Local News

Yesterday, the Michigan Strategic Fund, in cooperation with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, announced the approval of a $750,000 performance-based grant for R & E Automated Systems.  The company, headquartered in Romeo, Michigan, provides automation, prototyping, and engineering services for more than 500 global clients in several industries, including automotive. Because of this grant, R & E Automated Systems is purchasing a 141,000-square-foot industrial building located on 20th Street from MAG Powertrain. 

The facility was constructed in 1980 to support the machine-tool industry. The five-year, two-phase project includes an investment of $14.2 million and creation of 176 new jobs, including engineers, locally and in the region. The St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance worked to recruit the company and will be providing hiring support, including a job fair to fill the company’s positions.  Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works will be providing hiring support, including posting open positions on the state’s jobs database and other recruiting assistance.

The St. Clair County Community Mental Health Authority adopted a resolution at their meeting on August 6th expressing the board’s opposition to the termination of a State Contract with the Lakeshore Regional Entity.  The Lakeshore entity provides mental health services to over 250,000 residents in 7 Western Michigan Counties. The significance of the termination is that this will be the first time the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be using a private provider, Beacon Health Options, to provide services within that region or any region in Michigan. 

Most regions, including St. Clair County CMH’s Region 10, stand in opposition. They believe it takes local control of the traditional public mental health system and puts that control directly to “for-profit” companies. Although the state of Michigan says this is a temporary measure, regions around the State of Michigan believe it will be permanent, thereby eliminating the public mental health system in Michigan. 

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is in the process of investing $2.1 million in bridge repairs and improvements along I-94 from Meisner Road in Casco Township to Water Street in the city of Port Huron. Work includes deck patching, joint replacements, pavement markings, and epoxy sealing on 32 bridge structures. As part of the ongoing project, the Michigan Department of Transportation will complete bridge work on the Lapeer Connector over I-94 this week. August 7 – 10th, the southbound Lapeer Connector will be closed over I-94 and traffic detoured via Water Street to 10th Street to Lapeer Road. August 11 – 14th, the northbound Lapeer Connector will be closed over I-94 and traffic detoured via the eastbound I-94 service drive to Water Street to the westbound I-94 service drive.

The main thoroughfare along the lakeshore and river is going to be busy later this week as people flock to the eastern part of Michigan’s thumb coast for the annual Yard Sale Trail. The weekend-long event takes place along Lake Huron and the St. Clair River with over 200 miles of antiques, yard sales, and much more. Twelve Blue Water Area communities from Sebewaing to Algonac will participate.

In addition to the garage sales, the route travels through several quaint communities such as Marine City, St. Clair, Port Huron, Lexington, Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Port Hope, and Port Austen.  Those communities are full of unique shops and boutiques, museums full of local history, and eateries for convenience and comfort. The official kickoff is Friday, August 9th,  and the event continues through the end of Sunday. If you’re out and about this weekend, remember to slow down and be extra careful to watch for people crossing M-29 and M-25. 

With the annual Float Down only a week and a half away, there is a local group that is reminding participants to keep it clean.  The Friends of the St. Clair River have started a campaign called A Fun River is a Clean River. They are asking the thousands of people who will be participating in the Float Down to focus on keeping the river and surrounding areas clean and trash free.  Sheri Faust, President of the “Friends” group said, “This campaign is centered on raising awareness of personal stewardship of the river. We’re educating floaters and spectators and mobilizing volunteers to help keep the river, its shoreline and beaches clean.”

Members of the Friends group will be at Lighthouse Beach asking floaters to sign a pledge not to litter as a symbolic gesture of stewardship for the river. In exchange for signing the pledge, participants will receive a free mesh trash bag to clip to their float.  Volunteers are welcome to help the group in their efforts. The Float Down traditionally begins at Lighthouse Beach and runs 8 miles to Chrysler Beach in Marysville. 

Clay township recently sent a letter to their sewer customers highlighting illegal flows into the sanitary sewer system.  The wastewater treatment plant in Algonac treats the sanitary sewer system for Clay, Ira, and the City of Algonac. In their letter to residents, Clay township officials point out that the plant is designed to only handle waste water from the sanitary system.  It is not designed to help drain property due to flooding.

Recently, sewer pump stations were overwhelmed with infiltrating water. The township points out that illegal activities include connecting sump pumps to the sanitary system, lifting manhole covers to allow surface water to enter the system, or using any method to pump storm or river water into the sanitary system.  Residents will face fines for any illegal discharge into the system, and they may face permanent disconnection.