[0:00] was the best made up my mind over the

[0:01] week.

[0:02] » Lauren wind down.

[0:05] » I've heard that.

[0:06] » I'm glad you're here. I'm like,

[0:09] » You know, when you had children,

[0:11] » It's just not going to work down like

[0:18] that evening.

[0:19] » So, night of audition.

[0:22] » All right, we'll call this meeting to

[0:24] order.

[0:25] » If you can please stand for the pledge

[0:26] of allegiance.

[0:30] to the flag of the United States of

[0:33] America and to the republic for which it

[0:36] stands. One nation under God,

[0:39] indivisible, with liberty and justice

[0:41] for all.

[0:44] [clears throat]

[0:49] » Commissioner Wiki, would you lead us in

[0:51] prayer?

[0:51] » Sure. Let's pray.

[0:54] Lord, we come to you tonight and uh ask

[0:56] that you would lead us and guide us in

[0:59] this meeting. Pray that uh you would

[1:02] bless our city, that you would uh use us

[1:06] uh to make wise decisions uh to help our

[1:09] community. We pray this in Jesus name.

[1:11] Amen.

[1:14] » Roll call. City clear.

[1:15] » Commissioner Burr

[1:16] » Here.

[1:16] » Commissioner Boring

[1:17] » Here. Commissioner Wiki

[1:18] » Here.

[1:19] » Commissioner Smith

[1:20] » Here.

[1:20] » Commissioner Abs

[1:21] » Here.

[1:21] » Commissioner Miller

[1:22] » Here. Vice Mayor Mullins

[1:23] » Present.

[1:24] » Mayor Perez here.

[1:27] » All right, moving on with the agenda

[1:28] under proclamations and presentations.

[1:30] There's none tonight.

[1:33] » We'll go ahead and move on to the

[1:34] visitor section. There's a visitor that

[1:37] would like to make a public comment for

[1:38] items not listed on the agenda. Please

[1:41] step forward to the podium. State your

[1:43] name and address and you'll have two

[1:44] minutes.

[1:47] I see no takers.

[1:50] » All right. Next on the agenda is the

[1:51] approval of the agenda.

[1:55] » So moved.

[1:55] » Do we have a motion?

[1:57] » Second

[1:58] » And support. All in favor?

[1:59] » I oppose.

[2:01] » So move.

[2:02] » Next on the agenda is the approval of

[2:04] the consent agenda.

[2:06] » So moved.

[2:06] » So we have a motion.

[2:08] » Second

[2:09] » And support. All in favor?

[2:11] » I oppose.

[2:12] » So move.

[2:15] » Next is unfinished business and we have

[2:17] none tonight. So, we'll move in straight

[2:20] into new business and we'll get started

[2:23] with the wastewater treatment plant

[2:25] bioolids landation

[2:27] bid. Mr. Brandon,

[2:30] welcome tonight. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[2:32] City commissioners

[2:34] um presenting to you tonight

[2:36] a

[2:38] um proposal from Wheeling Brothers. So,

[2:41] the wastewater treatment plant produces

[2:43] approximately a million gallons of bio

[2:45] salads each year. These require proper

[2:48] disposal. Um these are the disposal

[2:51] methods are regulated by Eagle EPA

[2:55] standards. Um the preferred method for

[2:57] this disposal is to recycle the bioids

[3:00] onto agricultural land for conditioning

[3:02] the soil and providing nutrient value

[3:05] for the crops to be grown. Um, this

[3:08] method requires that the city contract

[3:11] services for the removal,

[3:12] transportation, and the land application

[3:14] of the bioolids.

[3:17] Um, staff published an invitation to bid

[3:20] July 20th. Um, exhibit A, which is

[3:24] included in your packet, [clears throat]

[3:26] basically outlines the spec and

[3:28] everything that is required for the land

[3:31] application process. um who is required

[3:35] to fulfill what role. Um

[3:40] this is a four-year contract that we're

[3:42] looking at um that we went out for.

[3:46] We've done shorter term contracts in the

[3:49] past. It just seems like

[3:52] it's a lot of leg work to get constant

[3:54] contractors come in and to turn around

[3:56] and then replace it out. So, we've had

[3:59] success with the four-year contract. um

[4:04] bids were based on a per gallon

[4:07] um amount.

[4:09] So first year 26 27 which will be this

[4:12] fall. Uh so 5.7 cents per gallon. So

[4:17] we're looking and then about 2% each

[4:20] increase each year after that and then a

[4:23] one time uh sludge storage tank cleaning

[4:26] or 11 cents a gallon. Um

[4:31] August 20 or August 10th, uh we received

[4:33] one bid from Wheeling Brothers LLC from

[4:37] out of Fowler, Indiana. Um Wheeling has

[4:40] had the previous contract for the four

[4:42] years prior. Um we've had great success

[4:45] in working with them. We've had

[4:49] good feedback from the land owners, from

[4:51] the farmers who

[4:54] um work the fields that we're we're

[4:57] applying on. Um, so I feel like we

[5:01] should definitely consider this bid

[5:03] considering it's the only one also that

[5:04] helps. But, um, they've been we've had

[5:08] great success with them in the past and

[5:09] I look forward to another four years.

[5:12] The bid contract amount is $300,000

[5:14] respectively. Uh, there is a bid

[5:16] breakdown by the year as you can see

[5:19] here. Um, other than that, open to

[5:22] answer any questions.

[5:24] » Any questions for Brandon? No.

[5:28] So, you said this is a a four-year

[5:30] process.

[5:31] » It's a four-year contract. So,

[5:32] basically, they'll have this they will

[5:35] sign the contract. They will be the uh

[5:37] ones applying for four years,

[5:39] consecutive years.

[5:40] » How how often do they do that?

[5:43] » We land apply once a year.

[5:44] » Once a year.

[5:45] » Yep. About a million gallons once a

[5:47] year. So,

[5:49] typically the contract spells it out

[5:51] that they're supposed to be done before

[5:52] November 30th each year. That way it

[5:55] keeps us out of the frost. It keeps us

[5:57] out of spring application and um

[5:59] basically as soon as the crops are off,

[6:01] they can get in there, they can land

[6:03] apply and it sits for the winter. Nice.

[6:07] I I know I said something uh to Andrew

[6:10] in the past. I would I'd love to see our

[6:13] community have something that would burn

[6:15] the bioolids and then people or other

[6:19] communities would sell it to us as well

[6:23] uh for electric production. Um that way

[6:27] we're maybe possibly at some point

[6:29] making money off of it instead of losing

[6:33] just a thought there. Um so I don't know

[6:37] if you guys are familiar in the past we

[6:39] have looked at different

[6:42] uh I guess ways of handling the bioolids

[6:46] and to get to a dry process as you're

[6:50] stating is uh

[6:52] would take pretty significant amount of

[6:55] capital for that to

[6:57] » You'd have to have a drier or something

[6:59] like that like

[7:00] » So you first step is you're dewatering

[7:02] so you have to get it down to to a

[7:05] certain consistency um percent solids

[7:08] and then from once you get to that

[7:10] dewatered state then you can move on to

[7:11] drying um and then from there drying

[7:15] that opens up the different

[7:16] opportunities if you're talking

[7:18] incineration of some sort.

[7:21] We didn't go down quite as far as what

[7:23] that would look like.

[7:25] » Um we pretty much stopped at what it

[7:28] would look like for the dewatering and

[7:29] then for the drying process.

[7:32] The numbers were pretty substantial. So

[7:35] that's kind of where we looked at.

[7:37] » Gotcha.

[7:41] » Any other questions for Brandon?

[7:49] » Mr. Mayor, I move that the Sturgeis City

[7:51] Commission approved the bid for Wheeling

[7:53] Brothers LLC in the amount of $300,000

[7:56] for land allocation of bioolids as

[7:59] presented.

[8:00] » So we have a motion, second and support.

[8:03] All in favor?

[8:04] » I I opposed.

[8:06] » So move. Thank you, Brandon.

[8:07] » Thank you.

[8:09] » Next on the agenda is the 2027 sidewalk

[8:12] repair program.

[8:14] » Patrick, welcome.

[8:16] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commission. Uh the

[8:19] engineering department is working to

[8:20] implement a new sidewalk uh repair

[8:22] program for 2627.

[8:26] Uh the program includes replacement of

[8:28] damaged sidewalks and trip hazards. Um,

[8:31] and it says uh uh where there are no

[8:35] current sidewalks. Um, to clarify that

[8:38] some of the sidewalks are so damaged

[8:40] that the homeowners are actually picking

[8:42] the sidewalks out and they're leaving

[8:44] them large gaps. So, that's that's

[8:48] what's also in this um packet. Um we are

[8:53] requesting that land and resource

[8:56] engineering LRE provide bidding services

[8:58] for the project as well as limited

[9:01] construction observation construction

[9:02] material and testing. Uh the proposal um

[9:06] will be for LRE to prepare a limited bid

[9:09] package sidewalk removal replacement

[9:12] across all four cities or all four wards

[9:15] across the city. Um using the

[9:19] information provided from the

[9:20] engineering department um we have a full

[9:23] list of the sidewalks of the city of

[9:25] Sturgis um where they are needed the

[9:29] most um across all four wards and the

[9:33] [cough and clears throat] engineering

[9:34] department will also be handling all of

[9:36] the rightaway permitting. Um during this

[9:40] uh LRE will be [clears throat]

[9:43] um six bi-weekly visits uh over 12 weeks

[9:49] in the 2027 uh year. Um, construction

[9:52] materials will be handled by the

[9:54] contractor and the proposal fees from

[9:58] LRE are $7,500 for the project cost and

[10:03] then up to um but not to exceed $12,140

[10:08] for the con uh to oversee the

[10:10] construction process um of the project

[10:13] itself.

[10:15] Um I have Neil here uh with LRE. Um and

[10:21] come up and introduce yourself.

[10:26] » Hi. Good evening. Um

[10:27] » My name is Neil Dwitz with Land Resource

[10:30] Engineering. Um

[10:32] so I worked with Barry a little bit

[10:34] before he left trying to put this

[10:35] proposal together. I think maybe a year

[10:38] or two ago. Um was approached by Patrick

[10:41] maybe about a couple months ago. um kind

[10:44] of to bring this back um to put to put a

[10:47] proposal together, put a bid package

[10:49] together to get um uh the program off on

[10:52] its feet. Um understanding that we want

[10:54] to use public dollars as efficiently as

[10:56] we can and not put all that into

[10:58] engineering and try to put it into the

[10:59] sidewalk itself. Um so we we've kind of

[11:03] we're going to partner up with Patrick

[11:04] and his his staff as well to to make

[11:07] sure we get the best product of the

[11:08] city. um

[11:12] do have some history of the city. Uh

[11:14] used to work with Fishbach for 15 years

[11:16] and did a lot of the brick roads around

[11:18] town. So do have some familiarity with

[11:20] the city. Um but yeah, looking forward

[11:22] to um a successful projects and um a new

[11:26] opportunity for us working with the

[11:27] city.

[11:30] » Any questions for Lee? I

[11:31] » Have a couple of Patrick or was it Neil?

[11:34] Yeah.

[11:34] » Neil or

[11:36] » Um

[11:38] um is this all the whole list that we

[11:41] received is that is all of that to be

[11:43] done in this calendar year in the next

[11:46] 2027?

[11:47] » No sir. [clears throat]

[11:48] » Okay.

[11:48] » So that's just what we've identified as

[11:50] needing to be done all over the city.

[11:52] But how much of this would we complete

[11:53] in the next year? Um, so right now we

[11:57] are looking at about $200,000

[12:00] um for the actual construction portion

[12:02] of um of the project itself. Um, I would

[12:06] have to get back with you on what the

[12:07] linear footage is um, or how many

[12:10] squares that is because uh, right now

[12:12] we're actually identifying about $30 a

[12:15] square foot. Um, and then all of the

[12:18] sidewalk repair is uh, our math is based

[12:21] on 4x4 by 4 inch thick.

[12:26] But to answer your question, uh, not all

[12:28] of that is going to be done this year.

[12:30] We actually are trying to budget every

[12:32] other year for $200,000 for the sidewalk

[12:34] program.

[12:35] » So, have you have you determined where

[12:37] you would start it yet or anything or

[12:39] what areas to hit first kind of thing

[12:41] or?

[12:41] » Um, so right now we would we're probably

[12:43] going to try to attack the worst areas,

[12:45] biggest trip hazards. Um obviously the

[12:47] last uh storm has ripped up, you know,

[12:50] large chunks um out of the ground

[12:53] itself. So we'll pro, you know, we want

[12:55] to we want to make sure that um we get

[12:58] the worst ones, the biggest trip

[12:59] hazards, anything that's uh definitely

[13:02] going to create any sort of safety

[13:04] issues.

[13:05] » Okay. But you you haven't identified

[13:07] exactly which ones you're going that's

[13:09] still in the worst of where you're going

[13:10] to start and what areas you're going to

[13:12] hit. I guess you don't know that yet

[13:13] though. uh like we just want to do the

[13:16] worst um so the packet that we actually

[13:18] have has you know 3inch gaps or two inch

[13:20] gaps. We want to do anything that's

[13:23] probably the worst safety safety hazards

[13:25] right out the gate.

[13:27] » And then one question about the list.

[13:28] There's there's many of them that have

[13:30] there was one on the first page for 301

[13:32] Chicago that had like their property

[13:34] listed like six times. It had two

[13:36] different owners. I mean I see a lot of

[13:37] these in here that have no longer the

[13:39] owners of the properties. I don't know

[13:40] where this information is coming from

[13:42] from the list that was compiled

[13:43] necessarily. Um, but I see a lot of

[13:47] those have like corner lots. So, we're

[13:49] looking at two different street

[13:50] sections, but some of them are just

[13:52] short distances like 211 Virginia for

[13:54] instance. They're listed three times or

[13:56] three different amounts. Why are they

[13:57] listed multiple times?

[13:58] » Uh, I'd have to double check that. That

[14:00] list has been in engineering for years.

[14:04] Um, so, you know, obviously we want to

[14:06] go back through and clean that up.

[14:07] [clears throat]

[14:08] Oh, so this isn't something that you

[14:10] compiled recently.

[14:11] » Not currently. No, we've had this

[14:13] » Name don't match properties. [laughter]

[14:16] » Well, certainly before any letters go

[14:18] out, you know, they will acquire the

[14:20] information from our assessing database

[14:22] to get

[14:23] » Well, I've seen I saw some names in the

[14:24] property owners having been property

[14:26] owners for years. Yeah. On these

[14:27] properties and I'm like, what what's

[14:28] going on with this stuff?

[14:29] » Yeah.

[14:30] » So, if there are some that are listed

[14:31] like three times, like 211 Virginia

[14:33] Street, the short front and they've got

[14:35] three lines. There's only gonna be one

[14:37] line on their property line when this

[14:38] thing is completed.

[14:40] » Correct.

[14:42] » I didn't know if you had one that, you

[14:43] know, one line for repair, one for

[14:45] replace kind of thing. I didn't know how

[14:46] they all work.

[14:47] » So, right now, um there's going to be uh

[14:50] quite a large list as far as um a lot of

[14:54] them have like tree roots underneath

[14:56] them. So, it's not just going to be

[14:57] we're going to go in take the sidewalk

[14:59] out and then replace the sidewalk.

[15:01] there's going to be root restoration um

[15:03] on some of those which is going to

[15:04] obviously cost a little bit more um than

[15:07] just having somebody else you know

[15:09] repair a 4x4 ft um section of sidewalk.

[15:12] So uh ultimately we're going to try to

[15:15] take as much cost into consideration and

[15:17] make sure that uh we can get especially

[15:20] for the first goound as much done as we

[15:22] possibly can. Um [clears throat]

[15:24] you know the worst ones.

[15:27] » Okay. Uh, well, that explains a lot that

[15:29] this was compiled. So,

[15:30] » Yeah, it's it's been many, many, many

[15:32] years. I know that we've been trying to

[15:34] do a sidewalk program or from what I

[15:36] understand, we're going to try to do a

[15:37] sidewalk program for quite a while now.

[15:40] » Okay.

[15:40] » So,

[15:41] » So now we're trying to implement the

[15:42] sidewalk program.

[15:43] » So, I'm guessing this list doesn't

[15:45] include the ones that were recently

[15:46] ripped up by the storms or could not or

[15:49] may not.

[15:49] » I'll have to double check that. Yeah.

[15:51] » Okay.

[15:52] » So, Dan may have up um updated that um

[15:55] over the last few weeks. So, I'll just

[15:57] double check that.

[15:58] » And is there any reason why some are

[15:59] bold and some are not? Is that just from

[16:01] the old listing?

[16:02] » That's that's from the old listing.

[16:03] » Okay. All right. Thank you.

[16:06] » So, what was it?

[16:08] » Go ahead.

[16:08] » What was the criteria for your um

[16:12] repairs like one inch lift in the

[16:15] sidewalk, 2 in? What What was the

[16:18] minimum? What's

[16:19] » So, the minimum sidewalk repair I

[16:21] believe is an eighth of an inch uh for

[16:24] any sort of trip hazard. Yeah, correct.

[16:26] Um, we have some that are hinged, you

[16:28] know, 4 in. So, um, we're going to want

[16:31] to take care of those, you know, 4 inch

[16:33] ones before we do any half inch ones.

[16:36] Um,

[16:37] we have a lot of decrepit sidewalk. Um,

[16:40] so I think again for the first goound

[16:43] for, you know, the $200,000 that we're

[16:45] going to spend, we just need to get as

[16:47] much done as we possibly can to to kind

[16:50] of show that, you know, we're we're

[16:52] doing our best for the city.

[16:55] Now, you're also I saw that on some of

[16:57] the uh address there again since it

[17:00] hasn't been updated yet, which I went

[17:02] out and noticed that um on my street on

[17:05] my block alone, there was nothing listed

[17:08] and yet there's probably at least five

[17:11] houses that have noticeable cracks that

[17:13] need to be remediated. But, u so

[17:16] hopefully we'll get that finished before

[17:18] you start ping everything else plus the

[17:20] storm damage.

[17:21] I think hopefully it should be done this

[17:23] year. But

[17:24] » Yeah, uh actually Jim today called me um

[17:27] and was talking to um someone at a

[17:31] property that he was doing a meter

[17:32] service for and texted me today uh to

[17:36] add her to the to the list. So, we're

[17:38] going to go out tomorrow and look at her

[17:39] sidewalks, too. Um you know, we get

[17:42] calls probably two or three times a week

[17:45] um about sidewalk replacements, cracks,

[17:47] lifts, especially again from the storm.

[17:50] Um, so it's going to be it's going to be

[17:53] an ongoing thing throughout, you know,

[17:56] forever probably, you know, as

[17:58] especially as we're as Sturgis is

[18:01] growing and adding subdivisions, you

[18:03] know, you're only adding more and more

[18:04] sidewalks uh to the city of Sturgis. Um,

[18:08] and I mean, you can walk around right

[18:10] now, there's there's a lot of uh

[18:12] sidewalks that definitely need repair.

[18:14] Um, so ultimately again for the

[18:16] engineering side, you know, we want to

[18:18] get this kicked off. Um, we're probably

[18:21] going to have a couple of bumps. You

[18:22] know, it seems this is a new project for

[18:24] us. Um, but ultimately it's it's to get

[18:27] some stuff done, make sure we're doing

[18:29] it uh adequate adequately, correctly,

[18:32] and um and learn from anything that we

[18:34] get out of this one so that when we come

[18:36] back and do it back in uh 2029,

[18:40] um you know, that we can learn from our

[18:42] mistakes and and get, you know, even

[18:44] more bang for our buck.

[18:46] » So,

[18:49] another question is why do we have to

[18:51] have an engineering firm to repair

[18:52] sidewalks?

[18:54] Um ultimately they are putting a package

[18:57] bid together for the $7,500. They LRE um

[19:01] is from what I understand has been

[19:03] successful in doing Grand Rapids. Uh

[19:06] right now we have

[19:08] I think 16 projects going right now in

[19:11] engineering um with three of us. Uh, and

[19:15] that's that's

[19:18] not um that doesn't even count like what

[19:22] we do with the mistakes or our daily

[19:25] routines. Um, so we are extremely busy.

[19:28] We just can't handle uh in the

[19:30] engineering department right now taking

[19:31] that on

[19:34] » Basically. So you just need someone to

[19:36] send out the bids.

[19:39] So what we need is we need somebody to

[19:41] put the pre the project package

[19:43] together. Um we are going to handle the

[19:46] letters that go out to the um

[19:51] the residents

[19:52] » And then as the project is going is

[19:56] going to come down every other week and

[19:58] double check all the work that's being

[19:59] done by the contractor.

[20:05] Seems like an awful lot of money to come

[20:06] down every two weeks to check on

[20:08] progress.

[20:10] » Um I agree. Uh I just feel like in

[20:14] engineering right now we can spend um

[20:18] our time uh in a different manner.

[20:22] » Well, right now we're having sidewalks

[20:24] repaired sporadically with um I think

[20:27] it's Mr. Miller concrete.

[20:30] Um he's done a lot of work for the city

[20:33] over the years, very reliable.

[20:36] Um you

[20:39] I assume you're going to take off the

[20:41] lowest bid in the contract. Maybe we

[20:43] won't get him again.

[20:44] » Correct.

[20:45] » Um but

[20:47] there's not a whole lot to do to take

[20:49] out us a piece of sidewalk,

[20:52] form it, and pour another.

[20:56] So I don't

[20:58] And there's there's

[21:02] you're going to want to hire the

[21:03] contractor that's probably the closest

[21:04] to the area that's going to be able to,

[21:07] you know, minimum travel times, lower

[21:11] the cost and all that. So, I would just

[21:13] think that the city could do it a little

[21:16] bit cheaper than spending $20,000 for an

[21:19] engineering firm.

[21:21] » Um, I appreciate your opinion. Yes.

[21:24] » Can I interject?

[21:25] » Yes, sir, you can.

[21:28] The idea is that [clears throat]

[21:31] design services is one aspect or one

[21:34] component of this contract. The other is

[21:37] the construction which would include

[21:41] inspection.

[21:43] And

[21:45] one of the things because we have so

[21:48] much sidewalk, it makes it more

[21:51] efficient for us to perform this way as

[21:56] opposed to having staff

[21:59] divided up where we're doing other

[22:01] projects.

[22:03] So the idea is, and I would agree with

[22:06] you that years ago that would have been

[22:08] the typical way that we approach

[22:11] sidewalks is to just to try to find a

[22:14] local contractor,

[22:16] fill it in. But that means that we have

[22:18] to take somebody out of our office that

[22:22] could be working in another area.

[22:26] So we have to rely on LRE to

[22:30] be that fifth person out of the

[22:33] engineering office. So when we measure

[22:37] the efficiency of having that extra firm

[22:41] do the design and inspection or design

[22:45] staking.

[22:47] It really is more efficient for us to do

[22:49] it that way.

[22:53] Well, when you come down every two weeks

[22:55] to inspect how many yards have been

[22:57] poured, how close are you actually

[23:00] checking?

[23:02] » Well, and again, um, if we have to

[23:05] enforce, if something's not acceptable,

[23:08] they will be the firm telling the

[23:12] contractor, "Pull it out and do it

[23:14] again."

[23:20] I poured I poured a lot of concrete in

[23:22] my life, but I'm

[23:25] You don't know what's underneath that

[23:27] either. Well, it's they felt like with

[23:29] rocks or what? I'm not saying they

[23:30] would. And I don't think that's not

[23:33] worth their time to do that either, but

[23:34] I just come down and see that the the

[23:38] sidewalks are maybe um level or that

[23:42] they are properly screed or brushed or

[23:45] whatever

[23:47] after two weeks. I mean, yeah, if

[23:50] they're not done, they can turn them

[23:51] back out, but the damage is already

[23:53] done.

[23:56] » And you're you're well noted on that.

[23:59] Um,

[24:01] I think as we move forward, if this body

[24:05] decides to move in that direction, as

[24:07] Patrick had said, I'm sure that he's

[24:10] going to have to refine along with LRE

[24:14] the way that we do things. If it doesn't

[24:17] turn out to be a cost-saving measure for

[24:20] us, then we'll have to resort to another

[24:24] approach.

[24:26] I mean, I guess ultimately this week is

[24:28] a really good uh example of why we also

[24:31] need to have extra resources. Um, this

[24:34] week right now we have crack ceiling

[24:36] going on. So, I have one of my gentlemen

[24:39] out doing um Miss Digs uh all day. It's

[24:43] it's a busy time of the year where

[24:44] everybody wants to do fences and

[24:46] driveways and all of that good stuff.

[24:48] We're trying to do city, you know,

[24:50] upgrade different things in the city.

[24:52] Um, so he's gone for the full day. uh

[24:54] Dan and I have been, you know, watching

[24:57] uh them do the crack sealing and making

[24:59] sure that they're doing everything on a,

[25:01] you know, a competent level. And then on

[25:03] top of that, you know, I've got, you

[25:05] know, [clears throat] my director's, I

[25:07] guess, a director's position to where

[25:08] I'm making sure that everything is all

[25:10] still moving forward with all of the

[25:12] other projects that we have. Uh making

[25:14] sure that some of the companies are

[25:16] getting all their water hooked up, all

[25:18] their meters done. Um so

[25:22] for me in the engineering department we

[25:24] are just very limited on resources when

[25:26] we have a lot of projects going that we

[25:29] need to be also on this like boots on

[25:31] the ground. So it's it's kind of one of

[25:33] those things where

[25:35] I agree with you. Um if I could have

[25:38] extra resources in my office that would

[25:40] be amazing. Um but we just don't.

[25:44] » Well and that had been discussed with

[25:46] Barry retiring. I mean that we weren't

[25:48] we were going to be short staffed in

[25:50] that department. So that was already

[25:52] something that we had discussed. Weren't

[25:54] there three people in that department?

[25:56] Is that what you said? You have three

[25:57] people in the department.

[25:58] » Myself, Dan, and uh Trey

[26:01] » Just explain.

[26:05] » So going back to the offish off topic on

[26:08] this going back to the crack ceiling.

[26:10] happened to go down the so I drive down

[26:12] Mechanic Street and I noticed that there

[26:15] were cracked ceiling down Mechanic

[26:17] Street, but they had cars parked all the

[26:20] way down the road on the side of the

[26:22] street. And it's just like why didn't

[26:24] the city notify the residents not to

[26:26] park on the street? Um because

[26:29] underneath all the cars, of course,

[26:31] that's where all the oils and

[26:33] everything's going to leak and soft

[26:36] pavement and cracks are going to happen.

[26:38] But because all the road, all that side

[26:41] of the road is covered, you guys

[26:42] couldn't get under there. So, I thought,

[26:45] well, why why weren't they notified

[26:47] about that?

[26:48] » Um, I believe the city was notified. Um,

[26:51] however, with that being said, when

[26:53] we're I think we're doing

[26:56] 90,000 pounds of cracking in a week, I

[26:58] don't to move the city around of of cars

[27:02] on the streets, I think, would be a

[27:03] pretty tough ordeal.

[27:05] Well, I mean, just send them letters to

[27:07] say this sweeper cracks soon. Don't park

[27:09] on the street. Just like if it's snow

[27:12] emergency, they don't park on the

[27:13] street. Well, not supposed to, but

[27:17] just ask them for a friend.

[27:20] » Thank you.

[27:23] » Any other questions for Brandon?

[27:32] City Commission approves a proposal from

[27:33] land and resource engineering in the not

[27:35] to exceed amounts of $7,500 for design

[27:38] engineering services and not to exceed

[27:40] $12,140

[27:42] for construction engineering services

[27:44] with an hourly

[27:47] with an hourly.

[27:50] It doesn't make sense but as presented.

[27:53] » So we have a motion

[27:54] » Not to exceed [laughter]

[27:55] » Second. We have a motion [clears throat]

[27:56] and a second. All in favor?

[27:59] » I opposed.

[28:00] » I

[28:01] » So moved.

[28:02] » Thank you.

[28:03] » Thank you, [laughter] Patrick.

[28:12] » Next on the agenda is the uh 69 KV

[28:16] transmission line bids. Mr. Chris,

[28:18] » Welcome.

[28:19] » Good evening, mayor, vice mayor,

[28:21] commissioners.

[28:23] Uh in this year's uh budget um we do

[28:26] have actually next year's budget uh we

[28:28] have uh funds budgeted for the 69 KB

[28:31] transmission line. Uh in preparation for

[28:35] that and because I wasn't for sure if

[28:37] the A line was going to be acquired by

[28:40] the time uh we got the substation done

[28:43] uh we just moved this ahead to to be

[28:45] done uh early uh in in this next budget

[28:48] year. So, a requested for for proposal

[28:51] for the construction of the Nawa Street

[28:54] 69 uh project was posted on bidnet on

[28:57] the bidet website and five bids were

[29:00] received on July 27th. A summary of the

[29:03] bids is included in your packet. Uh the

[29:07] bids were reviewed for completeness and

[29:10] conformance uh to the documents that

[29:12] were posted. The low bidder was Extreme

[29:14] Power Line with a bid of $429,91.7.

[29:19] Extreme Power Line has not worked for

[29:21] the city uh previously. Uh so a list of

[29:24] references were requested. Uh it was

[29:26] requested for them to provide references

[29:28] for municipal or co-op utilities. Uh but

[29:31] the references provided were only for

[29:34] large investorowned uh utilities. Uh an

[29:37] attempt was made to contact the

[29:38] references provided and only one

[29:40] reference responded to that request. Uh

[29:42] there's also cause for concern because

[29:44] of how much the low bidder uh how much

[29:48] lower Extreme Power Lines bid was from

[29:49] the next lowest bidder and the average

[29:52] bid price. Uh so that could indicate

[29:55] change orders in the future or maybe

[29:57] they didn't give us a complete uh bid.

[30:00] So

[30:02] next uh New Kirk Newkirk Electric was

[30:05] the next lowest bidder with a bid of

[30:06] $660,000.88.

[30:10] They do have a history of successfully

[30:12] completing these transmission and

[30:14] distribution projects for uh municipal

[30:17] utilities and they are also the

[30:19] contractor for the state line substation

[30:21] project. Uh staff recommends approving

[30:24] the bid from New Kirk Electric in the

[30:25] amount of $660,000.88.

[30:30] I did include uh an overall uh project

[30:34] um

[30:36] summary uh as well in the the packet. Um

[30:40] so we're well within uh the budgeted

[30:42] amount. Uh we we have budgeted funds of

[30:44] two 2,200,000

[30:47] for this project. Uh with the po

[30:49] purchase of poles uh engineering and

[30:52] construction

[30:53] uh the total so far is 794,277.

[30:59] I will anticipate uh another uh cost

[31:02] coming in and that is for tying in this

[31:05] line to the state line substation that

[31:07] has not been engineered or bid out yet.

[31:09] So um I said state line sorry uh

[31:13] southeast substation which is currently

[31:16] uh in use. So

[31:19] any questions for Chris? uh with what

[31:22] we've got left and what we've got left

[31:24] to do, how are we

[31:28] how are we at on the budget? You said

[31:30] there was going to be an additional

[31:32] cost. Are we where we should be or

[31:34] » I think we'll come in under on this

[31:36] specific project uh for that that

[31:39] transmission line. Um that tie-in I

[31:42] don't believe is going to rem uh take up

[31:44] the remaining u budget item. So I think

[31:47] we'll be sitting pretty good on that. So

[31:50] yeah, thank you

[31:53] Chris. Going um going with the lowest

[31:55] bidder 429

[31:58] about 230,000 in savings if you will.

[32:01] » Correct. My concern and like I said our

[32:04] concern uh they are not uh from from

[32:06] Michigan. Uh they're out of state. Uh

[32:10] our concern really is that they didn't

[32:12] uh bid the entire scope of the project

[32:15] or know what the project was even though

[32:17] it was explained to them. Uh our concern

[32:20] is that they come back with change

[32:21] orders by not including certain items in

[32:24] in their their bid. Uh so um with that

[32:28] coupled with I mean you can see the

[32:31] average of the other bids. I mean that

[32:32] looks more in line uh to us as well. Um,

[32:35] [clears throat] we've worked with CC

[32:37] Power, we've worked with Newerk, um, and

[32:39] Camp Power. All three of those we've

[32:41] worked with in the past. Uh, so we

[32:43] would, we would assume that their bids

[32:45] are pretty good bids and and really, uh,

[32:47] know what we're we're looking for. Uh,

[32:50] the nice opportunity is that Newkerk is

[32:53] currently building our substation down

[32:55] there. They would be able to pull their

[32:56] crews and and work on this and do the

[32:59] entire uh, project. uh which I think

[33:02] will will um work well for a workflow

[33:06] and then you know coupled with hopefully

[33:09] not a ton or any change orders but

[33:12] project of this size you just don't know

[33:14] what you're getting into. So

[33:16] » Okay

[33:23] any other questions for Chris

[33:27] Mr. Mayor, I move that the Sturge of

[33:28] City Commission approve the bid for New

[33:30] Kirk Electric for the Nawa Suite 69 KV

[33:34] transmission line construction project

[33:36] in the amount of $660,088

[33:41] as presented.

[33:42] » So, we have a motion support and

[33:44] support. All in favor? I

[33:46] » I oppose. So, move.

[33:51] Next on the agenda is the railroad

[33:53] crossing closing addendum. Press. All

[33:56] right. So, with the state line

[33:59] construction of the state line

[34:00] substation uh south of the city, uh this

[34:03] will be fed two ways. The the uh the

[34:06] line or the 69 KB line that we just

[34:09] approved construction of, but then also

[34:11] the A line that we did finally receive

[34:15] um that final agreement from AP signed

[34:18] about two weeks ago. So, um it worked

[34:22] out. It was close, but uh we finally got

[34:24] it done after, you know, three and a

[34:26] half years. So, um with that being said,

[34:29] we need to cross the the railroad tracks

[34:31] with those lines from AD to uh the

[34:34] substation. Uh so with that um we we had

[34:39] to get with the railroad um and uh the

[34:42] attorney worked with the railroad and

[34:44] and got this addendum uh that is in your

[34:46] packet to the master agreement that we

[34:49] have uh with the city that would just

[34:50] add this crossing as an annual uh fee to

[34:54] the city um and allow us to cross that

[34:57] right away. So permit has already been

[35:00] obtained for the construction. That cost

[35:02] was $5,500 that's been paid and approved

[35:05] uh by Newkerk as part of that project

[35:07] for the crossing. This is going to be an

[35:10] annual fee of $91862

[35:13] to

[35:14] continue to cross the railroad. So

[35:20] » Okay,

[35:22] any questions for Chris on this pan?

[35:28] Mr. Mayor, I move that the Sturgeis City

[35:30] Commission approve the sixth addendum to

[35:33] wireline pipeline crossing agreement and

[35:35] approval of the city manager to sign all

[35:37] necessary documents.

[35:39] » So, we have a motion, support and

[35:41] support. All in favor?

[35:42] » I opposed. So, move. Thank you, Chris.

[35:46] Thank you.

[35:50] » Next on the agenda is the digger truck

[35:52] installment purchase agreement. Miss

[35:54] Sager.

[35:55] » Good evening, commissioners. Um, back in

[35:57] May of 25, the commission approved the

[36:00] purchase of a DH50E dual axle digger

[36:03] dirt truck to replace the current 2013

[36:07] um, digger truck, an amount not to

[36:09] exceed the 450. Um, in October, it was

[36:12] adjusted um, not to exceed uh, 460,000.

[36:17] This unit is used to dig holes and set

[36:20] holes and um large transformers. Uh and

[36:24] it is on a 12-year replacement cycle. Um

[36:28] the final price came in at $452,128.

[36:33] Um so in order to purchase this

[36:36] equipment, we're seeking um we have

[36:38] sought fi um financing options under an

[36:41] installment purchase agreement. um we've

[36:44] sent out um an RFP to local banks and

[36:47] received in your packet was what we

[36:49] received back in terms of those bids.

[36:52] And so we're seeking approval um for a

[36:56] an installment purchase agreement with

[36:58] Southern Michigan Bank and Trust um at a

[37:01] rate of 4.13% for 10 years. Um so

[37:05] included in your packet was also a

[37:07] resolution that outlined that agreement.

[37:11] Um I believe there were some questions

[37:13] around the um total amount of interest

[37:18] um that would be incurred between the

[37:20] seven and 10ear rates um that would be

[37:23] roughly um $34,000 between seven and 10

[37:27] years difference. So

[37:31] » What would the uh payment price be?

[37:34] » Um

[37:35] rough roughly 18,000 a year. uh a

[37:40] difference between the payments.

[37:41] » Okay.

[37:42] » Yep.

[37:44] 1,500 a month.

[37:47] So, kind of thinking forward to the

[37:48] purchases we have upcoming um

[37:51] particularly in fiscal year 2028, we

[37:54] have the fire truck which will be over a

[37:56] million and then we have slated for um

[38:01] another bucket truck and th those are

[38:05] the two big things. So kind of forward

[38:07] thinking of cash flow in that regard.

[38:10] » Okay. Thank you. Then you're

[38:12] recommending a 10ear

[38:13] » I am.

[38:13] » Okay.

[38:14] » And based on the the replacement cycle

[38:16] of that particular vehicle 12 um I think

[38:19] that makes

[38:21] » Exact for 10.

[38:22] » Yeah.

[38:24] » Any questions for city?

[38:28] » Mr. Mayor, I move that the service city

[38:30] commission adopt the resolution

[38:32] authorizing installment purchase

[38:34] agreement as presented. So we have a

[38:36] motion

[38:37] second in support. All in favor?

[38:40] » I opposed. So move. Thank you. Sing.

[38:47] [snorts]

[38:48] Next on the agenda is the airport access

[38:50] road and terminal parking lot. Mr. Tom's

[38:53] course. Welcome Tom.

[38:59] » Evening mayor commission. Uh included in

[39:01] your packet is

[39:04] the contract for

[39:07] redoing the airport terminal access road

[39:10] and

[39:12] parking lot.

[39:14] Uh it's a real easy read. Um

[39:20] city's cost is $0. This is 95.

[39:23] » Say no more. No, I'm just kidding.

[39:25] [laughter]

[39:27] It's uh 95% uh federal monies and 5%

[39:32] state. So uh the commission approved

[39:35] back in April of 25

[39:38] contract engineering

[39:40] with Hunt. And so this is what's

[39:43] included in your packet is the

[39:44] infrastructure investment jobs act or

[39:47] Aisha grant

[39:49] to do that project. So I am

[39:53] our budget is $196,324.

[39:56] We're estimated bids came in low. It was

[40:00] bid out earlier this spring. Um

[40:04] and so we're sitting right around

[40:06] $104,000 at $48

[40:10] for the project cost. And the plan is

[40:13] spring of 207

[40:16] because we didn't we weren't for sure

[40:18] when the monies were going to be

[40:19] released.

[40:20] So, we've already determined spring of

[40:23] 27 is our construction season for this

[40:26] project. But what I'm need from

[40:28] commission tonight is your approval to

[40:32] allow me to sign the documents as part

[40:36] one of the grant asurances.

[40:41] » Okay. Any questions for Tom?

[40:43] » Just a quick question, Tom. This was

[40:45] projected at 196. It's going to cost

[40:47] 104.

[40:49] And this is fully funded by other

[40:53] sources.

[40:54] Where does that extra money go to?

[40:56] » Can we use it for other things?

[40:58] » Yes, we can apply. We can add to the

[41:00] project or use the funds on another

[41:04] project. I'll have three years another

[41:06] three years to use those funds

[41:09] » Towards another project. And I have more

[41:11] projects coming up.

[41:14] » Like a a taxi way on Wel Street.

[41:17] Absolutely not. I'm sorry. Just

[41:19] checking. [laughter]

[41:21] » I I have there's uh strict grant

[41:23] assurances and those were included in

[41:25] your packet.

[41:33] Mr. Mayor, I move that the Sturgeis City

[41:36] Commission approve the Michigan

[41:38] Department of Transportation for

[41:39] Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

[41:42] grant for rehabilitation of the Kers

[41:44] Municipal Airport access road and

[41:46] terminal parking lot in the amount of

[41:49] 196,324

[41:54] and authorize airport manager Tom

[41:57] Sakorski to sign all necessary

[42:00] documents.

[42:01] » So, we have a motion

[42:03] Second

[42:04] » And support. All in favor? I

[42:06] » Opposed. So move.

[42:08] » Thank you.

[42:08] » Thank you, Tom.

[42:10] » Next on the agenda is the Sergis Young

[42:12] entryway project, Mr. Dan Rut. Welcome,

[42:15] Dan.

[42:21] Thank you. Good evening, mayor,

[42:22] commissioners. Um as of as at the March

[42:25] 9th uh regular commission meeting uh

[42:28] commission uh staff presented the bids

[42:30] for replacing the interior and exterior

[42:32] entry doors and windows at the Sturgis

[42:34] Young Center for the Arts uh on the

[42:36] front of the building. Uh along with

[42:38] budgets for structural steel electrical

[42:40] and sopet restoration um commission

[42:43] approved the uh bid from reliable glass

[42:45] installers and they were awarded the

[42:47] project in the in the amount of $94,470.

[42:51] structural steel work estimate was also

[42:53] included uh in the budget cost

[42:55] spreadsheet for that project. Uh and the

[42:59] information on included in that budget

[43:02] was provided by uh the structural

[43:04] engineer who had reviewed the original

[43:06] drawings of the building.

[43:08] Um the project was scheduled and

[43:11] determined with uh the plan was to

[43:15] remove the interior set of doors so that

[43:16] we could review uh and and

[43:19] verify the structural steel information.

[43:22] The interior doors were removed uh third

[43:24] week of May. It was then determined that

[43:26] the ceiling would need to be removed in

[43:28] the areas of the airlock and just part

[43:30] of the interior ceiling to get a better

[43:32] look at that existing structural steel.

[43:35] Once ceiling uh was open, the structural

[43:37] steel supplier visited the site and it

[43:39] was determined shortly after that the

[43:40] original documents provided by the

[43:42] structural engineer for the installation

[43:44] of two new steel columns in place of the

[43:46] existing three was not going to work

[43:48] based on the original steel framing, how

[43:50] the original steel framing was

[43:51] installed. Uh staff then reached out to

[43:54] a structural engineer to determine the

[43:56] appropriate course of action. Uh that

[43:58] structural engineer site visit took took

[44:00] place on July 23rd.

[44:03] uh new engineered documents were

[44:05] provided uh to staff on July 28th. All

[44:08] addition an additional steel beam and

[44:11] different columns were specified as part

[44:13] of this new process.

[44:15] Uh and it would be necessary now to

[44:18] remove the existing steel columns

[44:20] obviously to place the new beam

[44:22] requiring us to shore the roof up to

[44:26] hold things up in the while the other

[44:28] work took place.

[44:32] uh

[44:33] staff reached out to Frederick

[44:35] Construction uh for assistance with this

[44:37] scope of work. Uh Fred Frederick then

[44:39] reached out to the structural engineer

[44:41] along with the uh steel erector

[44:44] uh to provide a complete scope of work

[44:47] for that for that work that was

[44:48] necessary. The breakdown

[44:52] provided by Federal Construction can be

[44:54] found in the bid packet. Uh the doors,

[44:57] let's see.

[44:59] Oh, along with the timeline to complete

[45:01] the project would be they they estimated

[45:03] that they would have new structural

[45:05] steel would be installed. We'd be ready

[45:06] for the glass installers around the

[45:08] first week of October.

[45:11] Um and then the new windows would be

[45:13] installed thereafter.

[45:16] As with uh all other projects that the

[45:18] city has worked with Frederick

[45:19] Construction on, any unused portion of

[45:21] their contract would be credited back

[45:23] toward and not build uh to us to the

[45:26] city of Sturgis in the final billing. Um

[45:29] staff's requesting the approval for the

[45:31] for the proposal from Frederick

[45:32] Construction to provide o uh

[45:34] construction oversight, completion of

[45:35] the additional demolition, shoring and

[45:37] foundation work and restoration of the

[45:39] interior ceilings and finishes to

[45:41] complete this project in the amount of

[45:43] $55,453.

[45:46] [snorts]

[45:48] Uh the additional work will put the

[45:49] overall project over budget uh by about

[45:53] $41,888.

[45:55] Uh and that can be seen in the budget

[45:57] cost worksheet as well. Funds to cover

[45:59] this overage will come from the Franks

[46:01] fund donation for repairs to the Sturish

[46:03] Young Center for the Arts.

[46:08] » Any questions?

[46:11] » Any questions for Dan?

[46:13] » One.

[46:15] » Thank you, Dan. Um, in the proposal,

[46:18] the very end of it has I I noticed

[46:20] there's no like contingency budget

[46:23] contingency in this particular one here,

[46:25] » Right? Is that what their overhead and

[46:28] profits of 15% is? That's in their quote

[46:32] » That it No, that wouldn't be the

[46:34] contingency. That's actually just their

[46:35] overhead and profit. That's their their

[46:38] That's the cost of their service.

[46:40] » Okay. So, we don't anticipate any

[46:44] additional once we start taking

[46:45] » I don't think so. I think based on all

[46:47] the conversations that have taken place

[46:49] thus far,

[46:53] we we feel pretty good about it.

[46:55] All right. Cool.

[46:56] » As with a any building that's, you know,

[46:58] 75 years old, we run into these kind of

[47:00] things.

[47:01] » That's why I wonder if

[47:02] » Yeah, I know. Yeah. Yeah. We didn't

[47:04] include a contingency. I I'm never going

[47:06] to bring another project without a

[47:07] contingency. I can tell you that.

[47:12] » Any other questions for Dan?

[47:14] » Mr. Mayor, I move that the Sturgeist

[47:16] City Commission approve the proposal

[47:18] from Federate Construction for

[47:20] construction oversight and

[47:21] [clears throat] labor for demolition,

[47:22] shoring, foundation, and restoration

[47:25] with the Sturgeist Young Center for the

[47:26] Arts in the amount of $55,453.

[47:32] » So, we have a [clears throat] motion

[47:34] support. All in favor?

[47:36] » I oppose.

[47:38] » So, move. Thank you, Dan.

[47:39] » Yep. Thank you.

[47:43] Moving on to commissioner staff

[47:44] comments. [clears throat] We'll go ahead

[47:46] and start with S.

[47:48] » None for tonight. Thank you,

[47:49] » Mr. Rhodess. Uh, next meeting, uh, we'll

[47:54] cover a IFC application for Summit

[47:57] Polymers if you've driven over there.

[47:58] It's it's a bigger building than it used

[48:00] to be. Uh, so they're going to do that.

[48:01] So, at 4 PM, we'll send out an

[48:03] appointment, but uh, if you have the

[48:05] time, you can see what they did.

[48:08] » Got like a tour and stuff. Yeah, just

[48:10] tour the facility.

[48:12] » When is that? When's that going to be?

[48:13] » Uh, right before the next meeting. So,

[48:15] we'll do that 4 p.m. What's that? The

[48:16] 9th, I think.

[48:18] » Yeah, September 9th.

[48:20] » Okay. But we'll send an appointment.

[48:22] » That's it.

[48:23] » Okay. Chris, you have anything?

[48:26] » Yeah, I just can't get an update. Uh,

[48:27] substation is moving along with

[48:29] construction, but also with battery

[48:31] storage project. They did receive uh

[48:36] loan documents from USDA and those have

[48:38] been assigned by the developer. Uh they

[48:42] are finalizing the construction loan as

[48:45] we speak in hopes of ordering materials

[48:48] for the battery energy storage project

[48:51] that we'll be having. I have not got a

[48:53] timeline uh as far as when they

[48:55] anticipate that to be online but

[48:58] hopefully next year is a plan. So things

[49:02] are coming together. Uh also as an

[49:04] update on the the generator project, the

[49:07] first payment has been made as you all

[49:10] have seen. Uh so those are on order.

[49:12] Those are anticipated to be here uh in

[49:16] May. Uh those units on site. So they are

[49:19] we're working through um now getting the

[49:23] site ready and prepped and the building

[49:26] permit executed so we can hopefully

[49:29] start construction on that this fall

[49:31] that will go to that next year.

[49:37] » Okay. You don't have an update on the

[49:39] solar farm. I seen some trucks and

[49:42] personnel out there on

[49:43] » Yes, they've been working on that. Uh

[49:45] they they got on it pretty quick after

[49:47] the storm. Okay. Uh we do and are

[49:49] receiving power from both fields now.

[49:51] Okay.

[49:51] » Uh not nearly as much as we were but

[49:53] about six megawatt the 15. So they're

[49:55] about 15% or 50% sorry. Uh they are

[50:01] working uh with insurance company. It

[50:04] was an insurance claim. Uh just trying

[50:06] to get the pieces and parts together

[50:10] made. Um they will be uh installing some

[50:14] new trackers on there. Hopefully uh

[50:17] beginning some of the the issues that

[50:18] we've seen with characters. Obviously,

[50:20] it looks in quite disarray now. I don't

[50:23] know exactly which lines are working,

[50:25] which ones aren't. I anticipate the ones

[50:28] that are moving or the ones that are

[50:29] from power. So, but they are working on

[50:32] that. Uh I would say, you know, they

[50:35] haven't told us when they they

[50:37] anticipate it to be uh fully operational

[50:39] again, but I would anticipate if they do

[50:43] um hopefully shorter than that. I'm

[50:45] assuming from

[50:48] » Okay.

[50:48] » Y

[50:50] » Thank you Will. You got anything

[50:52] tonight?

[50:52] » Just to tag off the solar. So the

[50:56] planning commission has been asking for

[50:57] a monthly update from the solar group.

[50:59] Okay. Chris and I have been meeting with

[51:01] them the week prior trying to understand

[51:04] what they've

[51:06] been providing an update to the planning

[51:08] commission and then every other month

[51:10] we're asking green back who are the

[51:12] owners of the solar site to come and

[51:14] provide an update to the planning

[51:15] commission.

[51:18] Oh, okay. Great.

[51:21] » Okay, Dan,

[51:22] » Couple things. Uh, if you're curious

[51:24] about the vehicle charging station, we

[51:27] are seeing every month. We're seeing the

[51:30] number of individual or different users

[51:33] by almost double

[51:38] but

[51:41] 33

[51:43] that also exceeded the number of

[51:45] different

[51:55] placing the city hall sign up front. Um

[51:59] got a rendering there.

[52:01] Um this is about what we want not

[52:06] exactly you know the idea I guess um

[52:11] based on what the fire is public or

[52:14] something similar modern time if he did

[52:17] anything probably increase the city a

[52:20] little bit.

[52:27] Um I know there was question about Let

[52:30] me follow that up. The cost of the sign

[52:32] is about $16,000

[52:35] is signed till

[52:39] evening. Um

[52:41] and we received about 11,000 I believe

[52:46] about $1,000.

[52:51] We had we did incur about $4,100

[52:57] the old wall foundation.

[53:06] Um question about electronic messaging

[53:09] sign

[53:11] uh possibility. I mean, it's always a

[53:14] possibility. I guess I based on what we

[53:17] paid for the auditorium electronic

[53:20] sign

[53:22] cost for that sign today would probably

[53:24] be around $35,000

[53:27] this month.

[53:29] They're pretty salty. [clears throat]

[53:40] We have options.

[53:43] I would think that the message sign

[53:45] would make that intersection awful busy.

[53:47] Message signs.

[53:50] » Yeah,

[53:52] » School have one as well.

[53:54] » No, they used to

[53:55] » That's gone now. Okay. I thought there

[53:57] was one over there still. I was like on

[53:59] three sides.

[54:04] » That's been gone that long. [laughter]

[54:06] » Shows you how much I paid attention.

[54:09] Uh, so we got $11,000 from an insurance

[54:12] company for that old wall that was

[54:14] there.

[54:15] » Yeah. Because because of the way it was

[54:17] constructed, it was

[54:19] spent a lot wow.

[54:22] [snorts]

[54:29] [snorts]

[54:32] » Yeah.

[54:36] » I think the lighted sign would be a good

[54:38] idea.

[54:39] the LED sign or

[54:41] » That sign the LED the message board

[54:43] sign.

[54:44] » That was that was my question because uh

[54:47] it would be a good idea just just for

[54:49] the sake of announcing meetings and

[54:52] things like that because I I looked in

[54:55] our website

[54:57] there was no place in there that

[54:59] [clears throat] give the agenda or

[55:01] anything like that. It did announce the

[55:03] date but it never said anything about an

[55:06] agenda or anything. At least that could

[55:08] you could announce the date. The library

[55:10] could use it for their special events.

[55:13] » And there's no better time to do it than

[55:15] now when the other ones tore out.

[55:18] » And we could use it for overflow of

[55:21] attendees here at city hall. If it fills

[55:23] up, they can sit outside and watch it

[55:25] live.

[55:27] » We need bring in [laughter]

[55:29] bring bring in the fire truck with the

[55:31] big TV.

[55:32] » That's what we need.

[55:32] » That's like how you do

[55:36] » Obviously messaging sign.

[55:42] You can only ask

[55:46] seconds

[55:58] [snorts]

[56:00] we would have to commission.

[56:04] It's possible.

[56:07] » That'd be nice. I just I just bought a

[56:10] two by eight uh two of them LED signs

[56:15] for my office. So,

[56:17] I didn't spend that much, but uh but

[56:20] yeah, I I think a messaging sign would

[56:22] be kind of great, but leave that up to

[56:24] you, Doug. I guess. something.

[56:26] » I think uh mayor and commissioners, why

[56:29] don't you give Dan and I the opportunity

[56:32] to look into this a little bit further,

[56:34] firm up some costs and uh bring back

[56:37] some conceptual designs

[56:40] um before we were to move. And again, if

[56:43] we were to decide to go that route, we

[56:45] would have to incur the approvals of the

[56:47] planning commission.

[56:48] » Yeah.

[56:51] » Okay. Thanks, Dan, for the update. have

[56:53] to look at it.

[56:54] » Wouldn't that be an M do thing?

[56:57] » I thought we had to go through that with

[56:58] students.

[57:00] » No,

[57:01] » We didn't. Okay. I thought we did.

[57:03] » Don't give many ideas.

[57:05] » Yeah. No, [clears throat] this should

[57:06] give us

[57:17] » Share.

[57:30] I mean, they might they might benefit

[57:32] from it, too. Be able to put their

[57:34] events on there. You know,

[57:37] » You work

[57:37] » Give us the opportunity to look into it.

[57:41] » All right.

[57:41] » Thank you.

[57:42] » Anything else, Dan?

[57:45] » Tom, you have anything?

[57:47] » No. Brandon, you have anything?

[57:50] » Anything from public safety?

[57:53] » Mike,

[57:54] » Not tonight.

[57:55] » Not tonight. No. No. Go U of M football

[57:57] coming up in couple weeks.

[58:00] » That just goes without saying.

[58:02] [laughter]

[58:04] Anything from our city attorneys?

[58:05] [clears throat] Not tonight. Thank you.

[58:07] Our city manager.

[58:08] » Uh we attended a several meetings. Uh

[58:12] the airport advisory committee. Uh Tom

[58:15] and I met last night. Had a really good

[58:17] meeting with them. Went through some

[58:19] proposed um hanger sites and some

[58:22] discussion.

[58:24] uh the attended a community foundation

[58:27] and then of course uh the uh Sturgis

[58:31] Young Center for the Arts. Um we're

[58:34] looking for a new director. We're

[58:37] advertising. Um

[58:40] Richard and I uh uh attended uh their uh

[58:45] advisory board meeting. That was a very

[58:47] good meeting that we had. Um and that's

[58:50] about it.

[58:52] » Okay. Thank you, Commissioner ABS.

[58:56] » Yes. Um, just want to make the comment

[58:58] that I'm certainly I'm sure all of us

[59:01] are very grateful the Frankstone picked

[59:02] up the difference.

[59:04] » Yes.

[59:05] » For SYCA 41,000 I believe.

[59:08] » Well, they

[59:13] last year

[59:16] part of that money

[59:20] that

[59:25] is huge.

[59:27] » It's huge. Um, speaking of J, it just

[59:30] hit me as I was thinking of all the

[59:32] things going on here and hearing

[59:34] different people short in time and

[59:36] projects and looking at Satie going, do

[59:40] we have something out for HR director?

[59:42] You would not know.

[59:44] » No. um

[59:48] we are looking at a total

[59:51] we're always looking at improving our

[59:54] process. We're always looking at our

[59:56] needs. Um there are things that concern

[1:00:00] me and I I um for example um today Ryan

[1:00:06] had informed me that in fiscal year uh

[1:00:11] 25 we had 188 ambulance runs.

[1:00:17] » We haven't even finished this fiscal

[1:00:19] year and we're at uh two

[1:00:24] 188 last year. We're at 218 right now

[1:00:27] and we haven't finished that. So, it

[1:00:31] lends me to believe that um we want to

[1:00:34] keep our options open. Um I think we're

[1:00:37] already down an officer.

[1:00:40] Uh I'm not convinced what's going to be

[1:00:44] the requirement for an ambulance in the

[1:00:47] near future. And that the public safety

[1:00:50] aspect of what we do is paramount. that

[1:00:54] that's number one for our citizens.

[1:00:57] So,

[1:00:58] there are other areas of the city that

[1:01:01] um when we hear complaints from our

[1:01:04] citizens, why aren't you doing this, why

[1:01:06] are you doing that? We're trying our

[1:01:09] best to address those needs. And Tom's

[1:01:13] uh particular case, he is looking at

[1:01:15] adding um at least two and a half more

[1:01:18] people. Um we're down two and a half

[1:01:21] people. So, we want to make sure that

[1:01:24] we're competitive there. Um, we're

[1:01:27] looking at hiring another building

[1:01:29] inspector so we can accelerate some of

[1:01:32] the inspection

[1:01:34] that need to take place. Um, I think

[1:01:38] Chris is okay for right now. Uh, but um,

[1:01:44] and I think we're okay, but again, in

[1:01:47] the areas of public safety, this is

[1:01:49] where we're concerned.

[1:01:51] Plus the fact that we're going to

[1:01:53] probably start experiencing retirements

[1:01:56] next year.

[1:01:59] That is also a major concern of mine. Um

[1:02:03] we have we have great employees, great

[1:02:05] staff,

[1:02:07] but it we are going to be probably short

[1:02:12] in trying to meet our citizens needs and

[1:02:15] that is a concern. So, going back to

[1:02:18] your original question, an HR director,

[1:02:21] um, right now we have Tracy in there,

[1:02:23] um, as our payroll clerk and handling

[1:02:27] HR, uh, to a certain extent. Um, the

[1:02:30] rest of it is filled in by the

[1:02:33] department heads, myself, and of course,

[1:02:35] Julie. So, that's where we're at on

[1:02:38] that. So, I hope that you can all

[1:02:40] appreciate that we're trying to be

[1:02:42] strategic in who we hire and where we're

[1:02:46] hiring.

[1:02:50] » Just to ask about that, Doug, when

[1:02:51] you're talking about um shortage, I know

[1:02:53] they're Tom short couple out there and

[1:02:55] you said at least was down one.

[1:02:58] » Um I believe they're down at least one

[1:03:01] officer and um

[1:03:05] » They are one one had left one left.

[1:03:08] They're in the hiring process for

[1:03:10] » Refilling them.

[1:03:11] » We talked to him at some point about

[1:03:14] um what's coming up and in that

[1:03:17] department and director Bazic had

[1:03:19] mentioned wanting to start fishing out

[1:03:22] for pulling in uh people.

[1:03:24] » Oh,

[1:03:25] » Whenever they're available. Is that

[1:03:26] still our

[1:03:27] » So, our philosophy is we're not going to

[1:03:30] wait. We're going to be proactive. If we

[1:03:32] identify a candidate that meets our

[1:03:35] qualifications,

[1:03:37] um my orders are bring them in.

[1:03:40] » Okay,

[1:03:40] » Bring them in. Let's enhance the cadet

[1:03:43] program. Let's identify those potential

[1:03:46] candidates because

[1:03:48] next year from what we have found, our

[1:03:51] employment census would indicate that

[1:03:54] we're in line for a lot of retirees to

[1:03:56] leave. Not that they will and hope

[1:04:00] hopefully they won't, but we have to be

[1:04:03] prepared to deal with that. And so

[1:04:05] that's that that's Ryan and I are on the

[1:04:09] same page with that

[1:04:10] » With with the hospital closure and

[1:04:12] additional ambulance stuff. Are we doing

[1:04:15] the same on that side of the building?

[1:04:17] » Right. Are we looking actively for any

[1:04:20] more bodies right now or are we still

[1:04:22] kind of waiting to see how things

[1:04:24] » I think the idea is that if we could

[1:04:26] identify somebody, yeah, we would bring

[1:04:28] them in

[1:04:29] » Or fire.

[1:04:30] » Yes. Um but again, part of the problem

[1:04:33] is what we've seen in all the trades

[1:04:36] everywhere is there is a severe shortage

[1:04:40] of those qualified

[1:04:42] and so it it's a concern. So, if we

[1:04:45] identify somebody knowing that we're

[1:04:47] going to see retirements, I I told Ryan,

[1:04:51] let's seize the opportunity. If they

[1:04:53] meet the qualifications and can meet the

[1:04:56] clearances, yes,

[1:04:58] » I was making sure that was still the

[1:04:59] focus.

[1:05:00] » Yes, it needs to.

[1:05:04] So,

[1:05:06] Commissioner Abs

[1:05:09] good.

[1:05:12] Commissioner Wiki, nothing.

[1:05:15] Commission tonight. Commissioner B.

[1:05:18] Nothing tonight. Commissioner,

[1:05:21] » Today is probably the most important day

[1:05:25] in the history of human evolution.

[1:05:28] Today is National Toilet Paper Day.

[1:05:33] Paper has been around since the 7th

[1:05:35] century BC, but the first recorded of it

[1:05:38] use of it cleaning people's backsides

[1:05:42] after they used the bathroom was in the

[1:05:44] sixth century. Before then, there was a

[1:05:46] variety of solutions employed to handle

[1:05:49] the job.

[1:05:51] In ancient Rome, there was a communal

[1:05:53] stick with a sponge on the end of it

[1:05:55] that people used to clean themselves.

[1:05:58] When one person was done with it, they'd

[1:05:59] simply rinse it off for the next person.

[1:06:03] Wow.

[1:06:05] [clears throat]

[1:06:07] » What was that? Other solutions included.

[1:06:09] [laughter]

[1:06:09] » You got

[1:06:11] » Other solutions included rags, bamboo,

[1:06:13] and even corn cobs.

[1:06:16] So, let's all be thankful today,

[1:06:18] » Commissioner Smith. That is a concern

[1:06:20] shared by this administration, too.

[1:06:22] [laughter]

[1:06:22] » Yes.

[1:06:26] Thank you.

[1:06:27] » Thanks, Mayor.

[1:06:28] » All right. Um, it was also National Dog

[1:06:32] Day from what I understand. I thought

[1:06:33] that's where you were going to go and I

[1:06:34] didn't realize there was another

[1:06:36] national day today. So, thanks for the

[1:06:38] humor. Uh,

[1:06:40] » Downtown tree false bakery. Um, there

[1:06:44] was a solution and they're very, very

[1:06:46] happy about it.

[1:06:48] » Are there more removals, things like

[1:06:51] that going to happen with trees

[1:06:52] downtown?

[1:06:54] » So, here's what we're doing. Um, and

[1:06:58] just to give our citizens a brief

[1:07:00] history,

[1:07:01] » When

[1:07:03] the state of Michigan gave us downtown

[1:07:06] development authorities and the concept

[1:07:08] started in the late60s

[1:07:11] and continues,

[1:07:13] the idea was to add trees green in urban

[1:07:18] environments.

[1:07:20] Those trees that we've planted have

[1:07:22] reached a certain maturity point.

[1:07:25] and talking to to um our DDA

[1:07:28] administrator today. What we're going to

[1:07:30] do is start looking at other communities

[1:07:33] to see what the trend is today. It might

[1:07:37] not be trees. It could be decorative

[1:07:39] grasses or some other type of uh floral

[1:07:43] plantings.

[1:07:45] One of the things that we are going to

[1:07:46] look at is the science. Um we're going

[1:07:49] to ask all of our property owners

[1:07:51] downtown what their thoughts are. um

[1:07:55] where we need to go. There's other

[1:07:56] varieties of trees we need to stay on

[1:07:59] top. But the tree that we took down in

[1:08:02] front of Holtz Bakery probably was

[1:08:04] probably close to 40 years old.

[1:08:09] » No,

[1:08:12] » No, we just planted that.

[1:08:14] » I think they were that was then that

[1:08:15] would have been a very mature planting

[1:08:18] because we usually plant within two to

[1:08:20] four inches.

[1:08:22] If you take a look at the stump out

[1:08:24] there, it's close to a foot.

[1:08:27] » Wow.

[1:08:27] » I thought all the trees were put in when

[1:08:29] the road was done. I mean, maybe not. I

[1:08:31] don't remember.

[1:08:32] » Definitely. It went in in 2005.

[1:08:34] » 2005, I thought.

[1:08:38] » About 20 years old.

[1:08:39] » All right. 20 years. So, I guess the the

[1:08:43] thing is when we plant something, we

[1:08:46] expect it to mature and it did. And it

[1:08:49] got to a point where maybe we should

[1:08:52] have done a better job of trimming it,

[1:08:55] whatever. But the fact is trees mature.

[1:08:59] So what we need to do is work with our

[1:09:02] property owners and the downtown

[1:09:03] development authority

[1:09:06] to find out what is the latest trend to

[1:09:09] help bring in businesses into our urban

[1:09:12] downtown. So I I I I do believe we'll

[1:09:16] use good science and find out what the

[1:09:19] standard practices are in other

[1:09:20] communities.

[1:09:23] » Very good.

[1:09:24] » Thank you. Well, I know I know that

[1:09:25] Folson was very happy um that we now

[1:09:29] have visibility and I hope it does

[1:09:30] increase the traffic like they hope.

[1:09:32] » We did we did talk to uh the owners in

[1:09:36] that block um asking them what their

[1:09:38] thoughts were. So there was some science

[1:09:41] and

[1:09:43] if you if you remember they did present

[1:09:46] a

[1:09:47] pretty strong financial and scientific

[1:09:50] case for its removal.

[1:09:52] So,

[1:09:54] » Other than that, just shout out to Will

[1:09:56] and his department for we got a nice

[1:09:59] little thing that Doug shared with us on

[1:10:01] a compliment you guys received from I

[1:10:04] don't remember who it was, but it was it

[1:10:05] was a very very nice worded message from

[1:10:08] someone that how pleasant you guys were

[1:10:10] to work with and how uh how how good you

[1:10:12] guys were at your job.

[1:10:13] Um, and Tom, same thing with you guys

[1:10:15] out there in DB, WDPS, whatever you want

[1:10:18] to call it now. Um, with the cleanup,

[1:10:22] um, there's been a few people that I've

[1:10:24] talked to that are very happy that you

[1:10:26] guys were able to help them out in the

[1:10:28] situation as well. So, thank you guys

[1:10:29] for your departments and the work I do.

[1:10:32] Um,

[1:10:35] I do have one other thing to address to

[1:10:37] you. Um,

[1:10:40] we looked at some of the stumps. I

[1:10:43] believe Tom, what was there? 12. 12.

[1:10:46] » There's 10.

[1:10:48] » How many?

[1:10:49] » 10.

[1:10:50] » 10. Um, Tom had informed me that what

[1:10:54] we'll do because some of those stumps

[1:10:55] are so big, we don't have an excavator

[1:10:58] big enough to remove them. So what we'll

[1:11:01] do is we will contract out and probably

[1:11:05] in October start removing those stumps

[1:11:09] with a contractor who has an excavator

[1:11:12] big enough.

[1:11:12] » Are we talking about just the ones that

[1:11:14] have uproot?

[1:11:15] » Yes.

[1:11:17] The big ones.

[1:11:18] » So

[1:11:19] » Very good haven't been uprooted. Our

[1:11:22] crews go around.

[1:11:25] So

[1:11:28] » Good to be here. Much appreciated.

[1:11:31] » Can we just blast them?

[1:11:34] » You can drill it out. Charge the

[1:11:35] dynamite in the center and take little

[1:11:37] pieces. hand.

[1:11:40] » Yeah, blast them.

[1:11:42] » All right.

[1:11:42] » That may be problematic.

[1:11:43] » It could [laughter] be about Yeah.

[1:11:47] » All right. I'll I'll end my time with

[1:11:49] this. You're uh you never know how long

[1:11:51] your words will stay with in someone's

[1:11:53] mind, even long after you forgot you

[1:11:56] spoke them. So, let's just all be kind

[1:11:57] to one another.

[1:12:00] All right, it's my turn. Um, yeah. Um,

[1:12:03] Tom, I do want to echo uh uh some of the

[1:12:07] comments that Vice Mayor Mullen said. I

[1:12:09] I I did get a couple calls from from

[1:12:12] folks. Um,

[1:12:14] very pleasant uh with u I don't know if

[1:12:17] you went back again to do some more

[1:12:19] cleaning, but very happy that your crew

[1:12:21] was out there and and and cleaning that

[1:12:23] up. So, kudos to you and your staff. I

[1:12:26] also have a a kudos on on Doug, our city

[1:12:30] manager. Got got a few calls from from

[1:12:33] folks that you're working with, Doug,

[1:12:35] and very happy and pleased with you and

[1:12:38] um

[1:12:40] so I just want to share that with you.

[1:12:41] Thank you for what you're doing.

[1:12:42] » Was it Anita?

[1:12:44] » There was [laughter]

[1:12:45] I don't know if it was her, but

[1:12:47] » Okay.

[1:12:47] » There's a couple. Um and then I also

[1:12:50] want to do uh kudos to our police

[1:12:52] department. uh my daughter had a uh an

[1:12:55] incident and uh called me wanted me to

[1:13:00] go assist in uh her be go assist her

[1:13:03] before the police got there and I said

[1:13:05] no you're you'll be in good hands and

[1:13:07] first time accident 17 year old 17 years

[1:13:10] old and and uh when I got home I you

[1:13:15] know uh did the usual dad thing uh gave

[1:13:19] her a lecture about having an incident

[1:13:21] accident And I asked about her

[1:13:24] experience with our police department.

[1:13:26] She said the police officer, she did

[1:13:28] give me the name, but I'm bad with

[1:13:29] names, uh said that uh he helped calmed

[1:13:33] her down, helped her find her insurance

[1:13:36] uh paperwork that was in the glove box.

[1:13:38] And as terrified as she was, uh she she

[1:13:43] said, "You probably don't want to hear

[1:13:44] this as that, but I had a good

[1:13:45] experience with with the police off with

[1:13:47] the police department." Said, "No,

[1:13:48] that's great. I I uh that's what our

[1:13:50] guys are for." uh the officer must have

[1:13:53] known that you were a fairly young

[1:13:55] driver and and and so he was there to

[1:13:58] you know uh help you in that process. So

[1:14:00] kudos to our police department as well.

[1:14:03] Um and with that I hope all of you have

[1:14:05] a great uh rest of your work week.

[1:14:07] Meeting the job.

Untitled meeting

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