Year in Review – Marine City Headlines 2023

By Barb Pert Templeton

The close of another year of coverage for happenings in Marine City is a good time to make note of some of the actions that prompted headlines. Here are a handful of highlights for 2023:

• City Manager saga finally sorted

In a 4-3 decision a majority of the Marine City Commission ousted City Manager Holly Tatman on Jan. 16, which prompted the appointment of the city’s Police Chief James Heaslip to serve as acting city manager. In March the city got a letter from Scott Adkins, who had just retired following an 11-year-stint in Roseville and he offered his services to the city as a consultant. By late April city officials were so impressed with Adkins work as a consultant they hired him as the full-time city manager sending Heaslip back to wearing just one hat as the city’s police chief. 

• City Clerk resigns and Bell steps in x 2

Following the dismissal of City Manager Holly Tatman, City Clerk Shannon Adams 

resigned on Feb. 14. Despite offering notice, she ultimately walked out of a city commission meeting on Feb. 16 and concluded her employment with the city. Officials then turned to Police Department Clerk Jason Bell who agreed to take on the city’s clerk’s job until a new one could be hired. Ultimately, the commission offered the job to Bell several months later and he know serves as both the city clerk and clerk for the police department. 

• Marine City awarded $50,000 grant from T-Mobile 

The announcement was touted as being something both “big and exciting” by the Marine City Chamber of Commerce and they did not disappoint. On Thursday, March 16 at noon city residents, community supporters and officials all gathered to hear the news -the city had been awarded a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant. The funding will be utilized to spruce up the Tot Lot off Main Street downtown. Marine City Deputy Clerk Michele Goodrich said she was extremely pleased to see the money coming to the city. “I was thrilled – this is a national grant opportunity with only 25 awardees per quarter so not only do we receive much needed funding for the playground but it brings positive national attention to our city,” Goodrich said.

• River Rec Teen Zone closes

River Rec Teen Zone had been a free, drop-in spot where students could enjoy games, art, special programs of interest or just have a place to hang out and relax after school. Launched by a dedicated group of adults in the community in 2015, River Rec Teen Zone announced it would be closing its doors on March 31. The decision was made due to a lack of interest and attendance on the part of local students. Rec Center Treasurer Laura Merchant said the idea for the center was to provide a safe place with a casual environment for kids to hangout in after school. The facility was open five days a week, Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and if they had the manpower, it also operated during the summer months. Fundraisers, donations and a tech grant from the St. Clair County Community Foundation got the Rec Center up and running. 

• Old City Hall back in city’s possession

A public hearing and a handful of workgroup meetings that invited interested parties to share their thoughts on the fate of 300 Broadway, known as Old City Hall crowded the calendar at the beginning of 2023. Friends of City Hall, a non-profit group that had maintained the building for many years, offered to purchase it for a dollar from the city, get it up and running and then return it to the city in ten years. Friends Group President Judy White attended a city commission meeting to offer additional information and answer question on the matter.  “We’re not trying to make money off the deal, nobody in Friends of City Hall has made one cent off of that building and our membership have been chronically and historically givers not receivers,” White said. Despite those facts on April 21 a majority of the commission – Commissioner Lisa Hendrick cast the only no vote – agreed to terminate the lease with Friends of City Hall and have the city take possession of the building.

• Friends Group formally dedicates bandstand

Music, laughter, speeches of appreciation and certainly some of the city’s illustrious history was on display at the dedication of a New Bandstand at Historic City Hall in Marine City on May 20. 

The sounds of Jimmy DeHeno and the Fabulous Henhouse Boys along with keyboard artist Kenny Rose rocked off the bandstand as visitors, seated beneath tents while enjoying light refreshments, enjoyed the spring afternoon downtown. The event held at 300 Broadway Street, the site of the Old City Hall, was hosted by the local non-profit, Friends of City Hall. Brief speeches were also given by Marine City Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche and Commissioner Brian Ross. 

• Maritime Days Event saved

Keeping a festival going in a small town can be a big challenge but that didn’t stop Tammi Graber from hosting volunteer meetings and gathering donations to make sure the 2023 Maritime Days Festival took place. “I’m hoping to see people come out who are passionate about this community and want to continue to make the festival a success,” Graber said. All were invited to join the crew, there was no need to live in Marine City to take part. Graber, who has long attended the festival with the arts and crafts show, lives in Chesterfield Township, but grew up in Marine City so her heart is still there. The 2023 festival, hosted the first weekend in August, was in fact a huge success with entertainment for all ages and included the return of the popular parade downtown.

• Commissioner removed from office

A special hearing on Oct. 16 between the Marine City Commission and Commissioner Michael Hilferink, who was represented by an attorney, lasted 62-minues and resulted in the first-term official being removal from his seat at the commission table. Hilferink was elected to a four-year term in Nov. 2022, picking up the most votes, 816, among three names on the ballot. The hearing cited five charges against Hilferink allegedly prohibited by the city charter, including three for misconduct in office for his behavior during recent city commission meetings. The two other charges alleged he approached an East China School District official about the possible purchase of land by the city and the fact that a Facebook page he administrates released privilege city documents that weren’t to be shared publicly. Hilferink said he had a casual conversation with the school official but he was not doing so as a representative of the city and the documents on the Facebook page were posted anonymously, not by him. Five members of the commission voted in favor of his removal while Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick was absent from the meeting.

• Loss of two longtime city supporters  

Rita M. Roehrig

She was intelligent, interesting, outspoken and a tireless supporter of communities in St. Clair County. Those accolades were directed at the late Rita M. Roehrig, of Marine City, who passed away on Nov. 1 at the age of 98. In an obituary, Roehrig was described by her family as someone ‘who loved life, her family and lived it fully. Rita was never afraid to speak her mind and she will be greatly missed.’ In addition to serving nearly 20 years as clerk, treasurer and supervisor in Ira Township, Roehrig later moved to Marine City in 1995 and served as Marine City’s interim manager for six months. She also served on the Planning Commission and was a Marine City Commissioner for eight years. 

Judy White

Judy White, who was the president of the non-profit group Friends of City Hall and a community supporter for decades passed away following a short illness in October. Officials took time out at a city commission meeting to offer their thoughts and condolences. Marine City Manager Scott Adkins said, “I want to give my sympathies and condolences to the White family I had a wonderful opportunity, not being in this seat for a long time, but being in this county working with Judy for 15 or 18 years on various projects. Certainly, her absence from the Marine City community will be missed you just don’t find people like Judy White so my sympathies and condolences to the family.” 

• O’Brien appointed to fill commission seat

At a Nov. 16 meeting Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche made a motion to have applicant Sean O’Brien appointed to the fill the seat that Commissioner Michael Hilferink was removed from in October. Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick seconded the motion and stated it’s nice to have people applying for the position, as it’s not an easy job. “I think you’re younger, we need some more younger people, you’re very sharp at things, you do your homework and I think you’re going to be a very, very, good addition to this board,” Hendrick said. O’Brien took his seat at the board table at the Dec. 14 commission meeting. He stated that he looked forward to serving the community as a board member and thanked his family for their support.