Mount Pleasant City Commission swears in new member
Mount Pleasant Water Tower.
Commissioner Hanna Demerath participated in her first Mount Pleasant City Commission meeting on Jan. 26.
Demerath is from Shepherd and currently lives in Mount Pleasant with her family. She spent a few years in Grand Rapids, attending school, and eventually moved to Mount Pleasant.
Hanna Demerath. Courtesy photo.
“It’s a way for me to serve the community and represent people like me, but also remain a community that’s inclusive," said Demerath.
This is Demerath's first time working in local government, although she has always been interested in it, she said. She spent a few years as a stay-at-home mom and sees this opportunity as a way to get back into the community, along with representing other families.
Demerath said she is looking forward to working with commissioners on the tenants' union to help give renters a voice, she said.
Demerath is replacing former City Commissioner Elizabeth Busch, who stepped down due to a scheduling conflict.
City water improvement
The city commission also heard the second phase plans for the water improvement project. The improvement plan consists of updating water pipes and wells throughout Mount Pleasant to comply with Michigan water regulations.
Pipes that will be replaced are those with lead or galvanized service lines. Some of these pipes are dated and due for maintenance, Director of Public Works Jason Moore said.
The cost of this plan comes to around $30 million in bonds, Moore said. The money is allocated from Michigan’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
Phase one of the plans focused on the inside of the infrastructure, while phase two focuses on the outside property.
It is expected that water bills will increase because of this project. Moore indicated these plans were already predicted to be made in the future, and with the appeal of a low-interest loan, the decision was to move forward.
“It’s increased capacity, increased efficiency of the pumps," said Moore. “I really think that, combined with the principal forgiveness, this is a real good thing for the city.”
In other events:
The commission also decided on a 5% raise in salary for City Manager Aaron Desentz. Commissioners agreed the city manager would get 12 months of severance pay if he were to be let go.
Commissioners also heard the 2025 annual report presented by Middle Michigan Development Corporation President Kati Mora. The MMDC helps businesses with various needs, including funding and grant help. Mora stated this year was a record year for capital investments, with just under $58 million from three counties and about $12.5 million in the city of Mount Pleasant.
Mora also highlighted some key investments that were made, one in particular was the Mount Pleasant School of Dance. The school will offer a "black box studio" to dancers in hopes of bringing in more revenue and adding something unique to the community.
