John Gaudette of Iron Mountain enjoys a Poseidon's Kiss porter from Saunders Point Brewing on Delta Avenue in Gladstone during the Hot Rods and Harleys event last Thursday. Patrons are able to take beer and other alcoholic drinks outdoors within a certain range because of the "social district." The City of Gladstone has voted to extend the times of its social district to four hours earlier on weekdays. (Courtesy photo)

GLADSTONE — Gladstone’s social district hours may be extended. Though final approval lies with the State of Michigan’s Liquor Control Commission, the Gladstone City Commission voted in favor of allowing participating establishments to begin letting patrons carry alcoholic beverages outside at noon on weekdays instead of the current start time of 4 p.m.

Since Michigan introduced the option for municipalities to permit establishments to allow patrons to take alcoholic beverages off premises but within a certain area, the so-called “social district” model has been adopted in a number of cities and towns. The City of Gladstone established theirs in May 2025.

They started small at first: Three establishments opted in, and the area included just three blocks of Delta Avenue. Comparatively, Marquette’s social district has 20 participating establishments and contains about 15 blocks of six streets, and Escanaba’s has 12 eligible establishments but only five participating along about a 21-block district. The social districts in Iron Mountain and Manistique, however, are both of a similar size to Gladstone’s.

In Gladstone, Saunders Point Brewing, Wally’s Bar and Midd Lounge (formerly the Sand Bar) are participating. Since the district went into effect, its hours of operation have been from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays. Within that window of time, bar patrons are able to take disposable plastic cups from the three businesses out onto the sidewalks of the district.

Exceptions (temporary closures of the district) can occur with seven days’ notice; one such example happened during Old-Fashioned Christmas. People were not allowed to carry drinks out of the bars during that event.

During a regular meeting of the Gladstone City Commission on Monday, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Patricia West presented a proposed amendment to the management plan for the social district.

According to a staff report, “participating establishments… reported that patrons frequently inquire about the social district while waiting for the Gladstone Farmers Market to open on Mondays.”

The market operates from 3 to 6 p.m. every Monday of the summer.

To supply the apparent demand, the DDA suggested adjusting the weekday hours of the social district to be the same as the weekend times: noon to 10 p.m. At an April 28 meeting, the DDA agreed to pass the proposal to the City Commission.

An additional part of the amendment was an adjustment to the event commons area — that is, the region in which social district consumption is permitted only during certain events. Three city parking lots were added to the area.

Although there was some pushback from some community members about the establishment of the district — people were concerned about public drunkenness, vandalism, exposure to children and recovering alcoholics — there have reportedly been no issues since it launched, aside from some misunderstanding of the rules in the first few days, West said.

With a motion made by Commissioner Brad Mantela, seconded by Commissioner Judy Akkala and voted for by Commissioners Whitney Maloney and Joe Thompson, the management plan changes were approved unanimously by those present. Before the extended hours and event commons spaces become official in Gladstone, the paperwork will have to be approved by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC).

Monday’s presentation followed the first required annual review of the district.

The city requires that “a meeting shall be held annually between DDA administrative staff and the participating establishments to discuss the impact (either positive or negative) of the district and identify needs to ensure the success of its future. If the community or governing body determines that the district is being misused, the municipality may revoke its designation due to health, safety, or public wellbeing concerns, following a public hearing.”

In other business at the Gladstone City Commission meeting of June 22:

– Two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeals, both filed by Michael O’Connor, were denied. In the first, O’Connor asked for a review of the fee he had been charged, which he believed to be excessive. A second appeal letter from O’Connor stated that since he had received no redacted documents, either he shouldn’t have been charged for redactions, or there might be some files missing.

Though Commissioner Maloney argued in favor of the appeals and spoke of government’s obligation to make information transparent, accessible and affordable, the other commissioners voted to uphold the previous decision.

The information O’Connor had been seeking with the FOIA was proof that electric transformers required replacement.

– A special event permit for “Rocking for Bay” was approved. The event is to be hosted by Wally’s Bar and intends to utilize a parking lot, if the social district amendment is approved by the MLCC. The event would take place on Aug. 29 and is to benefit Bay College Athletics.

– An agenda item scheduled for discussion about the “shortcomings” of the existing ORV ordinance was tabled until a future date because the commissioner who had requested the topic, Steve O’Driscoll, was absent.

However, Cameron Elementary School Principal Katee Inghram spoke on the matter during public comment: “The presence of motorized vehicles cutting across our school grounds … created some serious safety risk to our students,” Inghram said. She said that the issue has persisted for years, even after the school took steps recommended to them. “We’re asking your support in addressing this issue, whether it’s through increased enforcement, or changing current guidance, or some community education, but we need a solution that prioritizes student safety.”

– A new Teamsters Local Union 406 agreement was approved. The contract’s effective dates are from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

– The summer tax due date was postponed from Aug. 15 to Sept. 14, a common practice.

– Delinquent utility and miscellaneous invoices will be placed as liens on the property tax rolls.

– Kristyn Madalinski was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and Roger Aho and Gary Stevenson were reappointed to the same.

– Gale St-Martin, a resident of Lake Bluff Retirement Village, spoke during public comment to ask the city to cut the grass on the neighboring golf course.

“Not the whole golf course, but the entrance to our village park. The grass is over a foot tall already; we’re getting mice and snakes,” she said. “If that was my yard, we’d get cited. … We shouldn’t have to live like that.”

– O’Connor stated that he had a petition to submit, which he handed off to City Clerk Kim Berry.

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The next Gladstone City Commission meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 13. The public is welcome to attend.

R. R. Branstrom may be reached at rbranstrom@dailypress.net or 906-786-2021 ext. 140.