By Barb Pert Templeton
The regular bi-monthly meeting of the Marine City Commission on Sept. 17 lasted just about an hour and 15 minutes and included a full agenda of items to be addressed. Commission members Rita Roehrig and William Klaassen were absent from the meeting.
Here are a few highlights:
New time clock at meetings
At the recent meeting Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche told the audience that City Clerk Jason Bell installed a countdown clock in the meeting room for those addressing the commission during public comments. “So, people providing public comment will know how much time they have left for their comment,” Vandenbossche said. The clock also has quite the loud sound when the time is up so the mayor just wanted to warn people about that so they aren’t startled. Individuals who address the commission during public comments must state their name and limit their comments to five minutes. All comments must be directed at the commission chair, in this case Mayor Vandenbossche, and the commission will not respond but will follow-up as necessary, she said.
Marine City’s outgoing City Manager Scott Adkins thanked officials and the community for the opportunity to serve
Pair of items moved to Oct. 17 agenda
The Master Plan and a Parks and Recreation Plan listed under Unfinished Business on the recent meeting’s agenda were tabled until the Oct. 17 regular commission meeting. City Manager Scott Adkins suggested the delay to the commission based on the public hearing held at a meeting with the planning commission prior to the current meeting and notes and corrections to the plan that might be relevant. City Attorney Robert Davis agreed, noting that since two commissioners were absent the items should be postponed to be reviewed with a full board. The commission agreed that the parks and recreation item should also be tabled.
Blocking out the sun at city hall
A request to purchaser a package to tint some windows at the Marine City offices was made jointly by City Manager Scott Adkins and City Clerk Jason Bell. The duos offices are in direct line of morning sunlight from sunrise for about three hours afterward in the eastern direction of the sun which makes it impossible to face that direction. Adkins said they were asking for approval to put tinted windows in the entire window areas not just for resolving the blinding light from the sun but also for installation purposes. “As much as we’ve tried to move our furniture around, we’re good but people sitting in front of us not so much, so it really is a necessity piece,” Adkins said. He said the expense would actually be covered with ARPA funds. The commission then unanimously approved an invoice of $3,546 for the windows.
Atkinson named street administrator
Marine City DPW Superintendent Aaron Atkinson was appointed as the city’s street administrator as approved by the members of the city commission. Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche said making that appointment is a requirement of MDOT and officials were unanimous in their decision to appoint Atkinson to the post.
Adkins thanks city and residents for opportunity
City Manager Scott Adkins thanked the city commission for allowing him to have a role in running the city the last 18 months. He also thanked residents and business owners for their support. “I’m a human being just like anybody else, I’m not perfect, I make mistakes…and yes I do appreciate criticism as well, it’s part of the job, but when the criticism is due and it’s constructive but when it’s false and it’s done in such a tone it’s difficult for anybody to be able to take,” Adkins said. “But it is part of the job.” He went on to say it has been an honor to serve the city, the residents and the businesses.
