State funds will help rehabilitate the Algonac Activity Center
By Barb Pert Templeton
The Algonac City Council has approved a grant agreement with Michigan Department of Education accepting $500,000 in funding for redevelopment of the former Algonac Elementary School, now the Algonac Activity Center.
At a June 16 meeting Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey made the motion to approve the agreement and it was seconded by Councilwoman Cathy Harris.
“Finally, finally,” Davey said, after she made the motion.
Councilman Ed Carter asked the city manager when they could expect payments to start flowing to the city.
Bryson said soon. He added that the state seems to be anxious to address things now because he just got an email from them that day asking for the status of the agreement. Bryson said next, the agreement will have to be agreed to by the state.
“And then hopefully, we can start spending the money and then sending it in for reimbursement,” Bryson said. “It’s not up-front money we spend the money and then they reimburse us”.
He said he’s got a roofing guy coming in to give him a final quote on June 17 for fixing the roof.
“And yeah, we’re ready to rock and roll,” Bryson said.
Members of the Algonac City Council hosted a ribbon cutting at the new community center, formerly Algonac Elementary School, in February.this year.
“So, we’ll see some of these things beginning to take place this summer?” Carter asked.
Bryson replied yes and said he’s hoping to see things starting in two or three weeks.
A new name: The Nac
Mayor Rocky Gillis suggested the site be called the Algonac Neighborhood Activity Center.
“I just think calling it The NAC would be kind of cool, Neighborhood Activity Center because Algonac Activity Center is long,” Gillis said. “Just a thought.”
Bryson said they could call it the MAC for Muskrat Activity Center. Various council members said nah, they need to have Algonac in the title.
“We’ve done so much with the NAC’ we’ve got to tie that into the building,” Gillis said, while asking if the council would agree to it.
It was informal but they all seemed to agree.
The council then unanimously approved the agreement for the $500,000 state grant.
Background and details on the grant
In a memo in the June 16 meeting packet from City Manager Artie Bryson, he explained that after the city purchased the former Algonac Elementary School in 2023 funding was sought for renovation of the building. In 2024 the city budgeted $50,000 for the project and also received $200,000 in AARP funding with assistance from St. Clair County Commissioner Dave
Vandenbossche. In addition, the city was awarded $500,000 from the State of Michigan and Senator Kevin Hertel via the Michigan Department of Education’s school aid package, House Bill 5507. Altogether, the fund balance for the project was now $750,000.
Algonac was actually awarded the state’s $500,000 in 2025 but to due to a distribution error it wasn’t placed in the budget until this year.
Bryson also listed stipulations for the grant agreement.
They include:
· The period of the agreement is Oct. 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2027
· The state will reimburse the city in a timely manner upon receipt of invoices detailing the expenses.
· Any work that is different than the original scope of work has to be pre-approved by MDE to be eligible for reimbursement.
· Algonac shall submit any required reporting information to MDE when invoicing to receive payments
· Backup for all expenditures in the form of receipts, general ledger printouts, etc. must be maintained by the city for a minimum of seven years and provided to MDE upon request
· Funds must be expended by Sept. 30, 2027
· The memo also noted that continued rehabilitation includes replacement of the roof, flooring and ceiling tiles and any asbestos remediation necessary.
