By Maggie LaNoue
Under near-whiteout weather and icy conditions Monday evening, Albion City Council worked through a long agenda that stretched from infrastructure planning and redevelopment to ordinance updates and the first official day of returning City Manager Sheryl Theriot.
Outside, fierce late-winter winds continued through the evening under advisory conditions, with wind chills dropping to about seven degrees by the time many residents left before final reports.
The meeting opened with Theriot’s oath of office, marking her first official day back in city leadership. Mayor Victoria Garcia-Snyder also presented a proclamation recognizing March 26 as Equal Pay Day in Albion, joined by representatives of the Albion Business and Professional Women’s Club, who spoke about continuing efforts to support opportunity and leadership for women in the workplace. The proclamation notes that in Michigan, women working full time earned about 81 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2025. Albion currently has women serving in several major leadership roles, including mayor, city manager, city clerk, and economic development leadership.
A major technical presentation followed from the city’s engineering team, outlining sewer system needs that could require approximately $9.6 million in phased lining, repair and replacement work over the coming years. Wightman engineer Mickey Bittner explained how televised pipe inspections are graded under a rating system that identifies which sections are structurally failing, which can still be lined, and which may eventually require full replacement. The proposed Clean Water State Revolving Fund project would address aging sanitary sewer sections, manholes and related infrastructure, with planning deadlines already approaching this spring and additional public review expected before formal state submission.
Council also moved toward adoption of two ordinances affecting everyday city operations. One ordinance updates Albion’s water and sewer billing language in preparation for eventual monthly billing as digital meter installation continues citywide. Until that transition is complete, quarterly billing will remain in place. When monthly billing begins, officials expect smaller and more predictable bills, while the ordinance also updates delinquency and shutoff timelines.
A second ordinance updates city noise regulations, listing prohibited disturbances such as unnecessary vehicle horns, loud radios audible from 50 feet away, repeated animal noise and late-night shouting. It also limits most construction and repair work to weekday daytime hours unless special approval is granted.
Council approved a revised tax abatement resolution for Team 1 Plastics after a public hearing, while continuing discussion of the proposed Austin School housing redevelopment, where tax incentive language remains tied to a competitive state housing funding application.
Considerable time was also devoted to future city manager qualifications under Albion’s charter. Council reviewed whether the city’s current requirement for a master’s degree may be too restrictive compared with similar Michigan communities, with possible revised language expected to move toward Attorney General review later this spring. Members also revisited the purpose of study sessions, noting they were originally designed to shorten long regular meetings but should be used selectively for especially complex agenda items.
Looking ahead, the council approved the use of Victory Park for the annual Albion Eggstravaganza, scheduled for Saturday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the bandshell, where organizers expect 300 to 500 participants for the free community event, including an Easter egg hunt and basket giveaway. Council also approved waiving the usual park reservation fee for the nonprofit volunteer event.
By the time the council returned from closed session, worsening icy conditions had emptied many public seats. In brief closing reports, Theriot said she plans to meet individually with council members during her first 45 days and explore broader public access to board and commission meetings through recording and online posting. Interim City Manager Doug Terry outlined transition details, and the council also identified next Monday at 7 p.m. for a special meeting to continue work on pending items before the next regular council session.
