By Barb Pert Templeton
The close of another year of coverage for happenings in Algonac is a good time to make note of some of the actions that prompted headlines. Here are a handful of highlights for 2023:
- Algonac gets clean audit with strong fund balance
During a Jan. 17 presentation from the city’s auditing firm the city received a clean audit from the firm, McBride, Manley and Company PC located in Marine City. Curtis McBride told officials he is the managing partner in a firm started by his father in 1974. The audit which concluded on June 30, 2022, and the audit opinion – clean or unmodified – means the municipality is in compliance with professional standards. Starting with the city’s general fund, which is made up of revenues from property taxes, state shared revenues and federal, state and local grants McBride noted $3,833,000 in assets at end of the fiscal year. The report also reflected $937,000 in liabilities which left an ending fund balance $2,896,000 in the general fund. He said the Michigan Department of Treasury did a study and found on the average, a majority of the cities in Michigan had a fund balance level of about 42% of their annual revenues while Algonac has an strong 83% balance
Algonac Mayor Rocky Gillis presented a formal proclamation to city fire fighter, Jim Merlo, thanking him for his 42 years of service.
- Devasting fire on Harsens Island takes out six houses
A massive fire on March 8 saw the loss of six residences at The Old Club section on Harsens Island which includes an historic yacht club that celebrated its 150th birthday just last year. The call for fire assistant was reported to the Clay Township Fire Department located on Harsens Island just before 1 p.m. Many local fire agencies responded including Marine City, Algonac, St. Clair and Ira Township plus further away neighbors in Chesterfield Township and New Baltimore. There were no injuries reported but the destruction was heavy to the six residences on South Channel Drive. The fire left the homes in ruins with just soot and ashes seen by the time it was put out in the early evening. The island covers 24 square miles and is home to over 900 residents, many seasonal inhabitants who spend summers there.
- Algonac council honors longtime fire fighter
In April the Algonac City Council recognized longtime city fire fighter Jim Merlo for his service. Mayor Rocky Gillis read a formal proclamation into the record and a pair of fellow fire fighters presented Merlo with an engraved memento resembling a trophy. Gillis stated that after an incredible 42 years of devoted service, Jim announced his retirement from active duty with the Algonac Fire Department on May 1, 2023. Merlo began his career in fire service in 1981 with the Clay Township Fire Department where he served the community for 12 years before he joined the Algonac Fire Department on October 1, 1993, where he served for the past 30 years. Merlo has also been an active member of the Downriver Goodfellows, and for many years has acted as the city Santa.
- Annual Algonac Food Drive huge success
A raging fire on Harsens Island took out six residences but there were no reported injuries from the blaze on March 8, 2023.
When it comes to being there for those in need, particularly community members who face food shortage challenges, Algonac and its surrounding communities always answer the call. Algonac City Councilman Michael Bembas, who also happens to be the city’s postmaster, heads up the annual National Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive each spring. “What this community does for that food drive goes beyond anything imaginable. We collected 5,000 pounds of food,” Bembas said. The food donations don’t even include checks the Algonac Rotary, The Pearl Beach Lions and the Algona Lions donated in 2023. As a comparison Bembas said Algonac versus Cottrellville, same size and same economic situation and they got 2,200 pounds of food versus the 5,000 pounds in Algonac. He said when you look at those numbers on a per person basis, he just really wants to thank everyone in Algonac, Clay and on Harsens Island for coming through for this year’s drive.
- Algonac launches adopt a street or park programs
Keeping the city looking clean and attractive had Algonac launching a couple of new programs that should help that effort along. Algonac City Manager Denice Gerstenberg informed officials at a July meeting that two new programs -adopt a street and an adopt a park – are in place and explained that the idea actually came from a resident in the city. Those Individuals or groups who sign up to adopt a park or street must agree to conduct the cleanings twice a year. The city will provide plaques stating who adopted an area, be it street or park, and they will be put in place near the sites. Applications are available on the city website and at city hall.
- Officer shoots & kills local pet, Rocko
A St. Clair County Sheriff Deputy’s shooting of a dog in a residential area on Sept. 12 in Algonac prompted an outcry from the community. Sheriff Mat King attended an October city council meeting where he stated the officer, Deputy Daniel Jehl, didn’t violate any department policies when he shot and killed the dog. Jehl was responding to a report of two dogs on the loose in the neighborhood and when he located them in a fenced-in yard he attempted to lure them to him with a plate of food. Jehl claimed that Rocko, a four-year-old Australian Shepherd Blue, lunged at him and it prompted him to shoot the dog twice. Jehl was removed from the Algonac Post after the incident. Rocko’s devasted owner, Maggie Meldrum called her beloved pet her “best friend” and said he is sorely missed.
- City purchases Algonac Elementary School
The annual National Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive each spring was a huge success in Algonac this year as the post office was able to collect 5,000 pounds of food.
After much discussion and many years, in November the city of Algonac sought ownership of the former Algonac Elementary School. “I’m very proud that we decided to do this, we’ve been sitting in the passenger seat for way too long on this building,” Mayor Rocky Gillis said. “Eight years ago, they closed down and we’ve been waiting for someone else to develop it and now the city is in the driver’s seat along with the council and the citizens so I’m very proud of this decision we are making.” An auction for the property was hosted by Crexi, a commercial real estate firm and the city of Algonac was the successful bidder, purchasing the property for $165,000 plus a $20,000 marketing fee. Once the council formerly approved the agreement the closing date for the property was Dec. 18.
- City puts marijuana issue on the ballot
Having a marijuana dispensary in the city of Algonac is something that will be decided by voters as members of the city council approved placing it on a February 2024 ballot. The issue, which was on the agenda at a regular bi-monthly council meeting on Dec. 5, came about after the city received a petition with 353 signatures seeking to repeal the city’s current ordinance. The ordinance – Division 5-Marijuana Section 26-295 “Prohibiting of Marijuana Establishments” – would be replaced with a new one allowing one dispensary. The dispensary, with both medical and recreational marijuana, would be licensed by the state and located in a commercial district within the boundaries of the city.
