iminor@dailypress.net
GLADSTONE Six applicants vying for a single open Gladstone City Commission seat including a few familiar faces will have their chance to introduce themselves later this month.
The open seat on the commission was created by the resignation of Commissioner Darin Hunter, who left the city due to a change in employment that would have created a potential conflict of interest. Six people applied for the position by 4 p.m. on May 4, including Brian Godfrey, Diane Godfrey, Jason Leonard, Michael O’Connor, Robert Pontius, and Steven Viau.
All six applicants for the seat were in attendance at Monday’s regular city commission meeting, but the majority of commentary from the applicants themselves came from former commissioners O’Connor and Viau.
iminor@dailypress.net
GLADSTONE The city of Gladstone is looking for a new commissioner following the resignation of Commissioner Darin Hunter.
“I leave my post early due to a new position I have accepted that will ultimately establish a conflict of interest allowing me to serve. I hope the best for the Commission, Staff, and Citizens of Gladstone with the various projects that have been completed and ones yet to come,” wrote Hunter in his letter of resignation approved during the commission’s regular meeting Monday.
Hunter who has served in various capacities with the city including on the parks and recreation board, the board of review, the downtown development authority and as the city’s mayor will be taking a position later this year with the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority. Since the MMRMA is the city’s insurance provider, the position could create a conflict of interest.
Cloudy skies and a morning breeze may not attract a lot of visitors for a leisurely swim.
But Sunday’s conditions at West Lake suited 30-year-old triathlete Sarah Tennant just fine as she was the first female to complete the Olympic course in the Prince George Triathlon.
Tennant’s time of two hours, 24 minutes and 51 seconds (2:24:51) was roughly a dozen minutes faster than fellow Prince George resident Jacqui Benson, who’s used to making headlines during the winter months as a cross-country skier.
“I quite like this weather, it was overcast, because I easily get sunburned,” Tennant said shortly after jogging past the finish line of a course that began with a 1.5-kilometre swim before turning into a 40 km cycling route. “I’m sporting one right now, so I kind of like it when it’s overcast and I don’t mind the cooler weather so I found it was nice and it wasn’t too windy out there so the bike wasn’t too bad.”