By Barb Pert Templeton
The Algonac City Council met on Nov. 4 in a meeting that lasted 33 minutes with an agenda that was fairly short. Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey was absent from the meeting.
Here are some highlights:
City manager search
City Councilwoman Wendy Meldrum asked how many applications the city has received so far for the city manager’s position. Current City Manager Denice Gerstenberg announced her retirement in September. City Clerk Lisa Borgacz said the city has received 11 applications so far. Councilman Michael Bembas pointed out that the deadline for applications was still nearly 24-hours away so people could still apply. During his council comments Mayor Rocky Gillis said there’s a whole process to follow once all the applications are in and it was spelled out two meetings ago and the city will be following it. Algonac resident Eileen Tesch spoke on the subject during public comments stating she and some residents of both Algonac and Clay have a strong concern related to former Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson not only applying for the position but rumor has it he “he may already have the votes.” Tesch said Bryson has wrought much controversy in the township in the past dozen years and didn’t want the council to forget that when hiring a new city manager.
Update on the activity center
Members of the city council will be reviewing applicants for a new city manager over the next month.
Algonac Fire Chief Joe Doan said the Algonac Activity Center is nearing completion, specifically Phase One should be open for local walkers by the end of the month. The Piece to Peace Quilters moved in and are secure in that area of the building and hopefully by the end of the month the rest of the center will be open, Doan said. Councilman Michael Bembas said his understanding is that all people who want to use the center have to do is stop in and ask. He said he’d like to see the city’s outdoor summer music in the park moved indoors for the winter in order to host concerts at the center.
Contract for snow removal set
The city council approved a one-year extension to a contract with Maple Landscaping for snow removal at the library and water treatment plant. The one-year contract goes from Oct. 18, 2025 to Oct. 18, 2026. The agreement for the snow removal at the library is $62 for 2” to 4.9” accumulation and $83 for 5” to 7.9” accumulation and $90 for 8” and above accumulation. There’s also $58 for salt application per occurrence. At the water plant the charges will be $55 for 2” to 4.9”, $70 for 5” to 7.9” and $80 for 8” and above accumulation. For salt applications at the water plant the city will be billed $30 per occurrence.
Sidewalk snow removal contract
A contract extension for sidewalk snow removal services with Mowing Madness was approved by the city council. The contract is for on-demand snow removal services at properties non-compliant with the city blight ordinance. The contract approved is for the time period of Oct. 18, 2025 to Oct. 18, 2026. The rates for the services in the contract were listed by year. The first year was to be $115 without salt and $175 with sale per 50 feet of sidewalk per occurrence in the first year. In the second year the rate will be $120 without salt and $180 with salt per occurrence and in the third year the contract. Councilman Jake Skarbek said he just wanted to say he is pleased to see a local company bidding on work for the community. “I love as a city that we can give contracts to local the local area instead of pushing it out to other communities,” Skarbek said.
