News Photo by Kaitlin Ryan Supporters of victims of sexual assault gather at Culligan Plaza in downtown Alpena in October. The demonstration was organized after Thompson Hein received a 90-day sentence in a criminal sexual conduct case, a sentence many in the community saw as too light. Nick Skaluba, also charged with criminal sexual conduct in the same case, is expected to go on trial in February.

ALPENA –Several issues begun in 2018 — or sooner — will carry over into the new year, including Alpena Public Schools’ work on a potential new property tax proposal, work begun on a new county jail and airport terminal, and the years-long dispute between Alpena and Alpena Township over water and sewer rates.

Here’s a look at what Northeast Michigan residents can expect to see in the new year.

APS CONSIDERS BOND PROPOSAL

Alpena Public Schools has been reviewing its options for a possible bond proposal it may ask voters to approve in May.

The district has discussed selling bonds — to be repaid by property owners through increased taxes — to raise funds for disrictwide building renovations and upgrades.

As of Dec. 18, the APS Board of Education approved a preliminary qualifcation for bonds that was sent to the Michigan Treasury. The Treasury has 30 days to look at the numbers, including the scope of the district’s project, which is projected to cost around $63 million. The district has said it may need to ask voters to approve around 1.9 mills — or $95 a year for the owner of a $100,000 house — in new property tax.

The largest projects district officials have discussed are major renovations to Alpena High School and a focus on security upgrades to all school buildings. The district would also tear down the existing Ella White Elementary School and build a new, similarly sized, two-story building there.

The board has until February to decide whether or not to put the tax proposal on the May ballot.

AHS TO HOST TWO ROBOTICS TOURNAMENTS

Alpena High School will host two district robotics tournaments in March. The high school will be the first school ever in Michigan to host two district competitions in the same season.

The competitions are scheduled for March 22 and 23 and March 29 and 30 and will feature 40 teams in both competitions. There will be many volunteers at both competitions.

The community will see an impact, with so many people in Alpena for those weekends. Officials beleive local businesses, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels will see an impact.

LIBRARY CONSIDERS TAX

The Alpena County Library could seek a 0.25-mill, 20-year continuation millage in 2019 to speed up proposed improvement projects at the facility in downtown Alpena.

A new heating and cooling system is needed to clear up a humidity problem in the library that has damaged materials and technology.

There would also be other improvements made to the facility, library officials said.

If approved, the new tax would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $12.50 per year and it would generate about $2.7 million toward the $3.7 million project. The balance would be paid from cash on-hand and other grants.

PLAZA POOL, NORTHERN LIGHTS FINANCES IN QUESTION

Both Plaza Pool and Northern Lights Arena have struggled financially for some time, and, as costs go up and revenue slides, it is becoming more difficult for the two institutions to make ends meet.

Alpena County, which owns both facilities, will not be able to supplement operations from the county’s general fund. Allocations from the Alpena County Youth and Recreation Millage has kept the pool open, but little has been given to the ice arena for operations.

County officials expect they’ll need to address questions about how both facilities stay above water into the future.

NICK SKALUBA TRIAL BEGINS

In a case that shocked much of Northeast Michigan and caught the attention of newspapers around the state, Nick Skaluba and Thompson Hein were each charged with criminal sexual misconduct after police accused the pair of being involved with drugging and sexually assaulting a pair of girls at a series of house parties in the summer of 2016.

Hein was sentenced in October to 90 days in jail, a sentence many saw as too soft for the nature of the crimes, prompting a protest demonstration in downtown Alpena.

Now, all eyes are on Skaluba’s case as his trial is expected to begin in February.

ALPENA COUNCIL ELECTION

Three of the five Alpena Municipal Council seats will be up for grabs during the November election, including the mayor’s.

Voters will decide who remains in the seats now occupied by Councilman Mike Nowak, Councilwoman Susan Nielsen and Mayor Matt Waligora.

JAIL, TERMINAL PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD

Construction crews and other contractors will continue the progress made in 2018 on the new county jail on M-32 and a new airport terminal at Alpena County Regional Airport.

The terminal is expected to be done late this year and the jail is expected to open early in 2020.

The new jail, a roughly $11 million project, was made possible after a countywide property tax was approved, while a Federal Aviation Administration grant is paying for 95 percent of the nearly $12 million cost of the new terminal.

The terminal is expected to be completed next year and the jail in 2020.

ALPENA, ALPENA TOWNSHIP CASE CONTINUES

The City of Alpena and Alpena Township will continue their already five-year-long court battle over water and sewer rates the city charges the township.

The case is currently in the hands of the Michigan Court of Appeals after both parties appealed a portion of 26th Circuit Court Judge Michael Mack’s September ruling on the case.

Both sides were ordered to begin mediation by the appeals court.

Mediation should begin in January or February.

PI WIND TURBINES

Presque Isle County spent much of 2018 talking about wind turbines after a pair of Moltke Township residents, concerned about the effect of turbines on their property, gathered enough signatures to force a county ordinance related to the turbines to a public vote.

That vote is expected to happen sometime in 2019. Meanwhile, the company behind the turbines has signed leases and an official from the company says he looks forward to the project continuing.