Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We'd like to call the city of Benton Harbor Commission meeting to order. We'll begin with an invocation by Nick Gunn followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. All rise. Our hearts, Lord, we ask that you are able to join us in this meeting and, you know, bless the decisions that are made and the presentations that are given. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance I yield to the city clerk. Commissioner Clark-Griffin. Present.

Commissioner Fields. Present. Commissioner Henderson. Present. Commissioner Henry. Commissioner Issom. Present. Commissioner Kennard. Present. Commissioner Warren. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Present. Mayor Muhammad. Present. a quorum. This brings us to the approval of minutes regular minutes April 20, 2026. Is there a motion for the approval?

Motion to approve. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Is there support? It is seconded by Commissioner Fields. Madam Clerk. Commissioner Issom. Yes. Commissioner Kennard. Yes. Commissioner Warren. Yes. Commissioner Clark-Griffin. Yes. Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Yes. Mayor Muhammad. Yes. Motion carried. This brings us to approval of accounts payable listing. Is there a motion for the approval? Motion to approve. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Is there support? Support.

supported by Commissioner-at-Large Issom. Is there discussion? Carried on, Madam Clerk. Commissioner Kennard. Yes. Commissioner Warren. Yes. Commissioner Clark-Griffin. Yes. Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Yes. Commissioner Issom. Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Yes. Mayor Muhammad. Yes. Motion carried. This brings us to a presentation of the Weggy Award and staff is present, Mr. Dane Rasmussen, who is operating out of the planning economic development office under the leadership of city manager Alex Little. You are recognized. Good evening.

[clears throat]

I wanted to read a brief portion of a press release from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. We applied a few weeks ago for this award. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative announced that the city of Benton Harbor has received the 2026 Weggy small city sustainability best practices award, which recognizes meaningful projects that balance economic, social, and environmental aspects of protecting water quality that could be used as a best practice inspiration for other cities. The city was recognized for Ox Creek restoration and revitalization project. In addition to being recognized as the winner of the Weggy Award, Benton Harbor will also receive a $4,000 contribution to support the project. And the city will be honored at the city's initiatives award gala at its 2026 annual conference on May 6th through 8th in Hamilton, Ontario. So, I'm excited to announce that to you and the city. So, you had mentioned it like a splash pad and I know that's been like a major to do for some time. Although it's not a significant amount, [snorts] but could you just speak to that? Yeah, so this this award can be put towards that project or other amenities in the Ox Creek Corridor Hall Park Bobo Brazil. We have a little bit of flexibility with how it's plugged in. Um so, we're we're waiting to hear a little bit more in the terms of the award, but this money is going to go towards the greater project. Mr. Manager. Yes, sir. I'm working on a project to try to get funding for a

splash pad. I'm working with MEDC and also some private uh companies uh that are um hopefully going to participate in us coming up with the funding to do that. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Thank you. Yep, thank you. This brings us to our update from our 38th District House Representative who is present with us tonight. I yield the floor to the honorable Representative Joey Andrews. You're recognized. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, city council. Last time I was here, I mentioned that we were getting ready to head into the budget season. That is fully underway at this point. Both the House and the Senate have now passed budget proposals as of this last week. That is good because it's about 4 months earlier than the budget proposals came out last year. So, we are actually running a little ahead of a normal budget schedule. So, fingers crossed that that's a good sign that we're going to have this budget done on time this year. Now, there is some significant differences obviously between the House and the Senate being a divided government and differences still between those two budgets and what the governor's proposed, but negotiations between the three parties are beginning to take place over the next few weeks and there is a I think um a quiet optimism among all parties that that this is going to get done by the deadline this year and we're not going to be pushing into the summer and or the fall like we did last year. On our end, we're keeping track of the funding for the school meals program, which we expanded during our our trifecta a

few years ago to every student in the state. It's been a really successful and I think pretty popular program. So, we're keeping an eye on the funding for that as well as the recent expansion of RX Kids to Benton Harbor. The Republicans have been pretty critical of the RX Kids program and seem to really want to claw the money back from it. They tried to last fall during all that drama around the grants. So, we're keeping an eye on the funding for that program as well. So, it's already having a great impact here and in the other communities around the state where it's been active. So, hopefully that funding will remain in place and maybe even see that increased as well. There's a real desire by the governor and the Senate to see that program become a statewide program eventually. So, there's some hope that maybe we'll see that continue to expand. We did I believe that last time I was here as well, I mentioned the issues with the clawbacks of some of the grants we were fighting over. At this point, it looks like all of the grants that that I was tracking on my end have been restored. I think there's still a little little friction around the grant for Lake Michigan College for the apprenticeship program that they're running over there, but to my knowledge, the other grants have been restored and things seem to be in a better place at least for the moment than they were a few months ago. Legislatively, things are still very slow. That hasn't changed. I mentioned we we had only had like 64 bills signed into law last year. We're on pace to maybe even beat that in terms of how few laws are being passed this year. The impasse between the House and the Senate is the worst it's ever been. There's really minimal desire I think among either the Senate majority leader or the speaker to

to work together at this point. There's a lot of animosity between the two of them, frankly. And so, we're not particularly optimistic we're going to see a lot of laws passing this year outside of the budget. But hopefully that'll be something that can improve in a a future legislative session with some new leadership um in the House in particular. Locally, we want to you know, mention we had a the last 2 months we've had a few town halls that were really successful in the local area. We had Attorney General Dana Nessel in for both a town hall on ICE activity as well as on data centers. Um We had about 200 or so people attend the data center town hall. Um and a you know, good representation from local governments, law enforcement, and others at the ICE town hall. And then just this past week we had a another event kind of focused on local law enforcement's role in in immigration that Sheriff Height attended and was a was a pretty good sport I'll say given the number of questions and the direction of the questions that he was receiving. But we've been doing our best to try to bring as much you know, facts and attention to these issues as we can. We'll note on the ICE front in particular, we have not seen significant activity in Berrien County, let alone here in Benton Harbor. Sheriff noted that last year they had about I think he said around 60 deportations. I don't know the exact number off the top of my head that he said, which he said is basically but by his math about on track with what it has historically been. So, we haven't seen increases in warrants from the federal government or agent activity in the area. So, we we keep monitoring that and I'm sure, you know, you've heard from residents that are a little worried because of what they're seeing on TV in Chicago and and you know, what they saw in Minneapolis before, but um from what we've seen there is there's no serious activity and so I just keep trying to urge everybody to to keep a

level head right now cuz the last thing you need is people crying wolf and getting scared that something's happening that isn't because then when it does happen, you know, everybody's less likely to respond. So, um the Sheriff brought some really good information on that as well. Um I think that that about that about wraps up you know, what's going on in Lansing, you know, budget policy wise and some of our local stuff. Um We we should have another town hall in the area within the next couple of months. I'm actually going to be up in Douglas for one this coming Friday and then we have one in New Buffalo in a few weeks and then after that we'll be back around to the St. Joe Benton Harbor area probably sometime this summer. So, you look out for that as well. Thank you, sir. You bet. Thank you very much. Thank you. This brings us to our citizens comments or public participation. There is a 3-minute maximum per speaker. Please sign in with the clerk. Montel Hobbs. Hey, how you doing? Fine, sir.

[clears throat]

Um I was just coming about a matter I had about some money that was took from a foreclosure from me from a house that I sold. Uh I talked with um Alex Little about it. Just speak up a some, sir. Oh, this is about concerning some money that was took for a previous debt from um a house I sold. Um I had sold the house in April of last year and I think $10,300 was claimed by the city and I was just trying to see if I can some type of way get an understanding of why I'm paying somebody else's debt. Um the debt was from I think it was a home mortgage uh from 1997 and it should have been forgiven in 2002. Uh 20 years later I'm paying this debt. Um I've been reaching out to everybody trying to uh get it straight. I've even talked to the county treasurer. She gave me this right here which is the act showing that um any liens, debts, or anything that was on that property should have been extinguished. Um I ran up just by Alex Little. Um Talked to the title company and the check was sent back to the city. So, that's why I'm here. Nothing. So, I would just say that

um you know, given that you have been in touch with our city attorney and you are represented, correct? Yeah, well she ain't here. Beth McCree was helping me with it, but I'm representing myself right today. Okay. Um so, given that it is a a legal a matter because of from my uh conversation with our city attorney, she has been in touch uh with attorney McCree and from my understanding she was representing uh Mr. Hobbs and his interests. Uh so, I think that it and this is just my recommendation. The city attorney is here that that be handled by the attorneys as opposed to

Well, she couldn't make it. So, I'm all right with moving forward myself if I can. I mean

Well, it's nothing [clears throat] that this body can do in terms of resolving the issue. This is why I told I should come. So, that's why I'm here. Um I mean I did everything. I talked to the treasurer and the house was actually took uh by the county in the foreclosure auction and sold in 2016 and that should have extinguished it. Um the debt. Uh it wasn't nothing for but $3,500. You know, and um I guess in when I sold the house last year they took $10,300 from me. So, Right. So, you know, I know there's a it's a title company involved, the county's involved.

title company ain't involved no more. They sent the check back here. Right. So, I'm I'm just going to refer to the city attorney um because I I don't want to be you know, getting involved with it and she's here and she's already been speaking with your attorney. Madam attorney? Thank you, honorable mayor. I did indicate to Mr. Hobbs in advance of the meeting tonight that I would call attorney McCree tomorrow and give her an update from my perspective. Just to let everybody kind of know some of the background here. The title company does look when when you close on property and a title company is insuring that property, they look back at any old liens or anything that might be encumbering the property. In this situation, the title company at my request looked at it multiple times. They came to the conclusion that this old mortgage had not been extinguished by the county tax sale because the notice had not been sent that should have been sent. So, it could have been waived by the county at the time, but it wasn't. This is what the title company told me. I did indicate this to attorney McCree. All of this is based on the title company's attorneys review of the file. They ordered all the information from the county and they determined that the proper process hadn't happened and that the mortgage was still in place. That left the city in a position where the city either had to sign an affidavit saying that the mortgage had been paid which it hadn't or they had to just forgive the mortgage. And either one, you know, was a tough a tough proposition since the mortgage was owed to the city at the time and it needed to be paid. So, I think there's some room to talk and determine what we need to do to move forward. We certainly want you to have good title to the property, but in the title company's opinion based on their attorneys review that I had them go through the review multiple times to be certain, they are indicating to us that this money is owed

the city and that the mortgage was in effect. Yeah, this this is a a message from Ms. McCree. She said all information associated with the $10,390 taken by the city during the sale of 815 Pickens um for an old loan that was extinguished by the county foreclosure [clears throat] sale. When it is when it is reported to the clerk, they received the First American title remain uh uncashed and was sent back to the city. We know that. The clerk returned to the city and has been the and has been cashed and was reissued. Um I reached out to her. I talked to him. Um I even talked to the treasurer. I had the treasurer talk to him. You know, and he even [clears throat] told me personally that the city don't have no files on this. So, I don't understand how what they even had proof to take the money if they don't have no file. It was in the basement or something got wet. Something like that he told me. So, I mean it's it's it's no proof really standing behind I mean this and all I have is the county treasurer telling me that the city should have gave me my money. I talked with her, you know. I mean all that sound good what she's saying, but I'm just going off of this and it was a $3,500 you know. Where did the interest come from? You know, it's a lot that goes with that that I I'm trying to get some answers about because that money I worked hard for that money and for to have it come in and just took it from me like that, you know, it's kind of like messed up.

So, Well, like I said, I don't want to you know, it's it's a legal matter. Um So, I would recommend that your attorney work been doing that for the last year. So, it's been a year since this happened. That's why I'm here today. You know, because this is the last attempt for me to try to be heard. You know, the attorneys talked. I mean, it it really wasn't even a resolution. I mean, Right. I mean, but I I've been on the peripheral [clears throat]

of this issue because once it is is in the hands of attorneys, I don't practice law. We have an a a city attorney. You were represented by an attorney, so that's when you know, we have to leave it in in in that legal realm. Um but I do understand that there was some type of offer or settlement that was you know, where you can recruit offer made to me. Okay, so that's where I think you you all need to work more

So, she said so, now we saying it's a offerment or is it what? It was a offer on the floor cuz I never heard of no offerment. That's what you saying? When was that? I never knew about that. Okay, so if you can just work have your attorney contact our city attorney and um I'd like to represent myself. Well, I mean, you can represent yourself. you know, I just talked with her.

in this not in this this is a public comment. Um this is not the form to represent yourself in a legal matter, Mr. Hobbs. So, we want to work with you and I'm saying that publicly. The city attorney, the city manager, Okay. they'll bring some results resolve been hearing that. I never get no call back. I never get I'mma call you back next week. Next week turn into a month. It's the been a year now. Can we can we have a higher appointment?

She answered the phone for me one time. I've called her 50 times. She never answered the phone. So, um Okay. So, that's it? Yes, please set up an appointment. Yeah, I know I never get that appointment. Just like I can't get a phone call answered. I am I'm ethically prohibited from answering calls from people who are represented. I have to go through their attorneys. But what we can do is work through the city manager's office. I think that's what's been happening as we've been working through the city manager's office. too and he don't he don't be in either. He don't call back or return calls either when he say he going to call somebody back. So, Mr. Manager will be able to come to some resolve on this issue.

Get in touch with him and see what he Okay. Sorry.

[clears throat]

Cassandra Booker. I need to push this. Okay. Um good evening, everyone. Um I came here tonight because I'm dealing with a situation currently that's really troubling and so because I wanted to be intentional in regards to when I speak to everyone, um I wrote this down in my phone, so that I won't get off track. So, um it says, "Good evening, honorable mayor and all commissioners. As all of you are aware of, my name is Cassandra Booker and I am a community stakeholder here in the city of Benton Harbor. I have been dedicated to initiating positive change here in the city for the past 5 years and most of these instances, accomplishing positive and productive and positive outcome has not been an easy task. However, somehow I continuously find the energy to keep going. Please note that I am not here to seek anyone's approval for friendship. I am simply here to bring positive energy while doing ethical and proper business. Also, with the goal of being a motivational pillar of the community. That being said, I am extremely ecstatic to witness all the growth and renovation taking place here in the city right now. But on another note, I am here mainly to speak about an unfortunate unfortunate incident I was forced to encounter on yesterday evening. I know that many of you are in fact aware of the situation as the city manager, fire chief, um war commissioner Ms. Henry, and all commissioners at large were included in my email message sent out

this morning and detailing the situation. I was victimized by an act of theft, destruction of property, and trespassing on the lot that I own in the 1100 block of Broadway. Not only was there a violation committed to my property, I was too I was too I was also verbally assaulted while disclosing facts of ownership and boundaries. This type of behavior has to stop. I will not be intimidated by aggressive, unhinged behavior from any person who thinks that he can do so to everyone continuously performing illegal acts and also disregarding city ordinance laws because he claims that he's a friend of the mayor and the city manager. I am here to state that any person or persons supporting or not correcting this type of behavior does not belong on any committee or should should not hold a seat on any commission. I ask that you as a government body address any improper behavior of this magnitude seriously and urgently and begin to continue holding any applicable persons accountable regardless of relationship. If not, this type of behavior will surely produce negative outcomes almost always. Thank you for your time. And I just want to say for the record, if somebody did something wrong, illegal, and is name-dropping me, they don't represent me and I do not support it. And I don't have email either. And I do not have a email, but

email you. Yeah, any anybody that's name-dropping me that's doing something illegal or wrong, aggressive, violence, what have you, fraud, they don't represent me and I do not support it. I understand that, but I do want to know I want you guys to know when I came here. I'm not coming here to I don't care about gossip. I don't care what people say. I don't care about I don't pay attention to any of that. But I do want to bring people aware of what's being said out here. So, if you need to anyone needs to address it, they need to address it. If it was if it was a illegal activity or something that is possibly criminal Oh, I'm I'm handling it. then I would recommend I'm I'm I'm in the process follow a police report.

I've already done that. I'm in the process of doing all that, but I did want to disclose to everyone cuz I did send emails out to all the commissioners at large, to Ms. Henry because it was in her ward and I sent it to the city manager and I sent it to the fire chief in which he's aware because he was verbally assaulted right before I was doing the same situation. So, but that's that's it. I'm not saying what they say that you are condoning anything, but if anyone is, I'm just bringing it to the light that I would hope not and that's all I'm saying. I will surely that I do not condone no wrongdoing. Thank you. Thank you. No more comments. This brings us to our And I want to thank everybody for participating in the public discussion and thank you honorable state representative for your report. I'd like to move to our consent calendar. Is there a motion for the approval of the consent calendar?

Motion to approve. Motion is made by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Is there support? Support. It is supported by Second Ward Commissioner Warren. Madam Clerk. Commissioner Warren? Yes. Commissioner Clark-Griffin? Yes. Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson? Yes. Commissioner Henry? Yes. Commissioner Isom?

Yes. Commissioner Kinnard? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner? Yes. Mayor Muhammad? Yes. Motion carried. This brings us to staff communication. I'd like to recognize the city attorney attorney Seneca. Thank you, honorable mayor. No report tonight other than just to let everyone know we are hitting the ordinance violations hard right now. It's funny how when the snow melts, you can really see what's happened all winter and we're going after illegal dumping, we're going after lights, and we're hitting that really hard right now. So, you might be hearing complaints in the future that we're doing our jobs, but I want to assure you we're doing our jobs and we're trying to clean up the city. So, any questions, please feel free to direct them to either the Department of Public Safety or to my office. Thank you. Thank you. Chair recognizes the assistant city manager and city clerk, Clerk Moore. No report this evening. Chair recognizes the city manager, Mr. Alex Little. Just to piggyback off what the city attorney said, I was on the phone with Eagle today to make sure that I've got a pathway that's clear to do what we need to do in order to try and pick up and dispose of some of this uh uh trash and refuse that we've got on lots, alleys, and whatnot. Still have a couple of pieces to do, but I by the time the parade's over with, we'll be getting into this full steam trying to get some of it cleaned up. Do have to say though that it's going to require us to pull some money from places other places in the budget in order to be able to cover it because disposing of trash is expensive now. It's better than $90 a ton.

Is there any report? That is a sir. Thank you, sir. Chair recognizes fourth ward commissioner Clark Griffin. I'd like to thank everybody for coming and everybody just that's listening. And I like to let me just clear something up. The ward commissioners run their ward. I run my ward and I run it well. I put a lot of my own and money into my ward to help the residents and the community. So when you got a person or business or corporation and a commissioner or commissioners coming together, planning or meeting and not including me and not giving me information about trying to do things in my ward, that is disrespectful and like a slap in the face. Many have tried and many have failed. So when people try to do slick, disrespectful stuff like that, you get a whole lot of pushback and a whole lot of nothing. Mess around and find out. Have a good night. What's that uh Chair recognizes the third ward commissioner I hate going behind her. She's always on fire, on point. All I want to say is any citizen that are listening or in the audience, I thank you for being on board. We need more input as to what is going on in your neighborhood, in your home, in your And when I hear things that they're not calling me back, I've sit here for a lot of years and I'm

hearing more and more of that these last couple of years and that's not good. Um you got to respond to people some way. If you don't do anything but ask your assistant to call back and speak with them. It doesn't take much. But I'm hearing a lot more of that. They never call me back. So I don't know what we have to do to fix that, but I think it's a problem and the staff need to look at avenues to fix it. Thank you. Thank you. Chair recognizes second ward commissioner Santana Warren. Thank you, honorable mayor. Thank everyone for coming out tonight. Thanks the two citizens for their comments and I appreciate in advance everyone for working with them to get everything resolved. Mr. Little mentioned trash disposal and I just have a plea to everyone. If we all can clean up our own area and right outside your yard or your fence, we can beautify the city. Even every little bit counts. So just please everybody clean up your own area. So we can, you know, schedule a thousand cleanups, but we need to all 100% of the residents work together and do a little bit so no one has to do a lot. So that's one comment and um I'm excited about the weather. So I know I missed the Union Park event on Saturday, but I did attend the Ox Creek event the Saturday before before last and that was awesome. So encouraging everyone to get out there and enjoy our parks. They're coming along beautifully and that is all I have. Everyone have a great week. Thank you. Chair recognizes commissioner at large Fields.

I too would like to thank those that are watching as well as those that are present. Um A couple things that I would like to reference is I have been doing my best to not interfere necessarily with staff doing their job. Um to not be directly involved in everyday happenings, right? Because um we have staff that are paid very well for that. But to hear individuals come in um and have been communicating so they thought with the city for a year or even a week for that matter without definitive action, um clear communication is a problem for me, right? I'm I'm sitting here containing myself for lack of a lack of a better word. Um and I am actually personally going to look into these matters and see how I can be of help as a commissioner at large and whatever area that it's in, it's considered to be mine. Another item that I want to talk about is it's good that um State Rep. Joey Andrews has um finally been available since I've been in office. And I just want to speak to the fact that I remember what February 3rd, the full commission was here and um there was a no vote being that there was no line items for um the request of what was it? $450,000. And I would like to reference publicly that a whole post was made in regards to those that voted no. That would have been fine. However,

um well, not really being that I don't know why it was confusing that a person would not vote yes without having an understanding as to what the money's will be spent on. However, he went even farther. He responded to June Bowman comment on his press release or news you know, whatever the terminology that is used when you make a statement as a state representative. He said, "June Bowman, after the last election, the activists, which my ancestors would be very proud that I'm called an activist, have a majority on the board. [clears throat]

They seem to be operating under the assumption that the city's financial problems are because of some as of yet uncovered corruption rather than what it actually is, a shrinking population and tag tax base combined with the rising cost staining the city's finances. Instead of trying to work together, they have or sorry, they just have a personal problem with the mayor and city manager. So this is basically them putting personal over business. It makes no sense because there is zero reason to ever vote against paying the bills and paying staff, which we learned that the only staff that was on it was our communications Nicholas Gunn. It makes Okay, so the group has been a problem for a while, but didn't have majority voting power until this year. So I would expect a lot more chaos sadly. I feel that was totally disrespectful. I believe an apology is is the the least to be put forth. And again, my ancestors would be proud that I'm called an activist.

[clears throat]

Thank you. Chair recognizes commissioner at large Kennard. Thank you, mayor. I'd like to say thank each and every last one of you that out tonight. It gives me lots of joy to see those that are concerned to come out and sir, we hear you. We supposed to be a voice to those that are elected and anyone else and you if you having a problem in getting answers, we as elected officials are to go to the fullest strengths of finding out why they don't get answers because that's what we're here. And the person that is in place should answer return calls. That's his only right. They speak about I've heard that they spoke about me saying don't take a snow job. What a snow job is what our attorney just spoke about when the snow go to melting, you see all the mess we got. We got so much to clean up and it's it's troubling. And sometime when you don't get a answer and a person said that you know give you some false information or that things is not going through correctly, then that's an excuse. We supposed to have answers to give to a person. If we don't have the answer, let them know that we are searching and trying to get an answer for you to resolve what your problems is. The residents, they deserve that. So, I'm just asking us to take a watch as commissioners when they come here and seeking answers, let's go to the furthest of our efforts in getting answers for our residents here because they will be a taxpayer. They will be paying water bills and things like that. So, let's see what is going on because it's not fair

due to what we've heard so far. Well, I don't have the answers for everything, but at least return this gentleman's calls and different ones have said down through the years that they called and they don't get and they get an answer that someone will call them and they never get an answer. That's not right. If a person ask you a question, give them a reasonable answer. If you don't have an answer, do research and try to find out an answer for them because that's what we are here. We were elected for. They're our boss. You all that are residents here paying your taxes and all, we're here to represent you. That's what I was elected here for and I'm going to do my part in representing and trying to find out an answer for you. That's all I can do. That's the best I can do and I do pray each and every day for the city of Benton Harbor because so many times I look at the situation and how it's going only God can just about step in and change the hearts of the I know the hearts of men that they will do the thing that's right because they're so accustomed to doing the things they want to do. And that's not right. We're supposed to follow the charter. Many times I've spoke about the finance director and we're always having a problem with money. They said when we have the dispensaries for uh marijuana dispensaries that things would be better, that would bring money in here. We've had more problems about money finance and everything recently than I've ever seen. So, this has got to stop. We've got to get concerned about how our city is ran. Yes, the city is being the streets are being repaired in some places. Some places you have fallen in a hole because the car is. So, let's just get on our jail being which I do know that the city manager is really working hard and trying to make

things look better here at the city. So, I'm not saying no one is working, but stop giving uh what do you call it? Excuses. Let's work to get answers. Thank you. Thank you, uh Commissioner Kinar. Chair recognizes Commissioner at large Edward Isom. Thank [cough] [snorts] you, honorable mayor. Let's thank everyone for coming out tonight. [clears throat]

Congratulations to the city on the wage award. It's something that uh the funds can be helpful for the city in the Ox Creek project. Thanks uh Joy Andrews for the update. Uh and the comments by Mr. Hobbs and C. Booker that the city has work to do that to uh help this man out and his family and get this we can move forward on that. And C. Booker, she have been a big uh asset to the city of bringing homes and rehabilitation homes and so she shouldn't have to go through this kind of treatment she going through and I applaud her for sticking in there cuz I know she was talking about leaving at one time. But her heart is in the city, so that's what we want. So, let's uh solve her issue. Uh let me see. Yes, just one second. We got the annual kite flying uh 10 years. 10 years we've been doing this since I've been a commissioner, yeah. 10 years me and Muhammad, the first lady been putting together my wife and the committee been putting together a kite flying uh event. Started at the airport, then we moved I think last year was our first year at um Alumni Field by Discount Tire. Big event, people comes out young and old, nice kites, little kids, grandma had my mother is 90 she'll be 97 next week, so she was 96. She came out flew a kite. She still She sitting in a car though, but she still flew the kite, so and she was excited. So, I want everybody to come out on the 23rd of May. I think it's from 10 to 3 at Alumni Field for kite flying. It's feel good to fly a kite. Sometimes you need to fly a kite. You know, for real. Fly a kite. And her park.

I'm let you know, mayor, I went shot on every rim. 20 20 shots. Five on each rim. I made Two. [laughter] No, I made I made 15. So, 15. I hope she [laughter]

I made 15. That's a nice park. So, we want to work together. I talked to the guys out there when I was out there that Sunday and talked to the adults that was there, the teenagers. That's a nice park. That's a nice park. That's a nice basketball court and we want to keep it that way. You know, I talked to them. Let's work together on this to keep it up. Don't tear down, you know, some I didn't get a chance to dunk yet cuz they dunk on the rims, too. You know, the rims. They bend with Thank you everyone for coming out. Mr. Hobbs, we we going to get you there. We going to get you there. Don't give up. See, God told you to turn around, so you came back. See? It's something. It's something. Something going to happen. But God bless you. God bless the city and expect great things. It's happening. It's happening. But we got to go through a little thing. You know, my mother-in-law came over the house today. She said um "WHY Y'ALL TEARING UP the road? I can't get down M-139." I said I said talk to the city manager.

[laughter]

I just got off work, you know, but no. I said it's It's part of thing we building this city up. Great things are happening. Expect great things in Benton Harbor. God bless you. And go Pistons. It [clears throat] Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Thank you. So, I I'm very disheartened by Mr. Hobbs how he had come to the city manager numerous times, no response. That sound like me. Don't feel bad. I did it 4 and 1/2 years. I'm still going through it. It's heartbreaking to see Ms. Booker sitting here and she's not complaining. Over the years she have complained and complained and complained to no avail. Today she got a email. She did get a response from the city attorney office the action will be taken, but she she shouldn't have to go this way this far to be upset stating that the individual called Mr. Little. I was there. So, we going to be very clear. And whether he talked to him or not, but he did state on the body camera "I called Mr. Little." She should have not had come to her property knowing her fence was stolen. That's mad disrespectful. Ms. Booker have fixed up houses in Benton Harbor. She have complied with all of our city ordinances to be disrespected and then an individual say, "Hey, the city manager say I can do this here." That's disrespectful in Benton Harbor. So, I'm hoping that we get some kind of receipts saying the city manager he never had no kind of interaction, but he they said they cool, so we moved on. And that happened last night at 8:07 p.m. during shift change at Benton Harbor Public Safety. Cuz I was there when she called the police. Last, on April 27th, on this last Monday, I emailed city manager about the budget that's due in 2 weeks. We have not seen a budget.

We have not seen the contract from the state of Treasury Department and all the other updates that's due by June. Still today, I have no answers. How can we vote in conscious knowing anything we took took in care of? I emailed the city manager and all the commissioners how to save the city of Benton Harbor $1.8 million. I have not heard back. I was told, "Mr. Turner, you in the city manager business." It was a suggestion. We was told to lower the staff or restructure the staff. I did that on my behalf as an example. I have not heard back. So, over and over and over it gets frustrating when you email the city manager office then you hear he said, "Mr. Turner, you are being hostile to him." It's a email for clarification. So, I'm hoping that I can get my clarifications from the city manager office because I would hate to go a step further. So, I'm I think I have been very calm and collect to all of my non email responses from the city manager office. Trash bags, leaf bags, you name it. It's not getting picked up in Benton Harbor. It is a It is sad. We keep on saying it's the rain. It's this. My leaf bags been out there for four four four weeks now. Not picked up. I did my my my residence yard. Leaf bags still out there in the yard. Ms. Kinar leaf bags still sitting there. They're not happy. I'm the one who did it. You get a phone call. You get tagged on social media. You email to manager office. You email Rona. You're doing all this here, but no one is responding. So, now he's talking about trash cleanup, there's no structure. We have no idea what we're going to be doing. Again, I emailed the city manager a format how we can rent a Bobcat for a whole week for $1,000.

Now, that's I'm working 70 hours a week a week. I do it. I emailed him how we can work with Reith and Riley's with dump trucks that use our port. Partner with them. So, I'm very concerned that the city manager is not working with the commissions. And we say we want unity. I do agree with Commissioner Fields that State Rep. Dude need to apologize to the five. Cuz I know I'm a love you activist. I'mma keep on being it for our people in Benton Harbor. Thank you. Chair recognizes First Ward Commissioner Henderson. Thank you, honorable Mayor. I just like to thank like um all of the uh my colleagues did. Thank everyone for coming out tonight. Um for residents who uh the two residents who spoke tonight on issues that um they were having. I wish the email would have gone out to all of the commission cuz we are nine, a body of nine instead of um uh four, but um cuz I don't even know what that conversation is about. Um but as um the Commissioner uh just talked about um I know Ms. Booker [clears throat] has uh done um several renovations and uh whatever needs to happen to resolve that issue does need to occur. Um and uh Mr. Hobbs, I'm sure they'll get um you'll get the answers especially that you're looking uh for uh tomorrow or whenever they schedule that appointment. Um but yeah, I had an opportunity on Saturday to go to the opening day um for baseball. It was really um just encouraging just to see all of the the the children um who showed up and their parents um celebrating uh baseball again. My sons grew up playing baseball. My husband coached. And so, it was just really a beautiful day for that um and a great partnership that the city's developed with um the two young men who are heading up uh that particular um aspect.

And so, uh as you've heard, Benton Harbor is moving uh forward and doing some great works. Uh people have asked, "Why do we tear up all of the roads? Why do they have to be torn up by a certain time?" Because those grants needed to be expended. So, um all of those roads are torn up. And I think as much um opportunity as we get to explain to residents what's happening uh cuz Proverbs 4:7 says, "Wisdom is the principal thing, but um get wisdom on top of that." And so, get an understanding. And so, when we can provide an understanding by giving clear explanations to people, that helps to clear up um misconceptions that people have. Um Cuz it's one thing to come and uh make a statement without having all the facts, just to make a statement to make people excited or to create um um distrust, but having facts or um clear understanding about what you're asking or what is being said. Um I think everybody deserves that. Um and I am definitely one of those people that's going to make sure um that is happening. We shouldn't give false information from here. And I'm glad um sometimes people don't understand that this meeting tonight is a culmination of the committee meetings that we have on Wednesday. So, what we're voting on usually has taken a taken place in a committee meeting. So, we don't usually respond. And so, the mayor actually it should have been a point of order because we normally are not supposed to respond um even though he was trying to provide uh clarity. This meeting is is simply for voting on stuff that we have approved in committees. And in our committee structure, we are providing more answers and it's uh a di- we can have a dialogue uh with residents um during that. But I think it's um great that he was able to uh because when you're having an issue,

you want an answer right then. And so, I I completely understood that. But the format is to um uh Yeah, we're voting on stuff that we've approved to go move forward in the committee meeting. And again, keep coming. Um there is nothing wrong with residents coming, getting involved. We want to see people get involved. Um like Ms. Booker has like she said, it's hasn't been easy with all of the ordinances and some of the hoops to to be a part of the community. And hopefully and one one thing government is supposed to do is make those uh hoops a little easier to get through. And so, um our ordinances and some of the things are very outdated. I know we've been actively working to update those. And so, hopefully that'll help with some of uh the hoops that people are having to deal and jump through um in our community. So, keep coming, stay invested, and have a great evening. Thank you, uh Commissioner Henderson. Just like to thank everyone for coming out. I'd like to uh thank uh all of the participants on the public comment. I'd like to thank Representative Andrew for your report as well as your representation. And Lansing, uh I've traveled myself and have seen you advocate for Benton Harbor um from the debt forgiveness to money for the State Theatre and and many other projects. Uh so, I thank you for your representation. Um I would like to announce on May 19th, 2026, um I will be um having the State of the City of Benton Harbor. Um the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Uh the programming will start from 7:00 p.m. uh to 8:00 p.m.

[clears throat] will be the State of the City programming. And the from 8:00 to 9:00 will be a social uh where we can discuss uh what has been shared and how we can collaborate to shape the future of Benton Harbor. All are invited. Um there will be food and beverages um from 8:00 to 9:00. Um So, everyone is invited. I want to personally invite the city commission. Uh your presence is being requested as well as staff. I'd like to thank uh the city manager. I know that uh oftentimes you [cough]

um [snorts and clears throat] hear about what's wrong and what needs to be done. Um but [clears throat] I know that you know, you're working diligently uh to keep the city uh afloat uh despite you know, the loss of revenue, uh the loss of uh population. Uh we're fighting to retain residents, retain businesses, at the same time attract residents. Um And it takes a team. You know, no one person, no one commissioner can resolve the through a problems and issues of the city, which is why it's so important that despite disagreement, differences, um we [clears throat] continue to try and find ways where we work together. I'd like to commend the commission um despite you know, a few bumps in the road, uh this group is continuing to move our city forward. Um the cleanups [clears throat] in the Fourth Ward, uh the advocacy from Mayor Pro Tem Turner, uh Commissioner Fields uh still working hard with the uh resiliency hub and the youth. Um Commissioner Cannard, I'm I'm looking forward uh to seeing that Fresh Start Garden, uh which has been a staple and institution in this community. Uh so, even though you may get mad at me, but I must tell you publicly that that garden has been a shining light for this community for over 20 years. Um cuz I know my daughter's handprint is up there. And she's a

junior, about to be a senior, studying medicine at Xavier University. But she started at the Fresh Start. So, I commend you for that. Commissioner Henderson, um Commissioner Warren, I know we got some cleanups coming in the Second Ward, but you're instructing us to clean your own yard. Um and Commissioner Issom, the Pistons, I must say uh they surprised me. Uh but it was a joy to see you in the park um as well as we look forward to the kite flying, which is the 10th year. And I just would share when my wife shared with Mayor Daley, his daughter, where the idea of the kite flying because they did it in Millennium Park in Chicago. And she said, "We brought it to Benton Harbor." Uh they started the week um because a lot of times her father, the mayor, is recognized, but the wife, you know, it falls into obscurity. Uh

[snorts] so, um we want to invite everybody out May 23rd, 10:00 to 3:00. Kites are free, no cost. Um all we require is your time. So, with that being said, is there a motion to adjourn? Support. Motion is made by Commissioner Large Fields, supported by Mayor Pro Tem Turner. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Clark-Griffin? Yes. Commissioner Fields? Yes. Commissioner Henderson? Yes. Commissioner Henry? Commissioner Isom? Yes. Commissioner Kinnard? Yes. Commissioner Warren? Yes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner? Yes. Mayor Muhammad? Yes.