By Barb Pert Templeton
A regular meeting of the Algonac City Council on June 18 included a full agenda including the city manager’s report, approval of a special event permit and some board appointments, among other items. The meeting lasted one hour and 45 minutes.
Here are a few highlights:
Algonac Elementary Update
In her regular report to the city council City Manager Denice Gerstenberg told officials that the city staff met with the private housing developer and they are proposing 45 total units, 25 senior apartments and 20 family townhomes at the former Algonac Elementary School property. Gerstenberg stressed that the developer is not proposing low-income housing. “I will repeat that again and again it is not proposed low-income housing it’s proposed affordable housing,” she said. The next step is to conduct a property survey and the developer would like to have site plan approval from the city by October of this year. Gerstenberg said the city has setup bi-weekly meetings with the developer to continue to move the project forward. The city’s DPW has removed concrete from the playground area and will soon be removing bushes from the property.
Henry’s Club Cornhole Event
A special event permit for Henry’s Club to host a fundraiser cornhole extravaganza on Saturday, July 13 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. was approved by the city council. There will be a $20 entry fee and the idea for the competition is to bring people to the city and in turn raise funds for various projects. Organizers note on the permit application that they will be setting up at the north end of the park and the monuments there will serve as a buffer to M-29. Participants can park at the city lot off of Michigan Street and then use the crosswalk at Smith and M-29. The event will not prompt any road closers and Henry’s Club will have ten members on site to ensure safety.
Board Appointments Approved
Members of the council approved the appointments of six people to serve on various city boards. Deborah Jo Green will serve a partial term ending in 2028 on the Housing Commission. Chuck Bayly, Joseph Doan and Darryl Sopata will serve terms on the Dangerous Building Committee with terms that expire in 2027. Kimberely Catenacci will serve a five-year term on the Housing Committee and Michells Nolan will serve on the Planning Commission for a term that will expire in 2027. “We want to thank all of you who have signed up to be reappointed to boards and we know you do it for the love of your city,” Mayor Rocky Gillis said.
Recreation funding from county
For the 30th year St. Clair County will distribute the Parks and Recreation Commission County millage funds collected back from local governments. The commission redistributes 25%
of the millage funds collected back to local units of government including townships cities and villages. Algonac will receive $24,153 in funding for 2024 while nearby Marine City will receive $23,480. Local township distributions include Casco, $22,967; China, $20,199; Clay, $48,617; Columbus, $23,460; Cottrellville, $19,606; East China, $21,321; Kimball and $55,311.
The county collected $3,692,722 in recreation tax funds from residents in fiscal year 2023-2024, an increase of nearly seven percent over last year, and is returning $923,181 to the local units of government.
