ALPENA – Members of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council passed a motion regarding the restructuring of the council due to the new boundary expansion. By restructuring, the council will be realigned to allow people to apply for seats that are best suited for them, which will ensure all members are treated equally.

The major changes to the seats would be in the governmental area. The restructuring committee would like to see other local governmental interests combined with three county seats, and since each of the statutory seats choose who they appoint, it does not have to be a county commissioner or other governmental member, the person appointed just would have to represent the interests of those they represent.

“What we’re recommending is that the City of Alpena remain holding a seat … our major operations are within the city and that’s where we get our permitting and where we ask for help and where we receive a lot of support,” SAC member and restructuring working group Chair Carol Shafto said. “Then basically what we said was if we could reallocate the two township seats, and allocate those to Alcona County and Presque Isle County. Then, our new statutory seats would be the City of Alpena, the three counties, and the Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve, which has no change.”

Seats will be filled not only with the interests and constituencies being considered, but also to allow for a new geographic balance.

The national charter limits the sanctuary advisory council membership to 15 voting members and 15 alternates, regardless the size of the sanctuary, meaning that expansion of the boundaries doesn’t allow the council to add seats, but it can be realigned to better represent the entire sanctuary boundary.

“On the regular seats, we wanted to try to expand the citizen at-large position because that is the most flexible,” Shafto said. “Anyone can apply for those and that gives us a lot of flexibility in choosing those seats.”

Changes in the citizen at-large seats were in tourism and recreation that were combined into one, which would add an additional seat. There were no changes recommended to the business and economic development seat. There was a request to have a seat represent a major shipping industry, depending on who would apply for that seat. Sanctuary Superintendent Jeff Gray was a strong advocate to add the maritime industry seat. The idea for this seat stemmed from negotiations during boundary expansion with members of the shipping industry.

“Everything is important to be represented on the council, which made this really hard to do,” Shafto said. “This is a hard task and we appreciate all the help from the council.”

Applications will be reviewed over a long process involving the federal register and a committee for review. Gray said he hopes the new restructured SAC would be functioning close to the beginning of summer. The council will continue to discuss restructuring throughout the process.

Nicole Grulke can be reached via email at ngrulke@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687. Follow Nicole on Twitter @ng_alpenanews.