[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6389554,"mediaKeyId","2113240-028e9f2ed3ab375e032fa05a74af5a99","parentId",2113240,"title","Commission rejects MDOT gateway lighting agreement after questions about timing and lighting quality","audioSeconds",480,"startMs",1986350,"endMs",2466424,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113240-028e9f2ed3ab375e032fa05a74af5a99&start=1986&end=2466","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113240-028e9f2ed3ab375e032fa05a74af5a99/thumbnail_1986350.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6389554/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Commission-rejects-MDOT-gateway-lighting-agreement-after-questions-about-timing-and-lighting-quality","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389554-d6644333469a85132842b2423de60958/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440045&Signature=DfO3HCFmfSFyQNbbb081vsc~Ji2ellEU6Q~JT5zzr9fejdWr0kNCuPy1vPdWgu1Ehd7alZepEssehpAKZPiuG5vM4L-GnAsrToGJ67T6Br~3hI-WNjp1Jb5lqiM8k9on0vZxMuJfjlHXYxaJ0fiofz00-hTxF9VHPV9djGFmvywcp~77Y~Qvi~lu9oyB3eNtUSDGgO1MMckExv-S3DSqF0RTFwBfxcJ4EzgXxuiWr9mW8QXdSlPKc~sVfxW1PoL6dSrpFYVlWGRHDK6wB-4Qd3pY-rA3k1dyS67glQM60GJjw8jEVN6kTUoyVx1kq045UkBsL~hPDNeNUE72xVPKAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Battle Creek","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Battle Creek City Commission voted down Resolution 48, a proposed contract authorizing the city manager to execute contract No. 24-5384 with the Michigan Department of Transportation for a gateway lighting and aesthetic signing project totaling $92,700.

The item was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion by Commissioner Simmons, who said lighting installed on the Capitol Avenue bridge over I-94 is poorly diffused at night and urged the city to ask MDOT to correct that earlier work before approving new projects. Simmons also said MDOT has discussed demolishing the bridge and converting the corridor to an at-grade boulevard in future years, and she questioned spending money on an element that might be removed in a decade.

The interim city manager and Steve Skalski, director of public works, responded that the proposed lighting for the gateway is similar to the existing treatment on Capitol Avenue and that the Pell study and any boulevard conversion remain at least 10 years out unless additional funding is secured. Skalski said the project had been bid previously but was rebid after earlier bids exceeded budget; MDOT is bidding it again now.

The manager's office added that the funds tied to the agreement are restricted to roadway projects and cannot simply be reallocated to other municipal priorities. Several members of the public had urged the commission to prioritize fire protection and other essential services over aesthetic signage.

A motion to approve Resolution 48 was moved and supported; after discussion Commissioner Simmons said she would vote no. The clerk announced that the resolution failed. The transcript does not record a roll-call breakdown of the vote or the mover and seconder by name for this motion.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission regular meeting - 1/7/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Battle Creek City Commission voted down a proposed $92,700 contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for gateway lighting and aesthetic signing after commissioners questioned lighting quality on a previous project and the future of the overpass in MDOT's long-term plan.","taxTitle","Battle Creek City, Calhoun County, Michigan","taxId",3332,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389558,"ARC of Calhoun County describes ARPA-funded employment services for people with developmental disabilities",365,794450,1160110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113240-028e9f2ed3ab375e032fa05a74af5a99&start=794&end=1160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113240-028e9f2ed3ab375e032fa05a74af5a99/thumbnail_794450.jpg","/articles/6389558/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/ARC-of-Calhoun-County-describes-ARPA-funded-employment-services-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389558-eb18b9c0b67a028eb9e2835d50871afb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440045&Signature=D6rvulcIIythRCbUzfrW5aUM6fkcLL3hicmOI9ZXyhoeXtAIKnRH1hM9qLebZEd6giJ5BNb4prYDDaZV97DEbok8CiUEryk5YrpTLiUbzf40NZiGlN4Q65gHWlWZxYF7~49XiCSeP9NQvcMJFcWa~6k08FGU~E4Dyoy~xoiDvNB1-Sx~Oj2uxJi8uDJbi-NIy76UWmhyk2dMIOYJwjOLcWxzn25r6ENgweFRALkiRPIQEh4T91OH0~-zjfq6~lvy97OJwc4zVv2SsAIP2WFPI9lZy27nTwl30ek3eMJ1njbnqz6dZxZQjtnYs66olM4ohHB6g-ewR1jF6SvPMJpCJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Claire Tanner, director of the ARC of Calhoun County, presented to the Battle Creek City Commission on Jan. 7 about a multi-year program funded in part by American Rescue Plan Act dollars and other grants to expand employment services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Tanner said the ARC combined a three-year, $30,000 ARPA grant with a $130,000 grant from Carewell Services to develop staffing, training, a curriculum and policies to deliver competitive integrated employment and pre-employment transition services. \"We developed a whole curriculum, a set of policies and procedures, and we started serving people,\" Tanner said.

The ARC is offering a high-school class in Union City and said it hopes to expand that work to Battle Creek schools. Tanner described \"competitive integrated employment\" as paid work in the community alongside workers who do not have disabilities and said the program provides employer coaching and ongoing support after placement to improve retention.

Tanner cited local employers who have hired program participants, including a Burger King location, North Point Woods and, temporarily, Big Lots (which Tanner said is going out of business); the ARC said it will help affected placements transition to other jobs. The ARC also operates a downtown social-enterprise store that upcycles donated goods to raise funds and provide on-the-job experience.

Commissioners asked about downtown location benefits and employer partnerships. Tanner said the ARC has been downtown for years and values the connections to local businesses.

The presentation was informational; no commission action was taken.

","The ARC of Calhoun County told the Battle Creek commission it used ARPA and private funding to develop employment and pre-employment services, including a high-school class and a social-enterprise storefront.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389563,"Battle Creek commissioners issue proclamations for firefighter cancer awareness, human trafficking and racial healing",165,556825,722785,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113240-028e9f2ed3ab375e032fa05a74af5a99&start=556&end=722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113240-028e9f2ed3ab375e032fa05a74af5a99/thumbnail_556825.jpg","/articles/6389563/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Battle-Creek-commissioners-issue-proclamations-for-firefighter-cancer-awareness-human-trafficking-and-racial-healing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389563-168957206fb97f0adb404d1755a4d73d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440045&Signature=lQ-yHH-5yF5pGqVisl7KAEAlk1gQG0bxpfwPxfFr0f1LuHB2YO7R~rMKorGmQouhM3PGW2~iFllScMaVIw1d8piWnXrvA7MJAbFlhgcx8vaMZxrK4yJS1pTf5iTTTG6HKsLzr4r95D1~eXFEw-sFNdYM6QBDaT3rzb4cQwLEiqrnLCRlGoF8m945ThMbwKBn~sj6jazv2jrDNw3gDPWe5vlvqZu6GICGLQLvWIHG-6fSgoelJdXV-r3~mYkcn8xqJRflKqXxwny0v13KoDbpQwZ1S-2jkClHCug-nWgT2amksM3aOq4QwoSwERPiK-HEAz8qizQBf7BtEGsacDuQ1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Creek City Commission on Jan. 7 issued three proclamations recognizing firefighter cancer awareness month, human trafficking awareness month and the National Day of Racial Healing.

The proclamations were read during the start of the meeting and were followed by short remarks from local organizations. Commissioners honored members of the Battle Creek Fire Department and recognized the growing attention to cancer risks among firefighters.

Ellen Collier, chief executive officer of Safe Place, spoke after the human trafficking proclamation. She said Safe Place provided direct supportive services to more than 50 survivors over the past year and is expanding housing capacity with six new apartments on its property to support long-term recovery. \"We are honored to be able to provide safety and supportive services to survivors here in Calhoun County and across the state of Michigan,\" Collier said.

Tha Parr, co-executive director of Truth, Bridal, Healing and Transformation, spoke after the proclamation for the National Day of Racial Healing and invited the public to an event at the DoubleTree hotel on Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. Parr described the event as a community gathering to \"embrace our shared humanity\" and noted it will include food, entertainment and discussion of the organization's five-year goals.

The proclamations were ceremonial and did not require a vote. Commission minutes show the mayor was not present and the vice mayor and commissioners conducted the meeting.","At its Jan. 7 meeting the Battle Creek City Commission read proclamations recognizing Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, Human Trafficking Awareness Month and the National Day of Racial Healing and heard brief remarks from local organizations about services and upcoming events.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission rejects MDOT gateway lighting agreement after questions about timing and lighting quality

ARC of Calhoun County describes ARPA-funded employment services for people with developmental disabilities

Battle Creek commissioners issue proclamations for firefighter cancer awareness, human trafficking and racial healing