Local residents urge study of 3rd Street extension, question sheriff testing and tax abatements

Multiple members of the public used the Jan. 28 meeting to raise concerns about separate local issues.

Bruce Duncan, owner of Thunder Bay Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center and Thunder Bay Work Health, told the board he was concerned that the Sheriff’s Office performing pre‑employment drug and alcohol tests for employers in the area "takes away from business owners that perform the same test" and asked the board to investigate and ask the Sheriff’s Office to cease offering drug and alcohol tests to the general public.

Richard Magda of Alpena thanked the board for postponing action on the 3rd Street Extension so further study can be done; he said he opposed the extension because there are "no current studies being done" and expressed safety concerns about traffic volume and student drop‑off at the junior high school.

Michael Kramer of Alpena raised two related concerns. He said he had asked City Council about contributions to animal shelters after noting no mention of support for the Animal Control Shelter at the fairgrounds, and later expressed wariness about the proposed retirement center and associated tax abatement, saying, "If we are going to be partners, we should be able to see the books and after 15 years if all the money is going to pure profit a different agreement should be made and stop taxing citizens for profit." Kramer said developers are necessary but should not dictate unduly favorable conditions.

The board did not take formal action on these public comments during the meeting; they were recorded during the public comment portions of the agenda.