REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - AMENDED
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, March 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, March 3, 2026.
Mayor Jeannine Leary called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Pastor Chris Moore from the Zion Church in Ionia gave the 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, Nikolai Zerkle (Active U.S. Military, virtual attendance per MCL 15.263(2)) and Jeannine Leary
Members absent: None
Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Mike McCarty, 223 S Front Street, commented on Joshua Aikens Application for Appointment to the Rec Board.
A. Approve Independent Bank Checks 84835 to 84900 in the amount of $1,353,808.86
Approve ACH Payments
B. Approve Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting – March 3, 2026
Curtis reported that the Housing Commission meets on Thursday.
Gladding reported that the ZBA is scheduled to meet on March 24th at 5:30PM followed by the Planning Commission at 6:30PM.
Steele reported that the Library Board did not have a quorum so their meeting was rescheduled. Jim Mason is the Liaison between the Library Board and the Friends of the Library. Story groups have huge turnout, all LED lighting in the Library and weather programs.
Leary reported that the DDA met on March 4th. Dan Carter, majority owner of units in the mall, was present. Carter was interested to hear what the city envisions for its future. DDA Officers were also elected.
A. After a brief introduction and interview, it was moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to appoint Joshua Aikens to the Recreation Advisory Board to fill the vacancy on Seat A, with a partial term expiring on 12-31-27. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
B. Moved by Steele, seconded by Gladding to approve the Library Board’s recommendation to appointment for Caitlin Rodel and Tom Morse to the Library Board, with both terms to expire on 12-31-28. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Bob Brown, Jay Street, commented on putting pictures of local veterans on the light poles of Memorial Bridge for Labor Day.
Interim City Manager Becky Schlienz welcomed the new City Manager Adam Poll.
Curtis thanked everyone.
Gladding gave closing comments on the following topics of interest:
· The new City Manager starting, getting settled and returning to normalcy
· A positive future and moving forward
· Inquired about Music in the Park
City Clerk Janae Ortego advised that this task was given to the Community Development Director, who has since left. Ortego further advised that without a Deputy Clerk and having an election in August that she is unable to take on additional responsibility.
Gladding offered to manage the program. Gladding and Ortego will meet to go over the program and exchange information.
Zerkle commented that he did not have an opportunity to speak during Reports by Council Liaisons.
Steele commented on the October DDA minutes that were approved at their March 4th meeting alluding to the minutes containing unsupported claims and false accusations about sponsorships received for Labor Day from both the City and the DDA. Steele read aloud a prepared statement then asked the Clerk to place the written statement and supplemental handouts about sponsorships in the March 17, 2026 City Council packet and in the March 4, 2026 DDA packet for historical purposes. (Statement and handouts on file in the Clerk’s Office in the aforementioned City Council and DDA meeting packets.)
Moved by Gladding, seconded by Steele to adjourn the meeting at 7:24PM. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________ __________________________
Jeannine Leary, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk