By Barb Pert Templeton
An April 1 meeting of the Algonac City Council was 40-minutes in length and two members of the board were absent. Council members Cathy Harris and Wendy Meldrum had their absences excused by the council who noted that they were ill.
Here are a few highlights of the meeting.
Residents encouraged to attend budget meetings
The council approved an amended budget schedule for the fiscal year 2025-2026. Budget study sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 and May 6 at 5 p.m. prior to regular council meetings which begin at 6 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey took a few minutes to encourage residents to attend the budget study sessions as they are open to the public and anyone can attend. “Instead of discussing the budget on social media, you know what, come in and if you’ve got something to say .…that’s the time to do it,” Davey said. She said it’s important to show up and say something instead of just typing words into a box. “It’s an open meeting please feel free to come and join us,” Davey added.
Assessment contract with St. Clair County
Members of the city council approved an agreement between the city of Algonac and the St. Clair County Department of Equalization for Property Assessment Administration for five years at a cost of $219,949. Appeals and Special Assessment fees increased from $85 an hour to $100 per hour. Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey asked the city manager to explain how the agreement would work in terms of assessments for the city.
City Manager Denice Gerstenberg said the St. Clair County Department of Equalization supplies assessors to the city of Algonac as well as a number of other communities in the county. The city contracts with them to provide the service to residents.
Gerstenberg said once a week the county provides an assessor to be at Algonac city hall so residents don’t have to go up to Port Huron to get their assessment services. The city has had a contract with St. Clair for many years now, she added.
Algonac Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey.
In the past, the assessors were only in Algonac twice a month in the summer months and this time the contract was amended to have the service provided in the city four times a month.
“Things are much busier than they used to be here in Algonac and we really need their services so the contract was amended to reflect that,” Gerstenberg said.
Davey thanked the city manager for her easy-to-follow explanation for the service.
Eucharist Procession set for June 22, 2025
A special event application from St. Catherine’s Corpus Christi for a Eucharist Procession was approved by members of the city council. The 15-minute walk will be from the church to Clay Street south of M-29 to Columbia Street and back to the church. About 100 people are expected to participate in the religious procession. The Algonac Fire Department will provide a fire truck to follow the procession.
Spaghettie dinner for Algonac 5th grader
Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey took a few moments during her council comments to spread the word about a fundraiser for a local student. Davey said a spaghetti dinner for Kenzie Perry, a fifth-grade student in Algonac, is set for Wednesday, April 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Algonac Lions Club. “The Algonac Lions are graciously donating the meal, the hall and the entertainment,” Davey said. There will be a 50/50 raffle and other raffle items.
Kenzie has been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation that will require many doctor’s appointments and brain surgery on April 11th. Kenzie has five brothers and sisters ages 12-4.
