Lansing City Council tables parking sign issue, starts seasonal hiring timeline, and opens new round of utility rate and budget discussions
by Joshua Sharpe
The Lansing City Council held its regular meeting Monday, January 19, led by Mayor Mike Verdon, where members addressed a full agenda that included both immediate operational decisions and long-term planning considerations. Key topics discussed included preparations for staffing seasonal recreation, scheduling steps for budget amendments, positioning on rates for water, sewer, and trash services in light of anticipated capital pressures, and ongoing deliberations regarding the future of the old City Hall property.
The council revisited the issue of removing no-parking signs around Tough Tek Metals, along North 3rd Street and North Street. The discussion concluded with the matter being postponed for further evaluation.
Council discussion then shifted to seasonal staffing and the practical calendar required to fill positions before summer recreation begins and the swimming pool opens for the summer months. Verdon introduced the item, explaining that acting early was necessary to ensure “in the upcoming weeks we have time to advertise this and hire them in a timely fashion.” Following the sorting through of timelines, the council approved to begin advertising the positions in The Standard newspaper and other means in the coming weeks.
Discussion ensued regarding a proposed budget amendment. Following that discussion, the council approved to set Monday, February 2 - the date of its next regular meeting - as the public hearing date for the budget amendment.
DELTA DENTAL GRANT
The council discussed approving an application for a Delta Dental grant to install a bottle-filler drinking fountain, which aims to promote health by encouraging the use of reusable bottles and reducing single-use beverages. Mayor Mike Verdon explained that Parks & Recreation Board member Denise Mauss would pursue this grant to cover the unit’s costs. Council members referenced a previous successful grant that led to another bottle-filler installation. However, they raised concerns about ongoing maintenance, particularly the filtration system, which has an estimated filter replacement cost of about $300.
The placement of the new unit was also discussed, with suggestions to install it near the pickleball courts to maximize usage. The grant involves no matching funds, but the city would be responsible for future upkeep of the bottle-filler station. The council generally supported the request, noting the aging infrastructure of the current drinking fountains and the potential benefits of the upgrade, and approved moving forward with the application process.
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