Kali Katerberg/Daily Mining Gazette Village President Kenny Waldrop at work during a village council meeting.

ONTONAGON — Village President Kenny Waldrop is running again for his seat on the village council to continue the work already started, with a major focus on blight.

“We’re not finished yet, we have a lot of things going, a lot of things created,” Waldrop said.

For example, the village is currently working on getting a building inspector for the village to aid with project speed and blight enforcement. The issue of blight, in particular, is a major priority, with one building torn down in late October. Waldrop focuses on holding building owners accountable rather than asking taxpayers to pick up the bill.

These efforts go on, though the village is strapped for funds, Waldrop said. The village operates under the added weight of paying the pension fund from the old hospital, a bid to keep a facility in the area.

“Not many villages or towns have the challenges that we have and we haven’t raised taxes,” Waldrop said.

Despite the tight budget, he’d rather see the village try to tackle a problem than leave it.

Waldrop initially ran for the village president position because of what he saw as a lack of leadership facilitating potential businesses. With biofuel and copper mining and other potential new developments, he still takes that approach. He doesn’t see the village’s role as a recruiter but instead a facilitator.

A transplant to the area, Waldrop has found a community he is proud of and wants to see more natives return and stay in the area.

“We lost a lot of good people,” he said.

He recently switched from a career in local radio to local law enforcement to stay himself. The giving and community-focused way of life Waldrop sees in the area is what makes it so special as neighbors with little to spare give time and money to help fellow residents.

“They’re just helping their neighbors,” he said. “It’s the way you picture it. It’s the way it should be.”

Waldrop is also involved with Project Rising Tide and the Downtown Development Authority.