By Steve Stiffler
The Newberry Village Council approved a new two-year employment contract for Village Manager Allison Watkins and adopted several budget and public safety measures during its December 17 meeting.
Council members approved Watkins’ contract retroactive to November 1, setting total annual compensation at $108,000. The agreement includes a $90,000 base salary for village manager and zoning administrator duties, plus $18,000 for serving as human resources director. The contract also adds caps aimed at limiting long-term liability from leave accrual: paid time off is capped at 288 hours per year and sick time payout is capped at 240 hours. A cost-of-living adjustment of at least 4% begins January 1, 2027.
As part of the contract, the council approved a buyout of 100 hours of Watkins’ accrued vacation time totaling $5,192.
Village President Catherine Freese stated a trustee, who was not identified, expressed interest in increasing the stipend council members receive for attending council and committee meetings and fielding questions from the public outside of meetings. Trustee Hendrickson stated “I’m not here for the money, so it doesn’t matter.” A motion was made to send the topic to the management committee for research and review.
Luce County Sheriff Eric Gravelle provided an activity report citing three major incidents within a week, including a vehicle theft and two separate security events at Newberry High School.
In the vehicle case, deputies linked two related incidents through social media posts and a photo shared online, helping identify a suspect who later abandoned a stolen vehicle after realizing two children were inside. The suspect was arrested the next day after the vehicle ran out of gas.
The sheriff’s report also detailed a bomb threat note found at the high school December 16 that prompted a lockdown and a search assisted by Michigan State Police, including a bomb-sniffing dog from St. Ignace. No device was found, and investigators collected handwriting samples from a student suspect. A second incident on December 17 involved a belligerent parent at a school event who refused to leave and resisted arrest, prompting another lockdown during the arrest.
Following that report, the council adopted an amendment to the village’s civil infraction ordinance to authorize sheriff’s deputies, along with other designated officials, to issue citations for village ordinance violations. Fines remain set at $250 for a first offense, $350 for a second and $500 for third and subsequent offenses.
The council approved amendments to the 2025 budget and adopted the 2026 operating budget by resolution. The council also retroactively approved the emergency purchase of a 2006 International truck for $31,000 to supplement the public works fleet.
Officials reported Well 6 has undergone extensive rehabilitation, including an acid wash, power washing and installation of a new pump and internal piping and is undergoing multi-day bacteria testing before returning to service. Well 7 will undergo the same cleaning and maintenance process starting in February.
