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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Fraser City Council Meeting - September 10, 2026

City Council — Thursday, September 10, 2026

BodyFraser, Michigan

SessionCity Council

DateThursday, September 10, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

2:10

Thirty two p.m.

2:10

or a little delayed to a technical issue.

2:12

Please rise for the pledge of allegiance.

Speaker 2

2:24

One nation under God, indivisible

Unassigned speaker

2:27

with

Speaker 2

2:27

liberty and justice for

Unassigned speaker

2:29

all.

Speaker 1

2:30

Thank you very much.

2:34

Councilmember Branski.

2:36

Councilmember Fletcher.

Speaker 3

2:37

Councilmember Higgins.

2:39

Mayor Left.

2:40

Present.

2:42

Councilmember Perry.

Speaker 1

2:57

Make the motion.

2:58

Approve agenda.

2:59

Second.

2:59

Okay, we have a motion by Mayor Potem O'Dow seconded by Councilmember Shornak to approve the agenda.

3:04

All in favor say aye.

3:06

Aye.

3:07

Opposed.

3:08

Motion passes.

3:09

Item number five, citizen participation on agenda items.

3:12

This is the moment of the meeting.

3:14

If you are in the audience and you cannot be here for that particular item or interested on the agenda, you can come on up and speak for five minutes.

Speaker 2

3:32

Motion to approve the consent agenda.

Speaker 1

3:42

All in favor say aye.

3:44

Aye.

3:48

Closed session.

Unassigned speaker

4:04

Speaker 1

4:04

we have a motion by Mayor Lessage, seconded by Council Member Shornack to go into closed session.

4:13

Yes.

Unassigned speaker

4:30

How do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a hug

Speaker 4

42:41

Time

Speaker 1

42:42

is now seven thirteen p.m.

42:44

and we're back from the closed session.

42:46

We are now going to move on to new business item eight A, fiscal year twenty-six twenty-seven miscellaneous concrete repair program contract award.

42:55

I think this would be Ashley and the city mandatory.

Speaker 5

43:25

The work that will be completed will include code enforcement sidewalk repairs, some concrete replacement in Stillwater Court to address some flooding concerns, miscellaneous patches, and then also some sidewalk uh repairs at the senior housing complex.

43:51

So we are requesting $395,000 in the contract to Luigi, and then also an estimated amount of fifty thousand for EW services.

Speaker 6

44:45

And that's doesn't matter anyway, because that comes out of that enterprise fund.

44:49

But in general, if we're fixing sidewalks and stuff throughout the city, I would like to know which sidewalks we're repairing if we're doing streets and which streets we're repairing.

44:58

And I think that's good to put on our website as well.

45:00

So members of the public know, like, hey, okay, maybe this year it's not your section of Frazier, but maybe next year it might be, depending on, you know, what the need is.

45:10

Does anybody object to

Unassigned speaker

45:12

that?

Speaker 5

45:15

We do have a list of the sidewalk repairs currently that code enforcement has provided for the street repairs.

45:22

We will have to evaluate certain areas, but we can provide that um in future.

Speaker 7

45:27

Okay.

Unassigned speaker

45:28

Thanks so much.

Speaker 1

45:29

Councilmember Fletcher.

Speaker 7

45:31

Um, do we know how we're deciding on which sidewalks to repair?

45:34

Um, just because I know just uh off the top of my off the top of my head in a recent experience, one of my old neighbors, she had a recent fall, and I think she did speak with DPW and it's supposed to be getting taken care of, but um, she supposedly that's been a spot some other neighbors had thought it been an issue for a while.

45:50

So, how are we prioritizing um which sections of sidewalk to attend to um and um I guess just ensuring that we follow through?

46:06

Good evening,

Speaker 8

46:07

good evening, council and mayor and crystal.

46:10

Um right now

Unassigned speaker

46:12

Speaker 8

46:12

city of Fraser hasn't had an active sidewalk replacement program in place.

46:17

Okay, so we're in the process of working something out because we definitely need something in the end term.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural███████████████████████████27%

Fiscal Sustainability███████████████████19%

Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%

Planning And Zoning███████████11%

Public Safety█████████9%

Library Funding███████7%

Public Engagement███3%

Technology and Innovation███3%

Affordable Housing██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Fraser City Council Meeting - September 10, 2026

The Fraser City Council met on September 10, 2026, at 6:30 PM. The meeting included a closed session for collective bargaining strategy, approval of consent agenda items, and extensive discussion and voting on several new business items, including concrete repairs, equipment purchases, a kratom ordinance, a library bond proposal, and fee schedule amendments.

Consent Calendar

Approved the consent agenda, which included: City Council Meeting Minutes from August 13, 2026; receipt of Board/Commission Meeting Minutes; a Rail Safety Week Proclamation; receipt of Check Disbursements; and receipt of Revenue and Expenditure Report.

Closed Session

The council entered closed session at approximately 6:45 PM for a strategy discussion with legal counsel regarding negotiations related to a collective bargaining agreement. The session lasted about 28 minutes, reconvening at 7:13 PM. No decisions were announced.

Discussion Items

8A: FY26-27 Miscellaneous Concrete Repair Program Contract Award – City Manager Rob and DPW representatives presented a $395,000 contract to Luigi Ferdinand & Sun Cement for code-enforcement sidewalk repairs, concrete replacement in Stillwater Court to address flooding, and other patches. Up to $50,000 in engineering services from AEW was also authorized (total not to exceed $445,000). Council discussed sidewalk repair responsibility, homeowner costs, tree-related sidewalk damage, and mudjacking. Councilmember Schornak requested future agenda items on permitting fees and tree-related sidewalk replacement policies. Motion passed unanimously.
8B: Purchase Top-Mounted Hood Air Deflector for a Leaf Trailer – Approved a single-source purchase of $7,113.30 from Sourcewell for a damper to direct exhaust away from workers and neighborhoods. Motion passed unanimously.
8C: Replace Senior Housing Siding and Gutters – Awarded a contract to Meridian Contracting Group LLC for $426,675 plus a 20% contingency of $85,335 (total not to exceed $512,010). The project replaces 30-year-old siding and gutters using enterprise fund reserves. Motion passed unanimously.
8D: Ordinance Amendment Regulating the Sale and Distribution of Kratom – Director Denault presented an ordinance prohibiting the sale, distribution, or advertising of kratom and its synthetic derivatives (e.g., 7OH) within the city, mirroring state House Bill 5537. The ordinance takes effect 10 days after publication. Council discussed notification to businesses. Motion passed 6-1 (Councilmember Perry opposed).
8E: Motorola Contract Extension – Approved extending the in-car and body camera contracts (Motorola) through 2033 at a total cost of $17,251.75, paid from the drug forfeiture account. The extension locks in current pricing for seven years. Motion passed unanimously.
8F: Motorola Radio Purchase – Approved purchasing 35 handheld and 19 mobile radios from Motorola for approximately $401,000 (with installation) to comply with upcoming state encryption mandates. The radios are encryption-capable and include a 7-year warranty. Funding will come from the general fund; a budget amendment will be addressed later. Councilmember Baranski asked about delays (radios will be stored until state templates are ready, ~6-9 months) and confirmed no obsolescence risk. Motion passed unanimously.
8G: Fee Schedule Amendment – Home-Based Business License Fee – Established a $100 fee for an initial 2-year home-based business permit and $70 for each 2-year renewal, effective September 10, 2026. Discussion centered on whether the fee was overreach and enforceability. Councilmember O'Dell and Perry opposed, arguing it was unnecessary and unequal. Motion passed 5-2.
9: Library Bond Proposal – Notice of Intent to Issue Bonds – The Library Board presented a concept plan for a new library on the existing site. Total project cost is $6 million ($1.5 million from library cash reserves plus a $4.5 million bond). The plan includes a two-story addition; only the lower level will be initially finished (upper level left unfinished for future build-out). Architect Steve Schneeman and finance consultant Brad Coulter presented conservative forecasts showing the bond can be repaid with a 1.3 debt coverage ratio. Key risks include local community stabilization share phase-out and expiration of the special millage in about 16 years. After extensive discussion, the council voted 5-2 to authorize the administration to proceed with bond council to issue bonds not to exceed $4.5 million. Mayor Lesich and Councilmember Perry voted no; all others voted yes. The bond will require a subsequent vote for final approval.

Key Outcomes

Approved $445,000 contract for miscellaneous concrete repairs (unanimous).
Approved $7,113.30 purchase of leaf trailer air deflector (unanimous).
Approved $512,010 contract for senior housing siding and gutters (unanimous).
Approved kratom sales ban ordinance (6-1).
Approved Motorola camera contract extension for $17,251.75 (unanimous).
Approved $401,000 radio purchase (unanimous).
Approved home-based business license fee schedule (5-2).
Authorized proceeding with bond council for library bonds up to $4.5 million (5-2).
Councilmember Schornak requested future agenda items on sidewalk replacement policies and permit fees (related to 8A).
City administration reported on postponed railroad crossing closure and upcoming Stephens Park concept plan.
Councilmember reports included thanks to police for using the Flock system to solve a fatal hit-and-run, and announcements about upcoming community events.

Meeting Transcript

Thirty two p.m. or a little delayed to a technical issue. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. Councilmember Branski. Councilmember Fletcher. Councilmember Higgins. Mayor Left. Present. Councilmember Perry. Make the motion. Approve agenda. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Mayor Potem O'Dow seconded by Councilmember Shornak to approve the agenda. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion passes. Item number five, citizen participation on agenda items. This is the moment of the meeting. If you are in the audience and you cannot be here for that particular item or interested on the agenda, you can come on up and speak for five minutes. Motion to approve the consent agenda. All in favor say aye. Aye. Closed session. So we have a motion by Mayor Lessage, seconded by Council Member Shornack to go into closed session. Yes. How do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a h do we give us a hug Time is now seven thirteen p.m. and we're back from the closed session. We are now going to move on to new business item eight A, fiscal year twenty-six twenty-seven miscellaneous concrete repair program contract award. I think this would be Ashley and the city mandatory. The work that will be completed will include code enforcement sidewalk repairs, some concrete replacement in Stillwater Court to address some flooding concerns, miscellaneous patches, and then also some sidewalk uh repairs at the senior housing complex. So we are requesting $395,000 in the contract to Luigi, and then also an estimated amount of fifty thousand for EW services. And that's doesn't matter anyway, because that comes out of that enterprise fund. But in general, if we're fixing sidewalks and stuff throughout the city, I would like to know which sidewalks we're repairing if we're doing streets and which streets we're repairing. And I think that's good to put on our website as well. So members of the public know, like, hey, okay, maybe this year it's not your section of Frazier, but maybe next year it might be, depending on, you know, what the need is. Does anybody object to that? We do have a list of the sidewalk repairs currently that code enforcement has provided for the street repairs. We will have to evaluate certain areas, but we can provide that um in future. Okay. Thanks so much.

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TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
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Fraser City Council Meeting - September 10, 2026

Consent Calendar

Approved the consent agenda, which included: City Council Meeting Minutes from August 13, 2026; receipt of Board/Commission Meeting Minutes; a Rail Safety Week Proclamation; receipt of Check Disbursements; and receipt of Revenue and Expenditure Report.

Closed Session

The council entered closed session at approximately 6:45 PM for a strategy discussion with legal counsel regarding negotiations related to a collective bargaining agreement. The session lasted about 28 minutes, reconvening at 7:13 PM. No decisions were announced.

Discussion Items

8A: FY26-27 Miscellaneous Concrete Repair Program Contract Award – City Manager Rob and DPW representatives presented a $395,000 contract to Luigi Ferdinand & Sun Cement for code-enforcement sidewalk repairs, concrete replacement in Stillwater Court to address flooding, and other patches. Up to $50,000 in engineering services from AEW was also authorized (total not to exceed $445,000). Council discussed sidewalk repair responsibility, homeowner costs, tree-related sidewalk damage, and mudjacking. Councilmember Schornak requested future agenda items on permitting fees and tree-related sidewalk replacement policies. Motion passed unanimously.

8B: Purchase Top-Mounted Hood Air Deflector for a Leaf Trailer – Approved a single-source purchase of $7,113.30 from Sourcewell for a damper to direct exhaust away from workers and neighborhoods. Motion passed unanimously.

8C: Replace Senior Housing Siding and Gutters – Awarded a contract to Meridian Contracting Group LLC for $426,675 plus a 20% contingency of $85,335 (total not to exceed $512,010). The project replaces 30-year-old siding and gutters using enterprise fund reserves. Motion passed unanimously.

8D: Ordinance Amendment Regulating the Sale and Distribution of Kratom – Director Denault presented an ordinance prohibiting the sale, distribution, or advertising of kratom and its synthetic derivatives (e.g., 7OH) within the city, mirroring state House Bill 5537. The ordinance takes effect 10 days after publication. Council discussed notification to businesses. Motion passed 6-1 (Councilmember Perry opposed).

8E: Motorola Contract Extension – Approved extending the in-car and body camera contracts (Motorola) through 2033 at a total cost of $17,251.75, paid from the drug forfeiture account. The extension locks in current pricing for seven years. Motion passed unanimously.

8F: Motorola Radio Purchase – Approved purchasing 35 handheld and 19 mobile radios from Motorola for approximately $401,000 (with installation) to comply with upcoming state encryption mandates. The radios are encryption-capable and include a 7-year warranty. Funding will come from the general fund; a budget amendment will be addressed later. Councilmember Baranski asked about delays (radios will be stored until state templates are ready, ~6-9 months) and confirmed no obsolescence risk. Motion passed unanimously.

8G: Fee Schedule Amendment – Home-Based Business License Fee – Established a $100 fee for an initial 2-year home-based business permit and $70 for each 2-year renewal, effective September 10, 2026. Discussion centered on whether the fee was overreach and enforceability. Councilmember O'Dell and Perry opposed, arguing it was unnecessary and unequal. Motion passed 5-2.

9: Library Bond Proposal – Notice of Intent to Issue Bonds – The Library Board presented a concept plan for a new library on the existing site. Total project cost is $6 million ($1.5 million from library cash reserves plus a $4.5 million bond). The plan includes a two-story addition; only the lower level will be initially finished (upper level left unfinished for future build-out). Architect Steve Schneeman and finance consultant Brad Coulter presented conservative forecasts showing the bond can be repaid with a 1.3 debt coverage ratio. Key risks include local community stabilization share phase-out and expiration of the special millage in about 16 years. After extensive discussion, the council voted 5-2 to authorize the administration to proceed with bond council to issue bonds not to exceed $4.5 million. Mayor Lesich and Councilmember Perry voted no; all others voted yes. The bond will require a subsequent vote for final approval.

Key Outcomes

Approved $445,000 contract for miscellaneous concrete repairs (unanimous).

Approved $7,113.30 purchase of leaf trailer air deflector (unanimous).

Approved $512,010 contract for senior housing siding and gutters (unanimous).

Approved kratom sales ban ordinance (6-1).

Approved Motorola camera contract extension for $17,251.75 (unanimous).

Approved $401,000 radio purchase (unanimous).

Approved home-based business license fee schedule (5-2).

Authorized proceeding with bond council for library bonds up to $4.5 million (5-2).

Councilmember Schornak requested future agenda items on sidewalk replacement policies and permit fees (related to 8A).

City administration reported on postponed railroad crossing closure and upcoming Stephens Park concept plan.

Councilmember reports included thanks to police for using the Flock system to solve a fatal hit-and-run, and announcements about upcoming community events.

Meeting Transcript