By Barb Pert Templeton
The Algonac City Council held a regular bi-monthly meeting on Feb. 4 which lasted just under 43 minutes and all council members were in attendance.
Here are a few highlights:
Activity Center update
Algonac City Manager Denice Gerstenberg told the city council during her regular report that the city continues to await news of funding from the state so they can award a contract to replace the roof at the old Algonac Elementary School. Gerstenberg also noted that city staff has been meeting with the Piece-to-Piece Quilters to discuss a permanent sewing room. The DPW will be relocating the bleachers at the school so the HVAC contractor can install the heater racks. Once heat is up and running the general contractor will finish removing the furniture currently stored in the cafeteria.
Nomination forms for a trio of appreciation awards for local citizens are currently being accepted by the City of Algonac and can be found at the city’s website.
Algonac appreciation program nominations
The City of Algonac gives out several different awards to show their appreciation for area residents and businesses and they are currently taking nominations for award recipients. The Algonac Asset Award is given to someone that has made Algonac a better place to live. The Nice Neighbor Award is for someone who does what they can to make life nicer for their neighbors. The Beautification Award is for residents or business owners whose properties reflect pride of ownership. Nomination forms for the awards are available online at the city website at cityofalgonac.org and can be handed in to the city clerk.
Sunrise Easter services okayed
Trinity United Methodist Church submitted a special event permit to the city for an Easter Sunrise Service at Riverfront Park on Sunday, April 20, 2025 from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Mayor Rocky Gillis read the request into the meeting record and said the safety and security plan had been approved by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and organizers just needed to get insurance in place for the event. The council unanimously approved the special event.
Algonac Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey will serve as the host for the annual “Show the Love” dinner/dance and auction for the Arc of St. Clair County.
Water plant heaters
The council approved an expenditure of $13,600 for electric heaters for the Algonac filtration plant. Mayor Rocky Gillis said $15,000 was budgeted for heaters and that none of the heaters are currently working. The bid included one heater for the filter room and two heaters for the basement. The contract went to the sole bidder, JRI Services in Roseville, Michigan.
Davey to host ARC event
Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey took a few moments during her council comments to make a plug for tickets sales for an upcoming event at the ARC of St. Clair County. The annual “Show the Love” fundraiser to benefit the ARC is set for Thursday, Feb. 20 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Alexander’s Banquet Center in Marysville. “These silly people are giving me the microphone and I’m going to be the host for the evening, we’re going to have some fun,” Davey laughed. She then encouraged everyone to purchase their tickets soon. Tickets for the dinner/dance and auction are $40 each.
Shout-out to city departments
Councilman Ed Carter took a moment during his council comments to thank several city departments for their recent work. He said he was returning home and saw Water Department Chief Operator Josh Stewart and his team out shutting off water and helping residents at 10 p.m. at night. Carter said he also noticed lots of cars at the fire department that same evening with lots of workers there. The next morning when he left his house at 6 a.m. it was snowing and his street had already been plowed. “I’d like to do a shout-out, we have a great DPW, water department and fire department and proof for the fire department is the rating they got this week, so I appreciate that,” Carter said.
