Menominee Mayor Casey Hoffman, right, delivers his State of the City Address Monday at the City Council meeting. City manager Brett Botbyl is on the left.
EagleHerald Editor
Menominee Mayor Casey Hoffman, right, delivers his State of the City Address Monday at the City Council meeting. City manager Brett Botbyl is on the left.
MENOMINEE — Marijuana and its comprehensive reach over the City of Menominee was the overriding theme of Mayor Casey Hoffman’s State of the City address Monday at the City Council meeting.
Hoffman revealed that the city and Menominee County each will receive $500,000 in marijuana tax revenue.
“On paper, the City of Menominee has never been in better financial health,” he said. “Marijuana taxation has eliminated our budget shortfall and created a surplus of funding that this council can use to improve Menominee however it chooses.”
Hoffman said the downfall of the situation is that marijuana, much like alcohol, is filtering down into the hands of children.
“I’ve seen this as a substitute teacher and as a member of the Board of Directors of the DAR Boys & Girls Club,” he said. “This is not the marijuana you may or may not have smoked at Woodstock. These are highly concentrated and potent products that often look like candy or a household snack.”
Hoffman outlined areas that would benefit from marijuana tax dollars, with many targeting safety for children.
He proposed earmarking annual allocations of: $10,000 for a prevention project that places warning labels (adult use only and not suitable for children) on cannabis products; $15,000 each for the Healthy Youth Coalition and Communities That Care programs; $25,000 for the DAR Boys & Girls Club; $100,000 for the Spies Public Library; $15,000 to plant zinnia annual flowers on 10th Street; $35,000 for the Interlochen Center for the Arts (which will allow students to visit Menominee and help beautify the city).
“Prevention services is exactly how we should be using our marijuana tax revenue,” Hoffman said. “Just like countless other communities across the State of Michigan, from Daggett to Detroit. … Funding prevention organizations is vital to keeping Menominee’s teenagers educated and informed about the risks of drugs and alcohol.”
Hoffman also proposed spending $250,000 to $300,000 to replace, repair or remove all the playground equipment at every park in the city.
“The City of Menominee is blessed to have large, unrestricted funds from the Khlar and Hunter families that are, in part, dedicated to revitalizing our city parks,” he said.
Hoffman said he also will propose to the Finance Committee one-time allocations of $25,000 for a family-friendly Waterfront Festival, $20,000 to the Fourth of July event, and $10,000 each to Art in the Park, Art for All, Harry Potter Night, The Giant Pumpkin Festival and the holiday opener parade and festivities.
“Imagine what Menominee’s volunteers of armies could do with that,” the mayor said.
Regarding the Waterfront Festival, Hoffman said the Children’s Museum of Menominee will work with the mayor’s office to bring back the festival with proceeds going to help finish the museum on 1st Street.
“That’s how we will bring back Menominee — one project, one investment and one good deed at a time,” he said. “Gold bless Menominee and God bless the good people who serve her.”
Hoffman said there are other areas — such as road repairs — that need work.
“So tonight let us gather with a new mandate for Menominee,” he said. “The people of Menominee have made it clear — they want an end to the partisanship, fighting and division. Every new City Council pledges that it will be different and nothing ever changes.
“So please listen to me carefully. I believe this City Council will be different. I dedicate my time as mayor to bringing integrity back, civility back, government back.”
Hoffman is the 38th mayor in the 142-year history of the city.
City Manger Brett Botbyl, in his address, talked about the highlights of the city in 2025. He also mentioned Hoffman’s proposals.
“When we talk about the budget, the mayor does have some very lofty ideas, which I can appreciate,” he said. “But this current budget really did not have any capital improvement put into there because there was not an excess of money.”
Botbyl talked about his outstanding staff at City Hall. He said everyone involved with the city needs to hold themselves to a higher standard.
“With that, I’m going to step up my role as a manager to ensure that this happens,” he said.
Council notes:
• This was the first meeting for new council members Windy-Marie Kerkela and Christina Vargo.
• Council member Donna Marineau was unanimously elected deputy mayor. She was unopposed for the two-year term. Current deputy mayor Josh Jones declined a nomination for that position.
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Dan Kitkowski can be reached by email at dkitkowski@eagleherald.com
EagleHerald Editor
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