By Barb Pert Templeton
The final meeting of 2025 for the Algonac City Council last just over 34-minutes and the agenda was light. Councilwoman Wendy Meldrum was absent from the Dec. 16 meeting.
Here are some highlights:
House decorating contest awards
Councilman Jake Skarbek took time during his council comments to thank all the residents who participated in the recent Big Bright Lights Holiday Decorating Contest in the city. Members of the council then presented four awards in four categories for the contest.
· Best Decorated Golf Cart: Kathleen & Brian Moore
· Best Decorated Church: Faith Coalition for the Nativity in Riverfront Park.
· Best Decorated Business: Colony Insulation, Michigan St., owners Liz & Danny Walker
· Best Decorated House: Heather & Bob Schram, on Clay Street
Skarbek and several other members of the council also took time to thank the local Little Caesars for sponsoring the event.
Board appointments approved
Chuck Bayly was reappointed to the Algonac Board of Review for a two-year term that ends in February 2028. Bayly was also reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term that will end in February 2029. Chari Lawton was also reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals to a three-year term that ends in February 2029.
A new business, the Algonac Pharmacy, opened its doors in the city last week.
Councilman Michael Bembas was appointed council liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term ending in February 2029.
Get those packages mailed
During his council comments Councilman Michael Bembas said anyone that needs to mail a package at the post office the sooner the better. “You better get there by Friday, our system is overfilled and so is UPS, they’re dropping their packages for us to deliver,” Bembas said. “Christmas is coming and if you’re out there and need to mail a package the sooner the better.”
Support new pharmacy
Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey used her council comments to give kudos to the Algonac Pharmacy – stating “yeah, yeah and yeah.”
“I’ll say it again, everybody wants to see businesses in the city but if we don’t support those businesses they aren’t going to stay in the city,” Davey said. “We need to make sure that these businesses are here to have us spend, instead of spending dollars outside of the city, to have people spend their dollars inside the city.”
Davey also said that she visited the pharmacy and it’s being operated by “really, really, good guys” and noted that she’s been driving to Lenox every month to get a prescription that Algonac Pharmacy has now agreed to get for her.
“Very few independent pharmacies are around anymore so we need to do everything that we can as a community and as residents to make sure that they stay,” Davey said. “It’s a big risk on their part, kind of, to come here.”
Councilman Jake Skarbek also encouraged residents to give the pharmacy a try and said the new business is going to be “a phenomenal addition” to the city.
Mayor Rocky Gillis echoed those sentiments and said he also visited the pharmacy and when he asked how he could switch his prescriptions to them they said just write your name and birthdate down and we’ll do it. “I think it’s going to be nice to have that face to face, small town service, I’m very excited,” Gillis added.
Holidays can be tough for many
As she usually does, Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey took a few moments to remind people that the holidays can be very difficult for many people who have lost loved ones. She said it’s imperative on each of us to lend a hand and check-in with people or even grab a cup of coffee with them. Buying a scarf or sending out that Christmas card doesn’t mean as much as checking on people personally. “Taking the time to listen, means the world to many people this time of year,” Davey added.
Mayor’s parting shot
Mayor Rocky Gillis took time during his comments at the end of the recent meeting to note that he truly feels Algonac is heading in the right direction going into 2026.
“I think we’re on a great path here in town and I think with this council we all want to push forward, and seeing you guys here at the meetings (referring to the audience) and how we all talk and figure it out,” Gillis said. “Together, as a community, I think it’s the greatest thing we can do at this Christmas time.”
