REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, January 20, 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, January 20, 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, Linda Curtis, Nikolai Zerkle and Jeannine Leary
Members absent: None
Mayor Leary noted the following changes to the agenda: Strike Item G. under New Business and add a Closed Session per MCL 15.268(h) following the Council Comments. Moved By Gladding, seconded by Steele to adopt the agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Joseph Fox announced that he is running for 33rd Senate District.
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 84595 to 84674 in the amount of $439,710.45
Approve Mercantile Bank checks 1729 to 1732 in the amount of $209,334.36
Approve ACH Payments
B. Approve Minutes: City Council Regular meeting – January 6, 2026
Curtis reported that the Housing Commission met. Along with the regular reports and paying of bills, topics of interest included a discussion regarding Taft Court and upcoming conferences.
Zerkle reported that the ZBA has not met.
Gladding reported that the Planning Commission meets next week.
Steele reported that both of her meetings were cancelled.
Mayor Leary reported that the Museum Board meets next Tuesday.
A. The council discussed voice votes versus roll call votes at length, with Gladding expressing to follow the Charter. Further discussion ensued questioning if Robert’s Rules of Order and the Charter are saying the same thing regarding voice votes/roll call votes. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Curtis to table the matter. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Mayor Leary took a moment to read a memo from Fleis & Vandenbrink regarding the status of the new WWTP. A copy of the memo, including photos, was passed around the audience. The memo and photos are on file in the Clerk’s Office.
A. Mayor Leary presented the City Assessor, Bob Naumann with a Certificate of Achievement recognizing his receipt of a perfect score on the 2025 PA 660 Assessment Audit Review. A copy of the Certificate is on file in the Clerk’s Office.
B. Mayor Leary presented City Clerk, Janae Ortego with a Sunlight Award, which she received in recognition for being a responsive advocate helping to remove redundancies from the local voter registration rolls.
C. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the 2026 Poverty Exemption Guidelines. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. A copy is on file in the Clerk’s Office.
D. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to appoint Douglas Lamborne, David Mierendorf and John Niemela to the Board of Review, with Richard Outman serving as an alternate. Motion carried 4-1 by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Steele, Curtis, Gladding and Mayor Leary
Nays: Zerkle
E. Zerkle advised that he has received mobilization orders from the U.S. Military and questioned whether the City Council could appoint an alternate councilmember to serve in his place on the ZBA while he is deployed. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to table the matter pending a advisement of the City Attorney. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
F. Moved by Steele, seconded by Curtis to approve Resolution #26-01-01, 2027 Dial-A-Ride Resolution of Intent. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes - all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING, MICHIGAN
APPROVING FY 2027 RESOLUTION OF INTENT
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 20th day of January, 2026.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Act 51 of the Public Acts of 1951, as amended (Act 51), it is necessary for the Belding Dial-A-Ride (hereby known as THE APPLICANT) established under Act 279 to provide a local transportation program for the state fiscal year of 2027 and, therefore, apply for state financial assistance under provisions of Act 51; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the governing body, 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 have been reviewed and approved by the governing body.
WHEREAS, THE APPLICANT, has reviewed and approved the proposed balance (surplus) budget, and funding sources of estimated federal funds $61,740, estimated state funds $113,809, estimated local funds $40,000, with total estimated expenses of $215,549.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan That THE APPLICANT hereby makes its intentions known to provide public transportation services and to apply for state financial assistance with this annual plan, in accordance with Act 51; and
HEREBY, appoints Kristine Mangus as the Transportation Coordinator, 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 for 2027.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON DECLARED ADOPTED THIS 20th DAY OF JANUARY, 2026.
G. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele, to approve with the conditions based upon the Special Event Committee’s review, the Special Event Application submitted by Shea Abbgy of Great Lakes Disc to hold a PDGA Great Lakes Disc Golf Tournament on April 25, 2026. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. A copy of the application and conditions are on file in the Clerks’ Office.
Curtis gave closing comments.
Zerkle gave closing comments.
Gladding gave closing comments.
Steele gave closing comments.
Mayor Leary gave closing comments.
Mayor Leary called for a 5-minute recess at 8:00 p.m.
Back in session at 8:10 p.m.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to enter into closed session at 8:10 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Curtis to moved out of Closed Session and go back into Open Session at 9:35 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding to cancel the Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 27th, to hold a Special meeting on Wednesday, January 28th to appoint members to the vacant board/commission seats as determined by the audit of the terms for the seats on the Planning Commission (4 vacancies), Rec Board (3 vacancies), DDA (6 vacancies) and ZBA (2 vacancies) per the City attorney’s standardizing and to direct the City Clerk to post the vacancies on the scrolling banner on the city’s advising that applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, January 26th. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 9:38 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________ __________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk