Owosso OKs towing cars over unpaid parking tickets, 6-1

Owosso can now tow the vehicles of drivers who pile up unpaid parking tickets. The city council approved the ordinance 6-1 on Monday, Sept. 21, after a public hearing, according to the meeting synopsis signed by Mayor Robert J. Teich, Jr. and City Clerk Amy K. Kohagen.

The amendment adds Sec. 33-54, "Removal of Vehicle for Unpaid Parking Violations," to the city's traffic and parking code, allowing the city to tow the vehicle of a repeat offender with multiple unpaid tickets. The Current reported Sept. 3 that the first reading came at the Sept. 8 meeting, with the hearing set for Sept. 21. Two residents, Mike Cline and Gil Humphreys, spoke at the hearing. The synopsis records the tally as six ayes and one nay but does not say which member voted no, and it does not state how many unpaid tickets trigger a tow.

Later in citizen comments, Cline asked whether city employees who park a city-owned car improperly would get a ticket. Mayor Teich said anyone parking improperly could receive a ticket. Resident Jeff Turner asked for more enforcement against overnight street parking and parking in front yards, and asked why only two police officers work overnight. Public Safety Director Kevin D. Lenkart said he would advise officers to step up parking enforcement in residential areas and that two officers is the minimum number on duty.

The council also started the clock on two ordinances that will affect households. On the consent agenda, members conducted first readings and set public hearings for Monday, Oct. 5, on the single-hauler trash ordinance and on a new Sec. 21-10 prohibiting unauthorized camping and overnight occupation of city-owned or city-controlled property. The trash ordinance would authorize exclusive contracts for residential refuse, garbage and recycling collection; the synopsis ties it to the 2022 revision of Section 115 of the state's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, which requires that 90% of single-family homes have access to curbside recycling. The Current reported Aug. 18 that the council directed the city attorney to draft that ordinance, and this week reported that the owner of Kelly's Refuse has asked the city to drop the single-hauler approach.

Spending moved on the consent agenda without a separate recorded vote in the synopsis. The largest item was Change Order #4 on the 2025 Well Improvements Project, adding $190,628 for rehabilitation and upgrades at the Palmer 2 Well and Local Well 1 and for work tied to abandoning the Palmer 1 Well, bringing the contract to a final amount not to exceed $2,115,023. Council members also approved $150,100 to Fishbeck for engineering and construction administration on the 2027 Water Service Line Replacement Project, contingent on receiving DWSRF bond proceeds — the same bond program the council took up in July, when it moved to authorize up to $12 million in drinking water revenue bonds.

Other purchases: $92,581.28 to Pleune Service Company for the Curwood Castle radiator replacement, plus a $5,000 contingency; $46,575 for a 2027 Ford F250 for the DPW fleet from Lunghamer Ford of Owosso under a MiDeal state contract; $41,330.17 for a 2027 John Deere Gator and accessories from Hutson, Inc.; and the $12,473 in-car camera changeover with Mid Michigan Emergency Equipment Sales and Service, added to the agenda after it was first posted. Competitive bidding was waived on all four. The council affirmed August accounts payable of $3,070,454.16 and August payroll of $909,454.51.

As an item of business, the council approved Owosso's annual commitment to the Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, in an amount not to exceed $123,586.75. Humphreys asked why there is a deficit in SATA funding. City Manager Henne said the Headlee rollback and tax captures by the Brownfield Authority and the DDA are why the city's millage does not cover the full SATA fee, and that the gap has only appeared in the last couple of years. The council also reiterated acknowledgement of Councilmember Carl C. Ludington's pecuniary interest before approving $1,023.49 in August contracts with Ludington Electric, Inc.

Two loose ends surfaced in council comments. Councilmember Janae L. Fear asked about the vacant commercial property registration ordinance; the synopsis says it is being evaluated by the DDA and should reach the council in October. Councilmember Emily S. Olson raised the downtown holiday lights, which the synopsis says are affected by outdated electrical infrastructure and circuit problems, with potential repairs expected to cost many thousands of dollars. Olson asked for greater transparency and said information has not been consistent; Teich suggested developing a game plan for a feasible and affordable fix. No figure or timeline was recorded.

What happens next: the council meets again Monday, Oct. 5, when it will take public comment on the single-hauler trash ordinance and the camping ban. Before that, Owosso High School's homecoming parade closes the streets listed on the school's application from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, under Traffic Control Order No. 1547. The city also lists nine openings on its boards and commissions, including three on the Planning Commission. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.; complete printed minutes are available at the city clerk's office and the Shiawassee District Library's Owosso branch.