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The decision was unanimous, but enforcement of the new ordinance was a concern.

"How is it going to be possible to enforce this?" Trustee Patricia Drollinger asked.

Tactfully, according to Village President Butch Dewey, who conceded that not every child who throws a piece of bread to a duck will be punished, "but people can't be standing out there everyday feeding them corn."

"It depends how observant you want the Bellaire Police to be on this," Chief of Police Brad Rowe added.

It seems children caught in possession of bread crumbs are not likely to be charged with intent to feed, but the ordinance was passed for a reason, and some members of the council agreed that a fine should be issued for non-conformers.

Ê The feeding of waterfowl can encourage unnatural gatherings of birds in one location. Similar to an overcrowded city where disease can flourish, these feeding locations bring together different species in higher numbers where bacteria can thrive, according to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Mentioned by the council was E. coli, bacteria normally present in the small intestine, which serves as a warning sign when fecal pollution piles up. Elevated levels of E. coli in water often suggest the presence of harmful bacteria, such as swimmer's itch. E. coli levels have recently become an issue in the area, especially in summer months. The ordinance was a preventative measure.

"The problem is water contamination," Dewey said.

Another problem is waterfowl violence, when swans who are accustomed to being fed approach a child who has run out of corn.

"Flying dogs they are," Department of Public Works Supervisor Ken Stead said.

Signs deterring the public from feeding waterfowl may be posted in relevant locations in the future, though no details were discussed by the council.

A separate issue brought before the council was a complaint by certain village residents, represented by Elizabeth Balestrieri, who believed the council had raised their salaries.

"This is a volatile issue for those who are unemployed in this difficult time," Balestrieri said. "There has been a huge outcry in the community."

"We did not give ourselves a raise," responded Dewey. The council did change the wording of payment issues after finding it possible for a member to be paid even when absent from a meeting.Ê This possibility has been removed, according to Dewey.

The council has sought ways of conserving monies for 2008, such as taking training classes on the Internet instead of spending travel dollars to attend classes in Traverse City, Trustee Dave Schultz said.

Soon available on the Internet will be live views of Bellaire from two cameras positioned at either end of the downtown, following a brief discussion by the council.

Ê "People will be able to see what ski conditions are like," Council Member Brent Nelson said. "They're awfully reasonable, and we might get more advertisement."

Chris Tredway can be reached at ctredway@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.