By Barb Pert Templeton
A regular meeting of the Algonac City Council on Oct. 17 lasted just under 50-minutes but had officials approving a number of items including nearly $20,000 in new equipment for the city’s fire department.
Fire equipment purchases approved
Algonac Fire Chief Joe Doan asked officials for approval to purchase $19,827 in new equipment for his department via a memo presented at a recent meeting. Doan stated that the department received a donation from the George C Mylar Revocable Trust and the Caroline E. Myler Family Trust in July the amount of $19,222. He stated that amount would cover all but $605 of the costs for the new equipment and that would be the city’s responsibility. The equipment purchased included: a Defib Tech Lifeline ARM Automated Chest Compressor Device for $12,924, a Genisis Mobile Stairlift that helps transport people up and down stairs safely for $2,999, a Life/Form Airway CPR Training Device for $1,330 and 17” building letters for city office, police and fire departments to identify those locations better at a cost of $2,572.
Pool gets $400,000 grant
The Algonac Fire Department has purchased $19,827 in new equipment including an Automated Chest Compression Devise that will add in administering CPR for those suffering a heart attack.
City Manager Denice Gerstenberg informed officials at a recent meeting that the city pool has been awarded a $400,000 grant from Revitalization and Placemaking Program thru the Michigan Economic Development Program. The pool had already received a $300,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund so that means a total of $700,000 are now available for the pool project. Gerstenberg said the city still has one more grant opportunity out there, a $1.4 million Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity which is expected to be announced by Oct. 21, 2023. Gerstenberg noted that the city did not garner any funds from the second round of SPARKS grants recently announced by the state.
Early voting site approved
The city council approved Clay Township as the location to serve Algonac and Clay Township’s registered voters for casting ballots nine days prior to every state and federal election. The new voting opportunity is a result of the passage of Proposal 2022-2 in the State of Michigan, beginning in 2024 and notes the early voting sites must be open eight hours a day, in this case Saturday through the following Sunday. The state suggested neighboring communities work together as communities will receive very little, if any state funding for the new service, according to a memo to the city council from Algonac City Clerk Lisa Borgacz. She and the Clay Township Clerk, with a recommendation from the Election Commission, suggested Clay host the Early Voting Site at Clay Township offices located at 4710 Pointe Tremble Road. Each clerk will send notices to all registered voters informing them of the option to vote at the early voting site, including the location and hours of voting prior to the Feb. 2024 election.
Annual leaf pick-up
During the city manager’s portion of the agenda at the Oct. 17 Algonac City Council meeting, City Manager Denice Gerstenberg informed the council about the city’s annual leaf pick-up program. She said the DPW would begin leaf blowing on the south end of town on Nov. 6 with the last pickup being on Nov. 22. Residents are encouraged to use Emterra curbside waste pickup and dispose of leaves using paper bags or trash cans marked with an X. The final pickup by Emterra will be on Nov. 30.
