PORTAGE (WKZO AM/FM) — The Mayor of Portage was ambushed by a few council members last night who objected to his plans to deliver the State of the City address this year.
Apparently on his own, Mayor Peter Strazdas has obtained sponsors for an open event to be held at the Air Zoo on May 24th. In recent years the City Manager, Larry Schaffer has done the speech at Rotary Meetings where only members are invited.
Council Member Jim Pearson says they should have been consulted first, after he got a letter from the President of the Rotary.
Pearson suggested it was unethical if the sponsors do business with the city.
Mayor Pete Strazdas says this may not be how they have done it, but it is the way other cities do it.
He got the idea and offers from some of the sponsors at the Grand Rapids address.
A motion was made to require that the Portage State of the City address be delivered only by the City Manager and only to non-profit organizations, but it was defeated 4 to 3.
