[{"_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",6670238,"mediaKeyId","2172833-37622c888f3a7c636a22e48052edace3","parentId",2172833,"title","Council approves JAG grant MOU, budget amendments, tree-removal change order and redevelopment documents","audioSeconds",46,"startMs",1668000,"endMs",1714000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172833-37622c888f3a7c636a22e48052edace3&start=1668&end=1714","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172833-37622c888f3a7c636a22e48052edace3/thumbnail_1668000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6670238/Jackson-City/Jackson-County/Michigan/Council-approves-JAG-grant-MOU-budget-amendments-tree-removal-change-order-and-redevelopment-documents","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670238-f812bb152119d3c51d63d4090306a9e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169566&Signature=JdYc2T808U5Gx8fjnzm2P4NOpzhFgZacn~etBe7hXc7k1Ay5XyIhnmDoRfGrlxZlEbCGjR5q2NSul3nenpDs2uPpUgKvfc0xFwwahWX~5bHRAGzKSgrPr3KlzP1QgCKOHukNRVPeSuWCKlMJYscjLFSLlG2we24DI5UtPHmK7KHsyddVgPDf7OO3jtcbXjIPtW0EVRCtMrdaSjDOgSiFEjzrt2zicrObDFHKv96cc3hgyM-~a-7NYWTNlbaECsMewLJTu~EZ8JCFdVI1mx7EJBXXuQyd3ZPbJr7JyVYSGHAmsfvALNZxznhNqwj3VStP7D-Oaf2ZGN0XhM0683~VWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jackson","date","2025-01-29T05:50:08.607Z","article","Jackson City Council on Jan. 20 unanimously approved a series of administrative and budget measures, including a justice assistance grant memorandum of understanding, several budget amendments for state grant awards, a change order for hazardous tree removal and city redevelopment documents.

Key votes at the meeting included:

- Amendment to public-hearing citizen comment rules: The council approved an amendment that requires comments during a public hearing to remain relevant to the topic being considered and authorized the city manager and city attorney to make minor edits. The change was described by council as intended to preserve a hearing’s focus when there is no time limit and questions can be asked and answered. The measure passed unanimously.

- Authorization to sign JAG grant memorandum of understanding (MOU): Council authorized the city manager to sign a memorandum of understanding for the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). Motion passed unanimously.

- Fiscal-year 2024–25 budget amendment for JAG funds: Council adopted the resolution to amend the FY24–25 budget to reflect JAG grant funds. The resolution passed unanimously.

- Change order 1, hazardous tree removal (Top Notch Tree Care LLC): Council approved Change Order 1 to add $22,850 to the existing contract with Top Notch Tree Care LLC so the contractor can remove trees needed for federally funded projects before seasonal restrictions. Council member discussion explained the timing relates to federal grant windows; the motion passed unanimously.

- Amendment to parking-permit purchase agreement, 113 W. Michigan Ave: Council approved an amendment to transfer and assign parking-permit rights and obligations for the property at 113 West Michigan Ave to Southern Michigan Bank and Trust and authorized the city manager to execute the amendment. Motion passed unanimously.

- Public participation plan and capital-improvement plan (MEDC Redevelopment Ready Communities recertification): Council adopted a public participation plan and the capital-improvement plan as part of the city’s recertification package for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Redevelopment Ready Communities program. Both motions passed unanimously.

- Budget amendment: $880,000 (MSHDA grant award): Council approved an amendment to the budget to reflect an $880,000 revenue increase and matching expenditure increase related to a City of Jackson grant award from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The motion passed unanimously.

- Budget amendment: $250,000 (My Hope grant award): Council approved an amendment to the budget to reflect a $250,000 revenue increase and matching expenditure increase related to a My Hope grant award from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The motion passed unanimously.

All items on the consent and new-business calendar for Jan. 20 passed without recorded dissents. Many motions were moved and supported on the floor and then recorded as unanimous by the clerk; specific mover/second names were not consistently recorded in the public transcript for each item. Council discussion before votes was generally brief and focused on implementing timelines and clerical clarifications (for example, engineering noted a $12,005,088.40 figure associated with local street and water work in Ward 4 as part of the capital-improvement plan discussion).

Speakers who clarified items during the votes included city engineer Troy White, who explained scheduling related to tree removal, and city staff Corey, who answered procedural questions about project reports. The clerk tallied and displayed unanimous votes for each listed item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jackson City Council Meeting 1-28-25","oneSentenceSummary","Jackson City Council on Jan. 20 unanimously approved a package of administrative and budget items including a JAG grant MOU, multiple budget amendments, a hazardous-tree removal change order and redevelopment-ready recertification documents.","taxTitle","Jackson City, Jackson County, Michigan","taxId",5811,"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},6670244,"Speakers urge Jackson council to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi, citing Ann Arbor example",153,1389000,1542000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172833-37622c888f3a7c636a22e48052edace3&start=1389&end=1542","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172833-37622c888f3a7c636a22e48052edace3/thumbnail_1389000.jpg","/articles/6670244/Jackson-City/Jackson-County/Michigan/Speakers-urge-Jackson-council-to-decriminalize-entheogenic-plants-and-fungi-citing-Ann-Arbor-example","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670244-60669dec2241b906006a0ab43c29d7e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169566&Signature=K0XEvxDpv~fRf22oMcJ~ZwuT4caILxI783WyOAnH9Z6N4sjeQTAQtUZv9TYXERwAITp-wBBqsIIh3mbHGVgaoZ072R2wof-H0sQHxcxsomH0jjMVmYHUkjmyFf2KX~uspW7Kr9MslyFwRHciNbigTNWzKoWKHHzb6QTNhwPG-rL-9Kzn2u-Mj6DqmRNF0Mvn20Oqg5YRMJSKzzikMuDfdTtJSbzB-qz78EAMF7WvzwrtzZa7IqTTO8LoVJuCZv0cMMC6sgKwevJTeAl7tKvfRYIKRd0RC6gRKm0Nu7BRvnBFQyxcD6R8sS8dlmNd~MGOIPH~ym7J9r3fuVXtHayvtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several public commenters at the Jan. 20 Jackson City Council meeting urged the council to consider decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi, citing therapeutic research and the example of Ann Arbor.

Anne Bannister, a former Ann Arbor City Council member (2017–2020), told Jackson council members that Ann Arbor passed a decriminalization measure in 2019–2020 after review by its legal and public safety staff and that the action carried unanimous support. Bannister said Ann Arbor worked with local public health and law enforcement and later received a statement from the county prosecutor that enforcement of such offenses would be a low priority.

Charles Ray, a retired teacher and licensed professional counselor, described the potential mental-health benefits and urged Jackson to consider the measure for people with severe anxiety, depression and PTSD. Roger Mulford, who identified a background in biomedical engineering and research, said several Michigan municipalities have passed similar measures and encouraged the council to “get it moving forward.”

Speakers cited research interest at institutions including Johns Hopkins and the University of Michigan and framed decriminalization as a public-health and liberty issue. No council member proposed or seconded an ordinance at the Jan. 20 meeting, and the item appeared only in public comment; the council did not schedule a hearing or take formal action on the subject that night.","Multiple public commenters asked the council to consider decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi, pointing to Ann Arbor’s unanimous action and research institutions studying therapeutic uses; no council vote or formal referral occurred.",{"_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},6670248,"Residents, council members press for transparency after crash and spending questions tied to TA Wilson homeless project",1510,1329000,2839000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172833-37622c888f3a7c636a22e48052edace3&start=1329&end=2839","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172833-37622c888f3a7c636a22e48052edace3/thumbnail_1329000.jpg","/articles/6670248/Jackson-City/Jackson-County/Michigan/Residents-council-members-press-for-transparency-after-crash-and-spending-questions-tied-to-TA-Wilson-homeless-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670248-304b2adfad7e066204a378d6225a9593/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169566&Signature=LkLAmV6xRk5IIOClyzF5HmRpC1q68SMrA7B9Iostg3dr14hk8UecMnCXnBsRTbuwxU0xyH5UEP9wMFfgohuQoGMvwbrTu36jn5jwJLTzPQSeROm9NkxNS5buiObH4ieDEBWrR8kybnKcGSVr5KXLD3j7uPRIa8-gQncndro8YgRtP7ymRxc-plc1dBJmIv6~0rs5-cF9otB3xl6rBQ0i~eVLnq5-CZ-yB36UU8wP9Pu0cDQl0ssyouH2rM8loE8~y444VZAfdSZLCeJExDChmJIlIsaVSvmhFojJ6vnK8WZ2XszjHXl3qcv2faz6awD3jypR82SivE3krI0XfppG7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public commenters at the Jackson City Council meeting on Jan. 20 urged the council to release more information about the city’s work with Residents in Action at the TA Wilson building, citing a July crash on the property and unanswered questions about a 2024 project budget.

John King, a resident, criticized the council’s handling of the TA Wilson project and accused partners of misrepresenting the relationship between redevelopment and public hearings. William Hastings, another resident, said he had viewed CCTV footage of a vehicle crash last July that occurred within the fenced grounds of the TA Wilson site and warned that children were in nearby play areas when the crash occurred. “Had that car veered just a few feet … that could have been a multiple fatality accident,” Hastings said.

Other speakers pressed the council for oversight and accounting. A resident identified in the record as Giant Light said the city invested “over a million dollars” in purchases and refurbishing connected to the homeless project and asked when the public would see a report on about $180,000 spent in 2024. “How are you gonna evaluate how a group is doing if you don’t see the numbers?” he asked.

Several commenters, including Anton Law, praised Fifth Ward Council member Christie Davis for asking questions and seeking transparency. Davis herself spoke during the council comments and described a personal encounter with a person who said they had driven into the fence at the TA Wilson site and been banned from another shelter; Davis said the interaction underscored the complexity of homelessness cases and the need for measured responses.

Mayor Mahoney and city staff addressed the request for documentation. The mayor said a report on the 2024 activities had been offered by Residents in Action and that staff could arrange for it to be provided to council and the public. City staff member Corey (identified in public remarks as Corey Mays) confirmed that data had been tracked and could be shared electronically.

The meeting record also includes references to pending litigation related to the crash; the mayor said there was litigation against the individual involved. There was no formal council vote on the TA Wilson project or on releasing materials during the Jan. 20 meeting. Council members and staff framed the outcome as direction to make existing records available to council and the public, not as a new policy or funding decision.

Speakers who raised concerns asked for clearer oversight of contracts and grant-funded work and for routine reporting on how public funds are spent. Several speakers urged more transparency so the public could evaluate whether project partners met expectations.

The council did not take further formal action on TA Wilson at the Jan. 20 meeting beyond staff acknowledgement that a 2024 report exists and can be circulated to council members and the public. The record indicates the city will provide the report by electronic distribution unless council requests otherwise.","Public commenters and council members raised safety concerns over a July crash on TA Wilson Center grounds and pressed for a report on roughly $180,000 in 2024 spending by Residents in Action; city staff said a report exists and can be circulated to council.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves JAG grant MOU, budget amendments, tree-removal change order and redevelopment documents

Speakers urge Jackson council to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi, citing Ann Arbor example

Residents, council members press for transparency after crash and spending questions tied to TA Wilson homeless project