REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, February 4, 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, February 4, 2025.
Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order and led with the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Deputy City Clerk, Tonda Rich took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Nikolai Zerkle, Linda Curtis and Jeannine Leary
The following items were added to the agenda: Under New Business, Item F. Museum Annual Report; Item G. Appointment of Cynthia Miller to the Library Board; Item H. Office Hours for City Council. Moved by Steele, supported by Gladding, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
A. The Belding High School FFA students gave a presentation on pesticides. The FFA students will be participating on the regional level. The students answered questions and thanked the Council for letting them give their presentation.
B. Belding City Police Chief Dion Sower gave the year-end report for the police epartment. Sower reported on replacing outdated equipment, purchase of patrol vehicles, training hours, MICR clearance rates, grants and donations. (A copy of the 2024 Belding Police Department Year End Report is on file in the City Clerk’s Office).
A. Approve Independent Bank checks 82961 to 83020, checks 82729 & 82959 in the total amount of $1,862,172.49.
B. Approve minutes: City Council Regular Minutes – January 21, 2025
City Council Special Meeting Minutes – January 25, 2025
Moved by Zerkle, supported by Steele, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
· Steele commented on the Library Board membership.
· Gladding stated that the Planning Commission has reviewed the golf cart ordinance which will be coming to Council for discussion. The Planning Commission further discussed accessory building sizes and homes being built without a garage.
· Curtis stated she attended the ZBA meeting and will be attending trainings.
· Mayor Leary stated that the Museum Board met and tonight a discussion will take place on the porch repairs.
A. Dial-A-Ride Director, Tammy McCracken, requested approval of the Dial-A-Ride Funding Application FY26. Moved by Zerkle, supported by Curtis, to approve Resolution 2025-02-04 Regarding Financial Assistance for Fiscal Year 26/27 Under Public Act 51 of 1951, as Amended. The Resolution carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 UNDER PUBLIC ACT 51 OF 1951, AS AMENDED
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 4th day of February, 2025.
PRESENT: Steele, Gladding, Zerkle, Curtis and Leary
ABSENT: None
The following preamble and resolution were offered by Council Member Zerkle and seconded by Council Member Curtis.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Public Act 51 of 1951, as amended (Act 51), it is necessary for the City of Belding, a Home Rule City, established pursuant to Public Act 279 of 1909, as amended, to provide a local transportation program for the state fiscal year of 2026 and therefore, apply for state financial assistance under provisions of Act 51; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the City of Belding to name an official representative for all public transportation matters, who is authorized to provide such information as deemed necessary by the State Transportation Commission or department for its administration of Act 51; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to certify that no changes in eligibility documentation have occurred during the past fiscal year; and,
WHEREAS, the performance indicators for this agency have been reviewed and approved by the City of Belding; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Belding has reviewed and approved the proposed budget with sources of estimated federal funds of $58,859; estimated state funds of $90,680; estimated local funds of $40,000; estimated fare box revenues of $40,000; estimated other funds of $70,540 totaling $300,079 and with total eligible expenses of $296,444 for fiscal year 2026; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Belding has also reviewed and approved additional funding requests of $55,000 from the Federal 5339 Capital Grant funds for the purchase of replacement of bus wash system, replacement of office equipment, replacement of current entry system with keypad entry system for bus garage and depot, replace and upgrade current vault system
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Belding does hereby make its intentions known to provide public transportation services and to apply for state financial assistance with its annual plan, in accordance with Act 51.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Tammy McCracken is hereby appointed as the Transportation Coordinator for all public transportation matters and is authorized to provide such information as deemed necessary by the State Transportation Commission or department for its administration of Act 51 for 2026.
This Resolution is hereby adopted this 4th day of February 2025.
B. Moved by Zerkle, supported by Gladding, to approve the purchase of nine (9) body cameras for the Belding Police Department in the amount of $41,450. Chief Sower stated that the police department was given a very generous donation of $100,000 (the donors wish to remain anonymous). The body cameras will be purchased with funds from this donation. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
C. Moved by Steele, supported by Gladding, to approve the purchase of a drone for the police department. Chief Sower stated that the purchase of the drone will be paid for with the donation funds as well. Sower stated that the officers will be trained on how to operate the drone. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
D. Moved by Steele, supported by Gladding, to authorize the expenditure of $20,000 to be put toward the porch repairs at the Museum/Belrockton. Tim Lubitz, Belding Fire Chief, stated that C&I is the company that is doing the porch repairs. However, when C&I started the repairs they found additional problems. Lubitz stated that the total cost of the repairs will be $60,280. The museum has received a donation of $20,000. The Museum Board has tentatively agreed to pay $20,280, leaving a balance of $20,000 that the City of Belding is being asked to contribute. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
E. Moved by Zerkle, supported by Gladding, to approve the Deficit Elimination Plan presented by Becky Schlienz, Belding City Treasurer. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
F. Bruce Feuerstein, Chairperson for the Museum Board, gave an annual report on the Museum/Belrockton. Feuerstein talked about the number of activities and events that have taken place over the past year at the museum. In addition to our own elementary schools visiting the museum, many outside elementary schools are coming to visit as well. Feuerstein stated that overall the museum had a good year and the Museum Board will be working on long term planning.
G. Moved by Gladding, supported by Zerkle, to appoint Cynthia Miller to the Belding Library Board. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
H. Councilmember Zerkle stated that he believes it would be beneficial if Council held office hours for the benefit of the citizens. It was the consensus of the Board to have Zerkle formulate a plan and come back to Council with it.
· Councilmembers thanked the public and department heads.
· Councilmember Zerkle gave a brief update on the federal grant and park grant
Moved by Steele, supported by Zerkle, to adjourn the meeting at 8:03 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Tonda Rich, Deputy City Clerk