City Commission - Regular Meeting

On Thursday, September 17th, 2026 at 7 o'clock p.m. We have a moment of silence to send our positive thoughts and prayers to those in our community that need our support. Now please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of

And when you're ready, can we have a roll call, please? Yes. Mr. Bryson.

Here.

Mr. Hender.

Here.

Mr. Claussen.

Here.

Mr. May.

Here.

Mr. O'Brien.

Here.

Mr. Warren. Here. Mayor Vandenbosch. Here. City Manager Wood.

Here.

Okay, on to approve of the agenda. Reviewed the agenda as presented. Think it is in order and ready to proceed.

So moved. Support.

Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Okay, on to public comment. This is a time for public comment. Any member of the public may address the city commission on any topic. Please step to the podium, state your name for the record, and be heard. No commissioner, department head, or city staff will respond, and the city manager will follow up on the public comments as necessary. Please limit your comments to five minutes. Please direct comments to me as meeting chair. Please refrain from the use of profanity. Please do not direct comments to any other members of the public. And who would like to speak first?

Heather Warner, 345 North Elizabeth. I just want to let everybody know about a few events coming up. Next Wednesday, the 23rd of September is the Economic Community and Economic Development Board Meeting. I will be speaking and there will also be a presentation with community heart and soul prior to public comment. Both myself and that community program have great ideas. If you could attend that meeting, that would be awesome. And get up after and give your comments on what you like and don't like. also maritime days volunteer meeting is next thursday september 24th at 6 30. i believe that's going to be at the chamber building and we had a very successful year this year so i am looking forward to joining them and their volunteer committee this year I recently watched the data center workshop meeting. I'm hoping our commission can proactively partner with neighboring communities to coordinate efforts and keep these facilities out of our area. I am requesting additional clear explanation on the new business item for the consulting agreement for scott atkins while i recognize this is a budgeted item is this agreement above and beyond his standard duties as special projects coordinator we're a struggling city he was previously making 65 an hour as an interim city manager Yet he could make even more as being a consultant and wondering why we couldn't fulfill those obligations as interim city manager. If the commission intends to move forward with this, I strongly agree or urge you negotiate better rates to help this town and protect taxpayer dollars. And that's what I don't know, so I'm hoping we get to that item. Is that like his normal? Does he get paid to be special coordinator? And this consulting agreement on top of that, Jeff comes from a very experienced background and has great resources available to him, so I was a little confused that this came up as part of our agenda tonight. I did attempt to review the city budget online, but it's currently not accessible to the public, even though it was submitted to the state by July 1st. I understand the budget remains a work in progress, but the current version should at least be posted online so residents can view that in real time. And the last thing that I'm asking for a little more explanation on is the actual closed session to consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal statute. Does that mean you're talking about items that aren't supposed to be talked about or does that mean there's new items coming up that are not supposed to be talked about i'm in a position i'm trying to learn as much as i can as fast as i can and a little bit obviously it's a closed session you're not going to tell us what it's about but if we could understand more about what it is that would be appreciated and that's all i got thank you you would like to speak next

Debra Besty, 816 Scott Street. Just wanted to talk about the data centers. I'm new at this. I don't know anything about what's going on with these data centers, but just wanted to bring it to the attention. I don't know what we need to do because we are a city. I know a lot of things with townships. There's rules and regulations, but I just, if we can get ahead of this, if we can somehow put something uh stricter guidance i know right now we don't have anything in the books but maybe in the future there might be something a potential where there might be something coming into our one of our land property around here i would like some guidance some strict guidelines we need to protect our land our future of our children the birds the land the water we're going to have a lot more traffic especially if this goes through with dte and east china And I think we're in a whole lot of trouble right now. So if we can get ahead of this, strict guidelines, protect all of us, I would appreciate it. That's all I've got to say. Thank you.

Thank you. Who was that?

The last 203 Pleasant Street. Basically, I reached out to Lisa a week or so ago about a piece of property. Actually, when you look on the county map, you can't always go by the county map, but you've got 13 to 14 feet from a north platte and a south platte that were both divided up. which I've been fishing coming here since the 80s, so I've been here for 40-some years. And amongst the fishermen that used to be down along the wall fishing in the end of Maple Street, that was always known as city property. So, you know, but now we got a couple power units on that piece of property to power the boat hoist, to power the sprinkler system or whatever's going on. And I'm just wondering if that's, you know, because I cut the grass. There is no eminent domain type deal on cutting the grass for the city property. I cut the corner. Harold and Pearl Street for 30 years. Got tired of cutting the street and finally the city cut. So basically that is a fishing spot. He does have a, everything measures to the T. Them county page maps are awesome. But we could use some clarification because fishing season's coming up. The boys are going to be walking. Don't want no confrontation with Bob. I mean, if it's his property, hail to you, brother. Okay, if not, he wants to buy it. What do you got, about $10,000 per foot, $130,000, $140,000 for a city that needs money? Or you lease it because the stuff's on there. You get the stuff up. Just who owns that property? Like I said, you can go catch your own dinner for people that can't afford some food. Grab your 15-cent Mr. Twister and go down to the water and catch yourself some fish. It's coming quick. Oh, and Jason Bell. Basically, I sent Jason Bell in the same thing I asked Lisa to put it on the record. And I've been having issues with my phone. I sent my sister something forward. I sent you three. I only got two. So I wrote him another message. Hey, did you get this? And then he responded back. Which a city should be doing that if somebody writes in to somebody, at least an acknowledgement. Like, you know, when you write the FBI, you write some of these other places, you know, message sent, thank you for sending, it was accepted, all that kind of good stuff. I mean, even when I called one time with Michelle Goodrich, she was out of town. I called to ask her a question about something. At least I got a response, hey, I'm out of town until whenever or what have you. But being a professional... operation a city you want to be professional you should act professional and send you know because some people who know you know i'm not i'm not majorly educated on a phone deal 404 error comes up who knows what the hell that is but then anyways yeah thumbs up to jason for acknowledging hey it came back and uh just clarification on that property like i say if it is bob's property ain't more power to you but the way the lines match up south platts perfect on the uh the sheriff type guy right on his right on his line Like I said, I was always told it was like they jog. It was for the street right end because there was no street right away across there. Like, you know, all the street ends are all public property. You put your boat there, but if you move, somebody comes in, tough luck. You're out of luck.

Thank you. Anybody else like to speak?

Pat McFarland, 316 South Bell River. Last time I was here, I talked about the kayak launch, and that got taken away. So, because it cost too much money. But yet, you guys voted for it, or got grants for it. wave pool, splash pond, whatever you want to call it, for the kiddies for $10,000 more than what it would cost to put the kayak launch in. I'm wondering, is there a process that I've got to go through to write a grant or to get a grant for $22,000 to put the kayak launch in? Or does it come from one of you folks? What's the process? You know, what's the rules I got to go through? That's, I mean, when the last city manager was here, he came up and was talking about the marina. You guys have revamped, put 100, $20,000, $50,000 in to do cement work, tossing some picnic tables, and a little cleaning station, oh, and railing for guys like me don't run into the river. And he was coming up, I think he was coming up here to say something about this, and he said, He was talking to you, Madam Mayor, about the kayak launches all done and whatnot. I don't know what that was about. So I was down there last month, and there's nothing down there as far as putting in a kayak launch, or even as far as putting in a kayak. That's like my only entertainment I get. To me, when I'm in my kayak, I'm equal to everybody. You know? I can do donuts. I can't do a igloo roll, but, you know. And it's also, ever since I was a kid, I always lived by the water. Within a mile. I lived in Southgate. I was a mile from the Detroit River. When I was in Petoskey, I was right there. And Alpena, Oscola, everywhere I lived in Michigan, there's always real close to a river, a lake, whatever you have. That's one of the reasons why I moved up here. Because I love to fish, and I've never kayaked. And when I heard you guys were getting a kayak launched in, I took my stimulus money and went out and blew like $1,500 just on kayak stuff. I bought the cheapest kayak I can find, but the accessories go with it, you know. You buy a boat, bust out another thousand. So, you know, my paddle is worth more than my kayak because it weighs like two and a half grams instead of two and a half ounces. And when you're out there and this is your only means of transportation, transportation, those ounces add up. especially out there for eight hours. But I mean, that's like, that's my, also it's my physical therapy because this is what I use to get around with. And lately I haven't been using it very much because I haven't been kayaking. That's about it. Thanks.

Anybody else like to speak? Anybody else? OK. We see none. Then we move on to approve the minutes, the City Commission meeting minutes of September 3rd, 2026. I have a motion to approve those City Commission meeting minutes of September 3rd, 2026.

So moved. Support?

Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? It carries. On to seven for the consent agenda. We have 7A, the Marine City Area Fire Authority Run Report. B, the departmental monthly activity reports. C, the business license application for Garden of Peace floors and gifts. D, the special event permit application for the Holly Jolly Santa Parade. And E, the special event permit application for Old Newsboys annual paper sale. Can I have a motion to approve consent agenda items A through E as presented?

I'll make a motion. Support.

Roll call, please. Mr. Hendrick. Yes. Mr. Klassen. Yes. Mr. May. Yes. Mr. O'Brien. Yes. Mr. Rort. Yes. Mayor Vandenbosch. Yes. Mr. Bryson. Yes. Carey.

Okay, eight items removed from consent agenda. There are none. We have nine financial business 9A expenditures including payroll of $5,643,576.11. I have a motion to approve expenditures including payroll in that amount of $5,643,576.11. I'll make a motion to approve expenditures including payroll for $5,643,576.11. Support? Any discussion?

roll call please mr clausen yes mr may yes mr o'brien yes mr board yes mayor vandenbosch yes mr bryson yes mr hendrick yes terry okay 9b the preliminary financial statements i have a motion to receive and file the preliminary financial statements for period ending august 31st 2026. so move support any discussion

I just want to thank the city manager for getting those reports back to readable format. Thank you.

Nothing else? All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? 10 for unfinished business. There are none. And on to 11A, the consulting agreement for Scott Adkins. And so understanding approving this contract would terminate the special projects contract. And that means he would no longer be a city employee, but we would be reaffirming the consulting contract.

That's correct. We're cleaning up the contracts, terminating the special projects, um, uh, contract and, um, and, and approving the consulting agreement. Um, with that consulting agreement, We'll only be working on projects as directed by the city manager and comparatively the majority of those things are planning and zoning review types of activities and we've compared those fees to some other firms that we've used in the past and comparatively If we use those other firms, those fees would range from $145 upwards to $198 per hour. So it appears to be a pretty decent contract for the city.

Because some of those fees per item would almost be double with the engineering firm.

Correct.

Well, the guardrail on this contract is the work that gets done is at the direction of the city manager only. So there's no independent undertaking of projects. He works on what the city manager directs if the city manager feels that the services are necessary.

I mean, we only put in a certain amount in this budget, which is what you're going to utilize, and that's pretty much it.

Well, in the reality of the majority of the projects, previously for developments, the developer has to submit funds into escrow, and that's ultimately where it is.

If you remember, you guys developed, we put together an escrow policy, and that is, in a sense, what will pay these fees.

So then we'll save on the other money. Correct. Yes. 15K, okay.

I would think that it would be appropriate for there to be two motions, one to terminate the one contract and one to accept the consulting agreement, if that's okay.

I'll make a motion to terminate Scott Atkins' current agreement. Support.

Another discussion? Roll call, please. Commissioner May.

Yes.

Commissioner O'Brien.

Yes.

Mr. Rorick? Yes. Mayor VandenBosch? Yes. Mr. Bryson? Yes. Mr. Hendrick? Yes. Mr. Clausen? Yes. Period.

I have a motion to approve the consulting agreement with Scott Adkins and Apex Municipal Consulting as presented.

So moved. Support.

Any other discussion? Roll call, please.

Mr. O'Brien? Yes. Mr. Rorick? Yes. Mayor VandenBosch? Yes. Mr. Bryson. Yes. Mr. Hendrick. Yes. Mr. Claussen. Yes. Mr. May. Yes. Gary.

Okay, on to B, it's Resolution 28-2026, the termination of commercial facilities tax exemption for the inn.

Under the law, the inn was given a 12-year tax exemption period. quite a few years ago, and it has about two years plus on it. When a property transacts, that's the subject of a tax exemption. The law says that that tax exemption can be assigned and transferred to the new owner, but the new owner has to come before the board as if it's a new tax exemption and have a public hearing and be heard and requested by application. So when the property was transacting, the lawyer for the new owner reached out to us, to Mike, and then Mike had me call the lawyer and I spoke with the lawyer and I laid out the provisions of the law that would apply to get it to transfer. and then they did not follow up with an application, the transaction took place and the new owner is in place, and it's time to terminate that tax exemption and move this on to the tax rolls.

The only other thing on these tax exemptions, I mean, some of this wasn't in compliance the whole time, and I think we've got to stick to...

There is a provision on the same law that says if they're not meeting the requirements of the...

You're actually, don't blend together the Brownfield requirements.

No, no, I'm not talking the Brownfield. I had the copy of this one. Yeah, this one. And yeah, then you have the right at certain time periods to terminate it if you so choose, if they're not meeting the expectations to which the exemption was granted.

Correct.

And you should track that.

Yeah, and I know I brought it up, but it never got here.

So you're cutting off a two years plus, and then this will be taxed on the winter taxes this year.

Okay.

Yeah, and there's no headly implications here. Because it's transacted, it goes right into true cash value. Okay.

Will we have anything coming forward on the brownfield?

That'll be next. On the brownfield, just so you know, we're totally paid. We're in a little dispute over the last $18,000, which is just the interest on the amount that was set out in loan, and so we're working through that. But the rest, you've recouped everything else.

okay and then once that's done we also get that also i mean we'll get a full amount fine that's it between the two yep all right another discussion okay and can i have the motion to approve resolution 28 2026 resolution revoking commercial facilities exemption certificate 4-17-001 and on water street llc

make a motion to approve resolution 028-2026. Support?

Okay, no other discussion. The roll call, please. Mr. Rourke?

Yes.

Mayor VandenBosch? Yes. Mr. Bryson? Yes. Mr. Hendrick? Yep. Mr. Clawson? Yes. Mr. May? Yes.

Mr. O'Brien?

Yes.

Okay, on to administrative reports. We have 12A, the city attorney report.

I don't have anything to report. I just want to, again, thank the community for giving consideration to the e-bike ordinance. It's been quite newsworthy in various communities lately. And the second thing, I have been involved in drafting and putting in place local government data center moratoriums, which... People have the right to do as long as you are working on the matter, you can have a moratorium on zoning applications for a specific use as long as your planning commission is working towards that. So I have several communities where we're working on very restrictive data center control measures while we have a moratorium in place where we cannot accept or grant any applications.

something to consider The city staff and I met with engineers from MDOT regarding a future project that they will be doing in Marine City the project is currently slated for construction in 2030 and includes the replacement of the upper bridge over the Bell River on Fairbanks and resurfacing of the roadway east to Maine and north to the city limits. And this is a $10 million investment by MDOT into the city. City staff has also put together an educational flyer regarding Public Act 33 for the purpose of providing the public with a general understanding of the act and its potential impact. And I do appreciate everyone's input and have changed it accordingly, taking everyone's comments into consideration. I met with Bruce Seymour from the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County and discussed the potential future for financial support for businesses in our community and the future of brownfield redevelopment authorities. And staff has met with the contractor for the water main replacement project. I'm hoping to get a game plan for the remaining repairs on Market and Water Streets, which will be scheduled accordingly for the spring of 2027. In an effort to lessen the disruption in the downtown, we will be posting and distributing this information with the assistance of the Chamber to make everyone aware. And a Coosa dogwood and two autumn blaze maple trees have been planted at the Marina property, and the light poles are scheduled to be installed within the next few weeks. And that's all I have for this evening.

Thank you. I got a couple. I know I talked to you about Ward Street. Somebody asked about the Ward Street crossing, where that's always been an issue. And I know you're trying to figure out something with that.

Yes. So there were some questions about the pedestrian crossing at Ward and South Parker. I did reach out to MDOT in that regard. and we're hopefully can come to some sort of solution. I'm not sure if we will, but working towards it anyway.

And can we get some information to Mr. McFarland?

Yes, I certainly will have some information in the near future. I don't know anything right now, so I will get something out.

yeah so and i don't know um i know i should ask you but i know bob you were working on a lot of properties that the city had that when mike was here of whether we owned them or didn't own them yes i don't know if that piece is in that slot or not i caught on that that that piece was not on that list yeah maybe i should take a look at that okay okay i do have a little information so

And Mr. Haas, you know the location we're talking about, right? I know.

He knows where it is.

I got it.

I do believe on that, the kayak, Mr. McFarland, I do believe we had submitted a grant that we haven't heard back on. I believe it was for $35,000 because that's what we needed to make it fully ADA compliant.

Okay. And that was the issue was the ADA compliance component, which we wanted to do and we voted to do. That was a special grant above and beyond. There was a lot of kayak grants in play, but to get the ADA compliant one was a different grant.

Do you know what that was by chance?

I don't remember. I believe Scott knows. Okay.

Scott knows. I think it was through the St. Croix County Community Grant Project. But, yeah, we couldn't. Once there was an issue with the old one, it had to come out. That's not that we wanted to take it out. Because we couldn't make it comply.

It was ADA noncompliant. Correct. That required us to have to remove it. It was a little bit unsafe. Correct.

So that means we had to replace the entire thing.

Okay.

All right. Anybody else have anything? I just wanted to find out the marina. I see there was work being done there. A big sign with the city. Do we have to put a sign that big at the corner?

I do believe there was some requirements for the sign through the grant and the foundation money that we received for that property, yes.

The question I had is, did it have to be that big?

I do believe there was some requirements that required that sign to be there.

It was a grant condition. It's just ridiculous that you come up to that intersection.

Yeah.

Anything else? Okay, on to Steve, the reports from department heads, and Fire Chief Slangster. Too much. Come and say something. Do you have anything? I don't have anything either this evening. Okay. All right, and then on to Commissioner Privilege and the liaison reports. We'll start with Commissioner Clawson.

Well, we haven't had a meeting with the Planning Commission lately, and that was one of my questions, but I see that we took care of that with determination. Hopefully that we can get the condominiums going and they comply. But like I said, it's up to them to comply. We don't have to put a street in the form. But they have to have it out of that draft.

That's all I have. Okay.

Commissioner Bryson.

I have nothing. Thank you.

Commissioner O'Brien.

Thank you. I'll just pick up the conversation briefly on data centers to state that If this community ever does anything with them, it'll be long after I'm gone from the board because I don't have much long left. And those are quite a process. However, we should be cognizant of a lot of communities in Michigan that are getting involved in these. And the companies have very deep pockets when it comes to their legal teams and enforcing the contracts as they see it, not as a community sees it. Once we get involved in those legal relationships, you have to really ask, do you have the bench to go that long in litigation to be able to protect your approach and what your community is asking for? That'll be a problem you all will one day have to take. Not me, but good luck with it.

That's what you took your time to say. Neener, neener, neener. It's not like that, but I want you guys to do the right thing when it comes to it. Just getting some clarification.

I have nothing.

I don't have anything. Mr. Hendricks?

I did watch the video that the county did on that. Unfortunately, they didn't have a microphone for the audience, so that was kind of bad. But anyway, it was a lot of good information, and I know East China is working on... their portion of it and i know i also talked to our chief about it as far as a fire issue they're going to look at all that so i mean there are people behind the scenes working on this diligently so hopefully you know we can make it right that's it right um i just want to mention the ced board is next week on wednesday the 23rd at 5 30.

I mentioned we have two presentations. We have volunteer ideas and community heart and soul presentation. We also are gonna discuss an enrichment committee and also give an update on the guide community center. So there'll be lots of good information there. And congratulations to our Mariners for last week and good luck this week. And that is all I have for tonight. So we're going to go to closed session to consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state federal statute under MCL 15.268H, attorney opinion. City Commission will enter a closed session with legal counsel to discuss that material. All members of the public are asked to exit the building while a closed session is conducted. Once the closed session is conducted, the commission returns to open session. The public is welcome to re-enter the meeting chambers. There may or may not be action following the return to open session. And with that, can I have a motion to enter in a closed session?

So moved. Support.

Okay. The roll call, please.

Mayor VandenBosch. Yes. Commissioner Bryson. Yes.

Commissioner Hunter. Yes.

Commissioner Clawson. Yes. Commissioner May. Yes. Commissioner O'Brien. Yes. Commissioner Rourke. Yes. Carry. Okay. We're now in a closed session.