REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, March 3, 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, March 3, 2026.
Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Pastor Mike Simmons gave the Invocation.
Mayor Leary led with the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding, Bonita Steele, Linda Curtis and Jeannine Leary
Members absent: Nikolai Zerkle
Moved by Curtis, seconded by Steele to approve the absence of Nikolai Zerkle per Section 4.5(f) of the City Charter. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Mayor Leary noted the following changes to the Agenda under New Business: Add Item A. Recognize the B Foundation as a Charitable Organization (all other New Business items moved down by one) and add Item B. Approve the City Manager contract for Adam Poll. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to adopt the agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 84779 to 84834 in the amount of $332,198.36
Approve Mercantile Bank Checks 1741 to 1748 in the amount of $185,610.47
Approve ACH Payments
B. Approve Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting – February 17, 2026
Mayor Leary noted the last-minute addition of Mercantile Bank checks 1745 – 1748, with a new amount of $185,610.47 to be approved. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Curtis reported that she attended the Housing Commission meeting. Regular
Business and reports were conducted. The Director’s Annual Performance Review was conducted in a Closed Session.
Gladding reported that the Planning Commission held their annual election of officers and approved a recommendation for City Council to adopt the Master Plan.
Steele reported that the Rec Board held their annual election of officers, discussed the dog park and discussed the city manager.
Leary reported that the Museum Board met on February 24th, advising that $2,750 has been donated towards the Museum through a sponsorship drive. They plan to convert the lighting from halogen to LEDs.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to accept the revised Proposal submitted by Fleis & Vandenbrink for Wastewater Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Services. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. (A copy of the revised O&M proposal is on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
A. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to adopt Resolution #2026-03-05 recognizing the B Foundation as a Charitable Organization in the City of Belding. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-03-05
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELDING RECOGNIZING THE B FOUNDATION AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY OF BELDING AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING CHARITABLE GAMING LICENSES
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 3rd day of March 2026.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Belding hereby recognize the B Foundation as a non-profit organization in the City of Belding; and,
WHEREAS, the B Foundation has helped over 200 families in Belding affected by cancer since 2011; and,
WHEREAS, the B Foundation seeks to obtain charitable gaming licenses as means to raise money to support their cause; and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Belding, that the B Foundation be recognized as a non-profit organization in the City of Belding and to authorize the B Foundation to obtain Charitable Gaming Licenses as means to raise money to support their noble cause.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON ADOPTED THIS 3rd DAY OF MARCH, 2026.
B. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve Contract 25-5591 and adopt Resolution #2026-03-03 for Kiddville and Bridge Street Resurfacing Project with MDOT. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
A RESOLUTION BETWEEN THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE CITY OF BELDING FOR THE KIDDVILLE & BRIDGE STREET RESURFACING PROJECT
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, County of Ionia, Michigan, was held in said City on the 3rd day of March 2026.
WHEREAS, that CONTRACT No. 25-5591, Control Section STUL 34000, Job Number 215698CON by and between the MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and the CITY OF BELDING is hereby accepted.
WHEREAS, The following Official(s) is/are authorized to sign the said contract: Becky Schlienz, Belding Interim City Manager.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan that CONTRACT No. 25-5591, Control Section STUL 34000, Job Number 215698CON by and between the MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and the CITY OF BELDING is hereby accepted and that Becky Schlienz, Belding Interim City Manager, is authorized to sign the said contract.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS THEREUPON ADOPTED THIS 3rd DAY OF MARCH, 2026.
C. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the Planning Commission’s Recommendation for Adoption of the Master Plan and adopt Resolution 2026-03-04 Adopting the Master Plan. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. The Resolution is as follows:
CITY OF BELDING
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE PROPOSED
CITY OF BELDING MASTER PLAN
WHEREAS, the Michigan Planning Enabling Act, MCL 125.3801 et seq. (“MPEA”) authorizes the Planning Commission to prepare a Master Plan for the use, development, and preservation of all lands in the City; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission prepared a Master Plan and on October 21, 2025, the City Council authorized the distribution of the Master Plan to the Notice Group entities identified in the MPEA; and
WHEREAS, notice was provided to the Notice Group entities as provided in the MPEA; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on February 24, 2026, to consider public comment on the proposed Master Plan, and to further review and comment on the proposed Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, following the public hearing, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed Master Plan to the Belding City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed Master Plan is desirable, proper, and reasonable, and furthers the use, preservation, and development goals and strategies of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
Adoption of Master Plan. The Belding City Council hereby approves and adopts the proposed Master Plan, including all of the chapters, figures, descriptive matters, maps, and tables contained therein.
Distribution to Notice Group. Pursuant to MCL 125.3843, the City Council approves the distribution of the Master Plan to the Notice Group.
Findings of Fact. The City Council has made the foregoing determination based on a review of existing land uses in the City, a review of the existing Master Plan provisions and maps, the recommendations of the Planning Commission, as well as the assistance of a professional planning group. The City Council also finds that the proposed Master Plan will accurately reflect and implement the City’s goals and strategies for the use, preservation, and development of lands within the City of Belding.
Effective Date; Repeal. The proposed Master Plan shall become effective on the adoption date of this resolution. The prior Master Plan is hereby repealed upon the proposed Master Plan becoming effective.
RESOLUTION DECLARED ADOPTED.
D. The City Council was presented with five Special Event Applications for approval:
1. Moved by Curtis, seconded by Gladding to approve the Special Event Application for a Veteran’s Event, submitted by Collective Impact. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
2. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the Special Event Application for Riches Baseball Instruction, submitted by Drew Riches. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
3. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the Special Event Application for the Ladies Smashing it Tournament, submitted by Michigan Disc Golf Empire (MDGE). Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
4. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the Special Event Application for SMASH Camp, submitted by Michigan Disc Golf Empire (MDGE). Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
5. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the Special Event Application for SMASH Memorial, submitted by Michigan Disc Golf Empire (MDGE). Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
E. Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to approve the City Manager contract with Adam Poll, with a start date of March 19, 2026. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Steele gave closing comments.
Curtis gave closing comments.
Gladding gave closing comments.
Mayor Leary gave closing comments.
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________ __________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk