By Barb Pert Templeton
A Dec. 19 meeting of the Algonac City Council had officials addressing a number of topics including voting sites and board appointments. Council woman Dawn Davey was absent from the meeting.
Algonac Voting Sites
During City Manager Denice Gerstenberg’s report to the council, she noted that there will be three elections in 2024. The dates will be February 27, August 6 and November 5. She said the council recently approved the locations for Early Voting Center for Algonac and Clay Township residents. It will be located at the Clay Township Hall and will operate just like a normal precinct. It will be open for nine consecutive days prior to Election Day to offer in-person voting to anyone unable to visit at precinct on Election Day.
The city of Algonac voting precincts, Precinct 1 and Precinct 2, which are located at St. Catherin’s Church Community Center, will still be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for in-person voting. The absent voter counting board will still count the absent voter ballots at Algonac City Hall on Election Day, Gerstenberg said.
The Algonac City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
In addition, there are no changes to the elections or for the voters of Algonac, other than the addition of the Early Voting Center, which will allow voters even more opportunity to cast a vote at each election. Early Voting was approved by Michigan voters through Proposal 2022-2 at the November 2022 election.
The council managed to wind up the meeting in just over 21 minutes. They will meet again on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 6 p.m.
Raw Water Monitor Contract approved
The city council approved a raw water monitoring contract in the amount of $26,967 to be collected over the next five years. The city has been part of the program along with eight other water treatment plants along the Huron to Erie Lake corridor. All communities work to prevent system contamination during periods of run off, spills and temperature change. Municipal water treatment plant participating in the project include Algonac, Grosse Pointe Farms, Ira Township, Marine City, Monroe, New Baltimore Southwest Detroit, Water Works Park and Wyandotte. Environmental Consulting Technology Inc. is providing the monitoring service for all nine communities at a total cost of $255,700 for five years starting Jan. 1, 2024. The cost for Algonac is $5,682 per year or $1,421 per quarter.
Appointments to boards and commissions
The council approved two reappointments to the Algonac Board of Review for two current members with expiring terms. Chuck Bayly’s term was ending on Jan. 6, 2024 as was Bernard Ferris’ term so they were each appointed to the Board of Review for new terms ending on Jan. 6, 2026. In addition, Kimberley Catenacci was appointed to serve as an Alternate on the Board of Review for a partial term ending on Jan. 6, 2025.
At the end of the meeting Mayor Rocky Gillis took a moment to offer appreciation for those willing to serve on city boards.
“I would like to thank all the people on our boards and commission for all the work they do, it’s all volunteer and it’s pretty selfless of them,” Gillis said.
2024 MDOT Performance Resolution adopted
The 2024 MDOT Performance Resolution for Municipalities #2023-26 to allow the city to apply for work within the state right-of-way was unanimously adopted by the city council. The resolution is something that’s required annually by the Michigan Department of Transportation to allow the city to apply for a permit to work within the state right-of-way. The resolution allows City Manager Denice Gerstenberg and/or DPW Foreman Joe Vernier to apply to MDOT for the necessary permit to work within the state highway right-of-way, and to close the road as needed for special events.
This Dec. 19 regular meeting lasted just 21 minutes.
