Alpena Mayor Waligora Holds Final City Council Meeting

Monday night’s Alpena City Council meeting was the final time mayor Matt Waligora sat in the head chair. After 12 years, he will step down as mayor.

He was presented a plaque from Wilson Township and was given a standing ovation, a proper send off from the people whose lives he touched.

“It went really well,” said Waligora. “It was comfortable and it’s enjoyable. I try to make the meetings as professional but enjoyable as possible. It was a great meeting, really great topics, so I’d say it went really well.”

A few of the notable items on the agenda were the city shout-out program where Waligora presented city employees with recognition, as well as a memorial to Edward Grzelak.

“Every topic on here, up to the last one with the DPW with their innovative thinking and positive changes over there, saving the city money and making improvements,” said Waligora. “That’s what the meeting was about, and it went well.”

Waligora says he will miss getting to interact with people within city council and getting to move Alpena forward, but he will still be around.

“Whether I’m out on the town or at a meeting or anywhere else, just dealing with people,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere, I’m not moving, so I’m sure I’ll still run into a lot of people that have questions about direction and who they should go to and stuff like that, and I love that kind of stuff, I really do.”

Waligora’s final day as mayor will be December 31, and a new mayor will take over shortly after.