A Marquette resident feeds one of the meters in the Marquette City Commons parking lot. (Journal file photo)

The parking rate is 50 cents per hour, which can be paid with coin, credit/debit card or through the touchless Passport mobile pay app.

Paid parking will be enforced from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The release states that quarterly charges will resume for both daily and overnight rental permit parking, effective July 1. The current yellow parking permit hang tags issued by the MDDA will continue to be used.

The temporary suspension of paid parking has been provided by the MDDA and the city of Marquette in support of downtown businesses, residents and customers throughout Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s mandated closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the release states.

For Friday, June 12.

For questions about parking or to obtain a daily or overnight parking permit, visit the Marquette DDA website at downtownmarquette.org, or call Sarah Trumbley, operation coordinator at the MDDA at 906-228-9475 or email sarah@downtownmarquette.org.

Forsyth library starting curbside services

The Forsyth Township Library announced on Facebook that it will begin by calling patrons who have items lining its countertop with instructions on when and how to pick them up.

“Please be patient with us,” the library posted. “This is a whole new world!”

During this phase of the library’s reopening, the building will remain physically closed to the public.

The library asks patrons to:

≤ Start placing holds through its online catalog; a video tutorial is posted on its Facebook page. Patrons can call the library starting at 10 a.m. at 906-346-3433, or send a message via Facebook.

≤ Continue to return items via the dropbox while being mindful of social distancing during curbside services.

≤ Read the full curbside plan at http://www.uproc.lib.mi.us/ftpl/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Curbside_Services_Policy.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3yNtrNqCCXWIpubAZQ3cWHlyjLiCyfrtu7Ln1KNfwhx9HDy1vwRx_-iUY

BCBS to provide free treatment

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Care Network will provide its members with no-cost treatment for COVID-19 through Dec. 31. Members have not had to pay cost-sharing for treatment — in the form of copays, deductibles and coinsurance — since March, according to a release from BCBSM.

The cost-share waivers apply to members in fully insured commercial Health Maintenance Organization, or HMO plans, and Preferred Provider Organization, or PPO, plans, as well as individuals in fully insured Medicare Advantage plans. BCBSM will work with employer group customers that are self-insured to make decisions regarding their own benefits.  

BCBSM estimated it will spend between $23 million to $43 million in providing these additional benefits — bringing the company’s total investment in additional benefits for members to nearly $150 million during the pandemic.

Isle Royale anchoring

allowed

Following guidance from the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Michigan Safe Start plan and local public health authorities, Isle Royale National Park is increasing boat access to the park.

The National Park Service said overnight anchoring for boats now is allowed in the Lake Superior waters of the park. Boaters who need to get an anchoring permit in advance from the Houghton visitor center can call 906-482-0984 or email ISRO_parkinfo@nps.gov. Boaters are asked to pay entrance fees in advance at www.pay.gov.

All park facilities such as docks, trails, visitor centers, campgrounds, shelters and outhouses remain closed. Details on further reopening the park, tentatively scheduled for late this month, are forthcoming.

When recreating, the public is asked to follow state and local area health orders, practice leave no trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

Details and updates on park operations will be posted at https://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm and social media channels.

Pictured Rocks camping reopening

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is reopening drive-in campsites and backcountry camping. The National Park Service is working with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and is using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

Pictured Rocks staff worked over the past several weeks to clear roads, campgrounds and over 100 miles of trails to prepare for summer visitation. Several campgrounds will be open for camping, beginning today. Reservations are required for all camping and are made through www.recreation.gov. All campgrounds in the park will be open by June 20.

Visitor centers and the Au Sable Lighthouse remain closed; however, visitor services are being provided by information boards and by phone. Visitor centers will open as COVID-19 restrictions are further relaxed.

The park concession boat tours, Pictured Rocks Cruises, will resume operations Monday, and many local businesses have already begun operating in the park.

Visit https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/kayaking-other-guided-tours.htm for a complete listing of authorized businesses using the park.

“Our staff has done a phenomenal job opening this incredible park and we are happy to be welcoming campers back,” said park Superintendent David Horne in a news release.

Park staff are encouraging all park visitors to be conscious of current state and local guidelines regarding social distancing and face masks and be considerate of others.

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted at www.nps.gov/piro and on Facebook.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net