By Barb Pert Templeton
The Algonac City Council meeting on March 4 lasted an hour and 20 minutes and all members of the council were present.
Here are a few highlights:
Algonac Asset Award for McDonald
The city council presented an Asset Award to 2024 Teacher of the Year – Algonac Community Schools – McKenzie McDonald. Councilman Michael Bembas presented the award to McDonald who’s been a teacher at Algonquin Elementary School for four years, three as a third-grade teacher before moving to fourth grade this school year. A memo in the council meeting packet said she was chosen as the 2024 Teacher of the Year for her tremendous dedication to the betterment of students while creating a supportive and all-inclusive classroom that provides for the well-being of her students. She’s a student council advisor, participates in PTO events and is a tutor for students after school. A certificate with the mayor’s signature was given to McDonald following the presentation.
City Manager’s report to council
Updating the city council on projects going on in the city is a regular agenda item for City Manager Denice Gerstenberg and at the March 4 meeting she had several items to share. At the Algonac Activity Center and Gym, she said the Algonac Activity Center fees, Facility Rental Agreement, Facility Policies and Lease Agreement documents have all been prepared. A contractor was fixing holes in the roof and constructing temporary walls in the halls to block off access to the north end of the building and live traps were set to catch a racoon that was living in the ceiling. At the city pool things are moving slow due to the weather but new Welcome to Algonac signs will be replaced at Mill, Lee and Smith streets plus on M29 at the Harbor Club.
The Downriver Goodfellows received a check for $11,289 form the Lions Club on Feb. 26. The Lions held a bowling fundraiser for the Downriver Goodfellows at Colony Bowl in December.
Engineering for Lions Path Parkway
A proposal for professional design engineering services in the amount of $14,823 for the Lions Park Pathway Paving was approved by the city council. An 8’ wide asphalt walking path will be constructed around the perimeter of the park. Algonac was awarded a $150,000 grant on Feb. 2, 2025 from the Michigan Recreation Passport Fund. The project cost is $230,000 and the balance, after the $150,00 grant, of $80,000 will be paid by the city. The engineering contract will go to Hubbell, Roth and Clark, Inc. located in Bloomfield Hills. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2026. “I’m very excited to get this started and thank-you Mrs. Gerstenberg for getting this $150,000 grant,” Mayor Rocky Gillis said.
The Algonac City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m.
DPW Fence Replacement
Algonac’s DPW Foreman Joe Vernier asked the city council to approve the replacement of fencing at the Department of Public Works. Vernier noted that the DPW budget for 2024-2025 had $9,000 budgeted for the fencing. He got two quotes for the fencing, $7,700 from All Around Fence and $8,000 from Windsor’s Fence Repairs. Vernier’s memo to the city council noted that the city had previously worked with All Around Fence and was satisfied with the work completed. Officials approved the contract from All Around Fence which is located in Marine City. Councilman Jake Skarbek made the motion to approve the $7,000 expenditure for the new fencing and it was supported by Councilman Ed Carter. “I cannot wait to see that ugly fence torn down,” Skarbek said. “Every time I drive-by I’m like damn that fence is ugly.” Salt for the roads
The city council approved the terms to purchase road salt thru the MiDEAL program for the 2025-2026 winter season. In a memo in the meeting packet from DPW Foreman Joe Vernier he noted that each year the city purchases a large amount of road salt and have been using the MiDEAL program the last several years as it’s been cost effective. MiDEAL is an extended purchasing program that allows Michigan local units of government to use state contracts to buys goods and services. There are over 400 contracts available to MiDEAL members. The council needed to authorize Vernier as the city’s street administrator in order to formerly execute the agreement on behalf of the city. The price for salt will be determined after MiDEAL goes out to bid with the aggregate quantity of all program participants. Vernier estimates that the amount needed for the 2025-2026 season is 150 tons with a seasonal backup of 50 tons.
