Alpena Municipal Council delays vote on possible election changes
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ALPENA -- The Alpena Municipal Council on Monday delayed a vote that could change when elections for the council members' seats are held and extend their terms by a year.
The resolution to move city elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years was taken off the agenda because a council member was not in attendance in person, but was logged in online.
Moving the elections would allow the city to piggyback on state and federal elections held in even-numbered years and save money.
City Clerk Anna Soik said in her report to the council the last city election in November 2021 cost the city $10,751 and that amount could increase because of the increased costs of supplies and labor because of the growing popularity of no-reason absentee voting.
"Not only is there increased cost, but there is an incredible amount of work put into the election that begins months prior," Soik said in her report.
If approved, the switch in election years would also require council members to have an extra year added to their current terms to align the city elections with the even-year elections.
If the council chooses to change the election dates, Mayor Matt Waligora and Councilmen Mike Nowak and Danny Mitchell would have their terms extended to the end of 2024, while Mayor Pro-tempore Cindy Johnson and Councilwoman Karol Walchak would hold their seats until at least the end of 2026.
The city staggers the terms so the entire board doesn't roll over during one election.
Monday was not the first time a change to the election schedule has been considered by the council. In 2014, then-clerk Karen Hebert made the same request, but the council voted to maintain the status quo and keep the city elections in the odd-numbered years.
In 2011, Michigan's Public Act 523 allowed cities who hold elections during odd-numbered years to switch to even-numbered years with the simple passing of a resolution.
If the council votes to approve the move, the first election for council members in the new schedule would be in November 2024.