State of the Community highlights issues and projects in Sault Ste. Marie
SAULT STE. MARIE — On Thursday, hundreds of people gathered to hear local leaders address the issues and projects currently underway in Sault Ste. Marie at the State of the Community.
The four guests of the evening were Mick Awbry, chief of the new lock project at the Soo Locks; Don Gerrie, mayor of Sault Ste. Marie; Kevin Kalchik, president of MyMichigan Medical Center; and Lynn Gillette, interim president of Lake Superior State University.
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Awbry gave updates about the Soo Locks and its current major construction projects.
Awbry emphasized the importance of the locks to the local and national economy, and the impact this project will have by increasing lock usage and allowing for maintenance while the locks are active.
"This project is important not only to the local economy here but to the state of Michigan," said Awbry.
More: Army Corps offers update on Soo Locks construction
The New Lock project creates an average of 1,240 jobs annually, 600 through direct hiring.
The project is split into three phases of planning and construction. Phase 2 is expected to end in 2024, while the end of Phase 3 and the project as a whole is planned for 2030.
Mayor Gerrie spoke about the way the community talks and thinks about Sault Ste. Marie, encouraging more online conversation about the things people love about the city instead of complaints. Gerrie believes that positive conversation can help the community become more connected.
"The good outweighs the bad. People love Sault Ste. Marie. We need to let the negative deflect so we can focus on the positive," said Gerrie.
Gerrie also gave minor updates on different projects, such as announcing the end of some road construction, the Power Canal, Safe Routes to School, the I-500 track improvements, the Ashmun Creek trail expansion, Meridian Street construction and more.
He also talked about the Carbide Dock project, which he referred to as the largest project the city has ever undertaken at $37 million. The current phase of the Carbide project will complete in 2024.
More: Sault receives state grant funding for Carbide Dock project
Kalchik from MyMichigan gave updates about the struggles the medical center is facing and future projects.
First, he announced the hospital is approaching an important milestone as next year will be the 100th anniversary of the hospital's founding.
Kalchik said the biggest issue the center is facing is job shortages. Despite having lost a large amount of workers and having 82 current job openings, the hospital has increased the number of professional and primary care visits drastically since 2018.
"It's going to take over five years just to replace those that we've lost," said Kalchik.
The center is working towards getting new workers, and has recently added five new providers.
More: LSSU expands freshwater oil spill research with international allies
Gillette talked about the relationship between LSSU and the city, and mentioned several upcoming projects such as adding LSSU flags to light poles and a new program to bring education to prisoners.
Gillette also highlighted the Center for Freshwater Research and Education, which recently announced a major expansion of programs and facilities.
"LSSU is important to Sault Ste. Marie, and Sault Ste. Marie is important to LSSU, and it's essential that the president of LSSU should be visible to the town," said Gillette.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: State of the Community offers updates on Sault issues, projects
