Clearing up a power problem at lighthouse RV park
by Peter Jakey–
Managing Editor
Members of the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners agreed to chip in half of a needed upgrade at 40-Mile Point Lighthouse.
The board voted unanimously to approve the request of the 40-Mile Point Lighthouse Society (40MPLS), who plan to install a new primary electrical line directly to the recreational vehicle (RV) campground at the county-owned park. The total cost of the project to bore the new line is $8,795, plus the permits.
“We will pay the whole thing and get reimbursed,” said commissioner Joe Libby.
Pat Williams, 40MPLS vice president, went before the county board explaining that what was originally installed in 2007 is not enough to power the RV park.
“A secondary line was extended from the meter at the fog signal building to the RV park,” said Williams. “Our guest keepers keep the lighthouse functioning during the summer and without them we cannot function, we cannot keep it open.
“We are the only lighthouse this side of the state to do what we can do because of your forethought to put that in for our guest keepers.”
However, the line that service was extended from at the fog house building was designed for 100 amps.
“It provides power to the fog signal building, the restrooms, the Calcite pilothouse,” said Williams. “A 200-amp extension was connected to that service to run down to the RV park.
“I don’t know what happened at the time that RV park was built because I was not here, but I can tell you that Presque Isle Electric and Gas Cooperative is now telling me that does not work, because the RV park pulls more power than the line is designed to support.”
Williams added that the voltage throughout the park is pulled down and it took a long time to figure out what the problem was, but volunteer keepers have said they cannot return until the power problem is rectified because they are losing equipment in their RVs.
“It will not be additional power, per se, but it will take load off the meter at the fog signal building,” Williams said. “40MPLS has funds it can utilize to defray half of the costs.”
IN OTHER business:
John’s Plumbing and Heating co-owner Beth Budnik spoke during the public comment period to express her displeasure that the project to replace the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) system at the county annex building went to Moore Mechanical located in multiple cities in northern Michigan.
“Was the bid from Moore Mechanical the only one received?” Budnik asked. “Since we have four HVAC contractors in Presque Isle County, serving the needs of county residents for countless years, was there an invitation to bid this project? Two of the contractors I spoke with did not receive any information. Were bid specs done for this project? If so, who designed the specs?
“We contractors live, work and support our community, we pay taxes in our county. We elect you, we pay your salaries and we trust that you will spend our hard earned tax money wisely. You have failed us and you have failed the taxpayers of Presque Isle County.”
Budnik urged the board to rescind the bid award to Moore Mechanical and provide a set of specs for any contractor that would choose to bid it.
“So, they can fairly bid, apples to apples,” Budnik added.
She also requested the meeting minutes to be published in the Presque Isle County Advance since the last minutes on the county website are from late July.
“It is time for you to support your local businesses,” she added
