By Barb Pert Templeton
It was a hectic year in the downriver area with both Marine City and Algonac tackling major projects in 2025. While Algonac finally saw the reopening of their city pool over in Marine City officials were pleased to host the formal opening of the new Otto and Bertha Guy Community Center.
Here are some highlights:
MAY
New Guy Center Open House in Marine City
As Marine City officials swung the doors wide to welcome the community to an open house at the new Otto and Bertha Guy Community Center anxious to show off the updates at the facility.
Marine City resident Heather Bokram founded the city’s historical society along with some friends in 1993. She spoke to the city commission imploring officials to consider deeding the building, which dates to 1881, over to the State of Michigan.
The city purchased the former Lions Club, at 545 Ward Street, for $315,000 in December 2024 and were pleased to rename the building after late city benefactors, Otto and Bertha Guy. The city used $200,000 in funds from the sale of the original Guy Center building at 303 Water Street to make the purchase along with a $57,000 grant from St. Clair County and a $58,000 loan the city will take out and have five years to pay off.
The May 3 open house coincided with the opening day for the Marine City Little League and the local Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new center.
JUNE
First-ever female Chairman of Algonac Pickerel Tournament
When plans for the 87th Annual Pickerel Tournament were taking shape Wendy Drinkard-Wojtas was ready to lend a hand as usual until Algonac Lions Club President Dr. William Brady appointed her chairman of the event.
The 87th Annual Pickerel Tournament had the first ever female Chairman when Wendy Drinkard-Wojtas was appointed to the top spot.
A resident of East China Township, Wendy has been a member of the Algonac Lions Club for four years and spent the last three years as sponsorship chairman for the Pickerel Tournament. She anticipates becoming the club secretary on July 16.
Noting her families long and rich history in the Algonac area, Wendy said she formerly lived in Eastpointe and spent 26 years as a court officer, including serving as the Chief Deputy Court Officer in the Juvenile Division. She was also a reserve officer with the Eastpointe Police Department.
“After those jobs, well, this one for the Pickerel Tournament is a cake walk, it really has been,” Wendy laughed.
Marine City Commission puts old city hall on the market
At a June 5 meeting of the Marine City Commission officials voted to approve a six-month lease with 12b Pilot Group Listing to seek a buyer for old city hall at 300 Broadway.
Marine City resident Heather Bokram founded the city’s historical society along with some friends back in 1993 and spoke at the meeting imploring officials to consider deeding the building, which dates to 1881, over to the State of Michigan.
“The history of how the restoration of this architecture gem has been mismanaged by the city from the time city employees abandoned the building about 20 years, ago would fill a small book but recalling the past won’t help now,” Bokram said. “I think there has been a lack of appreciation of a building of this nature being built in a small town like Marine City.”
The reopening of the Algonac pool took place in July and Senator Kevin Hertel and Algonac Mayor Rocky Gillis took a moment to strike a pose during the July 15 opening.
After a 45-minute discussion officials okayed the listing agreement with the stipulation that the commission would hold a townhall meeting to get the public’s input on the project, before any sale took place. City Manager Michael Reaves said it was important to get the building listed in order to maintain the property’s value. He added that the city couldn’t continue to fund the maintenance on 300 Broadway plus getting a real assessment of the property’s value and potential will also come from listing it with a broker.
JULY
DNR wraps up projects in state parks
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently announced the completion of many repair and maintenance projects at parks across the state, including the Algonac State Park.
Thanks to a historic $273 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) of 2021, 122 of 168 (73%) planned improvement projects at state parks have been completed or are in progress, according to a DNR press release on July 9.
The unprecedented investment was outlined in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Building Michigan Together Plan. It has been crucial to the state parks system, allowing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to significantly reduce a decades-long backlog of vital repair and maintenance projects and support the development of a new state park in Flint – the first in Genesee County.
While many improvements wrapped up this summer and over the past year, significant work has been actively transforming the parks since early 2024.
The Algonac State Park has enhanced its visitor experience with several significant upgrades.
In a Q and A from Blue Water Healthy Living Unit Supervisor Steven Caryl at Algonac State Park shared the following updates for the park.
In the Riverfront campground 127 sites were upgraded with water and sewer connections. The roads in the Riverfront campground were rebuilt from the base to asphalt. The two entrances into the park also had the roads rebuilt from base to asphalt. As part of the road upgrades additional
drainage was added to the roadsides and on sites throughout the campground. The sanitation station was completely rebuilt and expanded from two to four lanes.
Algonac’s public pool finally reopens
On July 15 the city of Algonac held a sneak peak of the renovated and reopened city pool at Lions Field. The pool includes:
· A zero-entry area with play equipment for little ones just getting comfortable in the water
· A designated lap swimming area
· A deep end for swimmers of all ages
· An elevated pool deck—perfect for future private events
· Concession stand
· Capacity is 100
· Pool will be open until Labor Day
· Admission is $3 and children under five are free
The Algonac pool originally opened in the city in 1957. It was closed five years ago due to significant water loss and safety concerns.
The city accepted a Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Grant for $1 million dollars for the pool which came to the city thanks to Senator Kevin Hertel.
Additional grants for the project included one for $300,000 from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and another $400,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
The pool is located at 1833 Michigan Street in the city of Algonac.
AUGUST
Recall petitions filed against Algonac officials denied
Mayor Rocky Gillis and Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey were the subject of a pair of recall petitions filed by city resident Sandra Simmons.
The St. Clair County Election Commission, following review and deliberation at an Aug. 5 meeting, voted 2 to 1 to reject the petition language for a pair of recall petitions filed against Gillis and Davey.
A document from the Office of the County Clerk stated the commission determined that the petition language lacked clarity and failed to specify what actions were allegedly taken by Gillis and Davey.
Gillis commented on the issue via email.
“I’m pleased to share that the proposed recall language submitted against both myself and Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey has been officially denied for lack of clarity and factual accuracy,” Gillis wrote. “The clarity board found that the language was misleading and did not meet the legal standards required under Michigan law. Simply put — you can’t recall elected officials based on something that never happened.”
Gillis stated that he and Davey remain committed to serving the residents of Algonac with integrity, transparency, and respect.
