By Gari Voss
The new council members were seated at the desk for the Monday, November 25, 2024, meeting. City Manager Joel Dye ran the meeting until the mayor and mayor pro tem were elected. An addition to the agenda of the Girl Scout property passed. The 2024-25 mayor will be Traci Perrigo, and the Mayor Pro Tem will be Bill Morgan.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE
The closeout Public Hearing for Michigan Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding for the Downtown Rental Rehab Program regarding 109 Locust Street was held. These projects have been used to rehab upstairs apartments in the Downtown District. This project would cost $297,883.21 with the State funding $199,652.84 and the owner funding $98,230.37. A requirement is that one unit must be affordable for 5 years. No public comments were offered.
REPORTS
Downtown Development Authority. Parker Johnson shared that during the November meeting, the downtown refuse program that shares 6 dumpsters was reviewed. Businesses and residents share the cost of garbage and recycling. It has done well at cleaning up the sidewalks and parking lots. The citywide Wayfinding Signage Program will begin with the core of downtown identifying parking areas, then pedestrian passage signs, then vehicular signage followed by welcome signs at all gateways. Guide Studios will walk the city through the process.
Mahan Park and Hubbard Street Parking Lot were discussed along with the two new bike racks. The racks were designed and built by the Tech Center students, and RCI did the finishing. One more batch will be coming.
Public Spaces Commission. Bill Morgan shared that Johnson updated the group on the improvements already made to Mahan Park with the new walkway and ADA compliant seating area with 60 sections of fencing replaced and 100 left to do. An arborist has been contacted to put together the cost for examining trees in Oakwood Cemetery. A snowmobile was put up as surplus so it could be sold. A workshop by the Allegan Conservation District on invasive species will be held.
Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. Joel Dye shared that the board met for the first time in many years. They will help with TIFs for funding development around the city. The group learned of policies and plans for the group plus 500 Delano St. will be requesting assistance with funding.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Accounts Payable and Payroll. Accounts payable for $276,543.25 and Payroll for $135,423.12 for a total of $411,966.37 were approved.
WATER UTILITIES
The request to approve an Emergency Demand Response Program Agreement with Consumers Energy to cover all seasons passed was passed. The program allows the city to “shed” electrical demand during situations on the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) power grid by switching to generator power for up to a 4-hour period. Over the last 3 years, Allegan has had no calls and has received $47,385 in credit from Consumers Energy towards power bills at the Water Treatment Plant and the Water Resource Recovery Facility. The 2-year agreement would begin June 1, 2025, and provide approximately $22,360 in credit each year plus a stipend if the generator would be called upon.
CITY MANAGER & CITY CLERK
Christmas Party. The request to close city offices at noon on December 13, 2024, for the city’s annual holiday party was approved.
Fire District Budget. The request to approve the 2025 Allegan Fire District budget passed. The total budget is $500,000 with the city contributing $245,000 and Allegan Township contributing $255,000. The amount is based on taxable value, population, and man hours served in each jurisdiction.
ArtReach Signage. The request to approve the periodic placement of A-frame event signage to promote the ongoing joint project between the City of Allegan and the Allegan Area Arts Council called ArtReach passed.
Girl Scout Property. The request to approve a six-month due diligence agreement with Allegan Development Company to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the potential development of the property known as the Girl Scout Property was approved. The previous development company found that the infrastructure was cost prohibitive. The current developer has been working with Dye on a concept plan with development on the upland of condominiums with zero step entry. The Allegan Conversation District has been contacted about a nature area on the lower lands that would be open to the public.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Airport Advisory Board. The appointment of Greg Griffin to the Airport Advisory Board to a term set to expire on December 31, 2027, was approved.
Downtown Development Authority. The appointment of Peter Hanse to the Downtown Development Authority to a term set that expires on December 31, 2027, was approved.
Allegan Fire District. Appointment of Councilmember Will Walker to the Allegan Fire District to a term set to expire on December 31, 2030, was approved.
COMMUNICATIONS
Dye congratulated the new council members. He encouraged the members to get with him about concerns or questions.
Johnson encouraged the group to support Small Business Saturday this Saturday. Festive Fridays begin next week. The first Friday is the Holiday Parade and council members can ride the Trolley.
STUDY SESSION
Round Table Discussion
Board members were given an opportunity to bring items to the table. Mike Zeter expressed thanks to DPW workers for keeping up with the leaf pickup. Traci Perrigo asked questions regarding the Mill District purchases and how the new owners will develop the areas. The new owner of Mill District property will be invited to the next Study Session to share his vision. There is still a parking violation problem with the house at the end of Main St.
Several council members remarked on how beautiful the Downtown looks for the holidays.
Update from the City Manager
City Manager Joel Dye shared a list of topics which would need to be discussed:
City Council Rules and Procedures, City Council Code of Ethics, MI Municipal League Training of 3 hours must be set, Overview of the Allegan Fire District, 2024-2025 Construction Projects, Council assignments to city advisory boards, Potential Hotel development at 101 Brady St., and moving City Hall to a four-day operation.
The city attorney has recommended improvements to city management for managing the city employees. The Code of Ethics forms were signed by all council members. The MML training will be on a Thursday early in 2025.
The joint agreement in the Allegan Fire District has a budget split with Allegan Township, and the members are appointed for a 6-year term. Dye recommends that Will Walker be appointed to the board. The city will need to approve $500,000, which is the same as last year, but they are dipping into their fund balance which is not a good practice. Walker can bring updates from the Fire District meetings.
Construction projects for 2025 will include: Repaving the Hubbard Street Parking Lot and making improvements in the Spring but the city is waiting for the environmental review; Making the Mahan Park improvements that are covered mostly with grant funds; Ely Street resurfacing from the roundabout to the city limits including sidewalks that meet the road; Safety improvements utilizing a design build to the Allegan City Dam which will be using dam improvement money that will move into the removal of the dam; possible pedestrian crosswalk on Water Street – Abonmarche designed a safe crossing from Trowbridge Plaza to the other side of Water Street plus a sidewalk on Arbor St. for a safe walk to school; and complete the construction of the T-hanger at the airport.
Hotel development at 101 Brady Street is still waiting for local financial support. The developer who owns Lakewood Construction has asked that the agreement be extended for 3 years. In that time, the team would work on getting financial support. The purchase and development contract will need to be updated.
Moving City Hall to a 4-day schedule would require more research. Other cities and small towns that have implemented a four-day week have been contacted. The new council members will consider it.
Lead Service Replacement Program
Water Director Dough Sweeris introduced the new members to the requirements of the service lines that must be replaced. In 2022, the city was awarded $3 million for lead service replacement through Booker Funds, and $487,385 for Drinking Water System Material Inventory (DSM). In 2023, the city received $600,000 through a Technical, Managerial and Financial Grant (TMF).
Sweeris reminded the group that Booker Funds disbursal as of June 30, 2024, still has a balance of $1,212,834 that must be expended by August 31, 2025. Milbocker & Sons was approved in a change order of $750,000 to assist with replacing water services. The TMF grant covers investigation of unknown water service materials. A contractor was contracted to pothole 800 water services and will begin in Spring 2025.
Sweeris offered to do tours of the facilities. The Allegan water is extremely clean and excellent to drink. Letters went to residents to let them know if their pipes were made of lead or galvanized. Replacements are being done out M-89 and that loop coming back to the city will be done.
Water loss was addressed. Sometimes, the galvanized pipes are weeping. Other leaks have been located as the pipes have been replaced, and those leaks have been corrected. The water loss has gone from 30% to 13%. Sweeris would like to see it below 10%, but feels the improvements have made a huge difference.
Advisory Boards
Once the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem are selected, the council members will be assigned to the different boards and commissions.
