REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

BELDING CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

7:00 p.m.

 

A meeting of the Belding City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at the Pere Marquette Depot, 100 Depot Street, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

 

Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order and led with the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

 

City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:

 

Members present:  Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Nikolai Zerkle, Linda Curtis and Jeannine Leary

 

Members absent:           None

 

Approval of Agenda 

Mayor Leary noted the following change to the agenda:  Add Special Event Application to Item A. under New Business, with all other items under New Business moving down by one.  Moved By Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the amended agenda.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

 

Presentation

Mayor Leary presented Jill Mason with a Good Neighbor Award and read the following aloud:

 

This evening, it is with great pleasure that the City of Belding honor Jill Mason with the Good Neighbor Award.

Jill has been a member of the Belding Museum Board for twenty years, serving in various roles including Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Curator, readily assisting in the coordination and hosting of their many special events.  She is a former President of the Thimble Club, the oldest Social Club in Belding, as well as a member of the Washington Club, the oldest Social Club in Michigan!  However, Jill’s representation of Belding reaches far beyond our boundaries—Jill’s tenure as Trustee on the Board of the Tri-River Historical Museum Network has given her the opportunity to proudly share Belding’s unique history to a network of over 30 museums across Barry, Eaton, Ionia, Kent and Montcalm counties! 

In addition to her historical expertise, Jill is the past President of the Belding Gardeneers.  Jill is believed to have not only one, but two green thumbs, as she can frequently be seen diligently maintaining the beautiful gardens of the Belrockton, the green spaces around City Hall and the cemeteries.

The selfless hours of your time that you have volunteered for the betterment of the City of Belding are truly immeasurable, yet they do not go unnoticed.  Therefore, we, the City Council of the City of Belding, are delighted to present you with this Good Neighbor Award as public recognition of your outstanding dedication and steadfast commitment to our community.  We sincerely thank you, Jill, for all that you have done and surely will continue to do for Belding!

A copy of the Good Neighbor Award is on file in the Clerk’s Office.

 

Interim City Manager Interviews

Three candidates were interviewed for the temporary position of Interim City Manager.  The candidates were interviewed in alphabetical order as follows: Troy Bell, Howard Fink and John Niemela.  Each candidate was asked the same six questions (on file in the Clerk’s office), with a chance for each council member to add one follow-up question as well as offering each candidate the opportunity to ask questions and/or give a closing statement.

 

Consent Agenda

Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.    

 

The Consent Agenda is as follows:

A.   Approve Independent Bank checks 84345 to 84436 in the amount of $1,147,590.22

B.    Approve Minutes:  City Council Regular meeting – November 18, 2025

 City Council Special meeting – November 24, 2025

 

Reports by Council Liaisons

Steele reported that she attended the Library Board meeting and the Candlelight Reception.

 

Curtis reported that she attended the Housing Commission meeting.

 

Zerkle reported that the ZBA has not met since the last City Council meeting.

 

Gladding reported that she attended the Planning Commission meeting.

 

Mayor Leary reported that she attended the Museum Board meeting.

   

New Business

A.    Moved by Curtis, seconded by Gladding to approve the Special Event Application for the Belding Tree Lighting event.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.  The Application is on file in the Clerk’s Office. 

B.    Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve a Zoning Ordinance Amendment to allow Commercial Storage Warehousing.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.  The Ordinance Amendment is as follows:

 

CITY OF BELDING

IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN

ORDINANCE # 572

 

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND APPENDIX B, “ZONING” OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BELDING BY AMENDING SECTION 11.3 AND 15.3 RELATED TO “SPECIAL LAND USES” IN THE B-2 GENERAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, AND TO AMEND SECTION 17.6.F RELATED TO COMMERCIAL STORAGE WAREHOUSES.

THE CITY OF BELDING ORDAINS:

Section 1. Amendment of Section 11.3. Section 11.3 of Appendix B, “Zoning” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belding is amended to add a subsection ‘k’:

k. Commercial Storage Warehouse.

Section 2. Amendment of Section 15.3. Section 15.3, Table of Uses, in Appendix B “Zoning” of the City of Belding Code of Ordinances is amended to permit Commercial Storage Warehouses in the B-2 Zoning District by adding an “X” in the corresponding B-2 column.

Section 3. Amendment of Section 17.6.F. Section 17.6.F of special land use specific design standards for Commercial storage warehouses is amended in its entirety as follows.

F. Commercial storage warehouses.

1.      Minimum lot area shall be one (1) acre.

2.      Parking and circulation:

a.       One parking space shall be provided for each ten (10) storage cubicles, and shall be equally distributed throughout the site.

b.      One parking space shall also be required for every twenty (20) storage cubicles, up to a maximum of ten (10) spaces, to be located adjacent to the rental office, for the use of customers.

c.   All driveways, parking, loading, storage, and vehicular circulation areas shall be paved.

Section 3. Severability and Captions. This Ordinance and the various parts, sections, subsections, sentences, phrases, and clauses thereof are hereby declared severable. If any part, section, subsection, sentence, phrase, or clause is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby. The captions included at the beginning of each Section are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of this Ordinance.

Section 4. Repeal. Any existing ordinance or resolution that is inconsistent or conflicts with this

Ordinance is hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency.

Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance is ordered to take effect seven (7) days following publication of adoption in the Daily News, a newspaper having general circulation in the City, under the provisions of 2006 Public Act 110, except as may be extended under the provisions of such Act.

 

C.   Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the request to rezone the property located at 2160 W. Ellis from R1.5 to R3.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.  The Ordinance is as follows:

 

CITY OF BELDING

IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN

ORDINANCE # 573

 

 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF BELDING THE CITY OF BELDING ORDAINS:

 

Section 1. Amendment of Zoning Map. The official zoning ordinance map referred to in Section 3.2(A) of Appendix B, “Zoning” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Belding is amended such that the following lands generally located at 2160 W Ellis Avenue are rezoned from the R-1.5 Single Family Residential District to the R-3 Single And Two-Family Residential District, as described below and illustrated on the attached Exhibit A:

CITY OF BELDING: PT SECS 3 & 4 T8N R8W DESC AS - BEG SE COR SEC 4,TH W 100 FT ALG S LN OF SD SEC TO P.O.B., TH W 776 FT, TH N 258 FT, TH W 800 FT, TH S 258 FT, TH W 80 FT, TH N 258 FT, TH W 160 FT, TH S 258 FT TO A PT 834 FT W FR S 1/4 COR SD SEC, TH E 1040 FT TO P.O.B.

Section 2. Severability and Captions.  This Ordinance and the various parts, sections, subsections, sentences, phrases, and clauses thereof are hereby declared severable. If any part, section, subsection, sentence, phrase, or clause is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby. The captions included at the beginning of each Section are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of this Ordinance. 

Section 3.  Repeal.  Any existing ordinance or resolution that is inconsistent or conflicts with this Ordinance is hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict or inconsistency.

 

Section 4.  Effective Date.  This Ordinance is ordered to take effect seven (7) days following publication of adoption in the Daily News, a newspaper having general circulation in the City, under the provisions of 2006 Public Act 110, except as may be extended under the provisions of such Act.

 

D.    Mayor Leary did the first reading of an amendment to Section 2.13 of the Code of Ordinances.

 

E.    Mayor Leary opened up discussion to deliberate and select an Interim City Manager. Following council member comments, Mayor Leary requested the Clerk distribute ballots for council members to cast their vote.  The Clerk advised that the blank ballots included the City logo, each candidate’s name in alphabetical order, with instructions advising council members to circle the name of their candidate of choice and a signature line at the bottom of the ballot with the council member’s signature.  After casting their vote, the ballots were returned to the Clerk to tally the votes.  The Clerk announced that there were 4 votes for Troy Bell.  Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to offer the Interim City Manager position to Troy Bell, using the previous Interim Manager framework being the salary of $110,000/year divided by 26 weeks, equaling $4,230 gross bi-weekly with no benefits.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

 

Mayor Leary called for a five-minute recess at 8:47 p.m.

 

Back on the record at 8:47 p.m.

 

Public Comments

Jim Mason commented on the Candlelight Reception being wonderfully attended (75-80 people) with over 55 baskets donated.  The Friends of the Library made $2,300, received $180 in donations and got two new memberships.

 

Jenny Bennett commented on the following topics: 

·         Interim City Manager candidates

·         Questioned as to what happened to the Community Development Director Position?  Advising that she tried to contact her last week and learned of her short tenure.  Bennett further commented that the (former) Community Development Director (Hanna Samuels) was positive, energetic and passionate, however she received very little support from the Rec Board or the DDA Board. 

·         Bennett was surprised to learn that the Dial-A-Ride Director position was filled and that it was never posted on the website or on Facebook, further inquiring if the city has any specific hiring policy.

·         Questioned if the city intends to hire a new Community Development Director.

·         She inquired who the new Dial-A-Ride director is. 

 

Mayor Leary advised Bennett that the new Dial-A-Ride Director is Christine Mangus and asked the current Interim City Manager, Becky Schlienz about the Community Development Director position.  Schlienz advised that she would not be filling it as there is not adequate funding.

 

Council Comments

Gladding gave a closing comment.

 

Steele gave a closing comment.

 

Curtis gave closing comments.

 

Mayor Leary gave closing comments.

 

Closed Session

Mayor Leary advised that there is a closed session per MCL 15.2685(h) to discuss an Attorney Opinion and took a five-minute recess at 9:12 p.m.

 

Back on the record at 9:12 p.m.

 

Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to go into Closed Session at 9:18 p.m.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all.

 

Moved by Curtis, seconded by Steele to resume Open Session at 10:16 p.m.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.

 

Moved by Steele, seconded by Curtis to audit the seats of the ZBA and present the audit to City Council and the City Attorney (Dave Caldon with Varnum) for their review.  Steele will conduct the audit for the ZBA seats.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all. 

 

Adjourn

Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 10:18 p.m.  Motion carried by the following roll call vote:  Yes – all. 

 

 

 

_________________________                                     _________________________                      

Jeannine Leary, Mayor                                           Janae Ortego, MiPMC

                                                                             City Clerk