MENOMINEE — New Menominee Mayor Casey Hoffman outlined his strategy for his first year at the State of the City address on Monday.
He opened his address by mentioning Spies Public Library’s need for a new roof and comparing the wages of Menominee’s most experienced police officers with the starting wages of officers across the bridge in Marinette.
“The highest paid and most experienced police officers in the City of Menominee are making $29.75 per hour, and the starting salary for police officers in the City of Marinette is $31 per hour,” Hoffman said.
He said Spies Library needs a roof that experts have said will cost $490,000.
Even Menominee’s schools were touched upon in his opening, mentioning a “brain drain” affecting Menominee — where the best and brightest move away — and don’t return.
“Menominee presently anticipates a half-million dollar revenue shortfall because of a shrinking tax base,” Hoffman said. “To be clear, this is one of the largest revenue shortfalls in the history of the City of Menominee.”
To help with the budget shortfall, he mentioned the marijuana shops in Menominee and how the uncapping of licenses brought in $295,000 from the Michigan Treasury Department to the city and the county.
“Marijuana taxation does not solve all our budgetary problems, and it doesn’t pretend to, but the funding brings us dramatically closer to a balanced budget at a time when we desperately need the money,” Hoffman said.
His solution was also to bring tourism back to Menominee.
“Dock your boat and stroll down Menominee’s historic district, where vendors greet you with organic produce, local art, food truck and live entertainment every Thursday,” Hoffman said, regarding a new weekly farmers market on Thursday nights where they shut down 1st Street.
Farmers Market: The city will look into hosting a “Waterfront Farmers Market” this year, starting on Thursdays, with May 30 as the kickoff date.
4th of July: The city council approved Jackie Nutter as the organizer for another 4th of July event this year, with details forthcoming.
Waterfront: Hoffman suggested the Waterfront Festival may return in two years for a 2026 date.
Mayor’s Youth Council: The mayor reinstated the Mayor’s Youth Council for Menominee students and those from the surrounding area to learn about government and leadership. The group will meet at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday in April, June, August, October and December at Menominee’s City Hall, 2511 10th St.
Mayor’s Interfaith Council: The mayor also announced a new organization called the Mayor’s Interfaith Council, which will meet at 6:30 p.m. at city hall on the first Monday in May, July, September and November for local church leaders to work together.
Walton Blesch Stadium Legacy Foundation: Hoffman announced that the group has raised half the $750,000 needed to fix the crumbling bleachers at Walton Blesch Field. He encouraged those interested in donating to visit bleschstadium.org.
Hoffman also talked about the good things happening in Menominee — the children’s museum fundraising effort, the management of Blesch Auditorium, Menominee’s track and field program and the upcoming scholarships for Menominee’s Class of 2024.
“At city hall, we have reprioritized expanding our tax base, creating more housing and listening as central tenants of our government,” Hoffman said.
He said Menominee moves forward when leading with ideals and values.
“Menominee prevails when we choose to move forward as one city,” Hoffman said.
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