Steve Genisot - Letter to Editor

This City of Marinette update is to bring highlights of what’s happening in the City of Marinette. I invite you to attend a Common Council meeting, various committee meetings or come to one of the many events to support local residents, businesses, and organizations.

A quick and heartfelt thank you goes out to the USS Marinette Commissioning Committee, chaired by Mr. Dan J. Peterson, and all those in our community who helped to make a sensational sendoff. USS Marinette (LCS 25) was commissioned and proudly represents one of the many products that we build here in our community. We wish them smooth sailing to homeport.

There are a number of updates regarding grants: The City has received two grants to reconstruct Ludington and Wells Streets worth $4.869 million. We continue to work on additional funding for Main Street.

Our American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds disbursed by the Federal government for state and local fiscal recovery have specific purposes. With $500,000 of those funds, the City has approved the redevelopment of the former Fleet Farm Property. Some of those funds are also allocated to Red Arrow Park, including improvements to the parking lot, pavilion, and dock. With an additional portion of those funds and part of a generous Cisco Estate donation, there will be a new splash pad planned for the Civic Center.

Recently, the City has acquired the railway property from Ogden Street to 8t Street, our intent is to repurpose trails throughout the city. By doing this and applying for the DNR Rails to Trails grant, we will further improve our trail routes.

We are collaborating with the University of Wisconsin through a program called UniverCity. Students are given projects specific to our needs and issues such as providing insight and plan designs related to their coursework. Currently, the City has projects with students to improve trails, encourage walkability and cyclability, decrease single-use plastics, attract young people to Marinette, and work on quiet zones from train routes.

Did you attend the Stephenson Island Fall Festival? The City and our generous sponsors had a huge turnout. The Glam Band was a hit and we look forward to hosting them again next year. Since the attendance was so much larger than expected, we are preparing and looking forward to 2024. More to come with Christmas and the Holidays…in the meantime, be well and stay positive!

Steve Genisot
Marinette Mayor