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Sugarloaf improvement

The view from Sugarloaf Mountain in early February is shown. (Journal photo by Kelsie Thompson)

MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Board on Tuesday agreed to support the Planning Division’s effort to obtain a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to improve the Sugarloaf Mountain Natural Area.

“The goal is to promote recreation for the general public,” said Vice Chair Joe Derocha. “It’s an iconic place that people visit in Marquette County, both tourists and locals — everyone has done Sugarloaf.”

If the grant application is successful, it would fund improvements to five major areas within the Sugarloaf Mountain area.

According to a memo provided to the board by Planning Manager Eric Anderson, the project would include installing interactive, interpretive signs along the trail that would highlight topics of natural, cultural and historic value; sealing and staining existing stairway structures and observation decks to prolong their useful life; installing a smart waste and recycling collection station at the trailhead; installing a webcam at the mountain’s summit; and developing a picnic area near the trailhead with tables, bike racks and a pet waste station.

“Sugarloaf is definitely a popular site, and this would enhance the visitor experience,” said Anderson. “The webcam would allow people who can’t hike to the top to still see the view and would help publicize the site.”

The total cost of the project is $100,000, with the county committing to a 25 percent match. Anderson said $25,000 has already been set aside in the Planning Division’s budget under capital programming for the improvements.

Anderson said he’s currently working on the the grant application, which has a deadline of April 1. If approved, funds would be distributed within 12 to 18 months, allowing the project to begin in 2018, he said.

The project is supported by the county’s five-year approved recreation plan, which was ammended Tuesday following a public hearing.

In other business, the County Board unanimously supported the Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp. in its efforts to construct and operate a 130-megawatt electric generating facility to be located in the Eagle Mills area of Negaunee Township, near the intersection of M-35 and County Road 492.

“It’s a very big deal for Marquette County and the Central U.P.,” said Board Chairman Gerald Corkin. “It’s a $180 million investment in electrical energy that will improve the reliability and capacity here in Marquette County.”

They also voted to renew a concession agreement with Northern Michigan University to provide a snack bar in the Sawyer International Airport terminal, providing $10,000 toward operating costs.

According to a memo provided to the board from Sawyer Director of Operations Steve Schenden, NMU has not realized any profit from the concession and last year had a deficit of about $20,000.

“Everyone thought it was important to have a snack bar at the airport even though it’s costing us some money,” Corkin said. “It’s important to have it operating.”

The contract will run from May 1 through April 30, 2018. The county does not receive any revenue from the operation.

Kelsie Thompson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.

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