Owosso bills $116,107 for three demolitions; 4-2 vote on Exchange St.
Council confirmed the assessments Sept. 8 after the owner of the collapsed West Exchange Street building said the roughly $5,400 annual payment could push him to walk away; a towing ordinance hearing and two first readings come Monday.
Three Owosso property owners now owe the city $116,107.42 for buildings the city tore down, after the council confirmed the assessment rolls at its Sept. 8 meeting. The bills come due in ten annual installments starting Sept. 1, 2027, at 3% interest, or in full without interest or penalty by Nov. 1, 2027, according to the resolutions in the Sept. 21 council packet.
The largest is $54,578.12 for demolition of the building at 117 W. Exchange St. That one split the council. Dave Acton of 106 N. Washington St. told the Sept. 8 public hearing that the roughly $5,400 annual payment would create a significant cash-flow burden and could result in his abandoning the property, and asked whether the demolition cost could be converted from a special assessment to a seven-year lien, the minutes say. Council discussion that followed, as recorded in the minutes, centered on the project's viability against the risk that converting the assessment to a lien would set an inappropriate precedent.
Resolution 135-2026 passed 4-2. Councilmembers Rachel Osmer, Janae Fear and Emily Olson and Mayor Robert J. Teich Jr. voted yes. Mayor Pro-Tem Jerome Haber and Councilmember Carl Ludington voted no. Councilmember Christopher Owens was absent. The minutes do not record a reason for either no vote.
The other two assessments drew no citizen comment and passed 6-0: $26,591.90 for demolition of the house at 321 E. Williams St., and $34,937.40 for demolition of the house at 326 S. Dewey St. The Current reported Sept. 4 that the three hearings were set for that night.
The same meeting cleared a run of winter and maintenance spending on a 6-0 consent vote: $142,766 to The Detroit Salt Company for up to 1,800 tons of road salt, $64,280 to Ronald's Tree Service of Linden for tree removal through the 2026-27 fiscal year, $24,991.64 in Home Depot roofing materials to replace the DPW garage roof, and $21,395.52 for bulk carbon dioxide used in treating the city's drinking water. Council also adopted the city's first whistleblower and non-retaliation policy, effective that day; City Manager Nathan Henne told the council more grant programs are requiring similar policies to qualify for funding.
Five residents spoke Sept. 8 against or about the proposed move to a single trash hauler. 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 going to one hauler. Holly Jo Edwards of 1313 N. Gould St. said it would be sad to put a local business out of business and asked what residents who cannot afford monthly trash service will do. Mike Cline of 204 Stratford Drive asked whether the city would make money on the switch, and also asked about the Fifth Third building and a tree in the river behind the future home of the library. The minutes do not record answers to any of those questions.
Monday's agenda carries the public hearing on towing. The proposed Sec. 33-54 would let a police officer order a vehicle removed from any public place in the city when more than four parking tickets on the same plate have gone unpaid for more than 30 days, and would hold the vehicle until tickets, towing and storage are paid. Also Monday: first readings of the camping ban on city property and the single-hauler garbage ordinance, both with public hearings set for Oct. 5; a $190,628 change order for the Palmer 2 and Local Well 1 work that brings that contract to no more than $2,115,023; $150,100 to Fishbeck for engineering on the 2027 water service line replacement; $92,581.28 plus $5,000 contingency to Pleune Service Company to replace the radiator at Curwood Castle; a $46,575 Ford F250 from Lunghamer Ford of Owosso and a $41,330.17 John Deere Gator for the DPW fleet; and $123,586.75 as the city's annual commitment to SATA for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
What happens next: the council meets Monday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 301 W. Main St. The camping and single-hauler hearings follow Oct. 5. The consent agenda also asks approval of Owosso High School's homecoming parade, closing the streets on the application from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. The first demolition installment is not due until Sept. 1, 2027, and the packet does not say whether the council will revisit Acton's request to convert the Exchange Street assessment to a lien.
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