General Summary #

The Lapeer City Commission met on March 17, 2025, to conduct official business including the approval of meeting minutes, financial bill listings, and various municipal contracts. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comments, where residents expressed grievances regarding the city's failure to enforce developer bonds for street construction in Andrew River Estates 15:00 and the ongoing nuisance of odors from a local marijuana cultivation facility 17:26.

The meeting also highlighted community progress, specifically the Kiwanis Club’s successful fundraising efforts for a new inclusive playground at Roden Park, which has raised approximately $650,000 toward a $1.2 million goal 6:13. Additionally, the City Manager discussed preparations for a joint meeting with the Planning Commission to address topics like the City Master Plan and building color schemes 34:32.

Key Topics #

  • Kiwanis Playground Project: Fundraising updates and the acceptance of a $150,000 DNR grant 5:30, 11:08.
  • Environmental Nuisance: Public outcry regarding odor pollution from marijuana growth facilities 17:26, 41:24.
  • Infrastructure Maintenance: Issues with unfulfilled developer obligations for roads in Andrew River Estates 14:38 and upcoming sidewalk/curb reconstruction 28:45.
  • Municipal Governance: Plans for joint meetings between the City Commission and Planning Commission 33:28.

Who #

  • Jeramy Hing: Mayor 2:14
  • Brad Hagedon: Lapeer County Commissioner 4:04
  • Cara Lamor & Rob Scowen: Representatives of the Kiwanis Club 5:30
  • John: Local resident 13:32
  • Jeramy Hing: Local resident/taxpayer 14:38
  • Michael Higgins: Local resident 17:26
  • Mike Womack: City Manager 33:28
  • Mr. Francis: City Attorney 38:04
  • Commissioner Atwood: City Commissioner 23:36
  • Commissioner Brady: City Commissioner 22:53
  • Commissioner Glisman: City Commissioner 3:43
  • Commissioner Petrie: City Commissioner 23:36
  • Commissioner Swindell: City Commissioner 22:11

What #

  • Approval of Agenda: The agenda for the March 17 meeting was approved 2:36.
  • Approval of Minutes: Previous meeting minutes were approved 3:43.
  • Financial Approval: The March 17, 2025, bill listing, totaling $1,115,083.60, was approved 22:53.
  • Grant Resolutions:
    • Adoption of a resolution for the 2025 MSHDA/CDBG Neighborhood Rehab Grant application 24:19.
    • Adoption of a resolution for the Kiwanis Club DNR Grant (RP24-0114) 26:52.
  • Contract Approvals:
    • Approval of a contract with Green Leaf Masonry and Concrete Inc for Nepon Street sidewalk/curb reconstruction, not to exceed $4,172 28:45.
    • Approval of a contract for the Public Safety Building HVAC unit replacement 30:59.
  • Board Appointments: Reappointment of Diane Norberg to the Park Board through April 1, 2028 38:49.

When #

  • Meeting Date: March 17, 2025 22:53.
  • Telecommunications Week: April 13–19, 2025 4:27.
  • Park Board Term: Reappointment effective through April 1, 2028 38:49.
  • Planned Joint Meeting: Scheduled for May 2025 33:28.

Why #

  • Kiwanis Club: Seeking commission support to formally accept a $150,000 DNR grant for the Roden Park playground 11:08.
  • Residents: Seeking accountability for the city's failure to enforce developer bonds 15:00 and to address the legal nuisance of marijuana odors 19:59.
  • City Manager: Seeking to foster better communication and education between the City Commission and the Planning Commission 33:28.

Votes/Decisions #

  • Agenda Approval: Motion by an unnamed Commissioner 2:36, supported by Commissioner Brady 2:58. Motion Carried.
  • Minutes Approval: Motion by Commissioner Glisman 3:43, supported by Commissioner Brady 3:43. Motion Carried.
  • Consent Agenda: Motion by Commissioner Swindell 22:11, supported by Commissioner Glisman 22:11. Motion Carried.
  • March 17, 2025 Bill Listing ($1,115,083.60): Motion by Commissioner Brady 22:53, supported by Commissioner Swindell 22:53. Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Atwood (Yes), Commissioner Brady (Yes), Commissioner Glisman (Yes), Commissioner Petrie (Yes), Commissioner Swintell (Yes). Motion Carried 23:36.
  • MSHDA/CDBG Rehab Grant Resolution: Motion by Commissioner Glisman 25:45, supported by Commissioner Swindell 25:45. Motion Carried 26:28.
  • Kiwanis DNR Grant Resolution (RP24-0114): Motion by Commissioner Swindell 26:52, supported by Commissioner Glisman 26:52. Motion Carried 28:45.
  • Nepon Street Sidewalk Contract: Motion by Commissioner Swindell 29:06, supported by Commissioner Glisman 29:06. Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Brady (Yes), Commissioner Glisman (Yes), Commissioner Petrie (Yes), Commissioner Swindell (Yes), Commissioner Atwood (Yes). Motion Carried 30:36.
  • Public Safety Building HVAC Contract: Motion by Commissioner Brady 30:59, supported by Commissioner Swindell 30:59. Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Glisman (Yes), Commissioner Petrie (Yes), Commissioner Swindell (Yes), Commissioner Atwood (Yes), Commissioner Brady (Yes). Motion Carried 33:07.
  • Park Board Reappointment (Diane Norberg): Motion by Commissioner Swindell 38:49, supported by Commissioner Brady 38:49. Motion Carried 41:02.

Discussion Topics #

  • Playground Budget Reduction: The Kiwanis Club reported reducing the playground project cost from $1.5 million to $1.25 million by utilizing synthetic turf and rubber instead of full rubber safety surfacing 27:14.
  • Marijuana Facility Odor: Discussion regarding the failure to enforce a court order from Judge Barnard requiring a facility to remediate odor nuisances 18:30, 19:59.
  • Street Maintenance Responsibility: Residents argued that the city should use marijuana tax revenues to fix the uncompleted roads in Andrew River Estates 15:21.
  • Joint Board Meetings: The City Manager suggested discussing the City Master Plan and building color regulations during upcoming joint sessions 34:32.

Community Sentiment #

  • Supportive: There is high levels of community enthusiasm and documented support for the Kiwanis Club playground project 5:52.
  • Frustrated: Residents expressed significant anger and dissatisfaction regarding environmental pollution (odor) and the city's perceived lack of accountability regarding infrastructure and developer bonds 15:00, 19:59.

Notable Comments #

  • "The city was responsible for enforcing the Developers performance bonds required in 2002 and again in 2019... that responsibility was ignored" 15:00.
  • "We believe that no business has the right to pollute our air and to stink up our neighborhood" 19:59.

Questions Raised #

  • Why is the city paying $23 in sales tax to the state when the state owes the community millions 23:15?
  • Why was a previous contractor for sidewalk work not selected for the Nepon Street project 29:50?
  • Does the new HVAC contract include a provision for ongoing preventative maintenance 31:20?

Chat Summary #

Overall Sentiment

The chat activity was extremely minimal, consisting of a single inquiry from a viewer.

Chat Timeline

[54:15 – 56:27] A lone participant joined near the end of the stream to ask for clarification on the meeting's topic.

Notable Messages

54:15 "Hello, what is today's topic?" — @Maurowwwweeeewwwwwee