Subdivision project moves ahead; 57 units planned

Scott Csernyik

7/10/2001 12:00:00 AM

Historic preservation updates, board appointments and planning matters--including awarding a contract to develop a subdivision--were heard before Tribal Council during their June 11 regular session.

Tribal Council approved a lump sum contract of about $3 million to the Isabella Corp. for the development of the "Subdivision B" project. The subdivision will have 57 sites covering 82 acres with entrances on Broomfield and Leaton roads.

They also approved $214,000 for Rowe, Inc. for construction observation/construction staking, as well as inspecting services on the project.

The Flint-based firm was also given $6,380 for an engineering assessment estimate of Ogemaw Road from Leaton Road to the end of the cul-de-sac.

"We want to try to find what's the best way to repair Ogemaw Road," stated Kent Alexander, P.E., senior project manager for Rowe. "We want to approach this as cost effective as possible."

Alexander suggested several different options for the 3,000-foot stretch of roadway. This included totally reconstructing the roadway or crushing the existing asphalt and re-shaping it.

The asphalt on Ogemaw Road has settled below the curb line, leaving water to collect on the pavement and seep into cracks causing further deterioration of the road.

"The road was put in flat so there is no run-off," stated Tribal Council Representative Ronald J. Jackson. "Right or wrong, it's held up to traffic, but not to Michigan Weather."

Council also heard an update from the Ziibiwing Cultural Society which included information regarding Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This legislation allows for comment from interested parties concerning projects which may disturb sites of historic interest while an environmental analysis is being conducted.

"We have literally hundreds of letters we're responding to," stated ZCS Director Bonnie Ekdahl. She added the brunt of the requests are for construction of wireless communication towers.

In an unrelated matter, ZCS officials have also been notified by Bay City officials wanting to construct a skateboard park in DeFoe Park. The proposed recreation area is located northeast of the Marquette viaduct, where the remains of scores of ancestors were unearthed about a year ago and recently reburied.

The area is also close to the Fletcher Site Cemetery. The federally protected cemetery, situated on the west bank of the Saginaw River, was excavated by Michigan State University archeologists between 1967 and 1970. About 108 Tribal ancestors believed to date back to 1700, their funerary objects and other items of cultural significance were unearthed and taken back to MSU.

In October 1996, ZCS officials conducted their first repatriation effort and the remains were retrieved from MSU, placed in cedar boxes and reburied at the Tribe's Nibokaan Cemetery.

ZCS officials are concerned that more ancestors may be disturbed in the creation of the skateboard park.

"This area is highly sensitive with burials," stated Kayle Crampton, ZCS historic preservation coordinator. "We wanted at least an archeological survey performed on the areas where they want this park."

While the exact location of the park is not known by Tribal Officials, Crampton also expressed disdain that they will dig deep enough to possibly disturb remains.

"My concern is how deep they're going to go," she said.

While Bay City Engineer John Kolessar informed ZCS officials they plan on digging about three-feet deep, Crampton said burials were unearthed at the Marquette viaduct from two to six feet.

Tribal Council officials examined the plans for the park and surmised the digging may go down at least five feet. Accordingly, Crampton presented a draft letter to Kolessar about the Tribe's concern.

Crampton also informed Tribal Council that the Historic Preservation Committee is coordinating a cultural assessment at the Mt. Pleasant Indian School.

She made it a point to quell the notion the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wants to purchase the school and stated the tour is for informational purposes only.

"We just want to look at what's there," she said.

In other new business, Tribal Council agreed to appointing Darryl Jackson, Carla Jeffrey, William Masterson and David Sowmick to the Saginaw Chippewa Education Advisory Board.