GLADSTONE — Stephen P. O’Driscoll has been appointed to the Gladstone City Commission. The move came at Monday’s Gladstone City Commission meeting. Commissioners considered six applicants for a vacancy on the commission, and ultimately appointed O’Driscoll. He is to serve as city commissioner through the end of the term, which expires in November, as this position became available as the result of Greg Styczynski resigning due to relocation.

Originally from Escanaba, O’Driscoll graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in paper engineering in 2006, and then moved back up north to call Gladstone home and has been here ever since. He has a business in town — Bramco Containers, which he co-owns along with his brother — and also drives a bus for Gladstone Area Schools. He said that after being elected to the school board four times, he only left to help fill the driver shortage in the district.

“I’m contributing to Gladstone as much as I can every day in just about everything I do,” said O’Driscoll before the appointment was made. “My number one motivation is to serve our community with no preconceived notion, no biases, to take in the information available and make a fact-based decision that helps our community grow and improve itself.”

O’Driscoll’s past and present involvement with the community likely informed the commission’s decision to select him: he has been on the City of Gladstone’s Economic Development Corporation for the last 25 years, sat on the school board for 13, coached Little League, was involved with the Delta County Slowpitch Softball League and advised junior high students in theatre.

In addition to reviewing the applications, resumes, and letters of interest from each of the six applicants, the commissioners asked questions of the five who were present.

In response to Commissioner Judy Akkala, who asked what the greatest appeal of Gladstone was, O’Driscoll said that he believed it was the community and small-town feel, referencing the Department of Public Works’ helpfulness following a recent issue and remarking that it’s been just one of many ways the city has been quick to respond.

On the other side of the coin, on Gladstone’s shortcomings, O’Driscoll made a connection to the recent action taken by the commission to perform a special assessment to raise funds for police and fire, which Commissioner Brad Mantela had been asking the applicants’ feelings on.

“For at least two decades, I believe Gladstone has lacked the adequate funding to perform the essential public services that the city tries to provide to our community. To answer the Act 33 of 1951 question — that is the law of the land. That is something that has availed itself to the City of Gladstone,” O’Driscoll said. “I may not be happy as a taxpayer; I own four pieces of property in the City of Gladstone. I’m not gonna be happy about an increase in my tax bill, but I will be happy that our services are paid for. That is something that I’ve seen on the EDC for years, I’ve heard multiple city managers — this isn’t just something that the community can blame on Eric (Buckman) or the current city commission.”

Several of the candidates commented on the need to bring new businesses to Gladstone, and O’Driscoll noted it, too. He said that it would be his objective to try to get more industry in the area, that it was possible for Gladstone to market itself as attractive to manufacturing businesses and create skilled jobs while still maintaining its community feel.

The other applicants were Roger Aho, Scott Kwarciany, Carolyn Povich, Brian Godfrey and Theresa Evans. Some mentioned slightly different goals, like increasing recreation opportunities for families and marketing Gladstone to younger people. All will have the opportunity to run again if they get their names on the ballot for the November election prior to the mid-July deadline; O’Driscoll will need to do the same in order to retain the seat.

In other business, the commission:

– approved hiring Dorner Company and Northern Machining & Repair to replace a drain valve ad actuator that are over 50 years old — original to the water plant, which are reportedly beginning to fail. The mechanisms in question are for a filter on the north side; the same pieces at the south were replaced by the same two companies in 2020. The fiscal effect, which required an adjustment to the water budget, was $22,305.

– agreed to pay Irby Utilities $5,235 for 54 brackets that were needed in the course of the electric pole replacement project. This amount was budgeted.

– approved the 10th change order for the wastewater treatment plant improvements. Painting the exterior brick was not previously accounted for, but the $9,082 contract increase still falls below the budgeted contingencies. Department Head Rodney Schwartz reported that the major completion date for the improvement project is now estimated to be Aug. 24.

– extended the due date for summer property taxes to Sept. 16. Though the city charter states that they are due in August, it has been tradition to extend it coincide with the state’s deadline. People may pay as soon as July 1.

– passed a motion to assess invoices and past due invoices onto the summer 2024 property tax bills.

– heard a complaint from a resident and boat owner who requested that the city enforce its already-existing rules against fishing in the yacht harbor. He said that his boat — docked at a slip in Gladstone — has been trespassed upon and that people fishing have left things behind. He pointed out that fishing lines in the water can damage boat propellers.