By Barb Pert Templeton
The Oct. 1 regular meeting of the Algonac City Council was 32-minutes long and had a fairly short agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Raymond Martin was absent from the recent meeting.
Here are a few highlights:
City Manager’s report on school/pool
Algonac City Manager Denice Gerstenberg gave an update on the former Algonac Elementary School gymnasium, the city has the bids for the roof and are waiting on bids for the windows and the mechanical system. She said the city is also awaiting confirmation on the $500,000 grant they were awarded as part of the state school aid package from the state. As for the city pool, the demolition is in progress and most of the old one is laying on the side of the road and “it’s very exciting,” Gerstenberg said.
Officials formerly approve permit for ‘Halloween in the Nac’
The Algonac City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m.
Members of the city council approved a permit for the annual ‘Halloween in the Nac’ event to be held on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Smith’s Field. Hosted by the local non-profit Algonac Alive, the event begins with a parade at 1 p.m. (lineup at 421 Michigan at 12:30 p.m.) Games in the park will begin at 1 p.m. and there will also be a Swamp Witch Dance, Miss. Babbettes Dancers, Kids Tunnel of Terror, a bounce house and face painting. “We have over 50 craft vendors and 35 games for the kids,” Councilman Michael Bembas, who also organizes the event, said.
Trick or Treat hours set for Oct. 31 with additional festivities
The city’s official hours for trick or treating on Halloween are 5 to 7 p.m. with the closure of the following streets – Clay and Smith from Washington to Michigan and Michigan from Clay to Smith from 5 to 10 p.m. In addition, the city will host festivities at Smith’s Field with a bonfire at 7 p.m. and a trunk or treat event from 5 to 7 p.m. with cars lining up at 4:30 p.m. The Algonac Rotary will provide free hot dogs and water and city of Algonac staff members will be cooking and wrapping the hot dogs. City Manager Denice Gerstenberg told officials the employees will be preparing 1,000 hot dogs for the event.
Davey asks people to ‘rise above’ this election season
Councilwoman Dawn Davey took time during council comments to state her dismay at this current election season. “It disappoints and saddens me because this is turning out to be a contentious election season this year,” Davey said. She said in 2018 they started “Light it up Algonac” and everyone simply put two words on Facebook, ‘rise above.’ She said the only way to change the tone is to rise above. Davey also took time during council comments to remind everyone that the Oct. 1 meeting would be her only meeting this month as she would be having some surgery.
Mayor Gillis compliments candidate night
Mayor Rocky Gillis said the recent meet the candidate’s night hosted by the Anchor Bay Chamber of Commerce went very well and was well attended. “I was very proud that all the candidates that were running from Algonac didn’t attack each other, they said what they could do,” Gillis said. “I always say when you go up there, you’re not running against someone you are running for Algonac. It was just perfect I was the happiest guy around.”
The 30-minute event was held on Sept. 26 at Smith’s Field with about 100 spectators in attendance. There are eight names on the November ballot in Algonac seeking to fill four, four-year terms. Incumbents include council members Michael Bembas and Cathy Harris, plus Mayor Pro Tem Raymond Martin. The fourth spot was held by Councilman Corey Blair who resigned in the spring due to work commitments. In addition to the three incumbents seeking reelection, former council members Jacob Skarbek and Terry Stoneburner, plus Christina Helkias-Robb, Wendy Meldrum, and Annie Ponessa also hope to be voted into one of the four spots on council.
Only four of the eight candidates appeared at the recent meet the candidate’s forum. They were Bembas, Harris, Skarbek and Stoneburner.
