Midland City Council Meeting – October 13, 2025

The Midland City Council met at 7 p.m. on October 13, 2025, in council chambers. Mayor Donker presided, with Mayor Pro Tem Brown Wilhelm and Councilmembers Wazbinski, Solar, and Passick present. The agenda included routine consent items, two public hearings, public comments, a landfill energy purchase agreement amendment, and notification of a FOIA appeal.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was adopted by one motion with no requests for removal. The vote was recorded as passing; the transcript notes both "5-0" and "4-0" (all five members had answered roll call, creating a discrepancy in the record).

Public Hearings

Conditional Use Permit #92 – Drive-Through Coffee Shop at 7142 Eastman Avenue

• City staffer Jacob presented the request by Brutopia Michigan LLC (the resolution reads "Brewtopia Michigan LLC") to construct a 510-square-foot modular Seven Brew drive-through coffee shop (plus a 300-square-foot cooler) on the Meyer property at 7142 Eastman Avenue, reusing the site of a car wash that closed about two years ago. The site is zoned Regional Center. The proposal includes demolition of the old car wash, two drive-through queuing lanes, pedestrian sidewalk connections, a bike rack, landscaping, and a shared parking agreement with Meyer.
• Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval with nine contingencies; following applicant corrections, four contingencies remained: conditional-use tie to the site plan, stormwater management permit, soil erosion/sedimentation control due to nearby Jacobs Drain, and later review/approval of signage by the building department.
• Aaron McMackin of Stonefield Engineering, representing Seven Brew, said the company was excited about Midland, accepted all contingencies, and described the model: no menu boards or speaker boxes; employees take orders and walk beverages to vehicles. The building is employee-only, no indoor dining; typical hours 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; construction could take two to three months.
• Council questions addressed queuing capacity, turn movements, access points, and hours. Staff noted queuing space is likely more than sufficient because most orders are placed via app.
• Public comment: Aaron Magley, owner of The Coffee Ground at 4951 Eastman, opposed the project, stating Midland already has over a dozen coffee shops and a franchise/chain could be detrimental to existing local businesses.
• Council approved the conditional use permit without recorded opposition.

General Fund Budget Amendment – Trune Park Major Maintenance Donation

• Karen Murphy presented a requested acceptance of a $50,000 donation from the Charles J. Strohsacker Foundation, part of the park's five-year maintenance cycle. Work includes restaining concrete letters, the painted circular walkway, and the restroom exterior; resurfacing splash pad safety surfacing and rubber area around the caterpillar sculpture; and rebuilding the alligator bridge.
• The resolution amended the FY 2025-26 general fund budget, increasing revenues and expenditures by $50,000. Council praised the foundation's generosity. The motion passed 4-0.

Public Comments – Non-Agenda

• John Elson, 6106 Sturgeon Creek Parkway, praised the Army Corps of Engineers/Midland Business Alliance flood-planning meeting and the city's presence there. He said the city has had over 150 water line breaks this year, which he saw as a sign that infrastructure needs repair. He criticized spending on a Rod Street bike lane and a proposed roundabout, arguing the city should prioritize water and sewer lines. He also thanked the city for fixing his driveway.

Discussion Items

Landfill Energy Purchase Agreement Amendment with Dow Inc.

• Karen Murphy presented a proposed amendment to the agreement under which the city sells electricity and renewable energy credits from its gas-to-energy facility to Dow. Under the current contract, Dow pays market rate for the first one million kilowatt-hours per month and a reduced rate above that. The amendment lowers the ceiling to 650,000 kWh per month and shortens the contract extension cycle from five to three years; the reduced-rate formula remains unchanged. Effective date would be June 1, 2026.
• Murphy projected revenue losses of about 23% in a high-production month (1,000,000 kWh), 15–16% at typical production (around 850,000 kWh), and no loss in a low-production month (600,000 kWh). She said Dow could buy electricity and renewable energy credits cheaper on the open market but wanted to continue as a partner; the city would likely receive less by selling to Consumers Energy.
• In discussion, the city manager and Murphy said the facility covers its costs but is not a money-maker; the city still owes debt until 2030, and generator overhauls could cost up to $600,000 per generator. Other options (selling the gas or system) were evaluated but did not make financial sense at this time.
• The resolution authorizing the mayor and clerk to execute the amended agreement passed 4-0.

New Business – FOIA Appeal Notice

• The city clerk reported that Matthew Miller filed a FOIA request on September 3 and received a denial on September 8, citing two exemptions. Miller has appealed, and council will hear the appeal at its October 27 meeting. No action was required at this meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted the consent agenda (with a vote noted as 5-0/4-0 in the transcript).
• Approved Conditional Use Permit #92 for the Seven Brew drive-through coffee shop.
• Approved the Trune Park donation/budget amendment 4-0.
• Approved the Dow energy purchase agreement amendment 4-0.
• Acknowledged an upcoming FOIA appeal for October 27.