001[Music] at 7:00. We'll call this meeting to order. Please rise for the pledge of the allegiance and the invitation following. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Dear God, please bless our elected officials. Grant them the wisdom to know and the courage to do what is right for all citizens. Amen. >> Amen. >> Roll call, please. Allan here, Lafor >> here, >> Mr. Ravich >> here, >> Ricks >> here, Schultz >> here, Warren >> here, >> Yelanich >> here. >> Good to see everybody here tonight. Approval of the minutes for the last uh regular meeting on September 2nd. Motion be in order. >> Make the motion support. >> Motion made
002and support. Any discussion? Being not. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion does pass. We move on to audience comments on any non-aggenda items. Uh, please state your name and address for the to the clerk for the record and we ask that you hold it for three minutes or less. >> I'm Brian Wamsley from Richmond Community Schools. Is that good enough for that? >> That's good enough. >> All right. I am here with Margaret Telto, our board uh, vice president. So, I'm here to talk about the millillage. I was here actually a month ago to talk to you and we have been giving a lot of information out to our community and trying to get the message out there. So, this is more of just a reminder and
003an update. And if you guys obviously had any questions, I'd be more than happy to entertain them at a later point or tonight if you wish. Um, but this millillage is a no increase. So, the main question we've been getting is beginning July of 26, you'll see the current debt is in blue. Beginning July of 26, we're scheduled to drop that that millage rate. What we're asking voters to con to to approve is the debt millage rate that they were given on their tax bill in July of 25 and that would keep it consistent. So that's what it's a no increase debt rate. Okay. So by doing that it would generate about $51.8 million for the district. Um over the past 10 years this has been our enrollment projections. It has been a steady increase
004for the district. Um, so we have been in 19. We were fortunate for the community to pass a bond. We added classrooms on the elementary school, 10 classrooms. Uh, we have two empty classrooms left. So the enrollment is continuing. It's primarily in our middle school and elementary grades. So eventually they're going to hit the high school. When we looked at our enrollment projections, we had a company, a Michigan um, student opportunity, Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity, excuse me, did two enrollment projections. one about two years ago and one over a year ago. They use five different methods and some of it is just moving kids up a grade level, but they look at birth rates, death rates, housing market, economics, etc. All five of the methods you'll see will show an increase. And what they're
005projecting is a 16 to 20% increase in our district over the next 10 years. That equates to about 300 more students uh per year. This year, we are currently up 35 students. So if you spread that 300 over 10 years, it's an average of 30 kids a year. We've already met that projection this year. So what we've been asking voters to do is this isn't about um extras. This is about structural foundations for our district uh buildings uh and space. So in the bond at the elementary school, you might have seen this flyer come out. We passed it out of good old days. Uh the first priority would be the middle school which would be an addition. In 2026 the bonds would be sold. In 2028 the second series of the bond would be sold.
006That second series would focus on the high school and the elementary school. So I leave you with this. This bond is a no increase over the current debt rate. So that's what we're asking voters to continue or to consider, excuse me, this November 4th. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> I got it in three minutes. Do did we catch those graphics? I'm not sure if our camera >> uh if if you have those graphics forward. I I know Jason did a uh >> this week in Richmond with this week in Richmond. >> Superintendent is up on our website right now. So, >> did you have those graphics at the time? >> Um I don't know if I have these specific ones, but I will send him these. So, we have >> we could
007even add them into that or tonight. Yes. >> Very easy to understand those graphics. Somebody did a very nice job on those even for a councilman to understand. >> Thank you. >> Have a great evening. Thank you. >> Is there anybody else? >> We will move on. Adoption agenda. Mr. City Manager. Any changes? >> No changes. >> City Council, any changes? Motion to accept the agenda is presented be in order. >> I'll make the motion support. >> Motion made in support. Any discussion? >> Being not. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. against motion does pass. We move on to consent agenda. Is there a motion for the consent agenda? >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Support. >> Motion made in support according
008to our rules. There's no discussion on the motion. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Against. Motion does pass. We move on to items for consideration. We have seven this evening. The first one being consideration of special event request. Richmond Lions Club mint sale. Mr. City Manager, >> Council Council is scheduled to consider the request received from the Richmond Lions Club to conduct a mint sale on Saturday, October 4th, uh from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. uh at just at the county line roads uh and Sinclair Highway intersection at 31 uh not at Maine and Division. Um, they also did request a rain date of Saturday, October 11th, but it was uh mentioned to me tonight that uh that would then fall back on the same day that uh the um Knights of Columbus
009are doing their Tootsie Roll sales. So, uh I would request that council remove the rain from the motion. Um, and we'll work with uh the Lions Club if they want to either do a different date or I know they're also selling in front of schools that day. So, or school b various businesses through the community. So, they may not even need the rain date, but uh I would just it wouldn't be good to have two organizations on the same day. >> Thank you. Is there a motion before discussion? I'll make a motion to approve the request received from the Richmond Lions Club to conduct their mint sale at the intersections of County Line Road Sinclair Highway Cityside on Saturday, October 4th, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. And further, the lions agree to sign
010a liability waiver. >> Support. >> Motion made and support. Any discussion on this item? >> Make that uh uh clear that that is on the city side that we're approving that. Sure. Yeah. Okay. Any other discussion? Any audience participation? Back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Against. Motion does pass. >> Item number two is consideration of special event request. Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Sale. Mr. City Manager. Council is scheduled to consider the request received from the Richmond Knights of Columbus to conduct their annual Tootsie Roll sale on Friday, October 10th, Saturday, October 11th. Uh with Sunday, October 12th being uh kind of their rain date. Uh this is a routine uh request that we receive every year from the Knights of Columbus. >> Thank
011you. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the requests received from the Richmond Knights of Columbus to conduct their Tootsie Roll sale at the intersections of Main Division and County Line Road, St. Clair Highway City on Friday, October 10th and Saturday, October 11th, 2025 with Sunday, October 12th being reserved as the inclement weather date from dawn to dusk and that the Knights of Columbus agree not to be in the main division intersection on Friday, October 10th from 11:00 a.m. to noon and further that the Knights of Columbus agree to sign a liability waiver. >> Support made and supported. Any discussion on this item? Any audience comment on this? Back to the table. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Against. Motion does pass. >> Item number
012three is conser consideration of adopting resolution 2025-12's smart community credits. Mr. City Manager. Council is scheduled to consider adopting resolution number 2025-12, which will approve the smart municipal credit and community credit contract for uh fiscal year 2026. The contract reflects the council's request to fund the Richmond Linux EMS community transit program with the funds that the city receives from SMART. And this year, we'll receive $5,51 in municipal credits and $15,221 in community credits. and uh EMS Chief Jeff White is here to answer any questions. >> Good evening. I have little to add. This becomes an almost routine item for this council since 1999 when this all when this all began. Uh this last year we provided 3,117 rides to city of Richmond residents alone. Uh that's a that's a good number for a community our
013size by comparison. Uh just for just for more information in Clinton Township with uh you know well over 90,000 people we provide about 8,000 rides here we provide 3,000 just in our just in our little town uh with the with the population that's a fraction of that. So I think I think the community is getting a very good bang for its buck if you will uh with regards to the uh little over $20,000 that uh you're able to provide in the uh municipal and community credits. um falls at a a good time this year. Just to mention, we had a we had a great good old days as I think everyone would agree in the community. Um and and the shuttles were very well used both at the beverage tent as well as the support
014we could give uh to the parade organizers uh on that day. So, um I thought everything went uh went went very very well this year and and uh we look forward to next year. >> Thank you. >> Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to adopt the resolution number 2025-12, which approves the smart municipal credit and community credit contract for fiscal year 2026 and agree to transfer the amounts of $5,5001 in municipal credits and $15,221 in community credits to the Richmond Lennox EMS in a payment for their community transit service. >> Support made and supported. Any discussion? Well, I think you've already said it. What an outstanding uh product that you provide for the city of Richmond. Um and and then our numbers. You know, a lot of those people wouldn't be able to
015get around without you and Smart and your people that uh work there. So, I I can never say enough about, you know, the service. It's just uh for a for a small community like we are um it's top rate. Absolutely. No doubt about it. While I've got you up there, um the city council provide a uh resolution for the 50th anniversary of our Richmond Lennox EMS uh at a gathering that they had over at the the park a couple of weeks ago. And I just want to let the public know that uh how much we appreciate the Richmond Lennox EMS uh side of your job also in the 50 years that they've provided an outstanding service to our community. So while we got you and we got the camera rolling, we want people to know
016that we really appreciate what your people do, Jeeoff, and what you've personally done uh uh raise the standards pretty high over there. >> Thank you. It's been a wonderful partnership between uh the townships and the city uh to be able to continue providing that service. So, we'll look forward to the next 50. I might not be here at the end of that, but uh >> very good. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> against motion does pass. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Item number four, consideration of purchase for an extraction tool for the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Manager >> council is scheduled to consider approving the purchase of a new piece of extraction equipment for the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department. Uh the current fiscal year 2526
017fire budget includes 13,500 for the purchase of uh extraction equipment. Uh this line item does have a total of 31,000 in it. Uh Lieutenant 2 submitted a quote from McQueen for a Hurst M40 E3 spreader. uh which the information is in your packet. Uh in 2016, the uh uh fire department had purchased uh extraction equipment through Hurst. Um after kind of a review of various companies, uh Hurst was the one that uh met uh the majority of their needs, was more uh was faster, more flexible, and rugged. Now, what we're looking to is just add to that equipment. So uh by purchasing through Hurst we'll get the same battery, same uh different types of accessories. So uh they are requesting that we wave uh purchasing ordinance requirements and and go uh through McQueen who's the
018authorized dealer to purchase the uh spreader. >> Thank you, sir. Joel, some comments. >> Um yes, so this spreader here, I I've personally used it. Um I went to a training la last year. Um, and the it's not something we use every day, but the benefits of having this tool will benefit us extremely to get people out of these situations as as as fast as we can. And it uh the whole platform matches the rest of our hearth tools and we can move stuff around to have more of these tools on other trucks to where if some if only one truck is out then we have more tools on our trucks. >> Very good. Very good. Thank you. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to wave purchasing ordinance requirements and approve the purchase
019of the Hurst extraction equipment in the amount of $17,500 from McQueen. >> Support motion been made and support. Any further discussion? >> We got one thing. It says the estimated expiration date is 87. Is that probably still good? >> Yes. I So I just uh emailed them before I gave this quote to Mr. more and yes it's still good. Yep. All in favor roll call. >> Mr. Avich, >> yes. >> Leaf, >> yes. >> Schultz, >> yes. >> Ricks, >> yep. >> Yellen, >> yes. >> Warren, >> yes. >> Allen, yes. >> Motion does pass. Thank you. Thank you. >> Item number five is consideration of purchase for DPW snow guards. Mr. city manager. Oh, did I >> I think you missed one. Purchase. Sorry, they're in the packet backwards. >> Oh, yeah, they are.
020Yeah. >> Uh the DPW motorpool building and offices were expanded and updated in 2024. Uh the project included a standing seam metal roofing. Uh not considered under the project was the installation of snow guards uh to hold the snow on the roof. Uh the new metal roof does not hold the snow back very well. Uh and uh the snow is falling off uh causing a danger to both equipment and personnel. Um and so uh we did get a quote from RJ Seamless Metal Products uh a for a subcontract that did the roofing. And um based on that uh evaluation of that quote, we're recommending that we um go with them. Uh due to the fact that they're familiar with the building, they installed the roof. Uh so we're requesting that you wave purchasing owners requirements
021and approve the snow guards. >> Thank you, sir. Is there a motion? I'm sorry, Jim. Did you want to add anything to that? >> Uh no. Thank you. >> Okay. Good job. >> You sure? Mo is there is would somebody like to make the motion? >> I make a motion to wave purchasing ordinance requirements due to section 6453C and to authorize award of the DPW snowguard project to RJ Seamless Metal Projects in the amount of $9,312 with funds charged to the appropriate line item building additions and improvements DPW. >> Support motion made and support. Any discussion on this item? Roll call, please. >> Warren, >> yes. >> Schultz, >> yes. >> Allen, yes. >> Ricks, >> yes. >> Mr. Ravich, >> yes. >> Yellen, >> yes. >> Leaf, >> yes. Motion does pass. Item number
022six is consideration of special request purchase of salt Detroit salt seasonal backup. Mr. City Manager, >> City of Richmond currently participates in the My Deal Road Salt Program through the state of Michigan. Uh this allows us to piggyback on the state contract. Um under the my deal program, the city's required to take a minimum of 80% of what we order and can also request up to 120% of what we order at the same price. Uh so uh this year we're requesting 650 tons of road salt for the current season. So we would be required to take 520 tons, but would be eligible to request up to 780 tons uh under the contract price. Um the contract price for uh this year is $55.89 per ton. And uh if we utilized all 650 tons, that'd be
023$36,328.50. And public service director Jim Guttinger is here if you have any questions. >> Comments. >> Just to clarify that last year was a rough year and we used more than we we had initially requested. We actually went over the 120% and we were fortunate that they did allow us to take slightly more than the 120%. So, >> is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion to authorize expenditure up to $36,328 from Detroit salt for the purchase of road salt for the fiscal year 2526 winter season with expenses charged appropriate line item salt purchases DPW general fund. support >> must been made and support. Any discussion on this item looking at this um and we don't always see the breakdown but being we have M19 is that part of our or are we reimbursed
024for some of the use of this salt? >> Yeah, all the salt that is used on M19 and the time to apply it is a charge to MDOT and reimbured by MD. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And just a reminder, how many ton does a salt the new salt barn hold? Uh >> 350. >> Yeah. >> Just I don't know if people realize how much we have on hand. Yeah. >> At one time. >> Anything else, council? All in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> against does pass. Item number seven is consideration adopting the 2026 city council meeting schedule. Mr. City Manager, >> in order to comply with the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, council must establish the schedule for the council meetings for the upcoming year. Uh before you is a
025list of dates if we choose to remain on the 1st and third Mondays, uh with the meetings beginning at 7 p.m. except for July and August with those meetings beginning at 6 p.m. >> Thank you. Is council ready for a motion? Go right ahead. Make a motion to adopt the 2026 city council meeting scheduled as presented. >> Support made and support. Is there any discussion on this? Being not. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion does pass. [Applause] Move on here to uh miscellaneous matters from the city manager. Sure. >> Uh, as as council's aware, the new floors have been installed at the odd, so our programming is back up and running there. Um, like to congratulate the festival on a very nice festival through the uh, previous
026weekend and uh, really uh, from the city's perspective went very smoothly. >> Thank you. Uh, on to council comments. Mike. >> Um, nothing today. Thank you. >> Yeah, nothing. Jimmy, >> uh, just sorry to see that Shepard is closing after all these years of a family-owned business that been a mainsafe for Richmond for numerous years. It's It's just really sad, but hey, it is what it is. >> Sign of the times evidently. >> Evidently. >> Yeah, Emily. >> Nothing. Thank you, >> John. Nothing. Nick, all set. Okay. Um, a big thank you to the city of Richmond and everybody involved uh in the city of Richmond for helping the good old days festival committee uh put on uh the event. Uh it was a very good event. Uh as far as the committee uh felt
027uh heard a lot of good comments from a lot of different people. Uh especially the parade. There was uh um some new uh uh participants in the parade this year. It was uh well noted by the community. Uh we received quite a few uh uh thank yous for uh doing that. Um but uh the all the departments and everything really made it much easier. um some investment that the the uh uh festival put into the electricity and into the uh 6ft fence uh made things much easier uh much less labor intensive. Um we didn't have to keep our fingers crossed that the generators kept running and and whatnot and uh that the fence stayed up. So um we uh we really like that also and we're just trying to make it easier and easier for
028the future. Um the sponsorship from the city of Richmond businesses was uh outstanding this year again. Um we really appreciate uh all of that and uh just all the volunteers. It takes a lot to put this thing on. Now there's a lot of work there. And I will note that on Wednesday uh the the tents came down on Tuesday this year. Usually they come down on Monday afternoon after everything is cleared out from underneath the tents. On Wednesday, I was over because when they take the tents down, there's always papers and different things that are kind of hidden and it was trash. And I was over there picking up and your city manager came over and helped pick up with me. And he was on the clock, too, by the way. But but I I
029I really appreciate John worked throughout the weekend with the good old days committee uh uh on various things and has always been there. You stops in and sees me if we have problems. You know, two heads are better than one, whatever. Um, so I I really appreciate again, John, your involvement and, uh, the the fact that you helped me pick up that trash Wednesday. Also, >> you're welcome. >> Yeah. So, uh, that's for the the festival. Um, as far as, uh, our calendar, we have a few things, uh, on the 27th here. Um, that's Saturday. It's the last Saturday of September. We have the living history cemetery walk uh which is a step back in time uh that is uh being held from 1:00 to 3:00 and that is put on by the historical society.
030If you have any questions on this you can call Mary Ellen at 58682953. And uh personally uh I've been asked for about the last 5 years to uh represent uh my parents uh in this cemetery walk. And um I finally had this Saturday available and Mary Ellen definitely wrangled me to uh do this. So uh we're uh myself and my uh daughter uh Rachel are going to be representing um my parents and uh Rich Winer will be doing um Cliff Hench. A lot of people remember him from the Hench funeral home. Um Stan Hurt, uh he will be doing Andre Simmons who was a uh a resident back in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. And also um Chris Marshall Howell and uh Brian Howell will be doing uh who is a great great
031granddaughter. they will be doing art and Elizabeth Kirkham uh who were again uh in the uh mid to late 18 1800s and uh into the early 1900s. So there's four different places uh that uh people will be um there is a ticket charge of $15. Um and golf cart transportation will be available for those who need it. They'll go from grave uh to grave. And um uh again, this is all held from 1 to 3:00 on the 27th. Also on the 27th is something new that's going to be held at the on Main Street. It's called a kids and teens craft fair at the that is going to run from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday the 27th. Um there is an admission charge of $3 to get in. Uh, and this, if you have
032any questions on this, you can contact uh, Richmond uh, parts and wreck at 5864304950. And also at our library on the same date from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., uh, the, uh, jigsaw puzzle sale. Uh, there's a tons and tons of jigsaw puzzles for sale uh, over there. This is an annual thing. It's conducted by the friends of the library and um they can't guarantee that uh or verify that every single piece is in every single puzzle. I haven't read that before, but they put put it on the flyer this year, but uh I know my wife is into puzzles and she's bought some really really nice puzzles there at a very good price and have never missed a piece of puzzle. The last thing that we have here is the city of Richmond uh
033recreation department's 2025 scarecrow decorating contest. Um, that's a $10 entry fee. Uh, individuals, family, businesses, clubs, and organizations uh may enter into this. Um, let's see. This is, uh, again, uh, conducted by Parks and Wreck. Uh, more information on this is 7273064. That's the scarecrow decorating contest. the uh light poles along Main Street from one end of town to the other uh will be uh decorated uh in the the uh scarecrow theme. Um we move on to close session. We have a close session this evening. We need a motion to go into close session. I'll make a motion to convene into close session in accordance with section 8C of the Michigan Open Meetings Act Public Act 267 of 1976 as amended for strategy and negotiation sessions connected with the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement
034as requested by administration >> support. Motion been made and supported. Any discussion? >> Do you not? Roll call. >> Yellen. >> Yes. >> Ricks. >> Yep. >> Leaf. >> Yes. >> Warren. Yes. >> Schultz. >> Yes. >> Allen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ravage. >> Yes. >> Motion does pass. We'll go into close session. >> Okay. We need need a motion to uh reconvene into open session. >> I'll make a motion to reconvene into open session. >> Support. >> Motion made and support. Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Against. We're back in open session. We move on to other business. Uh collective bargaining agreement. Is there a motion? I make a motion to approve the tenative agreement with Michigan Fraternal Order of Police signed on August 20th, 2025. Port >>
035made and support. Is there any discussion on this? We appreciate the uh spirit of the negotiation uh by both parties and uh glad that we finally have an agreement that we can all uh agree to. Any other comments? All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. against motion does pass. Is there any other business of the city council this evening? >> If not, >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Support motion has been made. All in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Motion does pass. We are adjourned. [Music]