Escanaba City Council Meeting June 18th 2026: From Snowplows to Hotels: 17 Minutes of Progress (Thinking Man and Shinny Yellow Roads)

(Illustrative Only)

UP Thinking
Man starts
traveling the
shinny yellow
brick road. 
He notices that
these bricks are
a little heavier
then the standard
ones.

He has a business
idea and thinks
Escanaba might
be a good place
to create a
start-up. 

Smart City

Real Estate and
Entrepreneurs

The Competitive
Advantages of 
Small Town 
USA

A 17-minute meeting—but what a productive 17 minutes it was. In that short time, officials discussed budgets, new police vehicles, a snowplow purchase, jail improvement projects, block parties, housing initiatives, and hotel development. That's a remarkable amount of ground to cover in less than 20 minutes.

The discussion reinforced the impression that the community is in a period of positive momentum. Development projects are moving forward, infrastructure continues to improve, and quality-of-life investments remain a priority. Combined with strong outdoor recreation opportunities, a welcoming community, downtown redevelopment efforts, rising household incomes, and reductions in crime, the area appears to be heading in the right direction.

The summaries below provide a quick overview of some of the major initiatives currently underway. From an investment perspective, this community deserves a closer look. With ongoing redevelopment, supportive local leadership, and growing economic activity, it presents opportunities that entrepreneurs and investors may want to explore. Connecting with local officials, economic development organizations, or the Downtown Development Authority could be a worthwhile first step.

Interest in the area is already growing, with new property investments taking place. For those considering future business or development opportunities, this may be a community worth putting on the radar.

Escanaba City Council Meeting Summary (June 18, 2026)

The Escanaba City Council met on June 18, 2026, and approved several budget, infrastructure, and public safety items. The meeting began with approval of prior meeting minutes and a minor agenda adjustment to move the closed session to the end of the meeting. No conflicts of interest or public comments on agenda items were reported. Escanaba Approves Jail Ordinance

Key Actions Taken

• Approved Ordinance No. 1326, amending the 2025–2026 budget to balance departmental expenditures as required by state law. City officials indicated the amendment would increase fund balance usage by approximately $9,780 but projected the General Fund would still end the fiscal year with a surplus of about $100,000.
• Approved Ordinance No. 1327, rezoning the former Delta County Jail property to Commercial E zoning. The change supports the planned hotel development project and aligns the parcel with surrounding Ludington Street zoning.
• Approved a special event permit for the Northtown Block Party on North 16th Street scheduled for July 18, 2026.
• Approved the purchase of two Chevrolet Tahoe police patrol vehicles for approximately $62,900. Council emphasized the vehicles would be fully marked and highly visible to the public.
• Approved the purchase of two tandem axle plow trucks for $593,354.86 and one single axle plow truck for $255,962.44 from UP Truck Center and Caspers Truck Equipment. Public Works noted the purchases would modernize the fleet, replace aging equipment, and secure delivery before anticipated emissions regulation changes.

Discussion Highlights

• Public Works staff explained that truck delivery is expected in spring 2027, significantly earlier than competing bids that projected delivery in 2028.
• Council discussed training opportunities for employees operating the new equipment, with Public Works confirming vendors routinely provide training and refresher sessions.
• Planning staff noted the hotel development project prompted discovery of inconsistent zoning classifications on the former jail property, making the rezoning action necessary regardless of the proposed development.

Boards, Committees, and Public Participation

• Council announced vacancies on the Housing Commission, Planning Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals and encouraged residents to volunteer.
• No members of the public spoke during the general public comment period.

Announcements

• Council promoted a municipal band concert at the Karas Bandshell.
• Enhance Escanaba reported progress on its Patronicity fundraising campaign and expressed confidence in reaching its funding goal.

The meeting concluded with a brief recess before entering a closed session to discuss collective bargaining matters.

Escanaba City Countil Meeting Agenda June 18th, 2026

Escanaba Meetings

Escanaba City Council Meeting Agenda and Budget Amendment Review (June 18, 2026)

• The City Council scheduled a public hearing on Ordinance No. 1326 to amend the fiscal year 2025–2026 appropriations ordinance and balance departmental budgets in compliance with Michigan law.
• Council considered approval of several major capital purchases, including two Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicles and three new plow trucks for the Public Works Department.
• Recent council actions included adoption of utility rate increases for the 2026–2027 fiscal year: 4% for electric service, 4.5% for water service, and 6% for wastewater service.
• The June 4, 2026 meeting approved multiple community and infrastructure projects, including marina dock repairs, a splash park pavilion, municipal dock restroom construction, street striping services, and the purchase of development property on Ludington Street.
• The amended budget projected General Fund revenues and expenditures of approximately $10.9 million, with Public Safety representing the largest General Fund expenditure at more than $5.4 million.

(Illustrative Only)

As he toils
Rodrick thinks
of what might
happen if they
put some broom
bristles on this
barrel and
connected it to
a horseless carriage.

City of Escanaba. (2026, June 18). City Council meeting agenda and supporting documents. City of Escanaba, Michigan. 

Properties for Sale:

• The Escanaba City Council actively acquires and consolidates specific downtown lots, such as the $8,147.87 purchase of the 1011 Ludington Street parcel, to aid future downtown redevelopment. Additionally, several prime commercial properties and development lots are currently on the market across the downtown district. [1, 2]
• A breakdown of available land and notable properties currently up for sale in the downtown area:
• 1422 Ludington Street: A high-visibility corner lot with a $189,000 asking price. The property includes a 1,834-square-foot commercial building built in 1911, two large overhead garage doors, and a spacious addition. [1, 2, 3]
• 1100 Ludington Street: A historic landmark building known as the Ludington Centre. Listed for $650,000, the 31,600-square-foot facility offers great potential for retail storefronts and residential apartment conversions. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• 1117 Ludington Street: A turnkey, fully operational bar property and commercial space. It offers modern renovations and is listed for $550,000. [1, 2]
• City-Wide Sales: Various parcels in the Whitetail Industrial Park and South 32nd Street are available through the City Property For Sale directory.

Census Bureau's Analysis Veterans Employment-Business Can Support Veteran Opportunities

Veterans bring valuable skills and experiences that can make them exceptional employees. Reviewing Census Bureau data on veteran employment outcomes can help organizations make informed hiring decisions and recognize the benefits of recruiting those who have served. Veterans have demonstrated commitment, discipline, reliability, and the ability to work within structured systems and processes. They have shown up for their country, fulfilled demanding responsibilities, and often developed leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that transfer well to the civilian workforce.

Companies that prioritize veteran hiring not only gain access to a highly capable talent pool but also support those who have served the nation. By creating opportunities for veterans, employers help ease the transition to civilian careers while encouraging future generations to consider military service. These individuals play a vital role in protecting our freedoms and contributing to national security.

The Census Bureau's analysis examined nearly two decades of employment data and found that veterans from certain military occupations and branches often experience stronger earnings outcomes. Air Force veterans, for example, frequently earned higher wages, likely due to the technical and specialized training associated with many Air Force careers. Veterans with experience in intelligence, drone operations, and other highly technical fields also tended to achieve higher earnings because of their advanced technical expertise and critical-thinking skills.

As military operations become increasingly technology-driven, more service members will likely leave the military with valuable skills in areas such as cybersecurity, data analysis, artificial intelligence, advanced communications, and autonomous systems. These evolving skill sets may further strengthen veteran employment outcomes in the future.

Organizations looking to support veterans can partner with local veteran service organizations, attend veteran-focused job fairs, and actively recruit from military and veteran networks. Investing in veteran talent benefits not only the individuals being hired but also the long-term growth, resilience, and success of the organization. Veterans have already demonstrated their ability to serve a mission larger than themselves, and many continue to bring that same dedication and sense of purpose to the workplace.

Veterans’ Employment Outcomes After Military Service: Insights from New Census Data

• More than 2.8 million enlisted service members who were honorably discharged between 2002 and 2021 were included in the Census Bureau’s Veteran Employment Outcomes (VEO) dataset, providing a detailed look at veterans’ transition into civilian employment.

• Veterans with specialized military occupations, such as operational intelligence specialists and drone operators, generally earned higher wages and experienced stronger employment outcomes than veterans from infantry and combat-related occupations.

• Employment outcomes varied by military branch and occupation. Army and Marine Corps infantry veterans commonly entered administrative support, manufacturing, and retail sectors, while Air Force veterans were more likely to work in professional and technical services.

• Gender differences persisted after military service, with women veterans earning less than men during their first year in civilian employment across all branches of service. Earnings differences by race and ethnicity were generally smaller.

• Economic conditions at the time of separation mattered. Veterans leaving the military during the Great Recession experienced lower employment stability, while those separating during stronger labor markets generally achieved better employment outcomes. The COVID-19 recession had a more limited effect overall, although some Air Force veterans were disproportionately affected.

Foote, A., Hyatt, H., Janicki, H., & Wasser, D. (2025, January 14). What are veterans’ job prospects after they serve? U.S. Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2025/01/veterans-employment-outcomes.html

Corruption, Attitudes and Moral Foundations of the Future.

Let us continue exploring how corruption, discrimination, and injustice can affect society. The purpose of this thought experiment is not to accuse anyone, but to better understand how harmful behaviors can spread when they are ignored or left uncorrected. The long tail impact of embracing poor behaviors and outcomes. Where misbehaviors are uncorrected they are protected creating risks of future victims for everyone else.

In the Story of the Clan, false rumors and prejudice lead people to exclude, mistreat, and dehumanize others. Over time, some individuals are treated as less valuable, while those responsible for the harm avoid accountability. They are subject to every type of illegal misbehavior. 

Imagine a society where fairness no longer matters, where influence and favoritism determine who is protected and who is not. Trust in institutions would decline, victims would be blamed, and corruption could become deeply rooted. More victims created.

Research suggests that corruption weakens trust, damages social relationships, hints toward economic decline, and undermines confidence in justice. When unfairness goes unchallenged, society loses the talents and contributions of those who are excluded. If it is common and it openly rewarded it creates new challenges for the future health of society so you should always encourage accountability and correction.

The lesson is simple: freedom, fairness, and equal treatment require constant effort. The choices we make today shape the society we create tomorrow. A stronger future depends on accountability, respect, and a commitment to treating all people with dignity.

*This is a philosophical thought experiment for learning so take with a grain of salt. 

Corruption Experiences and Attitudes to Political, Interpersonal, and Domestic Violence

• The study examines whether personal experiences with corruption influence individuals' attitudes toward the acceptability of violence, including political, interpersonal, and domestic violence.
• Drawing on Moral Foundations Theory, the authors argue that repeated exposure to corruption can erode social norms and alter moral judgments regarding violent behavior.
• Using Afrobarometer survey data from multiple African countries, the researchers found a statistically significant relationship between paying bribes and greater acceptance of various forms of violence.
• The relationship remained robust even after controlling for factors such as local corruption levels, community violence, social norms, and perceptions of police and court legitimacy.
• The findings suggest that corruption may have broader social consequences than previously recognized, contributing not only to institutional dysfunction but also to greater tolerance for violence within society.

Gillanders, R., & van der Werff, L. (2022). Corruption experiences and attitudes to political, interpersonal, and domestic violence. Governance, 35(1), 167–185. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12570

2nd Day of Lifeguard Training (Bay de Noc Watch)

Meant to 
be a little funny. 

We are on Bay de Noc

Today was the second day of lifeguard training. I'm doing this to help out a little and I enjoy being active. I figured I would spend a night or so a week when I'm in town filling some gaps if I can. More people are needed so if your interested and want to know who to contact just send me a message or talk to me when you see me. I will just point in you the right direction. The training was very much worth it for anyone. 

Now that I've started and made it through most of the course, I can honestly say I've gained a tremendous amount of respect for lifeguards. When you see lifeguards on the beaches in places like San Diego or Escanaba-Gladstone, it can look easy from the outside, but there is a lot of training behind what they do. Here in Michigan, there are certifications for working around open water and aquatic environments, but before you can earn those certifications, you have to complete challenging training.

The course takes more than twenty+ hours and includes swimming, fitness testing, rescue techniques, medical training, and much more. It's definitely not as easy as many people think. In fact, that's probably one reason communities often struggle to recruit enough lifeguards. There is also a test you must pass. You have to make a commitment to the training.

I love swimming, being on the water, and staying active, so I thought this would be a great fit. I also enjoy writing, so I wanted to share a little about the experience and encourage others to get involved. Whether it's lifeguarding, volunteer firefighting, or another community service role, these positions help people and make a real difference. It is a part of community type service. You are literally helping people and encouraging growth in recreation.

One thing that surprised me is how much emphasis is placed on observation and prevention. Lifeguards spend a lot of time learning how to properly scan the water and recognize potential problems before they become emergencies. During training, they place a rescue dummy in different locations around the pool. You would be amazed at how difficult it can be to spot. You can walk around the pool and completely miss it. The exercise teaches you how important vigilance is and why lifeguards frequently change positions, move around, and adjust their viewpoints. Water reflections, shadows, and splashing can make it surprisingly difficult to see what is happening beneath the surface.

The medical training is also extensive. Firefighters learn medical skills, and EMTs obviously receive advanced medical training, but lifeguards have their own specialized set of responsibilities. They deal with injuries and emergencies on a regular basis and must be prepared to respond to strokes, heart attacks, choking incidents, allergic reactions, drug overdoses, cuts, broken limbs, and many other situations. Their job is often to stabilize a person and provide care until additional medical help arrives.

Then there are the rescue skills. We spent hours practicing rescue after rescue after rescue. There are different ways to enter the water depending on the situation, different approaches to victims, and different techniques for assisting people in distress. After about eleven hours of training today, with constant movement in and out of the pool, I can tell you that it definitely takes some energy. Repeated rescues and drills are physically demanding, but they help build the muscle memory needed to react quickly when a real emergency occurs.

Tomorrow is the final testing phase. I successfully completed the first portion, and now I have to pass the second part. If all goes well, I'll be in good shape and done with certification. Fingers crossed.

Of course, we've also had some fun along the way. We jokingly came up with the term "Bay de Noc Watch," our own lighthearted parody. Training can be serious, but it's good to keep a sense of humor too. You have to enjoy life because it moves so fast. Be serious and lighthearted.

Locally, we have great beaches, pools, and recreational facilities. Our area continues to attract more tourists and visitors, and people are working to serve tourists well. If you are visiting or want a place in the UP to hang out on the beach, shop, and have fun come over to Escanaba or Gladstone. We have a variety of things to do and it is right in the Great Lake's back yard.

So my advice is simple: get involved. Try something new. Enjoy the sunshine, get some fresh air, and stay active. If you're working at an indoor pool, that's great too. Lifeguarding is a meaningful way to help others, learn valuable skills, and maintain your fitness at the same time. It's challenging, rewarding, and far more demanding than most people realize. A few quick things I found online on lifeguarding. 

Indeed Lifeguard

American Red Cross Training

Lifguard Store-Lifeguard Skills

How Personality and Diversity Impacts Start-Up Success (Custom Country Club Golf Clubs)

(Illustrative Only)

One of these
comes up 
with the best
 ideas?😳

The executive team
is designing new
golf clubs. 

Ludington Street
is going to look great
after the facelift. 

If your interested
in starting a business in the
area you might want to 
check out. 

Escanaba DDA

You might think that personality is just psychological jargon with little practical value. However, the field of applied psychology demonstrates that understanding human behavior can have significant real-world implications. In the workplace, psychology helps explain how people perform, interact, lead, and make decisions. It also sheds light on how personality influences management style, entrepreneurial behavior, and even the likelihood of starting a business in the first place.

The study below examined more than 21,000 startups and explored the relationship between founder personality traits and entrepreneurial success. One of the most interesting findings was that there is no single "perfect" entrepreneur. Success does not belong exclusively to one personality type. Instead, the researchers identified several distinct personality profiles associated with successful founders, suggesting that there are multiple paths to entrepreneurial achievement.

The findings also reinforce the importance of persistence. Entrepreneurs who continue learning, adapting, and improving through cycles of success and failure often increase their chances of long-term success. Different personality traits may become advantages under different circumstances, industries, or stages of business growth.

Perhaps the most significant finding was the value of diversity within founding teams. Startups with greater diversity in personality traits, perspectives, experiences, backgounds, and ways of thinking were more likely to succeed. This provides a strong argument for cognitive diversity—the idea that teams benefit when members approach problems from different angles and bring unique skills, backgrounds, educational experiences, and industry knowledge to the table.

Tip: Having people with experience that can make ideas practical and people from different perspectives who can come up with new ideas helps. 

As organizations grow and face increasingly complex challenges, having a team capable of viewing problems through multiple lenses can improve decision-making, foster innovation, and strengthen problem-solving capabilities. Diversity of thought is not simply a social ideal; it can be a practical advantage that contributes directly to organizational success. 

The Impact of Founder Personalities on Startup Success

• This study examined more than 21,000 startups and found that founder personality traits are significantly associated with startup success, highlighting the importance of human factors in entrepreneurial outcomes.
• Successful founders tended to display higher levels of openness to new experiences, a preference for variety and innovation, greater activity levels, and lower levels of modesty compared to the general population.
• The researchers found no single “ideal entrepreneur” personality. Instead, six distinct founder personality types emerged, suggesting multiple pathways to entrepreneurial success.
• Startups with founding teams that exhibited greater personality diversity were more likely to succeed than teams with more homogeneous personality profiles.
• The findings suggest that personality diversity should be considered alongside traditional factors such as experience, education, and industry knowledge when building entrepreneurial teams and evaluating startup potential.

McCarthy, P. X., Gong, X., Braesemann, F., Stephany, F., Rizoiu, M.-A., & Kern, M. L. (2023). The impact of founder personalities on startup success. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 17200. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41980-y

Life Guard Workout, Breathing and Faster Swim Times

Illustrative Only

Recently, I decided that apparently I didn’t have enough hobbies, so I started working toward a lifeguard certification. My goal is to help out the local community once in a while—maybe a night a week or on weekends. Plus, I enjoy finding new and creative ways to remind myself that I’m not as young as I used to be. My body reminds me in the morning.

Before you can become a lifeguard, you have to pass a pre-certification test. This is basically the universe asking, “Are you sure about this?” The test involved swimming back and forth across the pool multiple times, treading water for two minutes without using my hands, swimming some more, and then completing a timed rescue exercise.

The rescue exercise was particularly exciting. First, you sprint across the pool, then dive 9 or 10 feet to the bottom to retrieve what feels like a small car disguised as a weight. After wrestling it off the pool floor, you bring it to the surface, hug it like your favorite teddy bear, and swim on your back to the other end of the pool without using your hands—all while racing the clock.

The first time I did it, I finished with about 10 seconds to spare. This time, I finished with 21 seconds to spare. That may not sound like much, but in lifeguard terms that’s the difference between “barely survived” and “not to shabby.” Even better, I got shorter times than younger peeps. 😁 I’m not saying I celebrated, but if anyone heard a victory speech in the parking lot, that may have been me (I know...not mature but still a kind of pat yourself on back thing.).

I’ve spent years learning new things, gaining certifications and hobbies like some people collect baseball cards. I’m a certified fitness trainer, certified yoga instructor, shipwreck diver (asked recently if I could dive a path for boat navigation but waiting on one of my dive friends wants to come with...and a new strap I ordered to come in for my air tank that keeps slipping.), sailor, occasional surfer, boogie boarder, and general enthusiast of activities that involve water and questionable weather conditions. I like the water, being near the water, on the water, by the water, etc...

Lately, I’ve been focusing on improving my breathing and endurance. My workouts include yoga, Pilates, dance, horse riding, rowing, sword fencing and martial arts. If that sounds like a strange combination, it is. On any given day I might be practicing breathing techniques, working on flexibility, learning balance, and then high kick. The goal is to increase lung capacity, improve control, and avoid sounding like a steam locomotive after climbing a flight of stairs.

One thing I’ve learned is that you can get into pretty good shape without living in a gym. Right now, most of my workouts are at home. I use some 15-pound weights, mostly to remind my muscles that retirement is not an option (Doesn't matter size as much as fatigue. Focusing more on functional muscle.). I also keep an eye on my nutrition, which turns out to be much more effective than my previous strategy of hoping vegetables would somehow count if they were next to pizza.

I still have the written tests and classroom work ahead of me, but the physical portion is mostly complete. Hopefully, the mental side goes as well as the physical side. If not, I may become the world’s fastest person at incorrectly answering lifeguard questions.

Overall, I believe people should keep challenging themselves. Learn new things. Stay active. Exercise your body and your mind. Life is more interesting that way.

And if you need some help getting started with fitness, I’m always happy to share ideas. As a fitness trainer and yoga instructor, I can help you put together a routine, talk about nutrition, and point you in the right direction. Worst case, you’ll get healthier. Best case, you might even find yourself at the bottom of a pool racing a stopwatch while wondering how exactly you got there. If interested send a message to the right. 

‘Guard’ Workout: Can a Lifeguard-Specific High-Intensity Functional Training Reflect Rescue Demands?

• This pilot study examined a lifeguard-specific High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) workout designed to replicate aquatic rescue tasks, including running, swimming with fins, victim extraction, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Twenty-seven lifeguards completed a 15-minute AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible) protocol. Most participants completed three rounds, while none completed a fourth, demonstrating the demanding nature of the workout.
• Physiological responses showed high exercise intensity, with average heart rates reaching 82% of maximum heart rate and post-exercise blood lactate levels increasing from 1.50 mmol/L to 15.50 mmol/L.
• Perceived exertion increased significantly throughout the workout, reaching near-maximal levels, yet CPR performance remained consistently high (86–94%) despite accumulated fatigue.
• The findings suggest that a lifeguard-specific HIFT program may be a practical method for both training and assessing rescue readiness under realistic conditions, although further validation studies are needed before widespread implementation.

Ignacio-Rodríguez, I., Aranda-García, S., Sanmartín-Montes, M., Morales-Rejas, O., Otero-Agra, M., Santos-Folgar, M., Zarzosa-Alonso, F., & Barcala-Furelos, R. (2026). ‘Guard’ workout: Can a lifeguard-specific high-intensity functional training reflect rescue demands? Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 11(2), 218. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020218

Does Time Management Work? A Few Ideas...

Time management is important in every aspect of life, including your career, education, and personal development. It is easy to fill our days with activities, but not all of them provide meaningful value. Some activities bring us joy, while others help us accomplish important tasks and move us closer to our goals.

Effective time management helps ensure that we invest our time and energy in ways that maximize personal growth, productivity, and overall well-being. By managing our time intentionally, we can focus on what matters most rather than becoming distracted by less important demands.

One useful strategy is to identify a few key objectives you want to accomplish and then organize your time around those priorities. Many people find it helpful to set goals, establish milestones, and allocate time to specific tasks. However, it is important to strike a balance. A schedule that is too rigid leaves little room for flexibility, while a schedule that is too loose can result in a lack of direction and productivity.

Each day, try to identify a small number of meaningful tasks or goals and make steady progress toward them. Over time, it is consistency—not perfection—that leads to achievement. Small, deliberate actions repeated day after day can produce significant results and help you reach both personal and professional goals.

Does Time Management Work? A Meta-Analysis

• This meta-analysis examined the relationship between time management practices and outcomes related to performance, well-being, and stress across multiple studies.
• Findings showed that effective time management is moderately associated with improved job performance and academic achievement.
• Individuals who practice time management tend to report higher levels of well-being and life satisfaction.
• Time management was found to have a moderate negative relationship with distress, indicating that better management of time is associated with lower stress levels.
• The authors concluded that time management interventions can provide meaningful benefits, particularly when they help individuals gain greater control over how they allocate and use their time.

Aeon, B., Faber, A., & Panaccio, A. (2021). Does time management work? A meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 16(1), e0245066. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245066