From left, Great Lakes Conservation Corps crew members Andrea Sekloch, Alayna Merchlewitz and Sena Parker clear debris from a trail at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The Superior Watershed Partnership, which runs the GLCC, has been helping to reopen Upper Peninsula recreation areas. (Photo courtesy of the SWP)

This, she said, would allow Michigan residents to file and resolve claims directly in person.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be able to testify today before the bi-partisan COVID-19 committee and make my case on why the reopening of our regional UIA offices and phone lines are critical,” Cambensy said. “The majority of help people need with their unemployment claim is for very minor, non-monetary issues. These claims could be resolved in a matter of minutes for people, rather than having them wait in a computer system for four, six or eight weeks before seeing a payment.”

Cambensy pointed out that Secretary of State offices reopened June 1 after realizing it needed to find a way to more efficiently serve residents.

“They have done so in a safe manner. Why can’t our UIA offices do the same?” she asked.

For Friday, June 19.

The large influx of unemployment claims due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as recently enacted fraud prevention measures, have left thousands of Michigan residents waiting for months to receive benefits, Cambensy said.

Legislative offices have tried to assist the UIA process and resolve claims by submitting cases to an internal database that assigns them to specific UIA caseworkers, she said, but the system does not allow legislative staff to resolve claims themselves, even those with minor issues.

Though the system helps UIA to better categorize cases, Cambensy believes these claims could be resolved more quickly if residents could work with UIA district offices directly.

Cambensy said she hopes to meet with officials in the governor’s administration next week to determine how legislative offices and the UIA can work together to better serve those still awaiting benefits.

“Letting legislators’ staff help the UIA find these efficiencies in the system and get the most basic claims resolved and out of the way quicker will help everyone, especially residents who are desperately awaiting their checks,” Cambensy said.

Groups helping

recreation areas

The Superior Watershed Partnership and its Great Lakes Conservation Corps have been helping local, tribal and federal partners reopen recreation areas in the Upper Peninsula during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of these areas are tasked with reopening this summer in spite of funding and personnel cuts and need helping in accomplishing this.

GLCC crews recently spent three weeks camping and clearing trails, roads and access sites at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Crews hiked many miles of trail to remove fallen trees, cleared roads and rerouted a section of trail due to hazardous erosion conditions.

Because of its work, Little Beaver Lake, Twelvemile Beach and backcountry camping reopened almost two weeks early, the SWP reported. Also, the Upper and Lower Hurricane River campgrounds are tentatively scheduled to open Saturday, about a week earlier than expected.

“It seems like outdoor experiences are especially critical this year and our earlier-than-expected reopening is a tribute to the GLCC crews’ dedication,” Pictured Rocks Superintendent David Horne said in a news release.

GLCC crews are to continue working at Pictured Rocks until the park is fully open to the public.

Perkins Park and Campground, located along Lake Independence in Big Bay, requested SWP assistance as well. The GLCC removed truckloads of branches from the campground, painted park facilities and completed a beach cleanup.

Although the park remains closed to the public, the SWP said the work puts Perkins Park in a more favorable position to reopen quickly when Marquette County deems it safe.

Mark Liles, Perkins Park manager, said the GLCC crews were ready to tackle any project.

“They certainly helped us get on track for a great year,” Liles said in a news release.

GLCC also improved the trail to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain in Marquette Township and helped the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community prepare its community garden in L’Anse for the upcoming growing season.

Beaches in the city of Marquette have been reopening, which has resulted in litter strewn on the sites. So the GLCC scoured miles of city beaches, including Presque Isle Park, Clark Lambros’ Beach Park, Pebble Beach, McCarty’s Cove and South Beach.

Crew members picked up bottles, cans, cigarette butts, takeout containers, some personal protective equipment and Latex gloves.

“We’re all excited to experience our new normal, but in the meantime it’s important that we respect city, county, state, federal and tribal COVID-19 regulations to continue the progress made in our U.P. communities,” said Tyler Penrod, GLCC coordinator, in a news release.

Free testing in Baraga today

The Michigan National Guard will continue its partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan State Police State Emergency Operations Center and local health departments to offer no-cost COVID-19 testing today in Baraga County.

Testing will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Niiwin Akeaa Center, 111 Beartown Road, in Baraga.

Similar testing has been held in 22 other communities over the past four weeks, including last Saturday and Sunday at the Berry Events Center at Northern Michigan University.

The Michigan National Guard has more than 45 trained testing teams ready to assist, of which 20 are currently assigned to support the community testing mission. These three-member teams include a certified medic to conduct the testing and two members to help with paperwork, logistics and non-medical tasks.

All team members from the Michigan National Guard have tested negative for COVID-19 and have been following strict medical protocols to ensure health and safety.

City band announces limited schedule

The Marquette City Band has announced its performance schedule for this season.

The performances are:

≤ 7:30 p.m. Thursday, “Drive-In Concert” at the Marquette Commons. The audience is asked to park and listen to the concert in their cars. The lot adjacent to Pathways Community Mental Health and the lot north of the Commons Building may be used. The concert will include music celebrating local “Heroes” and feature the “Hope Starts Here” march by the late Eino Olander of Marquette and the song “We Shall Overcome.”

≤ 2 p.m. July 4, at the Presque Isle Band shell. The band will play music popular during World War II.

≤ 7:30 p.m. July 16. The band will present its annual Children’s Concert at Presque Isle Park, with “Masquerade” the theme. Kids of all ages are invited to attend while maintaining social distancing and wearing masks.

≤ 7:30 p.m. July 30, Presque isle Park. This concert will feature performers from within the band as well as notable area guest musicians.

≤ 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6, the band’s final concert at Presque Isle Park. The event will feature City Band favorites and highlights of the season.

In case of rain, the concerts may be rescheduled for the following day.

Environmental

conference off

The Michigan Environmental Compliance Conference, which had been set for Sept. 9-10, will not be held this year due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements. However, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy plans to hold Michigan Environmental Compliance Week on Sept. 21-25.

The week, according to the DEGLE, is a week-long virtual event devoted to helping businesses, communities and environmental professionals protect Michigan’s environment by learning how to comply with the environmental regulations that apply to them.

The week will include a number of online events and activities, including:

≤ An extensive webinar curriculum, which will include sessions that will focus on how to comply with air, waste and water regulations, as well as sessions that will cover environmental remediation and emergency planning/response.

≤ Live-streamed events with EGLE Director Liesl Clark and EGLE staff.

≤ Presentations and discussions on hot-topic issues.

≤ Online focus groups with industry sectors.

≤ Daily tips and guidance.

≤ New video releases.

≤ New publication releases.

≤ Opportunities to meet virtually with compliance staff for Q&A.

≤ Conversations with industry leaders and stakeholders.

≤ Opportunities for one-on-one compliance assistance.

There will be no cost to participate in the event, with registration information to come later.

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