REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, September 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, September 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
City Manager Keven Krieger requested to add Item. B Appoint Darryl Childs to the Museum Board; C. Charitable Exemption Policy and D. Interim Discussion to the Agenda Under New Business. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Steele to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
A. Krieger gave a brief update on the progress of the new City Hall building.
· Architectural drawings done.
· Need mechanical, plumbing and electrical drawings.
· Looking at recommended engineers and getting quotes.
· B&V Mechanical are looking at the AC/Boilers as the have historical knowledge of the unit(s). Looking for their suggestion as to how to move forward with heating and cooling. The mini splits are substantially more expensive that originally thought and they filter stagnant air.
· Interior demolition is almost complete.
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Steele 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 83985 to 84045 in the amount of $352,850.75
Approve Mercantile Bank checks 1676 to 1688 in the amount of $4,927,981.33
Approve ACH Payments
B. Approve Minutes: City Council Regularly scheduled meeting – August 26, 2025
Gladding reported that the Planning Commission met last week. Topics of interest were as follows:
· Sable Homes is looking to purchase more property which would bring roughly 300 more homes to the area
· Reviewed the 1st Draft of the new Master Plan
· Discussed a potential new development off of Thurman Street
Curtis reported that the housing Commission met. Topics of interest were as follows:
· Reviewed staffing
· Financial reports
· Conference
Mayor Leary reported that the Museum Board is seeking another member in addition to Darryl Childs who has been recommended for appointment tonight.
A. Chief of Police Dion Sower came before the City Council to request a Traffic Control Order and Resolution to establish a no parking zone on the north side of Merrick Street between Gooding Street and Howe Street. (Report on file in the Clerk’s Office). Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve TCO 2025-01 and Resolution 2025-08-23 as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All. The TCO and Resolution are as follows:
TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDER
City of Belding
County of Ionia
State of Michigan
ORDER NUMBER: 2025-01 DATE OF FILING: September 2, 2025
In accordance with Uniform Traffic Code R 28.1126 Rule 126(g) an investigation of on-street parking has been made on Merrick Street from Gooding Street to Howe Street.
As a result of the investigation, I do hereby order the following be done;
Install posts and MDOT NP-22 No Parking signs no greater than 200 feet apart on the north side of Merrick Street from Gooding Street to Howe Street.
This order shall expire 90 days from the date of filing with the Belding City Clerk except upon its approval of the Belding City Council it shall not so expire.
CITY OF BELDING
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-08-23
A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A NO PARKING ZONE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MERRICK STREET BETWEEN GOODING STREET AND HOWE STREET
WHEREAS, Merrick Street is a 22-foot-wide, two-lane, public street located between Gooding Street and Howe Street in the City of Belding, with no shoulders or sidewalks and five fire hydrants located along its north side; and
WHEREAS, Lightning Bend Park, a 93-acre public nature park with recreational amenities including a disc golf course and cross-country course, is located on the south side of Merrick Street and hosts frequent large-scale public and school events; and
WHEREAS, during these events, the current on-street parking on both sides of Merrick Street results in traffic congestion and creates hazardous conditions for both general traffic and emergency responders, at times obstructing the access of fire apparatus and limiting access to hydrants; and
WHEREAS, according to the International Fire Code, fire apparatus access roads require a minimum unobstructed width of 26 feet when hydrants are present, a condition not met when vehicles are parked on both sides of Merrick Street; and
WHEREAS, the City has consulted with Fire Chief Lubitz, who supports establishing a no parking zone to ensure the safety of the public and access for emergency response vehicles;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Belding City Council hereby approves the permanent designation of the north side of Merrick Street between Gooding Street and Howe Street as a No Parking Zone.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that appropriate MDOT NP-22-AL “No Parking” signs shall be installed at intervals not exceeding 200 feet along the north side of Merrick Street within the designated area.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption, and the City Manager or their designee is authorized to implement and enforce the provisions herein, in accordance with Traffic Control Order #2025-01.
ADOPTED this 2nd day of September, 2025, by the Belding City Council.
B. Krieger advised that contrary to most other city boards, that the Museum Board does their own interviewing. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to appoint Darryl Childs to the Museum Board per the Museum Board’s recommendation to City Council. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
C. Krieger advised that the City Assessor, Bob Naumann, is in the midst of his annual state audit. As the city already adheres to a Charitable Exemption Policy (MCL 211.7o) as required by the State, Naumann requested as a formality that the City adopt the state’s policy. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding to adopt the City of Belding Charitable exemption Policy. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
D. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Steele, to appoint Becky Schlienz as the Interim City Manager as of September 16, 2025 until a new City Manager starts. During this time, Schlienz will be compensated at a rate of 50% of the difference of her current salary and the City Manager’s current salary. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele that Krieger remain on staff on an as-needed basis until a new City Manager starts. Krieger’s hourly rate will be his current City Manager salary divided by 2080 hours. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
Krieger commented on the following topics of interest:
· Audit resumes next Monday.
· Asphalt overlay on Pineview is scheduled for September 24 and 25 , weather permitting.
· A new roof was put onto the Lyons Pavilion with funds from the Dog Park Grant
· Repairs to Bridge Street will be taking place soon. Letter will be going out to residents.
· Successful Labor Day Celebration
Steele made closing comments.
Curtis made closing comments.
Zerkle made closing comments.
Gladding made closing comments.
Mayor Leary made closing comments.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 7:43 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk