By Barb Pert Templeton
The most recent meeting of the Algonac City Council on Dec. 3 lasted 37 minutes and included a relatively short agenda. Councilman Jake Skarbek was absent from the meeting.
City manager’s report
City Manager Denice Gerstenberg gave her usual report to the council providing an update on the pool project at Lion’s Field. She said work is continuing with the good weather that’s been occurring and she noted that the bathhouse at the site will need some new foundations but otherwise things are going well and city officials meet regularly with the contractor. “We are still on track, I do not know the date that we are opening Councilman Bembas,” Gerstenberg laughed. “But we are still moving forward.”
Dirt bike track to be removed
Members of the Algonac City Council, pictured at their Dec. 3 meeting, meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey asked City Manager Denice Gerstenberg the status of cleaning up the dirt bike track at Smith Recreation Field. Gerstenberg said the city’s DPW was supposed to start removing the track on Nov. 15 but they’ve been busy with the leaf vac and also putting up holiday decorations around town and preparing for the city’s ‘Christmas in the ‘Nac’ event on Dec. 7. “They will be getting on that promptly now,” Gerstenberg said. Davey then asked wasn’t the cleanup supposed to be done by the people who put on the ‘Bump and Run” event? The city manager said an arrangement was made with the city agreeing that they would be removing the rest of the dirt and the cinder blocks. “We work closing with our 501C3 and are other event partners we all want to see that they have successful events so we do what we can to assist them,” Gerstenberg said.
Fire Remittance Amendment
The Algonac City Attorney discovered that the city’s current fire ordinance lacked a section with statutory language that requires the District Court to reimburse the first $500 of any $1,000 fine imposed to the issuing agency. In this case, that would be the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, should a ticket be written. Without the language in the ordinance the court can keep the full amount of any fine imposed. Councilman Michael Bembas asked why the city can’t request reimbursement of the full amount of the fine imposed. City Manager Denice Gerstenberg said the law only allows collection of half the amount. Bembas also asked it the city has issued any tickets related to this type of offense over the last five years and Gerstenberg replied know that this amendment was just about some “housekeeping” being done by the attorney related to city ordinances. The council then unanimously approved the amendment to Chapter 20 Fire Prevention and Protection, Article IV “Fireworks” to add Section 60 “Remittance of Fine to Enforcing Agency.”
Solar lights at Riverfront Park
The council approved a three-year service renewal contract for the solar lights at Riverfront Park from Clear Blue Technologies, Inc in Toronto, Canada. The city’s original contract for the lights was signed in 2018 when 20 lights were installed at the park. It was then renewed in 2021 providing continuous support and service plus monitoring and management of the software for the system. The new contract is for $2,901 for three years which when broken down is $48.36 per light per year.
Many hurting this time of year
Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey took a few moments during her council comments to remind everyone that too many people are hurting very badly this time of year. “This is one of thee absolute most painful times of year for a lot of people,” Davey said. “It doesn’t take a lot to let someone know that, you know what, sit down, lets go get a cup of coffee, how are you feeling, how are you doing?” She said just go do something with someone to help them out because the amount of people hurting who can’t find it within themselves to ask for help is huge. “This is the most painful time of year for far, far too many people,” Davey said and reminded everyone that there are services available through community mental health to help out. “This is a tragic time of year for far too many people,” Davey added. St. Clair County Community Mental Health can be reached at (810)985-8900.
