Feb 24, 2021
It could be easy to miss in individual stories reported in between the doom and gloom of the coronavirus or what’s happening in Washington, but many, many exciting things are on the horizon in the Alpena area.
In a recent update to the Alpena Municipal Council, economic development guru Mike Mahler listed many:
∫ Jeff Konczak’s plans to renovate the State and Royal Knight theaters and the former Antique Mall along 2nd Avenue downtown
∫ The new hospital tower under construction
∫ The renovation of Alpena Community College’s Van Lare Hall
∫ Discussion between Alpena Public Schools and Aldi for a grocer at the current site of the school district’s bus garage.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz
Contractors work on the exterior of the new tower under construction at MidMichigan Medical Center- Alpena. The expansion at the hospital is one of several development projects underway. Economic development leaders continue to work with companies urging them to consider projects in Northeast Michigan.
If you pay close attention, you can see development projects taking shape around the Alpena area.
Economic development leaders also remain busy pitching and planning for future projects behind the scenes.
On Monday, Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director Mike Mahler updated the Alpena Municipal Council on local development efforts, and what’s on the horizon.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
ALPENA–The City of Alpena is taking action to recoup more than $800,000 in back taxes from a local manufacturer.
At Monday’s Alpena Municipal Council meeting, council voted unanimously to have city attorney Bill Pfeifer serve the Alpena Prototype Biorefinery LLC, American Process Inc, and GranBio LLC a notice of seizure of personal property for unpaid personal property taxes.
According to Clerk/Treasurer Anna Soik, there is $678,787 due in delinquent taxes on personal property for years 2016-2019. That total includes interest and penalty fees. They owe another $157,666 for 2020 summer and winter personal property taxes.
When American Process opened the plant, its intended use was to produce bioethanol, but little of that was made, mainly because of issues with the process that utilized waste from Decorative Panels International.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
There is going to be a slight change in how motorists in Alpena will navigate the intersection at Miller Street and 2nd Avenue.
During Monday’s meeting, the Alpena Municipal Council voted 5-0 to remove the traffic light, which is blinking yellow and red, and utilize stop signs on both sides of Miller Street.
Council has been considering a change to the busy intersection after there were concerns expressed from All-Saints School about the risk of accidents and risks to pedestrians.
Council had several options. It could leave the intersection as it is, make it a four-way stop, or make it a two-way stop. The flow of traffic should be more smooth, and less confusing than it is now, while not posing an added threat to students who walk in the area before and after school.
jriddle@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Julie Riddle
As traffic speeds past, South 11th Avenue resident Debbie Ludwiczak shares concerns about the increased traffic on her street after repairs to the Bagley Street bridge closed that road on Monday.
ALPENA For residents on several of Alpena’s residential streets, Monday was the first day of what promises to be nearly a year of busy traffic passing by their front windows.
A major renovation project on the Bagley Street bridge over Thunder Bay River began Monday, closing that road between Word of Life Baptist Church, north of the bridge, and the Arthur E. Sytek Roadside Park, just to its south.