REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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 17, 2026.
Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order and led with the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Nikolai Zerkle and Jeannine Leary
Members absent: Linda Curtis
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding to approve the absence of Linda Curtis per Section 4.5(f) of the City Charter. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Zerkle to move Items A. & B. from the Consent Agenda to New Business for discussion and roll call votes. Gladding, seconded to adopt the agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Bob Brown inquired whether water and sewer rates will increase with the new WWTP.
A. Corey Turner of Fleis & Vandenbrink gave an update on the WWTP. A handout on file in the Clerk’s Office.
B. Fleis & Vandenbrink presented a 5-year Operation Proposal for the WWTP advising that there are cost increases for a mechanical facility versus a lagoon facility. The WWTP is a middle-sized facility requiring a B License Certified Operator. The proposed agreement defines roles and responsibilities.
Steele reported that the Rec Board met. The Mike McCarty reported on SMASH Park being selected as one of the sites for the Amateur Disc Golf World Championship.
A. Moved by Steele, seconded by Zerkle to approve Independent Bank checks 84725 to 84778 in the amount of $371,011.76; approve Mercantile Bank checks 1737 to 1740 in the amount of $34,297.93 and approve the ACH payments. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
B. To be transparent, Zerkle commented that the City Council Rules and Procedures that were adopted in March of 2025 state that the City Council SHALL interview candidates for city boards/commissions. Zerkle advised that residents have brought that issue forward as the City Council did not interview candidates for any of the positions that were recently appointed. He additionally commented that the Saturday, February 26, 2026 minutes lack pertinent information regarding the ballot voting that took place and each of their tallies. Zerkle further commented that the article about the interviews in the Greenville Daily News was more transparent then the minutes. Gladding commented that the ballots were not for voting, that they were to “see where we are” and further commented that the ballots were not important. Steele commented that the poll straw was to determine how each council member was leaning as they were not all on the same page; that it was not a vote, but a discussion. Mayor Leary agreed with Steele and Gladding that the ballots were not pertinent and that we should look like we are a city who wants a city manager and are not divisive and that the ultimate action was lawful. Zerkle further commented that being transparent and being lawful are two different things. Moved by Zerkle to amend the February 7, 2026 minutes. Hearing no second the motion died. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes from February, 3, 2026; the City Council Special Meeting Minutes from February 7, 2026; the City Council Closed Session Meeting Minutes from January 20, 2026 and the City Council Closed Session Meeting Minutes from January 28, 2026 as presented. Motion carried 3-1-1 by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Gladding, Steele and Leary
Nays: Zerkle
Absent: Curtis
Sam Mason commented on the proposed contract with Fleis & Vandenbrink and running the WWTP in-house.
Bob Brown thanked the Belding Police Department on their handling of the incident at Belding High-School.
Carl Visser commented on holding prayer and updates on the new City Hall.
Zerkle gave closing comments.
Gladding gave closing comments.
Steele gave closing comments.
Mayor Leary gave closing comments.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Zerkle to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________ __________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk