REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
BELDING CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, May 5, 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, May 5, 2026.
Mayor Bonita Steele called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Pastor Ryan Snyder gave the Invocation.
Mayor Steele led with the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Ortego took the roll call:
Members present: Shelley Gladding-Visser, Linda Curtis, Nikolai Zerkle and Bonita Steele
Members absent: None
Mayor Steele noted the following changes to the agenda: Under the Consent Agenda, Add Item C. Special Event – Mackerville; Under New Business, Add and Change Item A. to Curtis’ Request to Abstain; Item B. becomes the Interviews for City Council Member Appointment; add candidate number 4. John Niemela and candidate number 5. Mike Brady and table Item C. Select Mayor Pro Tem and Item D. Assign Liaison to the Museum Board to the next meeting. Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Gladding-Visser to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Mike McCarty commented on the passing of Pete McGowan. He also commented on the need for way-finding signs around town.
Moved by Curtis, seconded by Gladding-Visser 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 85034 to 85090 in the amount of $223,105.53
Approve ACH Payments
B. Approve Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting – April 21, 2026
C. Special Event Application: Michigan Disc Golf Empire - Mackerville
Gladding-Visser reported that the Planning Commission approved a Site Plan for a new self-storage facility on M-44.
Zerkle reported that the ZBA approved a variance for 612 Bridge Street.
Mayor Steele reported that there will be an Ionia County Library Millage Proposal on the August Primary Election ballot.
A. Moved by Gladding-Visser, seconded by Zerkle, to allow Council Member Curtis to abstain from voting for her brother, David Badder, who is interviewing for the City Council Member appointment. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
B. Mayor Steele advised that the deadline to apply for the City Council appointment was yesterday (Monday, May 4th) at noon. (A copy of the publication from the Greenville Daily News and an Affidavit of Publication from the Greenville Daily News in on file in the Clerk’s Office.) She further advised that the candidates will be interviewed in the order their application was received. (Time-stamped copies are on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
Clerk Ortego read two standard questions from the city council members to each candidate, with council members having the opportunity to pose their own questions to each candidate.
1. Derrick Burns (Letter of Interest received April 9, 2026, at 2:32 p.m.).
Interview start time: 7:13 p.m.
After Ortego posed the standard questions, council members Curtis, Gladding-Visser and Mayor Steele each posed a question to the candidate.
Burns ended his interview with a closing statement at 7:21 p.m.
2. Erik Coles (Letter of Interest received April 28, 2026, at 11:32 a.m.)
Interview start time: 7:22 p.m.
After Ortego posed the standard questions, council members Curtis and Gladding-Visser each posed a question to the candidate.
Coles ended his interview with a closing statement at 7:26 p.m.
3. David Badder (Letter of Interest received April 29, 2026, at 10:52 a.m.)
Interview start time: 7:26 p.m.
After Ortego posed the standard questions, council members Gladding-Visser and Mayor Steele each posed a question to the candidate.
Badder ended his interview with a closing statement at 7:37 p.m.
4. John Niemela (Letter of Interest received May 3, 2026, at 7:43 p.m.)
Interview start time: 7:37 p.m.
After Ortego posed the standard questions, council members Curtis, Gladding-Visser and Mayor Steele each posed a question to the candidate.
Niemela ended his interview with a closing statement at 7:49 p.m.
5. Mike Brady (Letter of Interest received May 4, 2026, at 10:09 a.m.)
Interview start time: 7:49 p.m.
After Ortego posed the standard questions, council members Curtis, Gladding-Visser and Mayor Steele each posed a question to the candidate.
Brady ended his interview with a closing statement at 7:59 p.m.
Mayor Steele called for a 10 minute recess at 7:59 p.m.
Back on the record at 8:09 p.m.
C. City Manager Adam Poll noted that this was an awesome roster of candidates. He recommended that each council member name their top 2 or 3 candidates to narrow down the candidate pool to begin deliberations.
Mayor Steele clarified that this is NOT a vote:
Curtis’ top two candidates were Niemela and Brady.
Gladding-Visser’s top three candidates were Burns, Badder and Brady.
Zerkle’s top three candidates were Niemela, Badder and Brady.
Mayor Steele’s top three candidates were Burns, Brady and Niemela.
Ortego tallied the results as follows:
Brady: 4
Niemela: 3
Badder: 2
Burns: 2
Coles: 0
As the top two candidates, council members discussed Brady and Niemela. Poll advised that any candidate needs only 3 votes to be successfully appointed. At 8:20 the council members opted to pose further questions to the two candidates. Curtis, Zerkle, Gladding-Visser and Mayor Steele all posed additional questions to Brady and Neimela.
Poll asked the Council members to either nominate someone or to state their top candidate.
Mayor Steele clarified that this is NOT a vote:
Curtis’ top candidate was Niemela.
Zerkle’s top candidate was Badder.
Gladding-Visser’s top candidate was Brady.
Mayor Steele’s top candidate was Niemela.
After a short discussion, Gladding Visser nominated Brady for the appointment to City Council for the partial term ending in November, 2026. Curtis seconded the nomination.
Zerkle inquired if Brady would help with the ZBA transition to make sure they have enough members. Brady agreed.
Gladding-Visser noted that the council doesn’t have a wrong decision with either candidate.
The motion to appoint Mike Brady to the Belding City Council to fill the partial term ending in November, 2026 carried by the following roll call vote:
Yeas: Gladding-Visser, Curtis and Zerkle
Nays: Mayor Steele
Dave Badder of 1412 Sixth Street congratulated Brady, commented on all of the candidates and commented on abstaining.
Clinton Hewartson congratulated Brady and commented on the optics of adding two candidates to the agenda.
Bob Brown commented on historical councils, giving chances, and working together.
Mike Brady thanked council for the opportunity and offered comments to Burns, Niemela and Badder. He further commented about social media and counterproductivity.
Ryan Snyder commented on the community, unification and working together.
Poll commented on the following topics of interest:
· Road projects – Pavement markings begin next week on Bridge Street; project should be complete in June
· Hopefully address Front and Water Streets next year
· First batch of hot asphalt was received yesterday
· Finishing the punch list at the WWTP; Public tours of the WWTP coming in June or July
· Working on proposals for plant operations
· Vestibule project completed between the existing City Hall and Fire Department
· City of Portland seeking a countywide ambulance proposal on the August Ballot
· Interviews scheduled for the Deputy Clerk position
· Vacancies on the ZBA
· DPW sweeping and mowing
· Looking into a new phone system at City Hall
· Skate Ramp project to be completed in the next few weeks
· Working with a developer on some property on M-44
Zerkle inquired about a punch list for the Dog Park and the status of some playground equipment at Water Street Park. Poll advised that he is working with MSHDA about the dog park and the DDA is looking at using some funds or working with a private donor regarding Water Steet Park.
Curtis thanked all of the candidates.
Gladding-Visser thanked everyone, commented on having a productive meeting and having no wrong choice. She further commented on her availability.
Zerkle thanked everyone for coming and commented about changing your mind. He advised that he meant no disrespect by not asking the candidates questions. He noted that this is his last meeting in person and the issues with logging into the portal to attend the meetings virtually should be fixed. He reminded everyone that he will be in a different time zone while on deployment.
Mayor Steele commented on Pete McGowan, may he rest in peace. Zerkle a brief statement about McGowan. Mayor Steele held a moment of silence in McGowan’s honor.
Moved by Zerkle, seconded by Curtis to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
_________________________ __________________________
Bonita Steele, Mayor Janae Ortego, MiPMC
City Clerk