By Barb Pert Templeton
The April 21 meeting of the Algonac City Council lasted one hour and 21 minutes and included several presentations. Councilwoman Wendy Meldrum was absent from the recent meeting.
Here are a few highlights:
Three-year contract with McBride-Manley approved
Members of the council approved a three-year contract for auditing and all-inclusive services from McBride-Manley & Company P.C. with an optional two-year extension if all parties agree. The rate for the firm’s services will be $41,500 for 2026, $42,500 for 2027 and $43,775 for 2028. In a memo to officials in the meeting packet Treasurer Alysia Bugg stated that she sought five bids for the services, as is required, and received four in return. The city manager and finance director jointly reviewed all of the bids and decided that McBride-Manley best met the city’s needs for the contract. McBride-Manley has consistently provided high-quality, timely and reliable audit services to the city, Bugg noted in her memo.
Annoying light at Dairy Queen
A resident at Algonac Housing, also known as Algonquin House, spoke during public comments telling the council that she’s bothered by the light on the roof of the Dairy Queen. “You could light a football field or a prison yard with that light,” she said.
The Algonac City Council meeting on April 21 lasted over an hour. Councilwoman Wendy Meldrum was absent from the recent meeting.
After calling and speaking to the manager at Dairy Queen the resident said she expected him to simply state they were sorry and didn’t realize, instead she was told they took out a permit with the city for the light so that’s the way it goes. “He was not budging, no compromise,” she said. The light affects nine apartments. It shines in their faces, in their eyes and across their television screens plus while sitting on the balcony or porch or if a the sliding door is left open it’s right inside the apartment. Dairy Queen does close at 9 p.m. and the light goes out at that time but they will soon be open until 10 or 11 p.m. for the summer. Mayor Rocky Gillis said the city has an ordinance against overbearing lights and in fact the business needs to put a shield up for it and City Manager Artie Bryson agreed.
Mayor says things are going well
During his council comments Mayor Rocky Gillis took a few moments to say that Algonac is enjoying a very exciting time right now. The city had been dealing with two major projects, the pool and the activity center, they are both up and running now so the city can turn their focus to economic development. Gillis said they’ve been looking at moving the city forward and developing Algonac into what they know it can be and now is the time to make it happen.
“We are very excited about our future,” Gillis said.
Empty seats at SWMUA meeting
Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey said she loves when people ask questions and when people are in the building at various meetings at city hall. In fact, a Southwater Municipal Utility Authority (SWMUA) meeting was hosted there on April 21 at 9 a.m.
“We didn’t have social media back in the day, if we had questions about our elected officials we came to the building,” Davey said.
Unfortunately, nobody stopped by city hall for the recent meeting.
Davey said there were complaints because the SWMUA meeting last month was held at the waste water treatment plant so they moved it to city hall and nobody attended, the chairs in the audience were empty.
“If you can make it to meetings, especially over things that people are concerned about right now, come if you can, it makes a difference,” Davey said.
Councilman Michael Bembas asked if the meetings could be moved to the evening for those who work during the day. City Manager Artie Bryson said that would be up to the SWMUA board.
