[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6251191,"mediaKeyId","3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0","parentId",3196386,"title","Votes at a glance: Bay City commission adopts agenda, receives ordinance amendments and approves social‑media policy","audioSeconds",3549,"startMs",3518000,"endMs",7067000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0&start=3518&end=7067","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0/thumbnail_3518000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6251191/Bay-City/Bay-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Bay-City-commission-adopts-agenda-receives-ordinance-amendments-and-approves-socialmedia-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251191-c8d208c54963af26f80035cbf5eb2a8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037816&Signature=FShgk0bPjqj3XJdpVSHvphbPV3MmKLqn0aorJK6V1aEvhg8pzIr9GbhrTs6M56S~-lE8qlWuDQWAs~UGCrt5eDmv5kYIhgdUqkBV5dt2q0mF4eXMeBb6aRhussWz2t1I4Ccy375-W2MOC4PqD4kF~MBpcWqLS6fi7A06siseBEgITzCfBWaBeS1EnkAeA2t7MOZ~9wcAgpyoN-rJBUMQDfBRXXrK0-a16NhuF6ZZ6p9CSQM801jkNIzN3fi7YL8XVXLu~YB7W9HLjPYvLwV4KYOCA6CsdAq4QFkyfGUceI3aMJAQcR2GUvMBIN7xK0fvGvXzGVlYX4uCeWMr1kGMSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bay City, MI","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Bay City City Commission took a series of procedural and policy actions on April 21, including adopting the evening’s agenda, approving the consent agenda, receiving an ordinance amendment for first reading and adopting an updated social‑media policy for elected and appointed officials.

Key outcomes

• Adoption of the agenda: The commission voted to adopt the meeting agenda after a motion and second; the clerk called the roll and the motion passed.

• Consent agenda: After no public removals, the commission approved the consent agenda by roll call.

• Parks ordinance amendment (Chapter 78) — first reading received: The city manager recommended an ordinance amendment to add prohibited activities within city parks. The commission voted to receive the recommendation for first reading and to refer the item to the next meeting for second reading and possible adoption. Commissioners discussed that special‑event permits and concessions would generally be handled through existing permit processes.

• Action plan for 206 Sixth Street substation — received: The commission received an April update on the action plan for system improvements at the 206 Sixth Street substation; staff said engineering work and parts ordering are underway and additional scope and schedule details will follow once engineering prints are complete.

• Social‑media policy amendment for elected and appointed officials — approved: The commission approved Commissioner DeWitt’s amendment to the social‑media policy for elected and appointed officials; the body approved the motion by roll call vote.

• Election of vice president: The commission nominated and confirmed a vice president during the meeting; the nominee accepted the position.

Why it matters: The social‑media policy change establishes a clearer process for addressing interpersonal issues among commissioners and for managing conduct on city platforms; the parks and substation items carry policy and implementation implications that will return to the commission for future action or budgeting.

Ending

Several items were procedural (agenda and consent) while others (parks ordinance, substation upgrades and the social‑media policy) will lead to further staff work or future votes as engineering details, fee schedules and second readings are completed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Bay City, MI Live Stream 2025-04-22","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 21 meeting the commission adopted the agenda and consent items, received a first reading of a parks‑ordinance amendment, accepted an update on a substation action plan and approved an amendment to the elected/appointee social‑media policy.","taxTitle","Bay City, Bay County, Michigan","taxId",5009,"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},6251196,"Residents urge action on Bay City Bridge Partners, tolls and fire station repairs during public comment",82,4302000,4384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0&start=4302&end=4384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0/thumbnail_4302000.jpg","/articles/6251196/Bay-City/Bay-County/Michigan/Residents-urge-action-on-Bay-City-Bridge-Partners-tolls-and-fire-station-repairs-during-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251196-b70daad30387cba2ffbbfc99a3245f9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037816&Signature=XDQLuW4200zoS-E6Ik1mRClw96R0Dh4DcyodIUK-8P47-bXHVnqlli-IU4EJXBPo~jlRjy4AOisX-rsHg8MxZt8DbKrPwfvPvPaAu6jN3T4FKiW3Arr6sj7rFyoJ-Q0MGsnkTN3OT1mmiQAlyHocwLdgxV3d621CY1sy1mcypi85vBbP8EtCt7dMdiSNQlIG3CuKJd~JTXA91woixzY8~BX7A~OYohQICXgp5zPwBtakxAA2ZMCrChx49B6K20LwkYtnqMNXncmwP79Zq~2zS3S4eGRJ1Xg~ew6eIYy7hySShQKicVohYN1BoThW6eAPM9zGr0nguNkzde8lhlcrgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used the public‑comment period at the April 21 commission meeting to press the commission on two recurring community concerns: disputes over the privately operated Bay City Bridge Partners tolling and access, and the condition and repair timeline for local fire stations.

Jill Cosley, a resident who identified herself from West Smith Street, urged the commission to keep four fire stations open and to move quickly on repairs, saying the distribution and condition of stations matters for emergency response. “Keeping all 4 stations up and running is essential for the safety of all our people,” she told commissioners, and urged the newly proposed public safety infrastructure subcommittee to prioritize station repairs and set aside funds.

Separately, multiple speakers criticized Bay City Bridge Partners and called for stronger municipal action. Jeff Reed, a Bay City resident, supported an ongoing boycott of Bridge Partners and said the protest activity on the bridge was within legal rights; he also asked the commission whether the privately run operation had stopped tolling certain crossings and how much city staff time has been spent dealing with contract and legal issues. Laurie Ward, another resident, raised traffic‑safety concerns after a recent protest on a bridge sidewalk and said drivers were ‘‘rubbernecking’’ and nearly involved in collisions.

Why it matters: Bridge access and tolling affect mobility for residents of Bay City and neighboring jurisdictions; fire station availability and station condition directly influence emergency medical and fire response times.

Public action and commission response

The meeting record shows residents pressing for faster action on station repairs and for the city to continue tracking Bridge Partners activity, but no new formal, commission‑level decisions or votes were taken during the public‑comment period. Several commissioners acknowledged the comments: Commissioner DeWitt said he planned to convene or expand a public safety infrastructure subcommittee to address station condition and budget priorities; other commissioners suggested residents raise contract and legal questions with city staff or the city manager for follow up.

Ending

Speakers asked the commission to act and to be transparent about expenditures and plans. Commissioners said they would circulate reports and that infrastructure and contract questions would be considered in upcoming budget hearings and committee work.","Public commenters asked the commission to address safety and access related to ongoing disputes with Bay City Bridge Partners, and urged the city to prioritize repairs to aging fire stations to protect emergency response times.",{"_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},6251201,"Bay City engineering staff lay out 6‑year asset plan; commissioners push for faster road funding and more detail",1460,2460000,3920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0&start=2460&end=3920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0/thumbnail_2460000.jpg","/articles/6251201/Bay-City/Bay-County/Michigan/Bay-City-engineering-staff-lay-out-6year-asset-plan-commissioners-push-for-faster-road-funding-and-more-detail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251201-26324e3d4ff0c63e68349c30e6078ca9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037816&Signature=X9MJH0OY-cXhARAPQ~un-QGQrJHnIYP1ELmPt0-vlWWOK5tuK9vDPOZNEv3JZ3kyLgjOGhgQcV2OVnQ1Pj1ZienCkvo1kUEWP8K-OgXSFa59bowxXBUMKDGoM-6U9Bvwxf~wUMY5dlJoeuxYKaPYTfpdRmEpMnfqZnYPoRWE0LOE6gW~q3Lg1TJC6M9SuBPPdZCg3vLjWemPqObIhzMPFBJj6sBL9kI1QQqOgg7c6gHNGkKwCBi1XGmTlbf~4j2MSjtrTn4NpYG5VfoXSESakHikx3o--77onXF3OMuU6RdUIc0wUEHzEj4hZpGwwxjdwx44OHSFN88Cwhcsyb2VtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rachel Phillips, the city’s engineering manager, told the City Commission on April 21 that Bay City’s transportation asset management plan shows most of the roadway network is in fair or poor condition and that current recurring funding is insufficient to stop a long‑term decline in pavement condition without increased investment and grant success.

Phillips said the city tracks roughly 58 miles of major streets, 125 miles of local streets and about 35 traffic signals. She said the city uses PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) scores to prioritize treatment and that preventive maintenance on fair pavement costs far less over time than reconstructing failed corridors.

Why it matters: Street, signal and bridge conditions affect safety, emergency response and long‑term capital needs. Phillips told commissioners that a mix of federal, state and local funds — plus competitive grants — underpins the six‑year plan and that some projects rely on matching funds and grant cycles.

Details and debate

Phillips walked commissioners through treatment categories and cost examples, saying surface treatments are relatively low cost while full reconstruction is substantially more expensive. She presented a six‑year outlook with about $24 million in planned investments and said the city has identified 12 project locations for the coming period, with state and federal grants currently covering roughly $4.5 million of the planned work and total estimated project costs for those 12 sites at about $12.8 million.

Commissioners asked about specific streets, bridge responsibilities and signal jurisdiction. Commissioner McCokely asked what Bay City’s responsibility is for the Liberty and Independence bridges; Phillips said the city retains ownership but that “Bridge Partners” (a private partner mentioned by multiple speakers during public comment) and other partners handle maintenance under agreements, and that the city must still account for the structures in asset planning. On signals, Phillips noted that many major signals are MDOT assets and that the city coordinates timing and maintenance with MDOT.

Funding pressures and process

Phillips said the city currently programs about $2 million annually for construction and major projects and that without increased funding the city’s overall pavement rating would decline over 20 years. She and commissioners discussed the role of grant matching, neighborhood priorities, and the intersection of utility work and paving schedules (water/sewer replacements are often coordinated with street projects to avoid repeated excavations).

Commissioners asked for more frequent updates and maps. Phillips said the presentation and the underlying maps are available online and that the department will circulate ward‑level project lists and scope documents. She and the commission discussed practical tradeoffs: investing more now to preserve pavement versus deferring work and paying higher costs later.

Ending

Phillips encouraged commissioners to review the full asset management plan and the online dashboard and to use the budget process and grant opportunities to pursue higher investment. She said staff will continue to refine project scopes and timing as grant decisions and state funding programs evolve.

","Engineering manager Rachel Phillips summarized the transportation asset management plan, presenting network condition, funding shortfalls, a six‑year outlook and a list of grant‑backed projects; commissioners pressed for options to accelerate work and asked about bridge and signal responsibilities.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6251206,"Bay City outlines lead service‑line replacement plan; staff says work accelerated but timeline depends on funding and authorizations",2026,378000,2404000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0&start=378&end=2404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3196386-9decac66d2400495d7d5fa1934b620e0/thumbnail_378000.jpg","/articles/6251206/Bay-City/Bay-County/Michigan/Bay-City-outlines-lead-serviceline-replacement-plan-staff-says-work-accelerated-but-timeline-depends-on-funding-and-authorizations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251206-1e7bb45e156a0dddc767b6fba6fd5345/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037816&Signature=Yqd8APK~90UhLlNcsHQuPCs4uKIgQ2F9l764ZzNHMmM3LobcA83FZEtlJALdNo9hL5EL2noLnpNjNJAt6E~Tqa7MZJ6QRuHxwJUo6cAUTKqPL8cOAMw26K5Q02nAPHxH1~q8p08r35et5Ok9e6YDqex3VFPHg~ZLQPmCTqL~PPQmW7YUIIdjbI0TONA1Ay7fXL1nuLvpjkmXLaapCU1zB3AlD6ZaCQDDFfIWPgHjnUNA37EAVC407gBEI1nTQZ~fIeFV9Rb3HotY6dZbMXieRSry-0m02PSS0C6YoyhL7Fmy6i7yAtpDjRJEC597yn-VrTTwFNMvziAPH6tsc-sIlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marty Jurish, the city’s water distribution metering manager, told the Bay City City Commission on April 21 that the city has completed thousands of water-service replacements as part of a state-driven effort to remove lead lines, but that finishing the work will require more funding and homeowner approvals.

Jurish said the program has “completed close to 3,000 services,” and that the city’s database and GIS mapping now show which addresses remain to be completed. He told commissioners the city tapped a $5,000,000 loan and a $3,000,000 grant in 2019, received $10,000,000 from the city’s ARPA allocation and that the remaining cost to finish the work is “somewhere between $20 and $30 million.”

The presentation outlined how the department inventories service lines using century‑old logbooks and modern GIS, prioritizes emergencies and sites with high lead test results, and uses specialized equipment — including hydraulic “pipe puller” tools — to replace long services without trenching.

Why it matters: Lead service lines are a public‑health concern and the state and federal requirements for inventories and replacements create schedules and grant/loan conditions the city must meet. Jurish said the city’s combination of grants, loans, ARPA money and yearly utility allocations has kept work moving without a broad rate increase for customers.

Details and debate

Jurish told commissioners the city’s records date service lines back to the 1870s and that the department has used logbooks and card files to build a GIS layer identifying remaining lead and galvanized services. He said the GIS dashboard — available to staff and the public — shows completed addresses in blue and outstanding addresses in red; one dashboard figure cited in his slides listed about 3,926 addresses still needing work, but Jurish noted that the count was a few weeks out of date.

On funding, Jurish said the city used an approximately $5 million loan and a $3 million grant in 2019, and later set aside $10 million of ARPA funds to support replacements. He added that the city currently applies roughly $300,000 annually from utility charges (reported in the presentation as a combined roughly $600,000 per year directed toward lead replacement) and that staff estimates a ballpark total of $20–30 million is needed to complete the remaining work.

Commissioners pressed on prioritization, timelines and participation. Commissioner Coakley asked whether any service lines from 1872 remain; Jurish said some early‑20th‑century services likely remain but that the specific 1872 entry referenced in the logbooks was on a street that no longer exists. Commissioner Bernie Obershaw repeatedly raised concerns about whether older, lower‑income neighborhoods were being prioritized; Jurish said he prioritizes “neighborhoods with the most consolidated amount of lead service lines,” construction projects and emergency calls, not property values. “If I had my choice, they’d all get done first, but I don’t have that option,” Jurish said.

Commissioner Tenney asked whether the city could do anything to reduce staff turnover in the department; Jurish replied that hiring and fit for the job were the main drivers and that the department still expects to meet the state’s inventory and replacement deadlines with current and anticipated funding.

Technical approach and public outreach

Jurish demonstrated video and photos of a cable‑pull method that, he said, can remove 30–35 feet of service rapidly while minimizing lawn and street restoration impacts. He said the city owns two of the pipe‑pulling machines (the presentation noted an initial purchase about $63,000) and uses hydro‑vac equipment to verify service materials at the curb stop.

For water quality and public health the city provides filters and bottled water to households that test above action levels and places such households on a high‑priority list for replacement. Jurish said homes serving schools and day care centers are being handled as priorities and that the city offers information and a dashboard to let owners check their service status online.

What comes next

Jurish said the state’s EPA‑driven rules that increase inventory sampling thresholds will take effect in 2027 and that, after ARPA funding is spent, the city anticipates it will need to continue replacing several hundred services per year to meet inventory and replacement targets. He said staff are pursuing additional grants and foundation support and are considering an ordinance option to allow tenants to sign authorization forms when landlords are out of town.

“Once we spend all of the ARPA money, we should be down to under 2,000 households yet to do,” Jurish said. “If I can do 300, 400, 500 a year, which we’re capable of doing, I think my staff could handle that.”

Ending

Jurish closed by inviting commissioners and residents to the city’s online dashboard and educational videos and by saying the department will continue to seek grants and partnerships to accelerate replacements.

","City water staff told commissioners the program has replaced thousands of service lines and relies on a mix of state/federal loans, ARPA funds and utility fees; officials said remaining work will cost an estimated $20–30 million and hinges on homeowner authorizations and additional grants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Bay City commission adopts agenda, receives ordinance amendments and approves social‑media policy

Residents urge action on Bay City Bridge Partners, tolls and fire station repairs during public comment

Bay City engineering staff lay out 6‑year asset plan; commissioners push for faster road funding and more detail

Bay City outlines lead service‑line replacement plan; staff says work accelerated but timeline depends on funding and authorizations