Owosso wrote off $15,000 in parking tickets; towing hearing Sept. 21

Owosso wrote off $15,000 in unpaid parking tickets under the honor system, Councilmember Rachel M. Osmer said Tuesday night, and that is why the city is back to talking about towing cars.

The council conducted a first reading Sept. 8 of a proposed Sec. 33-54, "Removal of Vehicle for Unpaid Parking Violations," and set a public hearing for Monday, Sept. 21, according to the meeting synopsis signed by Mayor Robert J. Teich, Jr. and City Clerk Amy K. Kohagen. If adopted, the section would let the city tow the vehicles of repeat offenders with unpaid tickets. The Current reported last week that the towing language was coming up as a first reading on this agenda.

Osmer said the council had taken up towing before and was persuaded by residents at the time to rely on the honor system instead. That has not worked, she said, pointing to the $15,000 write-off. Teich said the council discussed towing about a year ago, agreed not to institute it and said it would revisit the question later. "This is that reexamination," the synopsis records him saying.

Two residents pushed the other way during citizen comments. Mike Cline warned the city against towing and said it should wait until the next council is seated. Jeff Turner asked the city not to let people park on the street overnight and to step up enforcement. Gil Humphries, who introduced himself as a candidate for City Council, said there need to be consequences for repeated parking violations.

The other flashpoint was trash. Kelly Cushman, owner of Kelly's Refuse, said he has been a business owner in Owosso for close to 40 years and that local haulers could offer curbside recycling without the city moving to a single hauler. He said he did not think enough people took part in the study conducted by Dr. Krantz to support an informed decision. Holly Jo Edwards said it would be sad for the council to put a local business out of business and asked what residents who cannot afford monthly trash service are supposed to do. Osmer replied that state mandates put council members in a tough spot and that curbside recycling "is not a choice." The Current reported that the council directed the city attorney on Aug. 17 to draft an ordinance authorizing one hauler citywide; the synopsis records no action on that draft Tuesday.

The council also closed out three cleanup bills. After public hearings, it approved Special Assessment Districts No. 2027-101, 2027-102 and 2027-103, covering unpaid costs for hazard and nuisance work at 117 W. Exchange St., 321 E. Williams St. and 326 S. Dewey St. Those three assessments total $116,107, as The Current reported from the agenda. Dave Acton was the only person to comment, on the West Exchange Street assessment; no comments were received on the other two. The synopsis records that "the Council moved to approve" each one but does not list how individual members voted. Six of seven members were present — Teich, Mayor Pro-Tem Jerome C. Haber, Janae L. Fear, Carl C. Ludington, Emily S. Olson and Osmer. Christopher D. Owens was absent.

On the consent agenda, the council waived competitive bidding and authorized a road salt purchase order with The Detroit Salt Company, L.C. through two State of Michigan contracts — 400 tons for early delivery at $67.08 a ton plus 1,400 more tons at $63.70 a ton, with payment approved up to $142,766. It awarded the 2026-27 city tree removal contract to Ronald's Tree Service for $46,280 plus an $18,000 contingency, authorized up to $24,991.64 at Home Depot for roofing materials for the DPW city garage, and approved a sole-source purchase of bulk CO2 from Nippon Sanso Matheson, Inc. at $0.1148 per pound, an estimated $21,395.52 for the year. Members also designated new authorized signers on city accounts at Huntington Bank and, as an item of business, adopted a Whistleblower and Non-Retaliation Policy supplementing the Michigan Whistleblowers' Protection Act. A notice of pecuniary interest was entered on the record for Ludington regarding proposed August 2026 contracts with Ludington Electric, Inc.

Two other answers came out of the meeting. Asked by Cline about the Fifth Third building downtown, City Manager Nathan R. Henne said he has heard the project should be set to go by January, and that the Downtown Historic District Commission will consider later this month whether the developer's timeline should be extended. Asked by Joseph Moore about weeds growing between storm drain grates and the pavement, Utilities Director Ryan Suchanek said the city does not have a good answer, because the state frowns on using Round-up around storm drains where water goes straight to the river. Moore and Cline later said they did not appreciate that the council had not responded to comments; Tom Manke said the current mayor is the first to refuse to answer questions brought to the council.

What happens next: the public hearing on the towing ordinance is set for the council's next regular meeting, Monday, Sept. 21. The Owosso Farmers Market's Art Walk closures approved Tuesday — Main Street Plaza from noon to 8 p.m., and N. Ball Street from the south side of Fountain Park to W. Mason Street plus Exchange Street from N. Ball to N. Washington from 2 to 10 p.m. — take effect Friday, Sept. 18. Nine seats on city boards and commissions remain open, including three on the Planning Commission. Tuesday's meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.