Owosso council accepts $1M USDA grant, OKs $239,160 WWTP change order

The Owosso City Council accepted a $1,000,000 USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Grant for the Public Safety Building Renovation Project on a 6-0 vote at its Aug. 3 regular meeting, according to the minutes approved Aug. 17.

Councilmember Emily S. Olson moved to approve the grant agreement, and Mayor Pro-Tem Jerome C. Haber supported it. The roll call recorded ayes from Haber, Councilmembers Christopher D. Owens, Janae L. Fear, Carl C. Ludington and Olson, and Mayor Robert J. Teich, Jr. There were no nays. Councilmember Rachel M. Osmer was absent. Resolution No. 124-2026 authorizes the mayor and city clerk to execute Grant Agreement Form RD 3570-3 with the United States of America, acting through USDA Rural Development, up to $1,000,000. The minutes list the item as budgeted in account 101.000.502.000.

Consent agenda approved 6-0

Owens moved the consent agenda and Ludington supported it. The roll call was again 6-0, with ayes from Ludington, Owens, Haber, Olson, Fear and Teich. The package included Change Order No. 3 with RCL Construction Co., Inc. of Sanford for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase I Improvements project, an increase of $239,160.00 that revises the contract from $18,743,973.77 to $18,983,133.77. Resolution No. 119-2026 states the additional expense is contingent upon approval by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and will be paid from the Wastewater Fund and SRF Bond Funds.

Also in the consent agenda: a $49,738.30 purchase order to ETNA Supply Co. of Grand Rapids for the 2026 DPW Inventory Parts Bid, described in the resolution as the lowest responsible and responsive bid and paid from the water fund; a $29,285.93 bid award to Simoni Systems, Inc. of Saginaw for the Council Chambers Audio/Video Update Project, which the resolution says is needed because the chambers' systems cannot connect to cloud platforms such as Zoom; an annual purchase order estimated at $160,000 for legal services from City Attorney Gould Law P.C. for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, broken down as $70,000 for general administrative matters and $90,000 for police matters; a write-off of $150.67 in uncollectible COBRA reimbursements; Warrant No. 668 of $32,382.00 to BS & A Software; accounts payable disbursements of $1,580,423.70; and payroll disbursements of $976,164.30.

Three nuisance assessment rolls set for hearing

The consent agenda also accepted three special assessment rolls for unpaid costs of altering, repairing, tearing down, abating or removing hazards and nuisances, and set a public hearing on each for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17. Resolution No. 116-2026 covers 117 W. Exchange St., balance $54,578.12. Resolution No. 117-2026 covers 321 E. Williams St., balance $26,591.90. Resolution No. 118-2026 covers 326 S. Dewey St., balance $34,937.40. The notices state that objections must be filed in writing with the city clerk before the close of the hearing, and that appearance and protest at the hearing is required to appeal an assessment to the State Tax Tribunal within 30 days after the roll is confirmed.

Before the consent vote, Olson moved to enter a notice of pecuniary interest on the record for Ludington as it relates to proposed contracts with Ludington Electric, Inc. for the period of June 24, 2026 through July 29, 2026. Owens supported the motion, which passed 6-0.

Drain project, closures and citizen comments

PEA Group Senior Project Manager Ron Hoeft and Shiawassee County Drain Commissioner Brent Singer presented a drainage improvement proposal for the Westown area, Chipman Drain #091. The plan calls for roughly 1,200 feet of new 36-inch RCP, new manholes and catch basins along Chipman Street, the westbound lanes of M-21/Main Street and around State Street and M-21, plus repaving and replacement of curbing, sidewalks and vegetation as needed. The minutes put the target date at summer 2027 and the estimated cost between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000, to be divided between the city, township, county and MDOT.

The council approved four traffic control orders: Ball Street between W. Mason and Main streets on Sept. 25 for the Now & Wow Market (Order No. 1561); Ada Street north from the Memorial Healthcare parking lot on Oct. 3 for the 3rd Annual Shiawassee Walk to End Alzheimer's (Order No. 1563); a route from Mason Street to the American Legion Post on Aug. 29 for the PFC Cantu 5K (Order No. 1564); and Curwood Castle Drive on Aug. 13 for the Moonlight Market (Order No. 1565). During citizen comments, Justin Horvath of the Shiawassee County Land Bank said the demolition project at 800 W. Main Street is not a city project and no city dollars are involved, and that the land bank used a public bidding process and hired an independent contractor to oversee completion. Ashley Stevens of 1438 W. Main St. spoke about boarded-up houses, junk and people camping in the yard on W. Main Street, and later said the river trail is congested. Galen Ponder of 602 N. Ball St. said he is running for city council.

What happens next

After City Manager Nathan Henne discussed a recycling summary in his report, Fear moved to instruct staff to develop a resolution for review at the next council meeting to proceed with further discussion of moving to a single garbage hauler. Owens supported the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. The minutes list the next meeting as Monday, Aug. 17, the same date the minutes were approved; the document does not record what happened at that meeting. The minutes also list nine openings on city boards and commissions, including three Planning Commission seats and alternate seats on the Building Board of Appeals and Zoning Board of Appeals. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.