On behalf of the Alpena County Youth and Recreation Committee, I want to express my gratitude to all of the supporters of the most recent millage. Those funds have supported so many programs and enhanced many recreational sites in our community these past 12 years. Your confidence and support of the committee and the millage is appreciated. The committee has always been transparent of all funding and a listing of all grants approved is on the Alpena County website.

On another note, please let me explain the committee’s feelings on the issue at Culligan Plaza. The committee supported $20,000 of its own funds to go to partner with the City of Alpena for improvements at Culligan Plaza. This is a very small amount of the cost projected by the City of Alpena of over $350,000. The committee had no say in the design, just as it had no say in the design of the splash park or many other projects, but it does believe in partnering with many groups and showing support.

In this case, the committee felt the ADA compliance issues and the safety hazards of some of the paving stones were a concern. The committee supports the city working with the community on any major changes to the park. I must also mention that when I see youth and families on a regular basis having a picnic at the plaza, eating ice cream, fishing during the Brown Trout Festival, or watching the lighting of the Christmas tree, this is truly a good use of Youth and Recreation funds to keep the park/plaza in good shape.

TONY SUSZEK

Alpena County Youth and

Recreation Committee