Owosso tables vacant building ordinance to Nov. 16; two versions

Owosso council did not order a vacant building ordinance Monday. The item — listed on the agenda as "Analysis of Vacant Building Ordinance Proposals" — was tabled until the council's Nov. 16 meeting, according to the minutes synopsis for the Nov. 2 regular meeting.

That leaves downtown property owners waiting on the central question for another two weeks: whether Owosso will require vacant buildings to be registered, inspected and paid for, and under whose version of the rules. The synopsis records that Bill Byrne, 815 W. Oliver, spoke "on behalf of the HDC in regard to the vacant building ordinance and the HDC version vs the DDA version" — the first indication in the public record that the Historic District Commission and the Downtown Development Authority are not working from the same proposal.

The Current reported Oct. 29 that the Nov. 2 agenda asked council to authorize the city manager and city attorney to prepare an ordinance consistent with DDA Resolution No. 03-2026, and that no draft text, registration requirement, fee schedule, inspection cycle or penalty had been posted. None of that was posted or decided Monday either. The city also still has not said how many vacant buildings it believes are in Owosso — a number the whole exercise turns on, and one this desk has had open since October.

The council did adopt the revised water and sewer connection charges the same night, effective immediately: the synopsis says council "Approved the adoption of the revised water and sewer connection charges and miscellaneous charges beginning November 2, 2026." The synopsis does not list a single dollar figure. Anyone hooking a new house or building onto city water or sewer is now paying the new rate, and the amounts are not in the public summary. The full minutes and ordinances are available at the city clerk's office and the Shiawassee District Library – Owosso Branch, per the note at the end of the synopsis. Jane Ferraro, 302 W. Oliver, spoke about water and sewer connection fees during the second citizen comment period.

Water bills ran through the whole meeting. Under council comments, members "Approved to direct staff to form a resolution for the next meeting for council members to discuss and possibly eliminate water shut offs." Dawn Marie Mersino, 702 N. Dewey, spoke about a water bill complaint in the first comment period and about her water bill again in the second. Several speakers also objected to the single trash hauler ordinance council passed 4-3 last month, as The Current reported at the time.

Also Monday, council approved the development agreement with Woodworth Investments, LLC for the Citizens Loft project on the third floor of 123 N. Washington Street, and approved Owosso Main Street/DDA's request for a public fireworks display by Wolverine Fireworks Display, Inc. during Glow Owosso. The synopsis gives no date or time for the fireworks. The consent agenda carried $22,460 for an emergency repair to Secondary Influent Pump #4 at the wastewater plant by Professional Pump of Belleville, $28,400 to Goyette Mechanical Co., Inc. of Flint to repair the Weil McLain steam boiler at the Shiawassee District Library, and three professional engineering services agreements with OHM Advisors, Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd. and Fishbeck. No cost is given for the engineering agreements — the fourth time this desk has noted that gap.

All seven members were present: Mayor Robert J. Teich, Jr., Mayor Pro-Tem Jerome C. Haber and councilmembers Janae L. Fear, who arrived at 7:45 p.m., Carl C. Ludington, Emily S. Olson, Rachel M. Osmer and Christopher D. Owens. The synopsis records no vote counts for any item, so how each member voted on the connection charges, the Citizens Loft agreement or the motion to table is not in the public record. The synopsis also records that Osmer "addressed the concerns in regard to her employment and her seat on the council"; it does not say what those concerns are. The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.

What happens next

The vacant building ordinance analysis returns to council Monday, Nov. 16. Staff is to bring back a resolution on water shut-offs for the same meeting. Councilmember Olson said she is holding a Repair Day Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at her store at 204 W. Main St. Seven seats are open on city boards — two Building Board of Appeals alternates, the Downtown Historic District Commission, three Planning Commission terms and two Zoning Board of Appeals alternates.