Melching plus Atlanta-based Trinity Industrial Services are asking to demolish the 10-story power plant on Sunday, October 27, and then move on to the two remaining smokestacks at a later undetermined date.
Incumbent Lea Markowski has held the seat for one year since it became vacant when Steve Gawron became the mayor last summer. The other seat is vacant, as Sue Weirengo declined to run again.
Wednesday’s event, put on by the Neighborhood Associations of Muskegon, will be followed up by a second “meet the candidates” style event on July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Muskegon Community College.
City commissioners agreed upon Sappi site redevelopment, neighborhood revitalization, downtown zoning changes and cooperative service agreements as their top priorities. Employment diversity and L.C. Walker arena support were tied for 5th/6th place, while Pere Marquette enhancements and a downtown casino were tied for 7th/8th place.
The demolition is scheduled for Sunday, January 29 between 9 and 10 a.m., a time selected because traffic on nearby roads, including the major Lakeshore Drive thoroughfare will be minimal. A “soft” road closure would take place at 30 minutes before the scheduled demolition. A “hard” road closure will happen 15 minutes before.