Owosso council awards $984,420 public safety building bid, orders single-hauler trash draft
All seven council members were present Aug. 17 as Owosso approved the Public Safety Building Improvements contract and directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance authorizing one trash hauler citywide.
The Owosso City Council on Monday, Aug. 17, approved a bid award of $934,420 to Nielsen Commercial Construction Company, Inc. for the Public Safety Building Improvements Project, plus a $50,000 contingency, for a total of $984,420, according to the city's meeting synopsis. The council further approved payment to the contractor up to $984,420 upon satisfactory completion of the project or a portion of it.
The synopsis lists Mayor Robert J. Teich, Jr., Mayor Pro-Tem Jerome C. Haber and Councilmembers Janae L. Fear, Carl C. Ludington, Emily S. Olson, Rachel M. Osmer and Christopher D. Owens as present, with no members absent. The document records the building bid as part of a consent agenda that was "approved as follows," and does not report individual vote tallies on any item.
Also in the consent agenda, the council waived competitive bidding requirements and approved a five-year renewal of Cisco Webex Calling software, licensing, maintenance and support through Logicalis, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $49,550.40. It also waived competitive bidding and authorized the purchase of CrowdStrike Falcon Identity Threat Protection Complete, Falcon Exposure Management and related support from CDW Government LLC for $20,530, with payment authorized upon satisfactory installation. The council approved CDBG Round 1 Contractors' Quotes #7 in the amount of $91,541.86 as part of a Community Development Block Grant housing grant.
Under items of business, the council directed the city attorney to prepare a draft ordinance amending or replacing Chapter 34, Article II of the City of Owosso Code of Ordinances (Garbage and Rubbish) to authorize a single-hauler system to comply with Michigan's 2022 amendments to Part 115 of NREPA. During citizen comments, Kate Neese said she favors moving to a single trash hauler, citing wear and tear on streets from multiple haulers, the current lack of curbside recycling and the potential for price decreases, the synopsis states.
The council also reiterated acknowledgement of Councilmember Ludington's pecuniary interest and approved $2,345.86 in contracts with Ludington Electric, Inc. for the period of July 2026, and authorized abatement of a public nuisance at 1405 W. Main Street. Councilmember Osmer and Mayor Teich were designated the city's official representatives for the Michigan Municipal League Annual Meeting.
Three separate consent items rescinded Resolutions 116-2026, 117-2026 and 118-2026 and set public hearings for Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. on proposed Special Assessment Districts No. 2027-101, 2027-102 and 2027-103, all relating to unpaid costs incurred in altering, repairing, tearing down, abating or removing hazards and nuisances. The council also approved a Michigan Lottery Charitable Gaming Division resolution supporting the Owosso Rotary Foundation, Inc. gaming license application.
Mayor Teich read a proclamation declaring Aug. 16-22, 2026, as Charitable Nonprofit Week in the city, and Owosso Historical Commission Chairman Lance Little presented the Owosso Time Traveler, a project to build a website for cataloging and sharing historic documents, places and photos. Resident Jerry Hittle said he has not seen a decrease in minibikes in his neighborhood and asked for stepped-up enforcement and more frequent street sweeping; the mayor said Owosso police have stepped up enforcement and impounded a couple of minibikes over the weekend, but officers must witness violations. Resident Daniel Vargas spoke about the replacement of the splash pad and a ticket he received, and the synopsis states he was asked to leave the meeting by the public safety director. City Manager Henne announced that Finance Director Brad Barrett is leaving for a larger community and said he anticipates finding a replacement will be challenging.
What happens next
The council's next meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, when the three hazards-and-nuisances special assessment public hearings are set for 6:30 p.m. The city attorney is to prepare the draft single-hauler trash ordinance for council consideration. The synopsis also lists openings on the Building Board of Appeals, Downtown Historic District Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
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