BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, January 21, 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, January 21, 2025.
Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 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 E. Appointment of Councilmember to the Housing Commission; Item F. Appointment of Councilmember to the Planning Commission; Item G. Approval of DWSRF Project Plan Amendment and Item H. Local Government Program Training. Moved by Zerkle, supported by Gladding, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
A. Cory Turner with Fleiss & Vandenbrink gave a Power Point Presentation showing the progress of the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Turner stated that the project was on schedule, however, with the freezing temperatures, crews are focusing their work on the inside of the buildings at this time. The Council followed up with a few questions.
B. Matt Smith with Vredeveld Haefner, LLC. discussed the recent audit for year ending June 30, 2024 for the City of Belding. Smith discussed the city’s financial statements and concluded that the financial statements presented fairly. In addition, Smith stated that a single audit was done due to the expenditure of federal funds. Smith answered questions from Council. (A copy of the Financial Statements and Single Audit Reporting for the year ending June 30, 2024 is on file in the City Clerk’s Office).
A. Approve Independent Bank checks 82893 to 82958 in the amount of $349,412.24
B. Approve minutes: City Council Regular Minutes – January 7, 2025
City Council Special Meeting Minutes – January 9, 2025
City Council Special Meeting Minutes – January 15, 2025
City Council Closed Session Minutes – January 15, 2025
The Deputy Clerk passed out the Closed Session minutes for Council’s review.
Moved by Gladding, supported by Steele, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
· Steele commented on the Rec Board grant
· Gladding stated that the ZBA did not meet
· Mayor Leary stated that the Museum Board meets next Tuesday
A. Dial-A-Ride Director, Tammy McCracken, requested approval of the Dial-A-Ride Funding Application FY26. McCracken stated that this funding application shows the City of Belding’s intent to provide transportation services and the application is due to the State by February 1, 2025.
Councilmember Gladding stated that she did not understand the amounts McCracken had listed in the application when the spreadsheet she had from the City Treasurer’s Office showed a different amount. McCracken stated she did not know what spreadsheet Gladding was referring to.
Councilmember Zerkle questioned McCracken on the process the State uses in determining what percentage the City would receive for Dial-A-Ride services. McCracken stated she would contact the Project Manager at the State for clarification on the process. McCracken informed the Council that the City of Belding’s fiscal year was not the same as the State of Michigan, which can be confusing.
Steele stated that she spoke with Tina at the State regarding the Funding Application. Steele stated that the amount McCracken listed on the funding application is incorrect and further questioned McCracken why the revenue showing does not cover the expenses. McCracken stated that she does not receive expense reports from the City Treasurer and when she has reached out to the Treasurer’s Office, she only receives one word responses or no response at all.
Steele requested that this item be tabled for another two weeks so that the Funding Application balances. Steele further stated that the February 1st deadline is a “soft date” and has been assured that if the Funding Application is filed after February 1st it will be okay. Moved by Steele, supported by Zerkle, to table this matter for two weeks. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
Councilmember Steele left the chambers at 8:05 p.m.
B. Elaine Venema with F&V discussed the Professional Engineering Services for Central Riverside Park Grant and stated that once the agreement is in place at the State, the funding will be awarded to the city for a new pavilion and restrooms at Central Riverside Park. Moved by Zerkle, supported by Gladding, to approve the Professional Engineering Services Grant for Central Riverside Park. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all, with Councilmember Steele absent.
Councilmember Steele back at 8:10 p.m.
C. Moved by Gladding, supported by Steele, to appoint Jan Lamborne to the Library Board. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
D. Moved by Gladding, supported by Steele, to approve the Special Event Application filed by Misty VanGessel for a craft/vendor show to take place at the Gathering Place on June 14th, July 12th, August 9th and September 13, 2025. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
E. Moved by Steele, supported by Gladding, to appoint Councilmember Zerkle to the Housing Commission Board. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
F. Moved by Steele, supported by Gladding, to re-assign Councilmember Gladding to the Planning Commission and assign Councilmember Curtis to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
G. Because the City Council has a training/education budget, it was the consensus of the Council to allow Zerkle to attend the upcoming MSU Extension Local Government Programs.
· Bob Brown commented on never hearing back from the previous city manager on his bid for mowing and would like an answer fairly quickly because spring is coming.
· Keven Krieger commented on the free tax preparation for qualifying households who make under $67,000 and thanked Council for inviting him to an interview this Saturday.
· Patrick Shoemaker, Merrick Street, concerned with the noise in his neighborhood, which is in or near the industrial park.
Janae Ortego, Interim City Manager, updated the Council on the following:
· Thanked DPW for salting, especially outside the entrance of the Depot
· Had a good meeting with department heads
· The City’s IT is currently working on moving towards a Cloud Based System
· Will be attending a virtual meeting regarding the Waste Water Treatment Plant
· The Clerk’s Office is working on updating the various City Boards bylaws
· Discussed a future walk through tour of all city buildings, including the new Waste Water Treatment Plant
· Thanked the department heads for their help and assistance during this interim time
· Steele likes the tour idea and further commented on the United Way offering free tax preparation to those households that qualify
· Gladding thanked everyone for coming out despite the temperature outside
· Zerkle also commented on the tour idea and stated he is looking forward to the upcoming City Manager interviews
· Curtis also stated she is looking forward to the interviews and thanked Janae for her willingness to sit down with her and bring her up to speed
· Leary thanked the public for attending tonight and welcomed everyone to come on Saturday as the candidate interviews will be open to the public.
Moved by Zerkle, supported by Gladding, to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: yes – all.
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Tonda Rich, Deputy City Clerk