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County moves to relocate recycling dumpsters from Northern Lights Arena parking
Summary
After Northern Lights Arena reported limited financial documents and safety concerns tied to recycling dumpsters, Commissioner Bill LaHaie moved — and the committee approved — a plan to relocate the dumpsters and deliver a resolution within 60 days.
Jeremy Winterstein, operations lead for Northern Lights Arena, told the committee that the arena could not provide printed financials at the meeting because their printer failed but that the facility has "around $80,000 in the bank" and recently hosted its second-largest tournament.
Winterstein said he has not received a budget for the year and has not been given financial reports since September 2024; he agreed to provide those documents to County Administrator Jesse Osmer. He also said that recent increases in traffic related to recycling dumpsters placed in the arena parking lot had led to three slip-and-fall claims in the past three years and that staff have found mattresses and other discarded items near the bins.
Commissioner John Kodowski said some parking spaces are not on arena property and belong to the Alpena Soccer Association. He told Winterstein that City Manager Rachel Smolinski had asked Winterstein to plow snow in front of the recycle bins but that Smolinski could arrange alternate plowing if necessary.
Commissioner Bill LaHaie moved to remove the dumpsters from Northern Lights Arena parking lots and to return with a formal resolution within 60 days; Commissioner Brenda Foumier supported the motion. Chair Travis Konarzewski suggested the county consider moving the bins to the city garage, which has unused space. Commissioner LaHaie's amended timeline to require a 60-day resolution — down from an initial six-month window — was adopted. The committee voted in favor and the motion carried.
The committee did not make any immediate changes to arena budgeting or operations beyond directing Winterstein to provide financial records to the county administrator and approving the action on the dumpsters. The committee's next scheduled meeting is March 19, 2025.
