CADILLAC — The City of Cadillac, hoping to make some major progress on pressing matters at the start of the new year, after being stalled for a couple of months.
Cadillac’s city council decided soon after the November election, not to take up any new business or vote on any big decisions after realizing some council members were not officially on the board until they could be sworn-in next January.
Mayor elect David Powell said despite the error, he thinks the council is making the right move by waiting until the new city council members become official members in January.
“I think it is a disservice that they can’t vote on some of the issues that have been brought up in the last few months. But, you know, they’ve made errors. They’ve owned up to it,” said Powell.
Powell said he’s looking forward to his new role and attempting to fulfill the promises he campaigned on including improving transparency and communication between the city and residents.
“ Like I had stated during my campaign, everybody was looking for some change. Change is coming in January, it’s going to be an exciting time. The bad blood that’s between the current council, the manager and the residents. I’m hoping that we can get that rectified and get more people involved and come into the meetings,” said Powell.
Powell said other than that he doesn’t have any expectations. He’s just ready to work with residents, council members and city manager Marcus Peccia.
“I’ve been prepping for the last several months. Talking to a handful of people and getting some advice, of how January is going to go. I’m sure that I’m going to be talking with Marcus here shortly to see what’s going to be, what’s going to be placed on the agenda so we know what’s going to go forward starting January,” said Powell.
Peccia said despite not voting on important issues or taking up new ones, there were no matters that needed to be addressed immediately.
Powell and Peccia both agree that the two big issues the city needs to tackle have been matters the city has been grappling with for months but they have made positive strides.
“To have the monies that have been identified that are coming to the city actually come to us so we can get these projects kicked off. So one of them is the culvert replacement repair project, off of Mitchell Street, adjacent to Wexford Jewelers. And then the second one, of course, is the pfas project,” said Peccia.
Peccia said he looked forward to working with the new board.