Photo Illustration by Justin A. Hinkley This photo illustration shows a man voting in the November 2020 election, Alpena teen Brynn Bills, whose body police discovered in Alpena Township in September, an Alpena Township water tower, and an Alpena Township fire truck. The background shows renovations happening at the former Royal Knight Cinema theater.

ALPENA — The year 2021 was a busy one for Northeast Michigan, but much was left undone that could come to a conclusion in 2022.

With criminal charges possible in the 2021 deaths of two Alpena women, property taxes possible to help fix problems at a local fire department that arose last year, pending lawsuits from 2021 fights at local school districts, and the possible conclusion to a years-long court fight over water and sewer rates in Alpena Township, 2022 has a full slate for Northeast Michiganders.

Oh, and it’s an election year.

Here’s a look at what to expect in Northeast Michigan in 2022:

CHARGES POSSIBLE IN TWO DEATHS

At least two men appear to be on police’s radar as they wrap up their investigation into the suspicious deaths of Alpena women Brynn Bills and Abby Hill.

Police have made no arrests in the women’s deaths – nor publicly called them homicides. However, they consider Joshua Wirgau — in whose back yard police found Bills’ body — a person of interest in at least one of the deaths. And Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski called Brad Srebnik, 35, a suspect in both murders.

As 2022 begins, both men sit behind bars on charges related to an alleged hijacking — in which Hill allegedly played a part — shortly before police found Bills’ body.

Police have been mum about the investigations, but charges in one or both deaths may happen in the coming days or weeks after police recently turned their investigation over to Muszynski for review.

If charged with no other crimes, Srebnik is scheduled for a jury trial on March 1 on kidnapping and weapons charges related to the alleged hijacking.

Wirgau has not yet been scheduled for trial in that case.

DOWNTOWN OPENS UP

Redevelopment of the former State and Royal Knight theaters in downtown Alpena is expected to continue into the new year, as is renovation of the former Vaughn department store, which most recently housed an antique mall.

Jeff Konczak, the developer who owns the three properties, said a new cinema at the former Royal Knight will likely open at some point in 2022. The Vaughn is in line to be unveiled this year, too.

He said the State Theater, which is being renovated to mirror the old Maltz Opera House that operated there in the early 1900s as a popular live performance venue, will open later.

Another downtown project that could gain some traction in 2022 is a new Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites proposed on the shore of the Thunder Bay River.

And the $63.5 million patient tower project under construction at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena is expected to open this spring.

COVID-19 LINGERS STILL

As of mid-December, more than 900 Northeast Michiganders were actively infected with COVID-19.

Health officials in Alpena County called it clear we will continue to struggle in the new year to get ahead in the fight against the coronavirus.

Denise Bryan, administrative health officer for District Health Departments No. 2 and No. 4, said we need to look at different strategies, like messaging about how to live with the virus.

“There is no special day that’s gonna come that we are just gonna be done in our near future,” Bryan said.

Health officials at a December meeting said influenza, strep throat, and other viruses are on the rise across the nation, and they expect to see more in the coming year.

Meanwhile, we continue to see more tools in the war against the virus. Federal health officials in December announced the approval of pills that reduce the risk of hospitalization among coronavirus patients.

Officials continue to stress the importance of vaccination as the most effective means of combating severe illness from the coronavirus and its variants.

SCHOOLS SUED

Lawsuits confronting Northeast Michigan schools will continue their way through court in 2022 as parents voice concern over facemask mandates and classroom curriculum.

In October, a group called Freedom to Breathe filed a lawsuit against Alpena Public Schools, insisting the district lacked the authority to make students wear masks or to punish them for refusing to follow the district’s Sept. 21 masking order.

The state grants schools the right to protect the safety of their students, including via mask mandates, the school district’s attorney countered.

With their request for an immediate suspension of the school’s masking rules denied, the parent group will argue their case at the next court hearing in May.

Meanwhile, Onaway school officials face a lawsuit claiming they stepped out of line by banning high school parent Erin Chaskey from school property.

Chaskey filed the suit after she allegedly overheard and recorded school officials discussing her objections to the school’s policy regarding teaching about race.

The parent called the district’s no-trespass order a way to keep her quiet. The school district says they ordered her off school grounds for illegally recording a private conversation.

Chaskey faces criminal eavesdropping charges, which she will challenge in court as the school district works to prove it had the right to oust a parent.

IT’S ELECTION SEASON

The midterm election in November will have a full slate of races on the ballot.

Voters in Northeast Michigan will vote for a new state representative and state senator. Current state Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, cannot seek reelection because of term limits. State Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, is term-limited and would not represent Northeast Michigan next term regardless because Midland will no longer be part of the 36th state Senate District covering Northeast Michigan under new maps drawn by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Also up for grabs will be county commissioner seats, seats in townships and other local governments, and local school boards.

The first step for most candidates will be the August primary.

The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education races will be ones to watch, as the board was under fire for much of 2021 from some parents loudly opposed to facemask mandates meant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and others who voiced concerns about the prospect of critical race theory being part of the school’s curriculum.

Critical race theory is a college-level course not taught in Northeast Michigan schools.

Several property tax renewal requests may also appear on the ballot, as the countywide veterans, youth and recreation, and older persons taxes will expire at the end of the year.

Alpena Township also is considering several new property taxes that could appear on the ballot this year.

ALPENA TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT

In 2021, the Alpena Township Fire Department was two votes away from being shuttered and those services outsourced to the Alpena Fire Department.

But a majority of the township Board of Trustees decided to try to regrow the township’s understaffed department that requires a sizeable cash infusion from the township’s general fund.

Heading into 2022, the township Fire Department continued to fill open positions at its two fire stations and add to its team of paid-on-call first responders under the direction of newly hired Fire Chief Mark Hansen.

In early December, township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe said a higher property tax on residents will be needed to properly fund the department.

A millage request in 2022 could be in the cards.

WATER AUTHORITY POSSIBLE

Officials in Alpena and Alpena Township, which have been in litigation for more than eight years over water and sewer rates Alpena charges to the township, are considering forming a water authority to end the court battle.

Officials announced talks toward a water authority had begun in December 2020, but no resolution was reached in 2021.

That resolution could happen this year.

A water authority is essentially a separate governing board that oversees water and sewer infrastructure in multiple communities.

Officials from the two municipalities have researched how authorities work and operate in other cities and townships and officials remain in talks.

If both sides can come together, it could lead to an end of the ongoing litigation which has cost millions of dollars between the two governments in attorney and consultant fees.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that prosecutors and sheriffs are not up for reelection in Northeast Michigan this year. That information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.