By Barb Pert Templeton
The Jan. 2 regular meeting of the Algonac City Council lasted just under 51 minutes and included a presentation by the city’s auditing firm, a report from the city manager, and several other items of interest.
Update on Algonac Elementary
Algonac City Manager Denice Gerstenberg told city council members that the city now officially owns the old Algonac Elementary School. The city closed on the deal on Dec. 18. During her ‘city manager’s report’ at the Jan. 2 meeting Gerstenberg said the city’s DPW is securing the building and will be removing the old playground equipment soon.
City seeks public opinion on plans for school
Algonac City Manager Denice Gerstenberg
During the council comments portion of the meeting, Councilwoman Dawn Davey said she doesn’t normally like to address things she’s seen on social meetings from her seat at the council table but there have been questions and criticism about the city’s recent purchase of the old Algonac Elementary School. Her thought was that perhaps some workshops or public meetings could be held in order to get input from the community about what to do with the school. “I think that it makes the residents feel a little bit better to see us discuss plans and options (publicly)” Davey said. City Manager Denice Gerstenberg said that she has a flyer that is going out to residents asking for their ideas about what to do with the school building. The 69,000-square-foot building sits on 3.2 acres, and the city flyer will ask what should we do next. She said the ideas can be submitted via email, Facebook, or snail mail and once they are all gathered the city would host a community meeting to discuss the ideas. Davey said that’s a great plan and is basically what she was hoping for in terms of getting the public involved in a decision regarding the old school property.
Councilman Bembas shares job opportunity
During the council comments portion of the recent meeting Councilman Michael Bembas, who’s also the local postmaster in Algonac, said for the “first time ever” in the 40 years he’s been employed at the post office they are offering an intern program to go right into management. He said if anyone knows of a sophomore or senior in college who’s interested in a postal career, they can feel free to contact him. “Just like the coast guard the post office is short of people,” Bembas said. He went on to invite interested applicants to stop by the Algonac Post Office to speak to him about the opportunity. “The post office was started in 1776 and in that time, nobody has ever been laid off from the postal service, ever, ever,” Bembas said. “And you cannot find another job with the benefits we get whether it be retirement, health insurance, or even life insurance and it’s good money.”
Goodfellows wrap up a good season
The Downriver Goodfellows provided food for 130 cars and over 504 people plus additional assistance to 75 families and 145 children. City Manager Denice Gerstenberg told city officials that lines were longer than usual and people stayed in line even after the food was gone. St. Catherine’s donated ten food baskets and Woodside Bible Church in Algonac donated 35 additional gift cards to assist those still in line for the food boxes.
Warning about coyotes around town
During council comments, Councilman Corey Blair shared the story of a coyote being near his home late at night and noted that it’s the third time it has happened. Blair said he didn’t know what exactly to do so he called Department of Public Safety Director/Fire Chief Joe Doan and also the dispatch at the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. He said the coyote was hissing and making weird sounds. Blair said he was surprised to find that law enforcement can’t do anything about the animal because it’s not considered a domestic animal. “They can’t do anything until it kills somebody or it kills an animal and I find that to be the oddest thing ever,” Blair said. “I have people in my neighborhood that sometimes walk to the store at 11 at night or maybe just walking their animals, so this could be a potential problem,” Blair said he was asked by the dispatcher if he wanted to live trap it but he decided that’s not his job. “I just want everybody to keep their eyes open to watch out for the wild coyotes running around it’s not our sheriff’s responsibility, I’m not saying it is or not, it’s just not and nothing can be done until it injures somebody or something.”
