Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to call the city of Benton Harbor Commission meeting to order. We begin with a invocation by Commissioner Emma Canard.

And the pledge of allegiance led by the city manager, Mr. Alex Little. All right. all that tonight. We ask you to bless this Lord Jesus. Let us work for the best interest of our city and oh God of the stands nationy andice for all. Madame clerk,

Commissioner Clark Griffin present. Commissioner Fields, present. Commissioner Henderson, present. Commissioner Henry, present. Commissioner Isam, Commissioner Canard, present. Commissioner Warren, present. Mayor Prom Turner present. Mayor Muhammad present. You have a quorum. This brings us to approval of minutes. Regular minutes March 2, 2026. Is there a motion for the approval? Motion is made by Commissioner Henderson. A second. It is supported by Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Madame Clerk. Commissioner Henderson. Yes. Commissioner Henry,

yes. Commissioner Canard, yes. Commissioner Warren, yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin, yes. Commissioner Fields, yes. Mayor BM Turner, yes. Mayor Muhammad, yes. Motion carries. This brings us to approval of accounts payable listing. Is there a motion for the approval? So move. Motion is made by Commissioner Henderson. Is there support? Support. It is supported by Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Is there discussion? Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tim Turner. I just have one quick question. Have all the legal fees been turned back in for Bowman PC? Mr. Manager,

I'm not certain that they're all in uh nor are they all paying. Yeah, thank you. Madame Clerk, Commissioner Henry, [snorts and clears throat] no. Commissioner Canard, yes. Commissioner Warren, yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin, yes. Commissioner Fields, yes. Commissioner Henderson, yes. Mayor Prom Turner, yes. Mayor Muhammad, yes.

Motion carried. This brings us to our first presentation which is from our auditors uh Reayman. Uh this is for the fiscal year 2024 25 and 2025 according to the agenda. Um and you are recognized.

Thank you. Uh my name is Peter Alman. Uh with me here tonight is Evan Ruml. Um we're going to briefly walk you through the audit report. Uh we're going to start on page one. Uh this is the audit opinion. Um so the city received an unmodified opinion on its governmental and business type activities, each major fund and the aggregate remaining fund information. This is the highest opinion we can render as auditors. It's a clean opinion. Um, for the component units, there was an adverse opinion which is due to the city's housing commission uh being excluded from the report. So, nothing the city did wrong. It's just not included in the report. Um, and the reason for that is found on page three. So, as I said, just the housing commission um needs to have an audit uh completed by somebody that has a a past peer review, which they did not. So that's why it was excluded and that's why it results in that that adverse opinion. But nothing the city did did wrong on that. We'll get into the uh MDNA management's discussion and analysis. We'll look at the financial highlights on page eight. Uh total net position was 103.8 million. Uh change in net position was a positive 11.6 million. uh fund balance for the governmental funds uh was just over 8 million. Um the net change in fund balances for the governmental funds was a positive 383,000. Unassigned fund balance for the general fund uh was roughly 3,460 68,000.

Pardon me sir, could you please speak into the microphone? uh unassigned fund balance for the general fund was uh 3,4667,870. Uh the change in fund balance was a positive 1.4 million uh for the general fund. Uh loans and notes outstanding um just over 19.5 million. Um and that was a decrease in the loans of about 1.1 million. Uh we'll skip a page, page 10. Um this provides a good year-over-year of the the city's finances for the balance sheet. Um so you can see the for 2025 the city uh the second to bottom line for the total for the governmental and business together um was a positive 11.6 6 million for unrestricted net position. Uh, next page, page 11. Again, a good year-over-year comparison of the governmental and business type activities of the city. Um, we'll look at the change in net position. So, third to bottom line there uh for 2025 uh was a positive 11.6 million. Uh we'll go to page 13. Uh we'll highlight the unassigned fund balance for the general fund. Again, that number was roughly 3,468,000. Uh and that represents 32.8% of annual general fund expenditures and transfers out. We'll get into the basic financial statements [snorts]

uh specifically the fund statements on page 22. Uh we'll look at the general fund. Uh so the unassigned fund balance at the very bottom there again a positive 3,468,000. Uh and that's that 32.8% figure that I alluded to earlier. Uh we'll skip a page. Page 24. Uh we'll highlight the increase in fund balance for the general fund. Um the net change in fund balance for the general fund was approximately uh 1,399,000. Uh we'll look at the budget for the general fund. So that's found on pages 26 and 27. Specifically on page 27, we'll look at the net change in fund balance. So the amended budget uh called for a decrease in fund balance of 913,000. Actual results came in at a positive 1,399,000. So a positive variance of 2.3 million. Uh we'll get into the utility uh services fund on page 29. Um so on this a balance sheet shows the the assets and liabilities of the utility services. Uh most notably is the increase in capital assets of about 9.5 million um as improvements are made uh throughout the city. Uh we'll look at the next page, page 30. Um the utility services had a loss before capital contributions of 2,357,000. Um and right in the middle of the page,

you'll notice the depreciation expense uh of 2,245,000. So approximately the loss before capital contributions. Um and the capital contributions for the city for 2025 was 11,589,000 uh resulting in a positive change in net position of about 9.2 million. Uh the rest of the report provides more detail. We're actually going to jump to page 57 and look at the um I like to highlight the upcoming payments for the debt. Um so for 2026 um upcoming amounts due and you can see those there uh principal and interest uh for the governmental and business type. As you look to budget for the future, we will get into the single audit report. Um so when the city spends federal funds, it triggers a single audit uh for anything over 750,000. Uh that threshold goes up to a million next year. Um on page two, uh the city spent just over just about 13.1 million in federal funds, uh for the year. And then we'll skip quite a few pages. Uh page 10 provides a good summary of our results of the financial statements and the single audit itself. Um again in the financial statements you'll notice no material weaknesses, no significant deficiencies or material or non-compliance uh was noted. Uh for the federal awards we had uh two significant

deficiencies uh and we'll get to those in the next two pages. Um and then we audited the community development block grant fund and the corona virus uh the co 19 monies. Uh page 12. Um so the federal government actually gives us a compliance supplement. That's how we would determine the steps we take and what we review as part of the single audit. One of the things that we're going to recommend uh is that the city take a physical inventory of its capital assets uh that's purchased with federal funds. And this is set by the federal government. They just want you to keep track of of the assets you've bought with those funds. Uh and that's required at least once every two years. Um next page, page 13. Uh the federal government also requires timely reporting. Um, now this report was completed uh after the 30-day deadline. So the only recommendation that we would have is that that report is filed within the 30-day window. And then the last letter um is our communication with governance. So this talks about our responsibilities as auditors, management's responsibility for the financial statements. Um upcoming pronouncements and then other matters that we might have. Um and then if there's any questions, I can try and answer those now.

First word, Commissioner uh Henderson is recognized.

Yeah, I just have a couple questions. You answered the first one in your opening statement about the adverse uh findings that we had we had about the housing commission. So you explained that well. So thank you. Um my other question is after doing looking at um all the numbers um would you say that the city's um financial position is improving or deteriorating as stated in the first it's either improving or it's deteriorating? So which one in your opinion is happening with the city's finances? And my other question would be and you can just write that one down and just keep going. Are there any um policies or changes that we should make um in the future that would um help us remain compliant um as you stated about the the report being done um you know in a in a timely manner? Um, and is there spending that we should be um more aware of or paying closer attention to um that's uh happening uh with our budget um and the actual budget versus spending um are we matching up as we should be um based on what we have coming in and coming out. Are we um budgeting um effectively? Uh so I'll answer your first question. I'll highlight the change in net position uh for the governmental activities. Uh this can be found on page 20. Uh so for the governmental activities, this includes all the activities of the government but not the water and sewer fund. Uh the change in net position there was a positive $2,372,175 and for the business type, so water and sewer. um a positive 9,232,749.

Uh so both positive this year. When you say positive, can you just give some uh commentary on what that means? So that would be like revenue minus expenses. So your revenue was higher than your uh expenses. So uh net gain for the year. Is that positive? That is positive. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Yeah. Uh and then your next question regarding the budget um for the general fund again you budgeted for a deficit so a negative amount and that was 913,000. Actual results came in much higher than that at a positive so a net gain uh of about 1.4 million. So a difference between the two of about 2.3 million. So yes, you are budgeting and monitoring spending appropriately. There wasn't as a result of our procedures. There wasn't any that that came to our attention. No.

Fourth W Commissioner Clark Griffin is recognized. Okay. Mine from the book, but you guys prepared all three of the documents, right? It has your name on it, right? So, um the N to thickest package. Uh it's after page four. At the bottom it has A1 and the heading is compliance with city credit card policy. So I notice it say was deviations between credit card policies and the current one. Am I correct? That's correct.

Okay. Then it say two cards issu issued in the city name not assigned to the position listed in the policies. Am I correct? Yes. Okay. So did it state who the names they were who the credit card names was in? Uh it does not state that. No. Okay. Then it said several credit card charges did not have appropriate support. Correct. Correct. Can you elaborate on that a little more?

Uh, so the best internal control for credit cards um would be maintaining receipts and then turning those into the accounts payable clerk. So you just want to make sure every transaction is properly supported and documented. So you didn't have the receipts and other things that needed for it. Those were missing. Okay. Thank you. Um, number four, employees are not properly submitting documentation to account payable clerk. Is that correct? Yeah, that would be the receipts.

Okay, thank you. No evidence of preo authorized for purchases. So, there was some uh purchases that had no evidence of preoccupi being authorized prior to correct. Okay. Thank you. uh nor no evidence of re reviewed approved by city manager and one additional employee as required by tested policy. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. Uh did it state who the additional employee was? Uh no.

Okay. Thank you. And then it say fees on two statements uh in indicating balances carried forward into the subsequent months. Correct. Correct. Thank you. Um then you examine additional credit card statements subsequent to year end and notice certain travel related causes was being charged to a credit card. Is that correct? Yes. Can you elaborate on that a little more? Uh when we as a result of our procedures, we noticed that there were uh some travel related costs being charged to the credit card. Can you have them speak into the mic? I can't hear.

I'm sorry. uh as a result of our procedures, we did notice uh some travel costs being charged to the credit card. Okay. Also, it say the policy authorizes the use of credit cards for goods or and or services used by the city in the course of its operation. It does not state that the travel related charges are authorized. Can you elaborate on that? Uh so the policies for goods or services for the city.

Okay. Also, now I remember when I took my seat, first took my seat, first day I ever took my seat, January 3rd, 2022, and we had these um do said during rec reconciliation of fund balance, it was noted that the city could not support the allegation of none spendable and spendable fund balance in its cemetery perpetual care fund. We recommend that the city review historical record to determine the appropriate allocation of fund balance and futter period. Now I stated that when I first took my seat and this had been going on how how long have you guys did our audits?

2011. So was that going on in 2011? Because it said reoccurrent. Okay. And you guys gave recommendation. Have anybody ever contact you about uh doing the how to go about or doing the recommendation? Uh no. Okay. And who were responsible to contact you for the who is responsible to do the recommended recommendations? Uh that would be the management of the city.

Okay. Thank you. Also, this was I stated that when I first took my seat in 2022. this. In addition, we noted that the cemetery perpetual care fund has advanced $100,000 to the cemetery component unit for occupational purchase. The city was not able to provide an agreement or other support for this advance given the nature of permanent fund type. We recommend the city formally develop an agreement to support this advance or return the funds to the perpetual care for its intended purpose. Has that been going on in 2011? I believe so. Yes.

Okay. Have anybody contact you about getting correcting this? No. And who would be responsible to correct this? Uh that would be the management of the

Thank you. Okay. in uh the city bank recon reconcilations include a number of outstanding checks though not a significant dollar amount dating back as far as 2013 since the prior year's audit and that was after I brought this out in 2022 since the prior year's audit the city review voted and reissued several of the outstanding checks we recommend that the city exceed the remaining checks to the Right. Have anybody reached out about these other checks? No. Okay. Who would be responsible for that? Uh, that would be the management of this. Thank you so much.

Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Thank you. So, I'm going to page uh 13. That's the big book. Yep. On page 13 in the middle here, it says the general fund is the chief operating fund of the city. When you when it says unassigned fund balance, can you got 1.4 million, can you explain what an unassigned fund balance is? Unassigned fund balance is uh monies that are available for the city to use for general purposes. There's no restrictions on them. Um it's just regular regular money that you could spend on anything.

Okay. Thank you. So then my next question is in your in your audit it says the city budget for fiscal year 2025 was amended. I have not seen that and I'm I'm asking if I can be able to see that fiscal year amendment because I think that's very important on the supporting document here. What was the question? So in your audit it stated that there was amended bud budget for fiscal year 2025. Oh I I understand. Um

I I have not yet seen that published on the city website at all. I don't know who would publish that. It would be our budget amendments from last fiscal year. Okay. Madame clerk. Is that on the website? Yeah, all of these documents from the last fiscal year should be on the website. Um, and these will also get upload uploaded. And who is responsible for uploading that? I do those. Thank you. Madam clerk, I

want to recognize the city manager. Is there anything you would like to um add or um expound upon given that you are uh the legal responsible uh person and department of the budget uh the city of Benton Harbor uh you submitted to the state you prepare it for um approval Um, so you're recognized.

A number of those items that were questioned about like the perpetual fund and several of these uh are items that need to be addressed, but as was noted have not been since 2011. I came in 2020. Um there this city has had so many different priority issues. You commission voted you wanted to keep your water plant. Uh that has taken up major major amounts of time as well as money. Uh various other activities that have gone on trying to get your housing projects going and so forth. These things have consumed the time and as a consequence just to be very honest about it uh addressing these uh issues from 2011 forward just were not a priority concern but we can uh get to trying to do them. I mean, as opposed to some of it. I mean, trying to keep the cemetery going to try to keep the grass cut and trees trimmed and uh all of that kind of stuff. Uh you do recognize, as I've said repeatedly, the city for its administrative operation in this building has 12 people. Of that 12, one is myself, one is a city clerk, uh, one is a finance manager, two of them are in my office funded by grants, and that's not a very big staff to operate a city with all the issues that this city has.

Lastly, I'll mention the 1.4 4 million. That is uh the result of a uh class action suit that we were in with uh for POS and um those that amount of money came in and uh was put in the budget and used for u payment of bills and so forth. Does the assistant city manager have any um when city clerk any input as the keeper of records? One of the questions that the auditors um ask is, you know, did you uh see or detect any fraud uh or uh unsavory practices or activities? Um is that am I is that a

that is an accurate state?

That is an accurate statement. Okay. Uh, and you know, my response was no. Um, and I just want to commend the staff, uh, although it is a skeleton crew, uh, but to have a clean and unmodified audit, um, to hear positive, um, more than negative, uh, is a testament of the resilience. As we have shared, there's been many challenges. um with our cash flow and our uh managing the budget. But for us to come out where we are uh withstanding uh changes that need to be made, I think some of the policies uh as it relates to um our finances need to be updated uh as well. um which you know I'll let the manager speak to that in his meetings with us but a lot of things um you know some are still running since 2013. Uh we've had a lot of changes. Uh structurally we've been through two emergency managers. Uh I believe four different city managers. Uh receiver transition advisory board. [sighs] Um so a lot of hands have been on uh the finances in the city. Uh so um thank you again for your diligent work. Um I do want to recognize um Commissioner Fields.

So are we going to address or actually um consider the questions in regards to the cards and not um following the recommendations. Um I know that we have a clean audit. We just had some unclean things noted in here that I'm just wondering, are we going to address those, move around those? Because I would like to know to who the cars belong to. Um, Commissioner Clark Griffin, you know, went through this pretty quickly, but I had um similar questions too and wanted to know who the cars belong to and how does this work in regards to it is not tied, they're not tied to positions listed in the policy. So one of the things that I would say is the that policy needs to be updated. Um so for instance travel uh I believe uh you all just went to the Michigan Municipal League. Um and the the credit card was used uh to book hotels rooms um So before when I first started um in government, the city of Benon Harbor would be the only municipality that would be showing up at the hotel giving giving them a check, a physical check. Um and that's outdated. So in terms of travel um so if for instance I just recently went to Washington DC as a delegate for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

uh which was sponsored by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence city's initiative. Um it was reim it's a reimbursement. So the city of Benton Harbor book the room, booked the flight and the receipts are sent to the Great Lakes St. Lawson City's Initiative and they reimburse the city. But trying to send them a a check from our bank statement is nobody is operating like that. So that policy needs to be updated as far as the cards. So when Ellis Mitchell was the city manager and he was his his separ the separation of his employment took place all of the cards was in his name. So the city of Benton Harbor for a period was suspended in terms of our ability to as a municipality operate and function until we could take the cards out of his name. So we're dealing with cash and check as a city. So, as the executive head of the city, the signer of checks of the city, the mayor's name is on a an account, the city clerk's name is on an account. So, when the credit cards were reissued, they were put into the names of those who are on the city's accounts by charter. So, the policy had not been updated, but

it needs to be. So, there's no illicit charges. There's no um wild Irish rose showing up on the credit card statement where alcohol is being per I'm just saying this for those who may be thinking that it's something wrong. It's just the city is transitioning and the not only the credit card policy but the entire employee handbook policy needs to be updated.

So it's just a lot of things but this is good because it's coming out. It can be discussed publicly so people can know it's transparency. Pardon me. You have the floor. I'm sorry. Okay. I almost forgot what I was going to say. So, additionally, we noted that several card charges did not have appropriate support, such as it does not appear that employees are properly submitting documentation to accounts payable clerk. There is no evidence of pre-authorization for purchases, nor there evidence of review and approval by the city manager and one additional employee as required by the policy. Does that need to update two? Receipts shouldn't be required.

So, that I cannot speak to. I'm not an employee in the city and the city manager

the city manager can't speak to it but you know from what I understand you have I I don't know how many departments uh and the card is used for as stated um goods and services um I have approved where you know the public safety or um is going to a conference and or equipment, but you know, I'm not checking receipts or authorizing, you know, I'm just approving based upon what's coming to um from the finance to the office. So, I'm going to let the city manager speak to that.

And typically, I review and approve just about every purchase that goes through. um the absence of the receipts at the time they were looking for them may not at all mean that the receipts were didn't exist. It may just mean they weren't where they should have been at the point in time that they that they should have. We've gone through turnover with different people going through training periods and uh the accounts payable position. We do have a person now that handles it extremely well, but um we but as I said, I sign and approve just about every purchase that goes through the city.

So, does the receipts come back to city manager through the chair? Mr. manager. The receipts would typically go to accounting where they would be attached to the uh uh other purchasing data and so forth. So it doesn't go to you. Okay. All right. Good. Okay. Thank you. Chair recognizes Commissioner Large Canard.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I'd like to ask um in terms of a clean audit, when there's a clean audit, now I'm referring back to uh I know a year or two that I've been here, there was a point of time that there was a hundred and some many thousand dollars that was for equipment for the cemetery and there was no paperwork or anything to follow up where that uh equipment was. There was no equipment found. Now, is that would that consider a clean audit when you can't find items that is supposed to have been purchased and you don't have any paperwork on it?

So, under the proper circumstances, the cemetery board operates as its own entity. So, as the Benhabara Housing Commission is responsible for its own audit, um the um cemetery um has gotten audits in the past. Uh the city of Ben Harbor is the fidiciary in in one respect. Um so we were cited. Um, but as far as with the equipment, that happened during emermergency management where the emergency manager sold the city of Ben Harour's equipment to the contracted um management company. He sold over $100,000 worth of equipment to that company. And when he left and local control came back to the city, we had no information, no receipts, what was sold, any none of it because we were not in power and he had control over everything. So, we had to try to figure out what was sold, where is the money at? Because at that time, the money that they say the $100,000 that came in was used to help reduce water bills and it was thrown into the general fund. But again, that was under the power of public act 436. We were not under uh public act uh 279 of 1909 which is the

home rule act. Okay. Well, I'd like to ask you then follow up with that in the newspaper the palladium on last year. Was it the year before that there was uh over $100,000 that was owed to the cemetery and we had possession of it the city of Benton Harour. So now how does that fall in line with the audit? What's this audit? Why would we have their money?

So it's a perpetual fund. Uh the city of the this city treasury or the finance department uh is ultimately the fidiciary for the cemetery. Um, [clears throat] so the $100,000 that is the perpetual fund is there, but in terms of the city transferring it to the cemetery, um, I think that was where the issue was at. But we've had, as you know, challenges with the transition of the city of Benton Harbor City Manager's Office becoming the um maintenance management of the cemetery. And this started way back when Joe Harris fired the cemetery director, which was Tony Benhard. And from that point, we've never had another director.

So, so the maintenance and at one point the board was dissolved and then he appointed a board and then we ended up appointing a board. But in terms of being able to maintain and manage after uh the contracted management company left, now it was left to the city to either allow for the cemetery to just go all the way down, which it was spiraling down, or come in to manage it. And that's what we had to do. But again, it was because of the policies of emergency management and we inherited the mess and [snorts] we still are grappling with trying to address it and deal with it in real time. And it's one of the reasons why our general fund has suffered. But the one thing I'm trying to figure out that's been about 16 years ago, hasn't it?

No, ma'am. Been quite a few years though. It has been some years, but I mean I would I will say between three between between three city managers and we've been out of emergency management since 2017 in nine years. That's significant. Things have got lost in the sauce, so to speak,

Mr. um manager. And if I might, I've been fully aware of the issue about the perpetual fund, which basically required eventually for the city to return the money to the perpetual fund. But since I've been in this seat, priority has been on, as I said, keeping the cemetery going. Um, cutting the grass, trimming the trees, removing the snow, repairing things like the pictures that uh showed up where uh stones were moved. Uh, whatever it takes out there. And I mean, I'm sure we've spent that $100,000, but not uh as a perpetual fund just operating and trying to take care of the cemetery. At the point in time where the city returns to a stronger position, I'm sure that we and and the cemetery gets set up in terms of how it's going to operate for the long term. I'm sure that money can be returned to the perpetual fund at, you know, at that time. Right now, our emphasis has been on trying to keep everything going. Water plants, summit, cemetery, uh, trash and refues, um, all of it. Sewer.

Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Thank you. I got two questions for you. Number one, what does it Can you explain to the public what does it mean internal control audit? That's on page one. Oh yes.

So for here it says this report does not include the results of other auditors testing of internal control over financial reporting. Can you explain to us and the public what does internal control over financial mean? So as a result we we look at internal controls uh which is the procedures that the city has in place um the checks and balances. So one person reviews another person approves. You want to make sure there's segregation of duties uh for each significant transaction cycle to ensure the resources of the city are safe.

Okay. My last question is I when I when I went through the audit in in the fiscal year of 2025, the city moved two city income tax transfers. March 2025 for $450,000. May $800,000. I don't see that in reflection of this report. So can you help me understand that part? So those um the most recent transfer would be 2026,

correct? But I'm referring to 2025 the 400,000 450,000 800,000 it was too high. So, I I think that with the income tax and the general fund um and and the auditors can can weigh in. Um I don't know that the audit would track us moving money from the income tax to the general fund. Is that something that you all or that you would make note of or

I don't believe so. I think that would all be within the general fund itself. So, you wouldn't necessarily report a transfer in or out.

And and I have stated this before that the city of Benton Har is the only municipality that has separated the city income tax from its general fund. all others, Grand Rapids, um Battle Creek, you know, as the city uh income tax administrator from Grand Rapids told me is 75% of their general fund, the city income tax. So, they're not putting it in a separate fund. That was something that we did exclusively um for that particular time, which was 10 years ago or going on 10 years. So again um but thank you. Are there are there any other um I do want to recognize our personnel and finance chairman who uh has I see he has his his other set of eyes on which has been keenly on this budget and on the finances. if you would like. I would be remissed if I didn't recognize you.

Thank you, honorable mayor. I just uh want to say the audit u under consideration what the city is going through and uh financially um and hearing that we have a clean audit. Clean audit. I think we're doing very well. U you know, some things we have to clean up. You know, get the broom out, do a little sweeping, cleaning under the corners and cracks and but we we we going in the right direction. And I think and um you know uh having all the findings coming out in public that I think that we can um continue to move this city forward with the city manager and this commission. Thank you. Great job.

I I would just like to just beg your um pardon. Uh it was a clean and and unmodified audit. So I don't want, you know, I know the palladium may say that, oh, they they the budget need to or the finances need to be cleaned up and then quote commissioner is um so I think I agree that you know we can't lighten up, we got to tighten up and tighten the controls, the internal controls. Uh I want to recognize the the legislative committee which is you know ordinances and and just making sure that things is being done legally. Um which this is clear that that's taking place and just the overall commission because one of the things that I can say especially with the uh addition of the new commissioners is you know the the microscope and the questions and and and the inquisitive nature of of legislators wanting to know who, when, what, where, and most definitely why. And that's how we can keep a good fiscal house in order. Uh, is your hand up, Mr. Manager? You recognize? just like a question. And one of the uh issues that has um gone through some challenges and misunderstanding and whatnot is that um I've [clears throat] repeatedly said to the commission that the utility fund since the time that the emergency managers cut off the water customers that it had has consistently

run a deficit that has been made up by the general fund. I know recently I had someone say, "Well, we never had to borrow from the um uh uh income tax fund uh in the last few years." And I pointed out that we had that $10 million ARPA fund and so there was no need to but that before that even there was a deficit running in the utility fund that was essentially being covered by the general fund. Can you speak to that from what you've seen in working with our book?

Um that's my understanding of the the water and sewer fund. Uh it's been supplemented uh in the past. I believe this year um you can see it on page 30. You see operating revenues of 3 point 3,662,000 operating expenses. Again, this includes depreciation. So these are capital assets that you've purchased that get that expense get recognized over time um for an operating loss of 2,671,000. But again that's a lot of depreciation uh in there as well. Um and then you had a large capital contribution from those ARPA funds as you as you improve the infrastructure of the city. Commissioner Clark Griffin.

Let me just state um the city manager said that he's only be city manager since 2020. And the mayor also said that it's been like about three city manager. Well, we know this is not the city manager first time as city manager. So, u just want to bring that out. Also, when we were talking about the credit card, we it stated they noticed several de deviations between the city's credit card policy and the current use of the credit card. That means current. So, I list about nine different issues current issues. Um, I did the audits almost 25 years for the UAW. And if this had happened, we had a president at one point that decided to go get him a credit card. We immediately shut that down cuz it's an organization, so it shouldn't been a personal credit card. And then the mayor stated that the policies need to be changed. Well, until changed, policy needs to be followed. They need to be done as it is stands at that moment. Thank you.

Chair recognizes Commissioner Fields. So my my question is in there has been like re repeat comments and then at one point it was stated that towards the bottom of this page that we're looking for attachment A that the the bank the city's bank um reconciliations include a number of outstanding checks and that um though not a significant amount dating back to as far as two 2013 and that they had been basically reviewed void ated reissued. Um my question then would be if you have had something the previous year and you come back and it's still there at what point is it do you actually ask for you know circle back to the manager or whoever in regards to these items or you just repeatedly state them?

Um yeah we definitely we understand and then we just continue to look at this each year. uh that's what results in a repeat comment. Um we just continue to recommend that management review and address these issues. It should be noted that these are comments and recommendations rather than significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. So these are important enough to bring to your attention but again not a significant deficiency or material weakness as the audit's concerned. So these are recommendations for improvements. Nope. Thank you. If you hadn't put them, we wouldn't have known. Thank you.

So, I appreciate uh once again uh your due diligence and hard work. Uh and um you know, this gives us pause and as you stated uh an opportunity to strengthen uh our finances uh which is imperfect um but we uh are working toward perfection. So, thank you.

Thank you. This brings us to our citizens comments or public participation. There is a 3minut maximum per speaker. Please sign in with the clerk. I just in case we move too quickly after the citizens comments, I would like to state something before the consent calendar. I don't want to miss it. Is it a part of the agenda? It will be.

Do you have a resolution? Yeah, I do. I do. Could you please give it to the city clerk? citizens comments. We have sisters from the AKA here. Yes. Hello. I'm Ruby Patterson and we're members of Alpha Alpha Sority Iota IOTA omega chapter sority big and we're just a within the sorority Ben Harbor St. Joe chapter

and we were here last year about this time for the park, you know, and so we adopted the park. It was a children's park at that time. Now I see the new name here. It's a High Tower Park, but it was the children's park. It's on Pipstone in Britain. That park. Well, how did we do? Did have you been around? Did you see it? Yes.

Did we do good? All righty. Well, great because we wrote a grant. Okay. And we actually got it. So, I know it's hard to think about the with this weather, you know, the winter uh advisory that we're in right now outside, but you know, you know, we have next month. That's where we're going to start. Uh we'll go from April uh up until November and the cleanup of the children's park or now the High Tower Park. Um so, because we wrote a grant, we need the documentation is that's why we're here for the to be on the agenda and also to be included in the minutes that um if it's been approved that we take the park again and you don't have to worry about grass cutting

or clean up

or clean up or trash pick up. Now, uh we have hired uh a man who he has gone up $10 from last year, but that's okay. Uh was we we made that grant pretty pretty big enough where we can also buy uh flowers for the planters. So that at the front of the park there. So, um, he will pick up the trash, he will mow, he will trim, he will edge. Um, and he'll do those kind of things, but he's only coming twice, you know, every two weeks starting next month, uh, April, second Saturday in April, and then he'll go away until November. So, we would like to have that approved again, and you don't have to worry about that park. Alcap Alpha will take care of it. Okay. Uh, we not only do parks, but uh, we've also plant trees. So we partner not only with the city of Ben Harour but also with Habitat for Humanity for new homes and uh we plant you know maybe three homes this year will be two homes and we plant flowering trees and in addition to that we're going to talk a little bit about the community garden.

Um we also are really appreciate the opportunity to help take care of that that children's park. Um, the person hired will be there every two weeks, but we go all in between to make sure the park is picked up clean and safe for children. We also appreciate the opportunity to work with the Fresh Start community garden and we really appreciate uh Mrs. Canard's work in that garden. We've been with her for three years now. She will be celebrating her 20th anniversary at the children's garden. As a matter of fact, a number of you have been there with us [snorts] and we saw four more than 400 residents come through the park last year. We did our best to keep up, but when you're working, sometimes you miss people. But we know if 400 plus people came through the garden last year to work, to harvest, and to learn about organic gardening,

uh composting. And we've learned a lot, too. And that helps us when we even go work in the park [laughter] because we're learning about plants and how important it is to um support organic farming. So we really appreciate um Mrs. Canard's giving us the opportunity to work. We will be working again with you again this year, Mrs. Canard, [snorts] and we will be sponsoring our sweet potato patch. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Thank you.

And we do have one request that um so we we can will you pick up the trash? You know, like we have the you know the the bags with the trash in it. Um Mr. Clinton, you know, the the guy that's going to be mowing the lawn guy, he will take his trash. But when we're there, you know, on the dates he's not there, can you come around? If we leave our bags there, will you come around and take them? And we will use uh recyclable bags. So we just need that. Certainly. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Duncan.

Okay. No more comments. This brings us to our agenda items. Um Commissioner Fields is recognized.

Okay. So I have a letter to prior to my beginning. So this um good evening colleagues. So this evening I'm bringing forward a proposal that supports transparency, efficiency, and informed decision-making for our commission and for the residents we serve. At at times agenda materials and supporting documents are received very close to the meeting. This can make a diff it difficult for commissioners to fully review contracts, financial documents, departmental reports, and other materials that require thoughtful consideration. My request is that the city commission agenda and full supporting um documentation be distributed no later than Wednesday prior to our regular scheduled first and third commission meetings each month. This would include contracts, billing statements, financial documents, grant materials, vendor proposals, documental reports, and any other information necessary for commissioners and the public to fully understand the items before us. Providing this information earlier will allow commissioners adequate time for review, improve transparency and accountability, give residents the opportunity to state informed, to stay informed about decisions affecting their community, and help our meetings run more efficiently. This proposal supports good governance and ensures that we all have the information necessary to make the best decision for Benton Harbor. So I respect respectfully asked for colleague support. So I did both a memorandum just in case. So um it's to Benton Harbor Commission for from commissioner at large dedra fields is dated for today March 16th 2026 agenda in the subject is agenda and supporting documentation availability prior to commission meetings to support again it's saying the same things technically to support transparency informed decision-m adequate review for um time for both the city commissioners and the public I respectfully request the implementation

of standard practice regarding the distribution of city commission meeting materials. It is proposed that the city commission agenda and all supporting documentation be made available no later than the Wednesday prior to the scheduled first and third commission meetings of each month. So, and then this was the example of supporting documentations. And so, it's including but not limited to again the proposed contracts, agreements, memorandums of understanding, financial statements and f fiscal impact summaries, invoices, billing statements or payment authorizations associated with agenda items. Department departmental reports and staff recommendations, grant applications or funding proposals, bid documents, procedural, yeah, summaries or vendor proposal, legal documentation ordinances under consideration, program or project summaries requiring commission approval, any relevant background materials necessary to fully understand and evaluate the agenda items. Providing the agenda and complete supporting documents in advance will allow commissioners again sufficient time. Um and then establishing this timeline will strengthen our commitment to good governance, transparency and public trust in operations for or of the city of Benton Arbor. So [snorts] the resolution reads um it is wait we got to slow it down. Uh yeah well I mean it it it hasn't been

adopted. to the agenda. But I would just say that that's a part of our council rules, I do believe. So the council rules would have to be changed in order to implement, right, which would it would need to go through the legislative committee um in order to change ordinances, council rules. Um it's I'm not it's not changing. It's just having the information.

But that that's the the the council rules stay I believe it's by Thursday because it gives the staff uh once we have committee meetings on Wednesday typically what's coming out of the committee will go on the agenda for Monday. So that's why they have that 24hour period to have things sent to the council. It should be by Thursday, but as we know, sometimes things may come in depending upon what it is. The clerk may not get it to Friday. Um, but you know, an agenda is like a budget is fluid, but it's a part of the council rules where it states, I believe, Thursday by 1:00.

I can speak to that. So, um, the supporting documents for any agenda items have to be into the city manager and/or my office by Thursday at noon. Um, distribution of packets is at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. So, that would technically make it Saturday at 7:00 p.m. And I try to get them out as long as I have everything on Friday. Sometimes I don't get things late until Friday, so it doesn't happen until Saturday morning. But it's the council rules do say 48 hours. So I have a resolution. It has to wait is what you're saying. Correct.

Okay. And it has to and tell me that process just so I can be clear. So you're proposing that. So like what you're presenting tonight would come or would have come on Wednesday. Correct. the agenda items. The agenda item that you're bringing? No, I am I'm bringing it just be to bring it to the commission, right? But you're bringing it for approval from the commission. Yes. Tonight? Yes. But you're proposing that all items for commission consideration be submitted by Wednesday

instead of whatever other day. instead of Thursday by noon but I wanted to accompany the agenda right so whatever is supposed to come with the agenda so the full packets not an abbreviated version that is kind of watered down somewhat because every the public can't get everything just full reports so whatever we are getting Friday Saturday cuz when did we get this one the information for this one this went out um Friday this went out Friday Friday Sat early Saturday. Yeah. Yeah. Early, pardon me. Early Saturday. But this item is coming tonight.

Yes. It's one of those where it's I make um I bring it forth, it's second, and then we move forward. The thing the policy is that it goes through committee. Okay. and we would need to go through the process of changing the council rules if it was proposed to change the council rules. Okay. I think again I steal my pitch

but I mean I I would just add that you know in communicating with staff because you know there's a reason why it was Thursday by noon and that was respective to the committee meeting because sometimes a committee meeting can get done at 9:30 or 9, right? So then that means that staff who's at the committee meeting at work all day now have to turn around and take what's coming out of the committee and get it on the agenda and sent out to us all on the same day right which is impossible

and it's I mean I but I I I like this spirit because it's done let me let me let me tell you why passion about it tough because when I when we just came back from training, right, it's more of the norm than it's not. And so I'm just trying to bring us like we're trying to update policies. We can update some some methods of getting communication because I like my weekends too, right? So 100 a.m. on Saturday is not ideal. Nor is Friday, nor is I'm just saying out of consideration. I think it would be nice. And I mean, we can always add some stuff. I we we've had changed agendas before at 5:00 a couple hours before a meeting. So, we can always amend them, but at least we can have something to start with.

No, I'm I'm I'm with you. I just want to do it, you know, as you are trying to improve our um policy, right, of distribution of information. We just want to keep what you're trying to distribute in the same lane as what's being proposed. So, I would recommend that we send it to the legislative committee. When is your committee? It's not until April 1st. April 1st. It's not until April the first one in April, which is the seventh.

So, if so, if it's on the April 7th, then it would go on the third Monday, the second meeting in April. Thank you. Chair recognizes uh Commissioner Clark Griffin.

Okay. So, and policy and procedures. It said items of business may be placed on agenda by mayor or any one any one member of the committee. And it goes on talking about other positions that can do it. The deadline for appointees to submit items to the clerk office and for the city staff to submit items to the manager office for commission agenda is 12 noon on the Monday preceding the Monday commission meeting. All items shall be properly prepared on the standard temper and sh contain a suggestion motion for the commission thing. So on that Monday noon, the Monday proceeding the Monday Monday commission meeting, that's what it says. Uh submit items also on the agenda material.

Could you make could you please um site your reference? Um I said policy and procedures. Y'all want me and page page 87. Thank you. I I thought everybody knew it. Policy and procedures by now, but okay. at least the ones been here years. Okay, so I'mma continue. So I read that. Okay, so agenda materials the deadline for

So commissioner, this is not an agenda item. The person who discussing it No, no, no, no, no. The person who brought this already conceded that it'll be on. That's why it has to go through committee. No, no, no, no. So this is not a No, no. This is not an agenda item. It's not an agenda item. So, we're not going to take it We're not going to take it up as a discussion since it's not an agenda item. Point of order, mayor. No, no, no. The point of order to those trying to add something that's not a part of the agenda and make it a discussion. It was not added. It was not added. She tried it to and she was told and I'm I'm correcting what was

No, no, no, no, no. It's not a discussion item because it's not an agenda item. So, we got to have order. order. Out of order. So, cuz you're not supposed to interrupt me. [snorts] So, let's But see, you you speaking out of order because this is not an agenda item. You for discussion. So, how was I on the out of order? I didn't know that you was going to go into a a discussion about an item. Agenda point. So, we going to move forward with the agenda. Point of order. Chair. I'd like to make no move forward with the agenda items. chance to speak on the No, we're not at large. This is not an agenda item to be spoke on.

Yes, it is. And the second and I No, no, no. The Ask the clerk and as it was I never made it was never a motion. I recognized her. Ask the clerk. So, the the consent calendar are there any items to be separated? Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tim Turner. I want to separate items number Um three and five duly noted. Madame clerk, is there a motion for the approval of the consent? C chair recognizes commissioner. I'd like to separate Henry one and two. One and two.

I'd like to separate rate one, two, three, four, and five. Duly noted. Is there a motion for the approval of number one reappointment to the economic development and parks and recreation committee of Jerry Edwards. Motion is made by Commissioner Henderson and it is supported by Commissioner Warren. Um you can please be seated in the audience.

Um Motion is made by Commissioner Henderson. It is supported by Commissioner Warren. Is there discussion? Chair recognizes Commissioner Henry. I'd like to hear from uh our uh chairman of legislative as to uh what happened with uh Mr. Jerry Edwards uh reappoint evaluation conversation. Just tell us what happened in your committee, sir. Commissioner Anderson.

I'm not sure what are you asking. You're saying what was it came to your committee and am I correct? It did.

Could you give us a brief as to how that encounter went? So, just like everyone that comes to my committee, it was him and the other uh young woman uh person that was um um signing up for a committee. She came before um Brown Brownfield uh to be appointed and he was here for parks and recreation and he just discussed his um wanting to continue to serve on that particular board and why how many years he served on that board. So, that was what came out of that committee. Thank you. I call for the question. Commissioner Isam,

yes. Commissioner Canard, yes. Commissioner Warren, yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin, yes. Commissioner Fields, yes. Commissioner Henderson, yes. Commissioner Henry, yes. Mayor Prom Turner, yes. Mayor Muhammad, yes. Motion carried. Item number two, appointment to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Barbara Robbins. Is there a motion for the approval? So, so moved. Motion is made by chairwoman and first ward commissioner Henderson and by and seconded by Mayor Pro Tim Turner.

Thank you, um, honorable mayor. And I was asked about the first one, so I'll just elaborate on Miss Barbara's as well. Miss Barbara Rollins had never served on Brownfield and she was very excited about serving on the committee. She'll be a great asset to that committee. Um and I think and will also be able to lead that particular committee um as she learns more and gains more experience on that board. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Oh, pardon me. Uh Commissioner Henry, I'm sorry.

Thank you. Uh [clears throat] I would ask uh Commissioner Henderson, can you tell me the difference in the the procedures for reappointment and for appointment?

So as a um a commi commissioner for 30 years, I would say um each of us should know the um process for reappoint. chair. Would you please have her understand that she does not address me like that? Because I asked her a question and it's her chair. You you are the authority in that. I am not authority and I have not been here 30 years. So you can keep them lies to yourself and and please chair hold her. Grab her. You better hold on to her. I just say don't cross the line. That's all I'll say. So you don't cross the line and don't be funny cuz your

um point order order point order please. So I see a whole lot of smiles and laughing in here about this. Each um board appointees each um commissioner has the authority, the power, pardon me, to respond or not. And typically the request is to the chair and then to whomever is being petitioned to speak.

Uh so and if the commissioner does not wish to or whomever then that is their prerogative and their freedom of speech. Um so I call for the question. Commissioner Canard, what is this for? This is This is for item number two on the agenda. Commissioner Warren, yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin, yes. Commissioner Fields, yes. Commissioner Henderson, yes. Commissioner Henry, yes. Commissioner Isam, yes. Mayor BM Turner, yes.

Mayor Muhammad, yes. Yes. Motion carried. The third item on the agenda is approval of annual Blossom Time Parade and run for the buds. There's a motion for the approval. Motion to approve. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Support. It is supported by Commissioner Warren. Is there discussion? Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tim Turner.

Good evening. And so I'm hoping the city clerk will back me up on this one now. So this is a motion that should have come out of public safety committee. So we apologize for this here. It's an urgent need. So what we asking is well what the blossoming time parade is asking is the city of Ben Harbor to approve the motion for the 115th year parade and they have done that's held every second in May. But what they're asking is that it be a continuation of how we just did previously with Junth where they don't keep on coming back every year. And that's what this uh resolution is tonight. So again, we apologize that did not go through committee. So I take responsibility that one and that's what's before your house tonight. Is there any other comment? Chair recognizes commissioner.

The language says annual. So we just need to change the language from annual to continual if that's the case. Madam clerk, we can we just went consistent with what we did for Junth being the annual Junth celebration. We just moved it for annual blossom time, but we can make that change. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Commissioner Warren. Yes, Commissioner Clerk Griffin. Yes, Commissioner Fields. Yes, Commissioner Henderson. Yes, Commissioner Henry. Yes, Commissioner Isam. Yes, Commissioner Canard. Yes. Mayor Brom Turner. Yes. Mayor Muhammad. Yes.

Motion carried. The fourth resolution is a resolution to approve aka sorority maintenance at High Tower Children's Park for 2026. Is mo is there a motion for the approval? So move. Motion is made by Commissioner Fields supported by Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Is there discussion? Chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin.

I just want to say thank you guys for doing this. This is a great job and it looks good. This is a great thing and I got some more parks if you guys wanted to adopt. Thank you. [clears throat] Chair recognizes Commissioner Canard.

Thank you ladies. Thank you all so much for coming and supporting the fresh start. just like having beautiful flowers when you all come into your pink and green and I just enjoy seeing how how Miss Patter came some years ago and asked could she come and work in the garden. I was so excited and she's been there and she works really hard. I've seen Yes. Okay. Thank you. [laughter] She works really hard and it makes me feel good just to have her presence there. And so, uh, thank you again and again, the AKA. I hope that we can work together further, you know, down the line. Thank you.

And I'd like to uh thank the uh AKA uh incorporated uh for your service to humanity. Uh I do have a proud daughter uh that is a part of the organization as well. Um the only thing that I would not change but where it says maintenance I like the word beautifification. Amen.

Um better um the city is ultimately responsible for the maintenance but the beautifification is that aka touch. So, um, but I'm not going to beat the camel, uh, on that note. Um, but I call for the question. Beautifification, duly noted. Commissioner Clerk Griffin, absolutely. Yes. Commissioner Fields, yes. Commissioner Henderson, yes. Commissioner Henry, yes. Commissioner Isam, yes. Commissioner Canard, yes. Commissioner Warren, yes. Mayor Pertton Turner,

yes. Mayor Mahav, yes. Motion carried. The last and final resolution is a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with LE Barber for Britain and West Empire sewer improvement projects. Is there a motion for the approval? Motion to approve. Motion's made by Mayor Pro Tim Turner and is supported by Commissioner Henderson. Is there discussion? Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tim Turner.

Again, I ask for y'all forgiveness. I take full responsibility of this one here. This project is a grant by so Jason through the city or chair for uh city manager or Mr. Jason to present this project. So this is a project through emergency grant we got. So I'm going have the city manager to explain it further. Pardon me. I'm going to allow city manager order. Mayor um order. We're voting.

So, there is a motion on the floor. Um, and we are in discussion. Um, the city manager is not a voting member. Uh, however, he can comment uh on the item that is being considered. Uh so I will recognize the city manager.

This uh money comes out of part of the money that's allocated to uh the water plant and we've changed some things as we've gone through and um some items uh require additional money and some less. But I'd like to ask if uh Mr. Markwatt from Aban Mars could give you the details on it, but this was the low bid of three bids that were received. You're recognized.

Good evening, commissioners. Uh, yes. This is uh a resolution for uh the city to consider um uh awarding a contract to Ellie Barber uh for the West Britain uh and West Empire uh sewer project. Uh like the uh Can you be specific and locate? Could you give us some identifying? Yeah.

Locations where so people know East Britain, West Britain where Sure. I I refer to the West Britain area just uh essentially west of 8th Street there. Um so uh there's a there's a map in your packet, but um uh Empire Avenue uh is a stretch from 11th Street to Salem. So uh pretty much right adjacent to the baseball fields and the track uh track facility. And then West Britain is from uh Sherman Court or 8th Street if you will uh from the water tower uh west to Riverview Drive. So uh those segments of sanitary sewer were uh considered in poor condition when the city applied for funding through the u uh state of Michigan uh clean water uh state revolving fund act or uh process. At the time the city was received these grant funds that was a 100% grant. So there's no loan to the city uh for this for these funds. So the city did receive these uh four sanitary sewer up upgrades. Um this project was programmed in that project plan from a couple years ago. Uh so uh all the studying and the design has been completed and then it went out to bid and we the city received uh three three bids. Um the low bid was submitted by Ellie Barber. Uh so this project is uh this recommendation in front of you is for consideration to award that contract to Ellie Barber uh to proceed with the project this year. Uh the funding the grant funding expires at the city uh in October of this year. So the city must spend these dollars before uh before the grant period uh commences. And that is October of this year. And then there's some close out that happens till the end of the year.

But essentially, this project uh allows the contractor to start uh work uh at the end of April um and be completed by October of this year. So, it's important for consideration if if the city wants to move forward with this project. Thank you. This is about three lower $3 million. Um, and as Jason uh stated that uh I believe it was like 21 million um that was left over from the water um from the grant funding.

Yeah. For the distribution system um which covers the sewer. Is that am I this uh just um don't get confused on the water the city received a water fund for water improvements. And the city received an also a clean water uh uh grant that uh is funding your sanitary sewer improvements. Okay.

Um so uh the city received $45 million for the water side that included the lead service replacements, a lot of the distribution, actual water man work that's been going on within the city. Um along with uh improvements to the water plant. This project is a sanitary sewer project. There's no water mane that's really associated or going to be improved on these streets. These are picked for areas that water mane was deemed in better shape than than other other areas of the city. So, this is a sanitary sewer fund project. Um, the city received 19.5 million or so um for this grant to fund the sewer sewer projects. Um, in the past projects, the city was able to bundle both funds together on some things that happened in the previous years. Well, if you can think about it, the water funds been going on for a little longer. Those funds are almost exhausted for this year. So, this is using the city's sewer funding for sewer improvement project for this particular project, West Britain and West Empire. Is that

consistent with what we approved a couple This is meetings ago. This is part of the city's project plan. Um so this was submitted to the state a few years back when you're asking for those funds. The funds didn't get distributed or provided. They get approved for the city's use. They don't send the fund to them directly. You get a there's a reimbursement process. But these funds are only allowed to be used on particular projects that were written into that project plan several years ago. So this is one of the projects that was written into that project plan. Thank you. Call for the question. Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Yes.

Commissioner Henry. Yes. Commissioner Isam. Yes. Commissioner Canard? Yes. Commissioner Warren? Yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin? Yes. Yes. Mayor Pam Turner. Yes. Mayor Muhammad. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. This brings us to uh our concluding comments. [snorts] Uh I'd like to recognize our uh public safety deputy director for fire and inspection. Deputy Casmir. Uh nothing tonight, Mr. Mayor. We're just, you know, code fire and uh police are all busy on all the ends. Uh I will I guess I just will say uh ordinance enforcement season has started so trying to you know beautify Benton Harbor again.

Thank you. Chair recognizes our city attorney attorney Cynica.

Thank you honorable mayor. Just briefly I listened to all of your comments on the audit and some of the policies that we have in place currently with which might need to be updated. I I specifically listened to the credit card policy and the language that says goods and services and it sounds like, you know, we've been going to MML meetings. We have we have officials that are going to different official meetings that we need to take care of. So, we need to add some language to that. We're always looking at best practices and how to improve. That's an easy way to make an improvement so that you don't have to hear that comment next year. So, we'll be working on that between now and hopefully the next legislative committee meeting. Thanks again. Thank you. Chair recognizes our assistant city manager and city clerk, Clerk Moore.

I have nothing further to add. Chair recognizes the city manager, Mr. Alex Little.

Just that I'm pleased that we're making a lot of progress on a lot of fronts at one time and we're doing it within the framework of what we have to work with. As I was listening to part of the discussion about the timing of matters getting uh on the agenda and so forth, I keep saying over and over and I ask you to, you know, just keep in mind [snorts] when I talk about the limited number of people that we have that impacts everything that we do. emails on a daily basis come in between 100 to 150 emails a day and I'm screening through those as as rapidly as I can to make sure that something important doesn't get missed. When we talk about the timing, Wednesday night committee meetings that run often late, you're probably not really aware of the fact that the third Thursdays of every month, I go directly from home to the airport. I'm on the airport board and immediately following the airport board meeting, I go to the wastewater treatment plant. I'm on the wastewater treatment board. It's often 1:30 before I get to city hall for the first time that day. And once I get here, that first hour, unless I've gotten a meeting in there, which I try not to, so I can go through the emails to look to make sure I'm not missing something really important. But this is an everyday thing. regular meetings, emails. Um, uh, just before this meeting, I went to a meeting, medic one over at the hospital. There's I'm

doing that because there's nobody else to do them. And in order to keep the city moving and to deal with the things that the city has to have dealt with, I just do what it takes. And as a consequence, some of these things that what what we were talking about worked well back in the 80s when we had 134 people, it worked pretty good in 2000 when it still had 100 people, but not now. I'm just doing the best that I can. We would have got to work with. And for the record, how many employees do we have now?

All together, I believe it's about 59 right now. and majority of them are in the public uh safety department. But uh and you got a small number in public works and uh like I say, you got 12 people in this building here. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin. I'd like to thank everybody for coming out tonight and everybody that's listening uh what's going on in the fourth ward. We got some great news. Uh this Saturday we will be doing the fifth annual spring cleanup for the fourth ward alliance and we're excited. Me uh Mayor Pro Tim Turner went after when we got out of church uh Sunday and went around and assess the prop the areas we'll be cleaning as we always do. It's about 11 areas that needs a lot of work. So, we're going to be out there. Um meet up is at 12 noon Saturday um at Edgecom Park. So, whoever want to come out and come help and be a part of this, uh please come out and um I treat my volunteers very good. So, you're going to have different things and uh yeah. So, thank you guys. We're going to have a good time. We have fun. Why we do all that work? It don't matter the weather. We out there. It it 30° we've been out there, you know. So, we're going to be out there doing a great service as we always do. Everybody have a good night.

And that's 12 until until we are finished with the areas that we have. Sometimes it's two hours, sometimes four hours. And I do the fall cleanup during the same time as my resource fair. So, I multitask. We also have a giveaway. So, it all depends on uh how long it takes cuz we're going to get done. Thank you. Chair recognizes third war commissioner Henry.

Uh I just want to thank the citizens uh that uh stayed here and enjoyed our meeting. Uh it's kind of long one, but uh that's all I got to say. Thank you for staying involved. Thank you for voting. And thank you colleagues for doing nothing.

The chair recognizes second w commissioner war. Thank you. I want to thank everybody for coming out today. Um I was able to tour um the caret 275 pipes on Friday and then the bubble Brazil building today. So we have two things that are going to be great for the community once they're done. um possible venues, um possible office space for small buildings, businesses, sorry. So, a lot of great things are happening in the city. Um and that is all I have. Thank you and have a great night. Thank you. Chair recognizes Commissioner Large Canard.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank you all for coming out tonight. It's always good that I wish we could see our full every chair even taken up each time that we have a meeting, but uh I'm grateful for you all being here. Thank you because the weather's really kind of uh I mean that's how it's going on out there. But we went to the municipal league meeting this uh past week and from there I went to the we the people. I was here for the um brownfield meeting and today I took the tour at the Bobo Brazil. So my sister down there for my age, I'll be 83 this month. I think I stay pretty busy. So if you said we not doing anything, if I do anymore, I don't know where I be able to take it. You know, it wasn't you.

Okay. Thank you. But at any rate, we got a great job to do here in Benton Harour and we have to really focus in on our children that are coming up. They watches us and we should be giving them the best of us so they can see that there is some choices and there's a plan in making for them because we are trying to make a better Benton Harbor. We hate to see our children all as they graduate from school, high school or wherever that they look for other places to go and live. We would love to see that Benton Harbor where they were raised up that they stay here and give back to their communities. So I think a lot on that and I pray a lot about Benton Harbor. So I'm out here and I'm just loving the team that we have because I pray for all of us that we would work for the best interest of Benton Harbor. Thank you all.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Commissioner Fields.

Good evening. Good evening. I thank everyone for coming, those that are listening. And I was going to start at the bottom. It look like you're packing up, but thanks to the AKA's and I really agree with the beautifification terminology just because it's it is a beautifification process and even though we it's named the High Tower, we still can call it the children's park, right? So, um and kids do still attend. I mean are out there and I believe it's because of the beautifification and the things you guys have enhanced so that it feels more appropriate for kids even though it's in somewhat of a busy corner, right? Um so thank you for your work and all the other works you guys do in the community. You it does not go unnoticed and we know there's other things you could be doing like the dancing, the touring, the the vacations you guys take um along the way throughout life which is inspiring because I want to be able to do those things when I get older. but you still find time for service. So, thank you. Um, I want to just again I want to apologize actually today. I didn't make the tour. My niece needed a a last minute ride from Chicago airport. Um, so thanks for those that attended. I was not I want to reference ML MML um conference that we attended that was more like a social it wasn't as much um training or hands-on. there was really a lot of vendors and um individuals present um and it was still impactful like a I met de developers that talked to me about tiff and explained some different things to me um in that regards I actually visited a development afterwards for one of the vendors whose name I can't draw right now I met Mars which um we learn MS [clears throat] Mars MS that actually does our staff retirement. All right. And uh album march. We told them that we love Jason because they said, "Well, how's Jason?" Jason is awesome. Um and I wanted to say

something else. And then actually with MML, they offer an executive search for positions and um I was actually trying to negotiate like how much does that cost and how much will that pay? Whenever we talk to vendors and different developers that were referencing say, "Oh, we do this, we do that." Well, how much does that pay or do we have to pay anything up front? But just the interaction and we actually engaged with the Niles mayor um who's also what like 13 months now at Arbor March uh and I think he's had the same duration as a mayor as you may but again I really enjoyed the training um or the interaction that we had at MML and that's the importance of the inperson versus virtual um and then the fourth award alliance cleanup I would not be able to be present. Um I am sad about that because it is a good time like you'll be cleaning and you may meet different individuals that are just want to take part and again of it's mostly individuals that not a part of our community. They bring their own trucks and I mean they have like real equipment. Um and there's an older couple I think they're the same ones do the cemetery but I was matched up with them last year and we were all over and you got to meet individuals and their why and life and things of that nature. So, it's an experience. Um, and it seems like it's the same area as being cleaned up, but again, the um individuals appreciate it and it's a good time. Like, I can't really explain it. Even if it's cold or whatever, it's a good time. And I really want to commend our commissioners that actually really do do a survey of areas prior to it isn't a random cleanup. It is a survey process that occurs. And lastly, I want to apologize to um first world commissioner um why am I for Henderson because I meant to I double book myself for your town hall and so I apologize and I want

to do that publicly and if you have something else don't hesitate to invite me because I really did plan to attend. So thank you everyone. Thank you for your donation. Commissioner Fields. Thank you uh Commissioner Fields. I'd like to recognize uh commissioner at large is

honorable mayor. Thank you for everyone. Thanks for everyone for an order. Uh thank you everyone for coming out tonight. I'd like to try to go take my time but I want to get everybody out of here. It's kind of cold outside there. I want to thank the AKA for the what they doing for the beautific beautifification of the children's park. Thank you so much and working with this fine young woman right here. I know you didn't learned a lot and uh want to thank Commissioner Edwards for congratulate him for being reappointed to the uh economic development committee and Barbara Robbins with her appointment to the Brownfield Authority redevelopment authority. And what else I got going on here? I was running a little late today. I had a had a mo mosaic meeting and um so but I made it you know had to be here with the crew you had to be sometime you got to be somewhere you know be somewhere but yeah we got a clean modified modified clean audit got to get that right unmod

modified unmodified oh unmodified unmodified [laughter] unmodified unmodified looking right at unmodified Yeah. So, but the city is going in the right direction. You know, it's it's good. I like to see these new commissioners asking all these questions, you know, curious, you know, they want to know. They get hungry, you know. They want to like, you know, um you know, like Tupac would say, "How do you want it?" You know, but uh you want to they want to know, you know, they want to know, you know.

Yeah. They want to know. But, uh don't forget starting Thursday, we got the March Madness coming up. basketball. Uh the Pistons still on the roll. Pistons still on the roll. You know, want to thank everybody for coming out. Good to see y'all smiling. I like this man. This when you can get people to smile. Miss Canar, when I get you that finance director, [laughter] you know I'm going to smile. God bless you. Expect great things. Ben Har recognizes Mayor Pro Tim Turner.

Thank you. First, I want to say thank you as well to AKA's my former principal. She had a ruler and yes she did [laughter] and she didn't play. Uh last year she had me in the garden planting seeds. I haven't planted seed in almost four years but I learned again uh as it was stated about the MML training. We have fun driving up. I did a speed limit to y'all. It was my personal vehicle. I did a speed limit. U but we have fun. They had me at every booth I can name. It was I thought I wanted to sit down. My feet was tied. I I lost about three pounds. I did. But we have uh we have fun. I enjoyed all the mayors and the city managers, the finance directors. We all met there. We engaged. We have fun and we enjoy have a good conversation. Some of the classes they have uh May 15th through the 16th is a class. October 7th through the 9th is another class. And then they have a Great Lakes class which is May 20th through the 21st. And so we'll see if I be going. But what I want to talk about, you know, I listened to Commissioner Henderson Facebook live video some kind of way. Somebody sent it to me and working with the fourth ward the last five years with ward cleanups and it's very depressing to ride around our city. I literally rode around our city last yesterday for five hours and I went down so many streets. I looked at city own lots, trash, trees, tires, you name it. No resident of Ben Harour should have to live next door to filth, nasty rats, you name it. And if the resident are calling city hall, we should take responsibility and clean up this trash in our city. We have money coming in. I looked at the expense report for the uh landfill. It was less than $25,000 for last month. So, I'm asking that we find

some kind of funds and do a community cleanup. It is time to do a community clean up in the city here. And it's it is nasty here. So, what I've been doing was a beautifying Ben Harbor Ward tour because it is time for us to get our community clean. We cannot keep on having excuses as why we have trash in alleys. I literally walk down alleys and it's not fair. It's not fair to our code enforcement department to keep on having to suffer. I'm sorry. It's not. And lastly, I know the fire marshall going to get me for saying this one here, but I'm more afraid that leaves that's on vacant lots is going to catch on fire and we will not have the staff to put that fire out. I don't want to have to be at work in Chicago and get a phone call that your city is on fire. And I'm just being 100. We need to address it immediately. There is no more if ends or buts or more excuses. We need to address this illegal dumping. Why people are setting trash out and tires and matches on our curves that's not getting picked up. We got leaves from last year still out on curves. Leaves on vacant city lots sitting there. That is very disheartening to see that in your own city and nothing's been addressed about it. That's all I got to say.

Chair recognizes Commissioner Henderson. Thank you, honorable mayor. Um, just like to thank everyone for coming out. Um, like to thank the AKA's for their work uh this year and last year. Um, I have the privilege of driving past that park every morning and uh we received grant funding to put in um a children's story walk. So those big boards are sto are story boards where the kids when they're in that park, they can walk and and read uh the stories that's um in that particular park. So thank you for the great work that you are doing and we do appreciate that because people don't have to volunteer their time to do work and so when organizations and groups do that we really really appreciate that. That was one of the premises of the um conservancy so that the city wouldn't have to spend its own um resources could dedicate those resources to something else and let organizations adopt those parks to be able to do that. So, this is a a way that you guys has done have done that and we really really appreciate that. Um, yeah, I'd like to thank the staff as well for the work um that they've done, the continued uh service um the hard work of uh making sure those audits are clean and unmodified. So, um that takes work and this commission again for um transparency and holding uh people accountable. Um last comment um like um uh Mayor Pro Tim uh Turner just talked about um I think it was last week or the week before um did some cleanup work and I've done cleanups since I was elected and so they are um great uh service projects and I think um that everybody needs to get involved but the thing that I don't uh think is happening when I would do cleanups uh people would be sitting on their porches watching us pick up trash and I would invite them um out and they would just say, "Oh, make

sure you don't forget to get that um in communities or in neighborhoods that we don't live in." And I think we need to start calling our people back to um service. You don't have to do a cleanup with a bunch of people. Um Miss uh I can't think of her name right now. It's escaping me. Bonnie that lives on on Kfax um does clean up by herself every day picking up trash and um I don't think it takes uh five or six people. These are differences that one or two people can make um just by cleaning up the corner that they live on. And so I want to call our residents to that. Like Mayor Pro Tim talked about PE, the residents and people that live here have a right to live in a clean and res um respectable place. And we do have a responsibility um as residents to help keep our place clean and respectable, not throwing trash out of the window um when we can wait and put it in a re receptacle. So, I would ask the residents um even though you don't live in war 4, if you're um available on Saturday, get out and turn it into a community cleanup by cleaning up where you live, whether that's war one, war 2, war 3. Get out and clean up the area where you live on Saturday. Clean up your block. Don't focus on nobody else's. Just focus on your block or around your house um if that's possible for you on Saturday. Um so again, thank everybody for coming out and um each of my colleagues uh for all of the work um that we do uh the commitment and so thank you. Have a great evening.

Thank you uh Commissioner Henderson and all of the comments from staff and elected officials uh and to uh the new appointees or reappointed um persons, Mr. Edwards and Miss Robbins and to the AKA uh and all those all of those who are contributing to our community. We say and as stated uh I was just recently a delegate with the Great Lakes um and St. Lawrence C's initiative which is about 430 mayors um with over about 100 Canadian mayors which makes up the Great Lakes region which covers Hiron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. uh those lakes which the economic development in that region is over $1 trillion in trade and commerce with Canada. Uh but if that Great Lakes region were a country, it would be third in GDP. Uh in the fourth district, uh it's over uh about $4 billion dollar uh in trade um right here. And Ben Harbor sits strategically on Lake Michigan uh and plays a very important role in not just the organization but in the trade and commerce component. Um, and I'll share more about it in the state of the city. Uh, but one of the things we were on Capitol Hill, it was Great Lakes Day.

So, we were lobbying for, uh, 500 million to protect the Great Lakes over the next 5 years, uh, which deals with, uh, one of, um, our good friend, uh, boy, his name escapes me, Mr. Duncan. Good golly. uh fishing where we were asking the Trump administration for this funding because the invasive species is uh destroying the fishing industry um boating industry which is about 30 million just in this southwest Michigan area. Uh but we did get good news where President Trump said he was going to work with Governor Whitmer uh in order to fund the Great Lakes. Uh we met with his intergovernmental affairs um staff uh in the Eisenhower Executive Office building which is a part of the White House campus. I also met with the Department of Transportation where I handd delivered a $21.6 $6 million grant uh that the city applied for. Um and the manager will talk more about that, but we had an opportunity to meet with the general counsel for the Department of Transportation and have that one-on-one um face-toface time. Um another big component was the SRF or the the clean drinking water fund uh which expires. um when you start to mour and and infrastructure and uh so we were lobbying for it to be extended for another five years. Uh we were requesting a little over 3 trillion 3.25 trillion.

So we were dealing with I mean some big big money um and big big initiatives. Um but I also yesterday had an opportunity to host the University of Chicago Institute of Politics students who wanted to come and learn about politics in Benton Harbor. Uh and they were fascinated at what they saw and what they see happening in Benton Harbor. And these are graduate students. One student told me they wanted to be the president of Nigeria. She was from Nigeria. Another young lady, she told me she wanted to be the mayor of Chicago. Uh I mean it was like a rainbow literally. Uh people from all over the world at the Mason Jar learning about Benton Harbor. Uh so with that being said, great things

expect expect great things and uh God bless you. And is there a motion to adjourn? Motion is made by Commissioner Henderson, supported by Commissioner Fields. And Madame Clerk, Commissioner Clark Griffin, yes. Commissioner Fields, yes. Commissioner Henderson, yes. Commissioner Henry, yes. Commissioner Isam, yes. Commissioner Canard, yes. Commissioner Warren, yes. Mayor Prom Turner, yes. Mayor Muhammad, yes. Motion carried.