(LAPEER COUNTY) – After wasting no time in conducting their search for a new city manager, Imlay City officials have interviewed a second candidate. Rik Hayman, the Cheif of Staff for the City of Burton, met with City Commission members last Thursday. Hayman has extensive experience in working with city departments on a day-to-day basis in Burton and says he has strong grant writing skills. The board, who varied opinions on how soon to hire a successor to retiring City Manager Tom Youatt, has also interviewed Lapeer County Chief Financial Officer Craig Horton and had five applicants for the position.
(LAPEER COUNTY) – The Almont fire department will be adding a life-saving piece of equipment to their arsenal to help them better serve their fire district. At a recent Township board meeting, fire officials requested board members consider the approval of a new set of Jaws of Life. The new tool is battery operated and comes with two batteries that have carry a 45-minute charge. The department also requested other fire fighting tools that could be used with the Jaws of Life. Fire officials told the board the old Jaws of Life system would continue to be used. Township board members approved the department spend up to $29,000 dollars for the purchase and also gave firefighters a three dollar per hour wage increase, raising their pay to $17 per hour. It is the first increase for the firefighters since 2012.
(TUSCOLA COUNTY) – Cass City officials have broken ground on a new project they are confident will bring smiles to many faces during warm weather months. DPW staff used village equipment to break ground on the new Splash Pad project that has been on the drawing board for months and is now becoming reality. The new project is located next to the village pool and with the water project equipment, toys and water features purchased, it is only a matter of time before visitors will be able to take advantage of the fun. While equipment has been purchased, village officials say financial contributions are still being accepted to help cover costs of concrete, fencing and labor.
(AREA) – The number of COVID-19 cases continues to stay at steady levels throughout the Thumb region this week. Few counties in the region are reporting any or minimal increases of number of positive cases or deaths due to the pandemic. In Sanilac County, officials still report 42 cases with five deaths but have not said how man have recovered. Drive thru testing in the county has brough in over 200 residents, with all testing negative. In Huron County, officials report 52 cases and 1 death while in Tuscola County, health department officials say there have been 213 cases with 26 deaths. Lapeer County has been among the hardest hit in the area, reporting 195 cases and 30 deaths while St. Clair County has had over 515 cases and more than 45 deaths.
(SANILAC COUNTY) – Summer fun continues to succumb to the coronavirus, as festivals and fairs throughout the area are cancelled. Along with nearly every county fair in the region being cancelled for the year, festivals that typically geneRate badly needed revenue for communities, have also been canned for this year. For those keeping score at home, you can now add the popular Deckerville Homecoming to the list of events getting the axe. The event, scheduled for early August, was well know for drawing hundreds to events including the Thumb Tractor Pulling show. County fairs in Tuscola, Huron, St. Clair, Sanilac and many others throughout the state have all been shelved for this year. At this point, events still planned in the area include the Croswell Fair and the Eastern Michigan Fair in Imlay City.
