Algonac to welcome Lions event July 3 – 6
By Barb Pert Templeton
A sure sign that summers on its way is the formal announcement and approval of the annual Algonac Lions Club Pickerel Tournament held over the Fourth of July weekend.
Members of the Algonac City Council unanimously approved a special event application for the four-day festival at it’s March 18 meeting.
The much-anticipated tournament will be held Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6 in the city. Highlights will include fireworks on Saturday July 5 and the main parade on Sunday, July 6. A new item added to this year’s schedule is a Bloody Mary/Mimosa competition to be hosted at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Information about the event and a permit application were part of a council meeting packet and notes that M29 will be closed at 6 p.m. on Saturday and will not reopen until 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The memo, from City Manager Denice Gerstenberg, also noted that the city’s DPW, Fire and Police departments provide services during the Pickerel Tournament which costs the city about $20,000 every year. An Algonac city ordinance requires applicants to reimburse the city for all costs incurred over $1,000 in prepping and administering the special event.
At the same time, a state statue permits municipal governments to expend money in observance of national holidays like July 4 if the event reasonably benefits the public.
The Algonac City Council took action in 2021 and agreed that the city taxpayers would absorb a portion of the costs incurred preparing and administering the Pickerel Tournament and the Algonac Lions would be required to reimburse the city in the amount of $5,000 each year.
The Lions submit $2,500 with the special event permit application to the city and then the city treasurer invoices them for the other $2,500 with the balance due by August 1.
Chair of the 2025 tournament is listed on the permit as Wendy Drinkard Wojtas and Gerstenberg noted that all of the required documents for the event have been received, reviewed and approved by the city administration and St. Clair County Sheriff.
The application noted that the organizers will provide the city with a complete list of all the vendors participating seven days before the start of the event on July 3.
Saving taxpayers some money
The 87th Annual Algonac Lions Pickerel Tournament will be hosted over the Fourth of July weekend.
Algonac resident Dwayne Hrynyk, spoke during public comments at the recent meeting. He said he’s been in charge of the Pickerel Parade for the last three years and while he has no problem with the Pickeral Tournament or the Lions, he still wanted to speak for the taxpayers in the city.
“I have a little problem with the way the money is being distributed,” Hrynyk said.
He said other cities pay a cost recovery fee instead of a permit fee and the standard rate is 25%.
“I want you to think about bringing the city of Algonac’s cost recovery up to pare with the rest of the townships and cities to save us money, it’s my money that you guys are spending,” Hrynyk said.
He went on to state that “they (the Lions Club) can afford it” and handed over two Pickerel Tournament expense reports. In 2023 the Pickerel Tournament net profit was $87,520 and the 2024 total was $81,549.
Hrynyk said if the city increased the Lions fee up to the 25% flat rate it would only cost them an extra $5,000 per year and that extra $5,000 of taxpayers’ money could be spent somewhere else.
“I know tonight it’s probably too late to say let’s raise it from $5,000 to $10,000 but it’s something to think about for the future,” Hrynyk said.
The Lions good works
As part of the application process the Algonac Lions Club provided the city with some background information on their group and it’s 87-year history in the city.
The list included the following:
· For the last 87-years the Algonac Lions Club has served and donated to the entire community both in Algonac and Clay Township.
· The Lions have conducted multiple community efforts including donating food baskets and weekly dinners to senior citizens and the needs of residents year-round.
· The Lions are a source for residents to secure medical equipment like wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, canes and braces at no cost to residents.
· The Lions have also donated money to various causes in Algonac Community Schools. The list includes but is not limited to school athletic and band programs and scholarships for Algonac seniors.
· The club also provides the Algonac Lions Hall for various fundraisers to several Algonac residents and businesses at no cost.
· The Lion’s Hall is operated and maintained the club members and is recognized as a warming and cooling center during power outages as well as a shelter/gathering place during emergencies.
· Over the last year the Lions have donated use of the hall to 17 different charitable causes.
· Providing service and products to the community cost money. The Algonac Lions Club raises money for the community to give it back to the community.
· Putting an exact dollar amount on everything the Algonac Lions Club does is difficult because just over the last five years that amount is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
