SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Thursday, June 25, 2026
5:30 p.m.
A Special 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 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, to discuss the purchase of a chassis for the Belding Fire Department.
Mayor Bonita Steele called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Mayor Steele led with the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:
Members present: Linda Curtis, Mike Brady, Nikolai Zerkle (Active U.S. Military, virtual attendance per MCL 15.263(2); arrived online at approximately 5:45 p.m.) and Bonita Steele
Members absent: Shelley Gladding-Visser
Moved by Brady, seconded by Curtis to approve the absences of Gladding-Visser and Zerkle. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Brady, seconded by Curtis to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Fire Chief Tim Lubitz requested City Council to consider purchasing a chassis from Spencer for a new fire truck for $170k. Payment would be due upon its completion in mid-December. The contract would need to be signed for today, as Lubitz advised that as of tomorrow, new laws are coming into effect where an emissions package will be required on all new chassis purchases. The emissions package will increase the price substantially (approximately $35-$50k) and raise concerns that are likely to come when experimenting with a new model.
Once the chassis is completed then Lubitz would solicit bids to build a fire truck. The proposed fire truck would be replacing a 33-year-old fire truck. It will take two years to build. Many items from the old truck, that are maintained by the fire department currently, could be used on the new truck, equating to a cost savings of approximately $60k.
Steve from Spencer advised that they may not hold the chassis slot if they do not get to build the entire fire truck.
Lubitz advised council of two options:
Option 1: Approve the $170k for the chassis, the go out for bids once completed, with an unknown cost. The industry is experiencing a 3-5% price increase for materials every 3 months.
Option 2: Approve the entire purchase of a chassis and truck for $740k. (The cost does not reflect the 33-year-old stainless steel truck that the city would be selling.)
A very lengthy discussion ensued between the council members, City Manager Adam Poll, Chief Lubitz and Steve from Spencer.
Moved by Brady, seconded by Mayor Steele to move forward with the funding for the chassis with Spencer, not to exceed $170k. Motion carried 4-0 by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Zerkle, Brady, Curtis, and Mayor Steele
Nays: None
Absent: Gladding-Visser
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Brady to enter into a Non-Binding Letter of Intent with Spencer to build the fire truck, not to exceed $740K, with City Council making a formal vote on the matter at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Absent the City Manager and the Finance Director’s ability to sign, Mayor Steele and Clerk Ortego will sign the Non-Binding Letter of Intent. Motion carried 4-0 by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Zerkle, Brady, Curtis, and Mayor Steele
Nays: None
Absent: Gladding-Visser
Moved by Brady, seconded by Curtis to adjourn the special meeting at 7:19 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________ __________________________
Bonita Steele, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk