loss of property tax revenue to local units of government, the School Aid Fund via the state education tax, and the general fund cannot be estimated.”
Senator Ed McBroom
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
By Phone: (517) 373-7840
By Fax: (517) 373-3932
Representative Greg Markkanen
S-1489 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-0850
Email: GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov
Representative Joe Bellino Jr
N-696 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-1530
Email: JosephBellino@house.mi.gov
Ontonagon village fires manager in split vote
On Feb. 25, at the special meeting of the Ontonagon Village Council, Joseph Erickson’s employment as the village manager was terminated on a split 3-2 vote.
The council emphasized that the termination, “with cause,” was in reference to Erickson’s alleged mismanagement of a $282,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant, which had partially paid for the dredging of the Ontonagon Village Marina. A recent audit revealed a shortage in the marina fund of $119,000. It appeared that the manager had failed to complete the paperwork to receive the final payment from the MDNR.
An MDNR official was contacted and indicated that he had reached out to the manager on three occasions about this matter and had received no response. The deadline for final submission of the paperwork was Dec. 31, 2020.
The MDNR agreed to amend the closing date of the grant so that the village can recoup the grant funds and the council passed a resolution accepting the new terms.
A heated discussion followed the adoption of the resolution and this matter as well as other past issues with the manager. Trustee Sarah Hopper introduced a motion to terminate the Erickson’s employment, with cause, and this was supported by Trustee Donald Chasten.
Erickson, speaking in his own defense, pointed to several projects he has completed successfully, his preoccupation with the Village MERS (pension liability) issue, the many meetings he must prepare for, and his very busy general work load.
Trustee John Hamm spoke against firing the Erickson stating that even with his faults, he is one of the better managers the village has had. Trustee Elmer Marks suggested some disciplinary “time off” and added that everyone forgets things once in awhile. Marks also pointed out that a “full council” was not present. The council is short two members due to a resignation and a death, and though replacements have been appointed, they will not be seated until March 8. (see previous article Late Edition Feb. 28)
Marks suggested not voting on this matter until that time, however, the motion was already on the floor.
President Tony Smydra, indicated that a legal quorum was present, and as there was an obligation to vote on the motion, he called the question. The final vote was Aye; Hopper, Chasten and Smydra. Nay; Hamm and Marks. The motion was carried.