By Barb Pert Templeton
The Algonac City Council met on June 2, and the meeting lasted just over one hour. Councilman Ed Carter was absent from the meeting.
Here are some highlights:
Council adopts upcoming meetings dates
Members of the council adopted a Fiscal Year 2026-2027 calendar for their meetings over the next year. The council meets on the first and third Thursdays at 6 p.m. at city hall. The dates for 2026 approved were as follows: July 7 and 21, August 4th and 18th, Sept. 1 and 15th, Oct. 6th and 20th, Nov. 4 and 17 plus an organizational meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, Dec. 1 and 15. For 2027 the dates approved were Jan. 5 and 19, Feb. 2 and 16, March 2 and 16, April 6 and 20, May 4 and 18 and June 1 and 15. Special notes included:
· Hosting the first meeting in Aug. at the Smith Recreation Field prior to the Touch A Truck event, due to the Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
· The first meeting in Nov. was scheduled for Weds, Nov. 4 due to the General Election on Tuesday.
· The City Council Organization meeting will be held the first Monday following the General Election at 8 p.m. in accordance with the City Charter.
Tree removal costs approved
A recent meeting of the Algonac City Council lasted just over an hour and Councilman Ed Carter was absent.
In a memo in the meeting packet DPW Foreman Joe Vernier asked for approval for tree removal at the city pool. Two trees were removed from the property at the pool after the trees had dropped a lot of branches and leaves on the pool deck and in the pool, he said. Timber Tree Service came out and found the trees to be rotting inside and provided an invoice for $3,200 for removal of the trees. Vernier noted that the issue was a safety concern for guests that use the pool.
St. Clair Parks and Recreation millage
For the 32nd year in a row the St. Clair Parks and Recreation Commission will distribute 25% of the St. Clair Recreation millage collected back to local units of government. At the end of the fiscal year the county requests each recipient fill out a form stating how they utilized the previous years funding, in Algonac’s case the amount was $25,172. In the coming year the city expects a $1,149 increase in funding bumping the amount to $26,321.
Playground mulch invoice approved
Members of the council were asked to approve an invoice for $3,230 from Kamps, Inc. for playground mulch at Lions Field. DPW Foreman Joe Vernier made the request in a memo to the council and noted that 145 yards of mulch was designed specifically for play areas, as it was ground into small pieces and made of softer wood.
Mayor Pro Tem Davey addresses Skate Park
During her council comments Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey said she knows they have kids in the community who will help with the work that needs to be done at the Algonac Skate Park. She said the park is important to the kids and even added that she knows some kids are there “because they feel safer there.” If younger children who haven’t ever been on a skateboard come by the older kids stop and help them out. “Anything we can do to get these kids involved is awesome,” Davey said. City Manager Artie Bryson said one thing the kids want is a drinking fountain at the park and as soon as they get WIFI in the activity center he wants to put cameras and lights in place at the park.
Algonac Slow Roll to return
During his council comments Councilman Jake Skarbek said they are going to bring back slow roll, which is a community driven, social bike ride around town that would be scheduled once a month. Skarbek said it used to be a “massive” event before COVID hit. Riders go a few miles around town and visit different places. “You go slow, that’s why they call it the slow roll,” Mayor Rocky Gillis said, noting that riders of all experience are welcome. Skarbek said information about it will be shared at the next city council meeting on June 16.
