George James

“Second Downtown” in the Works with Walker Investment

Port Huron, MI — While developments in downtown Port Huron have been the focus of a lot of investing recently, the south side of town is starting to get some recent attention. Mark and Hale Walker, the brothers who founded MiMutual Mortgage, headquartered in Port Huron, have purchased the building at 3592 Military Street.

Mark Walker said that he and Hale bought the waterfront property because they love the area and the water. Walker said, “Downtown is fantastic but so is the south end.” 

While there are no firm plans for the large former manufacturing building, there are endless possibilities with the expansive river frontage. Walker dreams of perhaps a restaurant where families can enjoy meals while kids play or maybe a combination of residential and commercial use.

Walker said that the southside riverfront is unique and has a lot of history and family living. In correspondence with City Council, Port Huron City Manager James Freed jumped on the opportunity to use the investment to spur a complete overhaul of the area with infrastructure improvements in a new Corridor Improvement Area. The investment could create a “second downtown” in the Military/Connor area.

Walker hopes to have plans for his property formulated by the beginning of 2022.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Gets Federal Money to Prepare for Future Flooding

The state of Michigan has been awarded $51.7 million to deal with future natural disasters. The money is part of a Hazard Mitigation Grant that is designated for investment in infrastructure to withstand weather and climate events.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer commented on the grant saying, “This grant will make a difference in building infrastructure that is resilient against changing climate. We have already seen roads, bridges and communities deeply damaged by extreme weather conditions. This investment will allow Michigan to enhance mitigation efforts for our communities, create jobs, and put Michigan first.”   

Michigan received a Presidential Disaster Declaration in July in response to flooding in Wayne and Washtenaw counties. Ten million dollars in emergency funding from the state’s general fund already went to mitigate damage from late June storms in southeast Michigan.

Also, the Michigan Department of Transportation is proposing a $50 million purchase of backup generators to keep pump stations going during power outages.

The federal grant is meant to save money in the long run by preparing ahead of the weather events.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Military Street Bridge Operating on Restricted Open Schedule

Port Huron, MI — The Military Street Bridge in Downtown Port Huron is currently following the Code of Federal Regulation to reduce potential shut-downs due to damage, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. 

The Military Street Bridge opens and closes as needed to allow tall boats to navigate the Black River, which leads to the St. Clair River and Lake Huron. Currently, it is following the Federal Code by only opening if five or more boats are waiting to cross, as well as on the hour and half-hour.

The bascule bridge is currently undergoing repairs to its hydraulic system and the change is meant to reduce wear and tear on the structure. Emergency openings for Coast Guard traffic are an exception to the Federal Regulation.

Temporary repairs have been made to allow the bridge to open and close. Otherwise, it would remain in the open position to allow for boat traffic, but causing a vehicle traffic detour on the business loop. The permanent repairs are waiting until parts come in. The repairs are expected to be completed following Labor Day weekend.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lightship To Get Much-Needed Repairs

Port Huron, MI — The Huron Lightship needs some serious repair after last summer’s damage. City Manager James Freed has recommended that the City of Port Huron award a contract to Martin Construction to repair the structure.

A rare meteotsunami caused water levels in the St. Clair River to quickly raise and then recede, resulting in significant damage to the Huron Lightship. The boat, which had been permanently grounded at Pine Grove Park for decades, actually floated up and destroyed much of the mechanical structures.

Some work has already been done to repair the Lightship, which is a working Museum, under the management of Port Huron Museums. It is not currently open to visitors due to the damage.

The final restoration involves replacing the damaged walkway to the Lightship and backfilling around the ship to maintain stability. After soliciting bids from several contractors, Martin Construction was the only contractor willing to take on the project. The cost is $62,400 for the complete project.

According to Freed, the backfilling needs to take place quickly to ensure the stability of the vessel.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Kids Likely to Have to Mask Up in School 

Don’t throw those masks away just yet. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued new guidance for Back-to-School as the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is sweeping the nation. 

The MDHHS guidance is based on updated Centers for Disease Control recommendations. The focus is on keeping school buildings open and keeping kids in school as much as possible. Risk level assessment and layering of prevention measures are part of the strategy. 

The strategies include vaccinating as many people as are eligible for the vaccine. Right now, that is people aged twelve and older. Consistent and correct mask use is also part of the current strategy. The CDC recommends that all students and staff continue to mask up. 

Physical distancing, screening and testing, hand-washing, improved ventilation, and contact tracing are all part of the layering approach. 

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun of MDHHS said, “We continue to urge all eligible residents to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible as it is our best defense against the virus and the way we are going to end this pandemic.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland