Lt. Gov. gets an earful from area leaders

Community leaders took advantage of a rare opportunity last Friday to talk with a top state official about economic development concerns. Lt. Gov. John D. Cherry was in Rogers City as poart of a four-day Sunrise Side tour, and local representatives made sure they were heard. Cherry met with area leaders including mayor Beach Hall of Rogers City, RC mayor protem Deb Greene, Mary Ann Heidemann, community and economic development agent, State Sen. Jason Allen and State Rep. Matt Gillard, city managers John Bruning of RC and Joe Hefele of Onaway, and Jeff Whitsitt of Millersburg.

Also attending were Posen chamber representative Alletta Misiak, businesswoman Marma Beatty, Harry Whiteley, business owner Jim Dempsey, John Vogelheim, Kammie Dennis and Mark Schuler of the tourism council, and PI Commissioner Alan Bruder, as well as others. Superintendents of schools Ed Schultz of RC, Dennis Stratton of Posen, and Robert Szymoniak of Onaway walked in together to lend their ideas to the luncheon conducted to discuss economic development issues. This was the fourth day in the tour that began in Standish on Tuesday, continued to Tawas City, and Oscoda and Wurtsmith Air Force Base, to Alpena on Thursday and Rogers City Friday. The tour continued to Grayling and the AuSable River Canoe Marathon on Saturday. Cherry was hosted by the Presque Isle Tourism Council.

?IT WAS a vacation area for my family and is a beautiful asset to Michigan,? Cherry said. ?I?d like you to know who I am and that you can call me. I want to listen to your concerns.? Cherry cited the fact that both Republican Jason Allen and Democrat Matt Gillard work together, showing that differences can be overcome for the benefit of communities. ?But we want to know how northeast Michigan looks at those problems of jobs, health care and education. I?ve gotten some excellent suggestions in the last few days but I need to know what this administration should be focusing on. We

need your input and I?d like to listen,? Cherry said.

Commissioner Bruder said the board supported the starting of the CDC/EDC five years ago, and it has been the best thing for progress for the entire county that the commissioners have accomplished. Heidemann told those present that good cooperation has not always been the case in the county. ?We?ve had a history of sticking our heads in the sand ? but we?ve educated ourselves. We still need cooperation at the state level, and better partnership between the entities (such as with the DNR). We need better structuring between various agencies,? Heidemann added.

?I WOULD SEND a message back about state agencies working with local governments,? Heidemann said. ?We?re a local partner with MEDC, we signed on with them and have a contractual relationship. The structure of MEDC has really been helpful. This is a system of local partnerships.? Heidemann went on to explain the MEDC has an advisory team that meets quarterly in Lansing and the county commission provides her with mileage to attend the meetings. ?I have to say not all state agencies have that kind of a structure and open door policy. We have many dealings with the DNR ? but there is no advisory team for DNR or local partnership or assistance team…and something like that is really necessary.? Heidemann said, ?The MEDC is a partner as is the DNR, but there are some crucial problems (that need to be addressed).

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