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The award recognized the rehabilitation of the Votruba Grocery and Porter Lumber Company buildings downtown. Mayor Mark Postma and others will accept the award Thursday at the Capitol rotunda in Lansing.

"This is a wonderful recognition of a public and private project," Postma said. "My congratulations to everyone who worked on the project. The Wrights worked above and beyond to make it work."

The recipients were the only ones chosen from Northern Michigan, Postma said. Six recipients statewide were chosen.

Mayor Postma made the announcement at the May 15 city commission meeting. Also at the meeting:

The city has offered an early retirement incentive plan to three of its 22 employees. City commissioners made the decision to offer early retirement at the meeting at City Hall.

City Administrator, David White, reported to commissioners that the city is waiting for word from the Corps of Engineers and the state of Michigan on a permit and grant funding. The permit is for harbor dredging work.

A resolution was passed to establish a fire and emergency medical services building construction fund. The city may now accept donations for the construction of a new building.

The commissioners discussed the requests from the Arts Council and the Senior Center for leases on the buildings that would be for 10 or more years. The Council and Center want to make capital improvements. The commissioners made no decision and referred the requests to staff for more consideration.