City Commission - Regular Meeting

The following program was produced by CTV Community Television. Hey, the City Marine City Commission meeting is called to order on Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Please have a moment of silence to send our positive thoughts and prayers to those in our community that need our support. [snorts] And now, please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We get roll call, please. Mr. Bryson, here. Mr. Henderson here. Mr. Claus here. Mr. O'Brien here. Mr. Rory here. Mr. May. Mayor Vanabash here. Smander Reeds here. And can I have a motion to excuse Commissioner May? So moved. Support. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Carries. Under four. Approval of the agenda. Can I have a motion to approve the agenda as presented? So moved. Any discussion? All in favor? I oppose.

Okay. On to five. presentations, proclamations, and recognitions. We have the Marine City Police Department Sergeant Promotion with Chief Jim Hustes. Yay.

Good evening, commissioner, city manager. Um, before we begin, this has been uh Scott's been with us for about six, seven, eight months now. um very valuable asset to the department and I'm honored to be up here to to do this promotional ceremony. Normally this is something we've always done privately and the confines of the police department. I kind of figure this is time that the citizens can see what we do and how we do it and you know we can do this presentation before you. So I just a letter to you the city commission and I I'll read it as follows. City Manager Reeves, Mayor Vandenbosh, and honorable commissioners, it is with full confidence that I submit this formal recommendation for the pro promotion of Officer Scott Baldwin in the position of sergeant with the Marine City Police Department. Officer Baldwin has met and exceeded the required qualifications for this position as we continue to prioritize a high standard of public safety and administrative excellence, bringing a candidate of officer Baldman and caliber and our department represents a significant strategic win for the city. The promotion of Officer Baldwin to the position of police sergeant allows us to continue forward on our commitment to excellence within the ranks. Officer Baldwin's professional background is defined by a distinguished 25-year career with the Sanker County Sheriff's Office. His tenure there provided him with a comprehensive understanding of police service needs, having served 17 years as rope patrol deputy before rising through the ranks. His five years as a sergeant focused on the direct supervision and mentorship of personnel, a skill set that will be in instrumental in fostering the professional growth of our own junior officers. Furthermore, Scott's most recent three years as a lieutenant in the detective bureau, where he also oversaw the records bureau and foyer compliance, equips him with a high level administrative expertise required to navigate today's complex transparency and reporting mandates. His deeprooted professional relationships within the county will serve as a bridge

for inter agency collaboration, ensuring our department remains well connected to brighter regional resources. In this promotion of officer Baldwin, we are not simply gaining an experienced command officer. We are gaining a proven leader with institutional knowledge to hit the ground running. I am certain his transition to our team will enhance our operational efficiency and strengthen our commitment to the citizens we serve. Scott, please raise your right hand. Repeat after me. I, Scott Baldwin, I, Scott Baldwin, do solemnly swear or affirm do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state

and the Constitution of this state and that I will faithfully discharge that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of sergeant the duties of the office of sergeant in and for the city of Marine City in and for the city of Marine City according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability. So help me God. Congratulations, SIR. [applause]

Don't poke them.

[laughter]

I have a very brief prepared statement. [laughter]

Madame Mayor, elected officials, other city employees. Thank you for this opportunity and the trust that you've placed into me. In a department of our size, we aren't just colleagues. We are a team that relies on one another every single shift. I'm excited to step into this role and to continue promoting quality law enforcement services rooted in compassion. I've always believed that our most effective tool is our ability to communicate. As I take on these new responsibilities, I want to lead by the principle of listening to understand rather than just listening to respond. Uh what I would say to the chief if I could is I look forward to sporting uh his vision and ensuring our officers have exactly what they need to serve this community with integrity. And I'm grateful for this chance to serve in this new capacity. Thank you. [applause] Scott,

congratulations. Congratulations. Yeah. Yeah. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Yep. Pardon us, but we we have administrative things to go through now. All right. Good job, Chief. Yep.

Okay.

Now, on to six for public comment. This is a time for public comment. Any member of the public may address the city commission at 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. The city manager will follow up on public comments as necessary. Please state your comment, limit your comments to five minutes, and please direct all comments to me as the meeting chairperson. Please refrain from the use of profanity and please do not direct any comments to any other members of the public. And with that, does anybody wish to speak? Okay. Hearing and seeing none, then we will move on to seven for approval of the minutes. We have 7A, the commission meeting minutes of February 19th, 2026. I have a motion to approve the city commission meeting minutes of that date of February 19th, 2026.

So moved. Support. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Carries. Under the consent agenda, we have 8A, the special event permit for the maritime days, cruising, casten, and so much more. I have a motion to approve the consent agenda, item A, as presented. Make a motion to approve the consent agenda, letter 8A. Support. Okay. Roll call vote, please. Commissioner Bryson, yes. Mr. Hendrick, yes. Commissioner Clawson, yes. Mr. O'Brien, yes. Mr. Rory, yes. Mayor Vanabash, yes. Motion carried.

Okay. Nine items removed from the consent agenda. We have none. Under 10, financial business, we have a expenditures including payroll in the amount of $398,39063. Can I have a motion to approve those expenditures including payroll in that amount of $398,39063? Make a motion to approve expenditures including payroll for $398,390 uh63. Support. Okay. Any discussion? Hey, roll call, please. Commissioner Hender, yep. Commissioner Clawson, yes. Commissioner O'Brien, yes. Mr. Roric, yes. Mayor Vanabash, yes. Mr. Bryson, yes. Motion carried.

Okay. We have 10B, the ratification of emergency repair service breaker for the wastewater treatment plant in the amount of $17,849.25. I have a motion to ratify the approval done by the city manager in that amount of $17,849.25. I make a motion to ratify the re emergency uh service break repairs for $17,84925. Support. Any discussion? Hey, roll call, please. Commissioner Clawson, yes. Mr. O'Brien, yes. Mr. Ror, yes. Mayor Vanabash, yes. Mr. Braayson, yes. Mayor H or Commissioner Hendendrick,

yes. Okay. Under 10 C, ratification of emergency repairs for the generator at the wastewater treatment plant in the amount of $21,391.50. I have a motion to ratify the approval done by the city manager in that amount of $21,391.50. I'll make a motion to approve the or ratify the approval of the repairs to the generator at the wastewater treatment plant for $21,391.50. Support. Okay. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Commissioner O'Brien, yes. Commissioner Rar, yes. Mayor Vanovash, yes. Commissioner Bryson, yes. Commissioner Hender, yes. Commissioner Clawson, yes. Motion carried.

Okay. Under [snorts] 11 for communications, we have 11A, the James Vandermillan retirement letter. I have a motion to receive and file James Vandermillan's retirement letter as presented. So move. Support. Any discussion? All in favor? I oppose. Under 11B, we have the University of Michigan Dearborn E Cities program letter. I have a motion to receive and file the University of Michigan E C's letter. So move support. Any discussion? All in favor? I

opposed. [clears throat] Under 12 for unfinished business, there is none. Under 13A, new business, we have the museum sighting replacement approval. I have a motion to approve the request for the replacement of sighting on the museum as a city-owned building. And I would move to then uh approve the quote from Progressive. Um I'll make a motion to approve the progressive sighting um amount of $22,825. Okay. And then for discussion,

I just want to say I know the city's been on a bit of a stroke of bad luck with the various repairs that we've had on the water main project and the wastewater treatment plant and I'm glad we've got something like this that we're out ahead of. We're taking care of. I [snorts] know the the uh folks at the museum really appreciate the support. Thank you. Well, I appreciate the fact that they're paying for it because we're um and that was one thing that that we found out. So, this is all their funds that they've independently raised. Y um so this isn't coming out of city funds and they did their diligence and they got the three quotes and and this was the one that they preferred based on the contractor and then all the the itemized detailed list that they had. Okay, good job.

Yep. Thanks. No other discussion then roll call, please. Mr. Roar, yes. Mayor Van, yes. Mr. Ryson, yes. Fisher, yes. Fisher Clawson, yes. Fisher O'Brien, yes. Motion carried. On to new business. We have B, the resolution 006-2026, the early voting plan resolution. I have a motion to approve that resolution 006-2026, the resolution readopting and continuing the City Marine City Early Voting Plan and establishing the early voting site for statewide and federal elections. I make a motion to approve resolution 006-2026.

Support. Any discussion? A roll call, please. Commissioner Bryson, yes. Commissioner Hendrick, yep. Commissioner Clawson, yes. Commissioner O'Brien, yes. Commissioner, yes. Mayor Vanabash, yes. Motion carried. Okay. On to C. We have resolution 007-2026, the Eagle Water Resources Division grant submission. I have a motion to approve resolution-7-2026, the resolution approving submission of water resources division grant application for marine city infrastructure, the storm water system repairs. Make a motion to approve resolution 007-2026.

Any discussion? Hey, roll call, please. Commissioner, yes. Commissioner Clawson, yes. Mr. O'Brien, yes. Commissioner Ro, yes. Yes. Mayor Vanabash. Yes. Commissioner Bryson. Yes. Mot. Okay. Under 14 for administrative reports, we have A, the city attorney report. I have nothing this evening. Thank you. Then we have B, the city manager report.

Uh, thank you, mayor. Just a couple quick uh uh items. I just want to remind the public um of the um progress of the water main construction project. Uh as I indicated previously, the work has been ongoing. Most of the work had been confined confined to residential or commercial um private service line installation where there was lead or galvanized uh piping that had to be removed uh pursuant to state law. That has been ongoing. Uh in addition the north end phase three work on the u the larger piece of the warming uh process the streets have been mil and grind and the excavation work starts on 39. Of course that's uh weather dependent in um uh anything we do. The girth of this project requires that we do it in different sections. So that's the first section that uh we're [snorts] going to start start on. We have four remaining sections. We're going to try to uh bifurcate two sections at once in terms of [music] trying to uh achieve uh the timeline that we're sticking with. Although uh we're already a month behind in terms of weather and supply demands. So, uh, all I can tell you is stay tuned cuz reality is once we [music] start digging in the ground and do the repairs. It's literally street by street will determine how fast we can go and what repairs we can make. It appears based upon saw technology and the work that we've done up there this north end north of M29 Woodford uh Westminster North that area there will probably need a significant amount of repairs the sanitary and storm

system. We're prepared for that. We're still online to start and complete the um downtown business district. It would start after Labor Day and go towards the end of the season. I gave you information previously that uh Eagle had approved uh additional extensions of our uh proposed plan as well as our previous ACOs and uh I've supplied you updates in terms of the water plant renovations and some of the supply chain issues that we're having there and I'm available to answer any questions you may have on that. The other piece I wanted to remind you and the public is that we'll be scheduling shortly uh work sessions for the board. They are not uh so everybody understands commission meetings. They're not recorded. They won't be produced for the public, but they're work sessions solely so we can uh delve into discussions. The topic for those two sessions will be development tools for the city and uh there'll be a number of different presentations. the city attorney will carry a lot of that along with Scott Atkins and some other people that we have uh ready and we're going to discuss a variety of different development tools and try to educate you. Again, uh I'll be reaching out to you each of you to talk to you [music] about this to give you a little bit of a comfort level and give you an idea of what we're going to propose so you have that going in. You can do some research. Um the second piece of that is I'll also be reaching out to you in groups of one, two or three at the maximum to discuss budget topics. Uh as you're also aware, we're in the midst of budget preparation. Uh we're already knee deep. Uh soon we'll be neck deep and [laughter] uh I'd like to learn to swim before we get to that point. So I'll be reaching you each of you so that we can

have those type of discussions so you're informed of what I'm doing. That's all I have for the [music] development tools meetings. While we're not recording them and broadcasting them to the public, are they o they're open to the public? Absolutely open to the public. Welcome to attend. Yeah. Just wanted to Yep. Appreciate their input. Great. Thank you. On to C reports from department heads. We have a couple tonight. We'll start with the fire chief. Welcome back, Chief. Yeah. and nothing this evening. Okay. Then on to commissioner privilege and liaison reports and we'll start with commissioner Clawson.

We don't have anything for the planning commission but uh I'd like to say we're starting on the new part of the sewer and water and just bear with us. I I know my street is door up now. So just bear with us. It'll it'll come around. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Bryson. I'd just like to again congratulate Sergeant Baldwin on his promotion. That's it. I'll echo the congratulations and that's it for me tonight. Thank you. Um [clears throat] I would also like to uh extend my congratulations to Officer Baldwin and that's all I have tonight.

Okay. I'll ditto on Officer Baldwin. And I also want to congratulate Jim Vandermillan for finally getting his letter in to be able to retire. [laughter] It's been a long haul for him. Just a couple things for me. Again, a congratulations to Sergeant Baldwin on his promotion and Jim Vanderan on his retirement. And then I also want to recognize our Marine City High School, the varsity swim on their MAC Gold Championship. So, congratulations to them as well. Great. And with that, can I have a motion to adjurnn? I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Support. All in favor? I

The preceding program was produced by CTV Community Television. CTV Community Television is supported by the cities of Marine City and St. Claire, East China Township, Carterville Township, and the East China School District.