Commission approves temporary sustainability coordinator position to advance climate preparedness, river trail work

The Mount Pleasant City Commission authorized staff on July 28 to create a temporary sustainability coordinator position to advance the city’s climate preparedness plan and related projects, including work on designating the Chippewa River as an official water trail.

Why it matters: Commissioners framed the hire as an implementation step for the climate preparedness plan adopted in late 2024. The position is intended to coordinate implementation, public engagement and grant or funding research tied to resilience, parks and river projects.

What the commission approved - Budget amendment and term: Staff requested a budget amendment of $42,000 for the remainder of 2025 to fund the new position; the city manager said a full annual cost would be roughly $100,000 including salary and benefits. The commission approved a motion to direct staff to execute a budget amendment for no more than $100,000 to establish the sustainability coordinator under Parks and Recreation; the motion passed 6–1. - Scope: The job description circulated to the commission lists tasks including coordinating climate preparedness actions, pursuing grant opportunities, supporting riverbank erosion and restoration projects, assisting with Chippewa River water‑trail designation and supporting community sustainability programs such as farmers market and waste reduction efforts.

Commission remarks and concerns Supporters said the coordinator would provide needed capacity to implement the climate preparedness plan and to resume projects that were delayed after staff turnover. Several commissioners emphasized community outreach, farmers‑market support and aligning parks, river and resilience work. One commissioner said the job description looked like a “hodgepodge” of responsibilities and voted against the motion, urging clearer definition before committing funds.

Next steps: Staff will implement the budget amendment, post and recruit for the temporary position, and return to the commission with updates on recruitment, job duties and initial deliverables. The position is temporary for two years with an optional third year, according to staff.