REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, September 16, 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 16, 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
Mayor Leary requested to add Item B. Special Event Application, to the agenda under New Business and Item C. Appreciation, to the agenda under Presentations. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding Steele to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
A. Mayor Leary presented Wesco of Belding, (represented by Dana of Wesco) with a Good Neighbor Award.
B. Scott Hall of Fleis & Vandenbrink gave the monthly Wastewater Treatment Plant Status report. Things remain on schedule. A copy of the report is on file in the Clerk’s Office.
C. Mayor Leary and the members of the City Council presented the exiting City Manager, Keven Krieger, with a card and treats and expressed their appreciation of him.
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 84046 to 84131 in the amount of $1,616,543.22
Approve ACH Payments
B. Approve Minutes: City Council Regularly scheduled meeting – September 2, 2025
Curtis reported that the Housing Commission will meet on Thursday. They will have a general agenda with a short work session.
Zerkle reported that the ZBA met last Monday. A variance was approved. They additionally discussed how to track variances at the County level.
Gladding reported that the Planning Commission is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Steele reported that the Recreation Advisory Board met last week and they were advised that the Dog Park will be done in the near future. She further advised that it was the Rec Board’s idea to give Wesco of Belding a Good Neighbor Award for donating popcorn to Music by the River every week as well as other events.
Mayor Leary inquired about who will be creating policy and Rules for the Dog Park. Former City Manager, Keven Krienger was in the audience and advised that the Rec Board should be involved in that process. Mayor Leary further advised that the Museum Board is meeting next week.
A. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to award the Bridge Street HMA Mill & Overlay Category F Project Award to Michigan Paving & Materials Co for the low bid of $430,249.40.
B. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the Nature Craft event that will be held in East Riverside Park on Sunday, October 5th from 1-2 p.m. The event was organized by Community Development Director Hanna Samuels. The nature craft will be taught by Camp Greenwood, with supplies donated by Leppink’s of Belding. Krieger advised, from the audience, that staff approved this event at the Department Head meeting on Monday. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
C. Larry Hummel of Fleis & Vandenbrink gave a brief update on Street and Park Improvements. Handout on file in the Clerk’s Office.
William Schranz of Moulton Street, commented about graffiti under the Veteran’s Bridge, the cost to search for historical information for FOIAs, submitted a proposal for digitizing records (on file in the Clerk’s Office) and further commented about the city not being cleaned up after Labor Day.
Jeff Harrington of Crawford Street commented on ordinances, blight issues and fencing.
Curtis made closing comments.
Zerkle made closing comments.
Gladding made closing comments.
Steele made closing comments.
Mayor Leary made closing comments.
Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to adjourn the meeting at 7:39 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk