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On Monday, City Council passed a motion in support of the DGP manufacturing plant at the corner of Church and Fenner streets. The factory that makes fiberglass for transportation companies was partially destroyed the night of May 1.

Marlette will try to be supportive and understanding of DGP during the cleanup and rebuilding of the factory, according to the motion.

City Councilman Stephen Quade, who is president of DGP, abstained from the vote.

"I understand you're up and running as best you can," Councilman Dennis Cargill said to Quade.

Quade commented that the building was partly operational by Saturday, and 25 of the factory's 35 workers are already back on the job. According to Quade, 27 of the 35 employees are connected to Marlette either by being school alumni, having children in the schools, or being residents. Quade hopes to get all of his employees back to work soon.

"The business is still viable," Quade told council.

All of DGP's paper records were lost in the fire, but the digital copies were able to be saved.

Quade warned council that DGP will incur some loans and debts during the rebuilding process, but promised to use his business' second chance at life to make it even better than before.

"We want you in here, in town," Mayor Donald Redman told Quade, "A lot of people want to see you rebuild."

"We're going to help you wherever we can, Steve," Redman added.

Quade gave credit and thanks to the Marlette Fire Authority members for saving as much as they could of the factory.

"The fire department gave us a fighting chance," Quade said of his business' future, "It could have been a lot worse."

Quade went on to describe how firefighters pulled tools and molds, which were on fire, out of the building and hosed them down, saving them for later use by the company.

"They knew exactly what they were doing," Quade said.

"They're to be commended," said Redman.

"We didn't do it on our own," pointed out Marlette Fire Chief Mike Bower, stating that 7 other departments from surrounding communities were sent as mutual aid to help with the blaze. Close to 100 fire fighters were on the scene.

"It's rewarding on our part to give somebody a chance to stay in our community," Bower said, "We're glad to serve our community."

Council Member Charles Zampich made a motion to send letters of thanks from Marlette to fire departments which responded. The motion carried.

In a gesture of appreciation, Quade handed over soot-smudged envelopes containing tickets to both the Redwings and Pistons playoff games to Chief Bower for the firefighters to enjoy. The tickets had been in Quade's desk at DGP, and were a small part of what was saved by the firefighters' vigilant work.

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