By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY
Cleaver Senior Staff Writer
HARRISON – Topics of discussion and/or action at the past two meetings of Harrison City Council have been diverse. At the May 19 meeting, JC Colville, president of Harrison Area Economic Development Corp., presented Council with a proposal to sell to the City the buildable portion of property owned by HAEDCO south of Mostetler Road. That proposed sale would be at 80% of its appraised value for developable land, with a downpayment of 5%, not to exceed $50,000. Council went into closed session pursuant to MCL 15.268(d) of the Open Meetings Act to consider the purchase of real property. Upon return to open session, Council approved a motion to proceed with obtaining a commercial appraisal of that property.
Council also heard staffing models presented by Justin Cavanaugh, city manager/clerk, to address the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Chris Damvelt. Interest was expressed in one of the three models offered, and Council directed Cavanaugh to schedule an interview with Barry Wallace who is currently the only department member qualified to serve in that role.
Cavanaugh also informed there was no EGLE confirmation of the presence or removal of underground storage tanks on the vacant property at 115 S. First St., and Council chose to delay any further action until a FOIA request response had been received.
There was discussion of a previous inquiry into a tree planting program in the tree-named neighborhoods where trees are aging out. High costs, city liability/responsibility/maintenance information led to Council directing Cavanaugh to gather public input on the topic, as well as pricing for mature trees.
The final old business action was adoption of Resolution 2025-10, granting local government approval for a Class C Liquor License for The Lynx Enterprises LLC in the Redevelopment District Area.
Under New Business, Council moved to:
-Award the contract for Harrison City Park Improvements to Gilmour Construction in the amount of $611,373.71.
-Approve Change Order No. 1 for City Park Improvements (Gilmour Construction) to remove the playscape construction (the City will manage that directly as a community-build project) reducing the contract by $165,000.
-Approve Combined Pay Request No. 11-USDA Sewer Project in the amount of $456,492.60 ($444,797.99 to Sterling Excavation and $12,144.61 to Fleis & VandenBrink).
-Approve Change Order 5, increasing the project total by $20,114.71 and extending completion deadline by 30 days.
-Approve the purchase of a recovery heater system for the fire department from Gateway Refrigeration, not to exceed $38,224.65
-Approve purchase and installation of five Arlo2 security cameras at $200 each with $20/month per unit service fee due to ongoing vandalism in the city.
After a public hearing was opened on the MEDC-Water Related Infrastructure Grant and no public comment was offered, the hearing was closed and Council approved the following motions to:
-Adopt Resolution 2023-11 Community Development Block Grant WRI Grant Application and Local Match Commitment as presented.
-Adopt Resolution 2025-12 Approval of the City of Harrison Community Development Plan as presented.
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By the time the June 2 meeting rolled around the 189 runs year-to-date previously reported by Damvelt had grown to 201 runs. Also increasing were the grass violation warning letters being sent out by Code Enforcement Officer Mike Freeman, one of which apparently found its way to the mayor’s house. Mayor Dan Sullivan good-naturedly acknowledged it and commended Freeman on his thorough work.
DPW Superintendent Sam Russell spoke of maintaining the town, watering flowers, weed spraying at the lagoons and rebuilding the leaf truck. He also reported the new benches, trash can and dog stations had been installed on the corner of First and Park streets, and that the splash pad is up and running and being used by kids.
Treasurer Tracy Wheeler-Clay reported she and Cavanaugh had received their scores and both are now MCAT certified.
Cavanaugh reported that FOIA to EGLE resulted in no records on the 115 S. First St. property, and for them to provide any would require a Phase 1 Study on the property – at the city’s expense. It was also reported that the Spark Grant plan had been approved and was out for bid.
He also reminded that the Summer Sizzler Festival was slated for noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Harrison City Park, and would feature food trucks, live music, a cornhole tournament, craft vendors and more. [Fingers crossed for good weather.]
Under New Business, Council moved to:
-Appoint Rachel Anderson to the Harrison District Library Board for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2029 (a position that requires 75% attendance).
-Adopt Resolution 2025-13, approving a special beer festival license for American Legion Post 404 (for the Harrison Street Fair).
-Accept Playground Boss and its bid of $44,958 as the vendor for the Harrison City Park playscape (reducing the balance of cost by doing a community build).
-Approve the 2025 Tax Rate Request at 16.1 mills as will be presented on Form L-4029.
Council meets next at 6 p.m. Monday, June 16 at Harrison City Hall, 2105 Sullivan Drive.
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