Commissioners conduct first meeting at courthouse
As members of the Onaway City Commission entered an executive session Monday in their new surroundings at the Onaway Courthouse, it was as if the almost century-old landmark wanted to remind the city’s decision makers that they had entered a new era.
The old courthouse, with the recently installed clock, tolled eight o’clock. It was a sweet sound that had never been heard before in downtown Onaway until early last month. Commissioners met at 6:30 p.m. in the old courtroom building with its newly-painted walls and its smoothly-sanded floors.
The courthouse building, which will be celebrating its 100th birthday in three years, was refurbished with support from local donations and several government grants.
City officers moved into offices adjoining the courtroom, and Monday marked the first city commission meeting of the 21st century in the old building.
Mayor Gary Wregglesworth said it was nice to actually have city government operating under the roof of the old building.
“IT’S BEEN a long time coming,” said Wregglesworth, after commissioner Jessie Palmer asked him not to smack the gavel down too loudly when he closed out the regular session. Palmer made the remark because the refurbished courtroom has a noticeable echo.
Commissioners discussed a few preliminary solutions, but didn’t come to any definitive decision as to what will make it easier to hear. “We are going to have to do something,” said Wregglesworth. “It’s something we never had contemplated.”
Regardless, the historic first meeting for the 2005 city commission was a special occasion. Commissioner Bernie Schmeltzer said he would never have imagined the building making such an impressive turnaround, and moving from the city hall office on State Street to the courthouse has given the commission a little more elbow room.
“Going from the little sardine can that we had our meetings in,” Schmeltzer said “and now sitting in a room that, literally, if you wanted to, you could play basketball in here.
“THE BUILDING is impressive,” he said. “I think, if the citizens of Onaway haven’t seen it, I encourage them to come in. It was money well spent.”
Palmer agreed. “They did a fabulous job on this building,” said Palmer. The only female commissioner had thought about not running for office again, but reconsidered because she wanted to be on the commission when it moved to the courthouse.
“I think it’s a pleasure to be in here,” said commissioner Brad Porter. “It’s nice to see an old building, that quite literally, could have gone either way.”
The building could have met its demise with a bulldozer leveling the structure a half a decade ago, or it could have been brought back to life. Now that the latter has occurred, Porter said, “We’ll enjoy it for years to come.” Reiterating the thoughts of other commission members was Mel Perkins.
“I THINK THE people of Onaway should be proud of all the work that has been contributed – everyone that helped donate time and mone
A preliminary estimate for a custom-made table, which would be available for public use, is about $10,938, half of which would be paid for from grant money.
The commissioners decided to seek further input from local businesses in getting the new table built and using remaining grant dollars which, if not used, will go back to the Michigan Economic Development Commission for other remaining jobs.
“When you are doing it and it is all individual and it’s all customized, it’s a lot more than buying one piece out of the storeroom,” said Schmeltzer. “I’m sure whatever we come up with will be something that our citizens will be proud of.”