‘The word is work:’ Mayor Donker looks at recovery during State of the City address
MIDLAND, Mich. — Mayor Maureen Donker outlined the city’s challenges and accomplishments over the past two years in this year’s ‘State of the City’ address.
“My thoughts as I was preparing for today kept going back to one single word that stood out more than anything else I could share with you. It’s not a sexy word, in fact it’s a little bit daunting. It certainly isn’t usually visionary or strategic, it doesn’t make me excited, it sounds – well – exhausting. The word is work,” Ms. Donker said.
Ms. Donker reflected on how the pandemic and the May 2020 flood made “profound,” “dramatic” changes to Midland. She also commended the Midland community for showing “resilience, change-readiness, leadership, collaboration [and] enthusiasm” during these events.
“What did we do? How did we manage? We worked,” Ms. Donker said. “We put our heads down and got to the difficult work of recovery.”
One of the biggest challenges faced by the city, as Ms. Donker put it, is staff. In one area, she said the city is prioritizing staffing enhancements – particularly the hiring of a grant specialist – to help pursue all the fund and grant opportunities possible.
Another area of staff that raises concern is critical infrastructure.
“Simply put, the number of our staff we employ are being stretched too far,” Ms. Donker said. “And so, there are strategic additions being considered in the coming budget that propose increases [of] staff in critical areas like wastewater, water, and public services.”
Ms. Donker also pointed toward retirement-related losses in senior staff among areas like finance, human resources, IT, and the attorney’s office.
“Filling petitions has become more challenging everywhere and we need to be aggressive and creative in finding ways to ensure that the high level of services that our residents expect do not suffer during this time of transition,” Ms. Donker said.
Ms. Donker also touched on the city’s response for future flood events, in the wake of the 2017 and 2020 floods in Midland County. The Concept 5 Sewer Plan – which includes updates to piping and manholes – was developed in 2021 to help keep excess storm water out of the city’s sewer system.
In one sign of post-pandemic recovery, Ms. Donker said that overnight stays in Midland in 2021 nearly matched those in 2019, showing promise for tourism in the city.
“There was almost no business and conference travel in 2021, so people staying in hotels were here because of tourism,” Ms. Donker said.
She also touched on other projects at the city, including continued renovations at Upper Emerson Park and the construction of the Middle of the Mitt Miracle Field, which will host its opening game May 14.
The Great Hall Banquet and Convention Center filled up on Wednesday, March 23 for Midland’s first in-person State of the City luncheon since 2020 – right around the time the COVID pandemic started.
Tony Stamas, president and CEO of the Midland Business Alliance, emceed the event, remarking that the attendance was the best he has seen since before the pandemic.
Mr. Stamas took a moment to remember Diane Postler-Slattery, President and C.E.O. of MyMichigan Health, and her husband Don, both of whom died in a plane crash in northwest Florida Tuesday, March 8.
“We know Diane as a leader, mentor, role model, and for so many of us, a friend. Don shared that commitment to helping others,” Mr. Stamas said. “Hopefully, as we move forward, we see the example they set: to make a difference. We aspire to help one another. We recognize that we are just given each day and we need time to connect with those around us.”
In her address, Mayor Donker likewise paid homage to Ms. Postler-Slattery when she touched on MyMichigan Health’s current projects, including the James T. and Elsa U. Pardee Cancer Center and the Rogers Family Wellness Park.
“I think all of these accomplishments are a tribute to the legacy that Diane left to our community,” Ms. Donker said.
Michael Piwowarski covers education, including higher ed and Midland Public Schools, for the City Paper.