Owosso council accepts USDA grant for public safety building, adds $239K to wastewater project
Monday's meeting moved money on three fronts — a federal grant agreement for the public safety building renovation, a third change order on the wastewater plant, and a $160,000 annual legal services authorization.
The Owosso City Council approved a USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Grant agreement for the Public Safety Building Renovation Project at its regular meeting Monday, Aug. 3, with all seven members present.
On the consent agenda, the council approved a $239,160 increase — Change Order No. 3 — in payment to RCL Construction Co., Inc. of Sanford for construction work on Phase I of the wastewater treatment plant project. It also awarded a $29,285.93 bid to Simoni Systems Inc. of Saginaw to update the council chambers' audio and video systems, and approved a $49,738.30 low bid from ETNA Supply Co. of Grand Rapids for Department of Public Works inventory parts.
The council authorized 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, and affirmed July disbursements: $1,580,423.70 in accounts payable and $976,164.30 in payroll for the period from late June through July 29.
Councilmember Carl Ludington entered a notice of pecuniary interest on the record related to proposed contracts with Ludington Electric, Inc. for the period of June 24 through July 29.
Hearings set on nuisance-cleanup assessments
The council set public hearings for Monday, Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m. on three proposed special assessment districts — Nos. 2026-101, 2026-102 and 2026-103 — covering unpaid costs the city incurred repairing, tearing down or removing hazards and nuisances.
During citizen comment, Justin Horvath of the Shiawassee County Land Bank said the demolition project at 800 W. Main St. is not a city project and involves no city dollars, and that the contractor was chosen through a public bidding process. Resident Ashley Stevens raised concerns about boarded-up houses on W. Main Street and people camping in a yard there.
What happens next: The council meets again Monday, Aug. 17, when the three special-assessment hearings will be held. Openings remain on several city boards and commissions, including two Planning Commission terms.
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