City of Lapeer - City Commission - Budget Workshop - April 13, 2026

The workshop served as a detailed walkthrough of the city's fiscal planning for the upcoming year. City Manager Mike Womack and various department heads presented a comprehensive overview of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes over $10 million in planned projects. Key discussions centered on the necessity of maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure, such as the Genese Street bridge replacement, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, and various road maintenance projects.

The financial presentation emphasized a conservative approach to the General Fund, aiming to maintain a fund balance between 15% and 30% of expenditures. While property tax revenues are projected to increase slightly, the budget accounts for rising costs in health insurance (projected at 15%) and the complexities of managing large-scale infrastructure projects. The commission also discussed the strategic management of various enterprise funds, including water, sewer, and the local road fund, highlighting the importance of using working capital effectively to avoid immediate rate increases for residents.

• 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP): Overview of the $10 million+ plan, including road projects, public safety equipment, and park improvements.
• General Fund Budget: Review of projected revenues (property and income tax) and expenditures, with an emphasis on a conservative fund balance strategy.
• Public Safety Equipment: Plans for replacing police vehicles (Chevrolet Tahoes), Taser upgrades (Axon), and patrol rifles, as well as fire department HVAC and SCBA updates.
• Infrastructure and Utilities: Discussion on the Genese Street bridge replacement, wastewater treatment plant upgrades (pumps, airators, and valves), and water main replacements in mobile home parks.
• Public Works and Maintenance: Updates on street paving, sidewalk maintenance, and the replacement of heavy machinery like tractors and chipper trucks.
• Parks and Recreation: Discussion on the inclusive playground, fitness equipment replacement, and the upcoming Parks and Recreation Master Plan update.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor
• Mike Womack: City Manager
• Joshua C. Atwood: Commissioner
• Stefan Brady: Commissioner
• Linda Glisman: Commissioner
• Melissa Petrie: Commissioner (Mayor Pro-Tem)
• Lynne McCarthy: Commissioner
• Kelly Hannah: Finance/Budget official
• Jason: Wastewater Department representative
• Ross: DPW/Water representative
• Rodney: Parks and Recreation/Cemetery representative
• Rob: DPW representative
• Ramona: City Clerk/Election official

• Budget Workshop: A review of the proposed 2026-2027 budget and 6-year CIP.
• CIP Presentation: Detailed breakdown of spending on major streets ($4M), public safety ($1.7M), and other infrastructure.
• Infrastructure Projects: Discussion of the Genese Street bridge replacement (estimated 4-month closure), water main replacements, and wastewater plant improvements.
• Public Safety Upgrades: Proposed replacement of two Ford Explorers with Chevy Tahoes; plan for 10 new Axon Tasers over five years; and individual patrol rifle assignments.
• Revenue/Expenditure Overview: Presentation of a $12.1 million total budget, noting a slight increase in revenue and a conservative expenditure plan.

• Meeting Date: April 13, 2026
• Next Budget Workshop: Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 5:30 PM
• Regular Meeting: Monday (following the workshop) at 6:30 PM
• CIP Term: 6-year planning period

• City of Lapeer: Meeting held at City Hall.
• Specific Locations Mentioned: Genese Street Bridge, Hunter Creek Mobile Home Park, Cranon Park, Train Depot, and various city streets (Pine, Pope, Court, etc.).

• Infrastructure Longevity: The need to replace aging equipment (tractors, pumps, vehicles) and infrastructure (bridges, water mains) to prevent costly failures.
• Fiscal Responsibility: To present a budget that manages rising costs (health insurance, utilities) without depleting the city's "savings account" (fund balance).
• Public Safety: To ensure police and fire departments have modern, reliable equipment (Tasers, rifles, HVAC, vehicles).
• Compliance and Grants: The necessity of updating the Parks and Rec Master Plan to remain eligible for DNR grants.

• Taser Funding: Debate over paying for 10 new Tasers all at once versus a 5-year installment plan to avoid "sticker shock."
• Water Main Replacement in Mobile Home Parks: Discussion on the logistical and social implications of moving from individual meters to a master meter pit in Hunter Creek.
• Wastewater Capacity: Discussion on the plant's ability to handle future residential and industrial growth (e.g., data centers).
• Road Maintenance Strategy: Debate between continuing cheaper treatments (emulsion/crack sealing) versus more expensive paving projects.
• Conference and Workshop Reductions: Discussion on the impact of reducing travel/training budgets on staff expertise and professional networking.

• Commissioner Review: Commissioners to "digest" the budget presented for further discussion.
• Follow-up Meeting: The commission may hold another session on April 23 or an earlier session on Monday to finalize changes.
• Legal Review: Suggestion to consult with the City Attorney regarding the legalities of meter pit installations in mobile home parks to protect residents.
• Parks Master Plan: Start the update process for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan by the end of summer.

Overall Sentiment

The chat was extremely sparse and lacked meaningful engagement, consisting of repetitive, nonsensical text from a single user that appeared unrelated to the budget workshop proceedings.

Chat Timeline

[00:00 – 14:39] A single participant posted fragmented strings of text involving various locations, states, and law enforcement acronyms.