[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6069694,"mediaKeyId","3066934-22c22c37c7f0d000962450176d7b7da8","parentId",3066934,"title","Residents press Battle Creek leaders over elevated trihalomethanes in drinking water; officials offer limited immediate remedies","audioSeconds",1917,"startMs",2115000,"endMs",4032000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3066934-22c22c37c7f0d000962450176d7b7da8&start=2115&end=4032","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3066934-22c22c37c7f0d000962450176d7b7da8/thumbnail_2115000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6069694/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Residents-press-Battle-Creek-leaders-over-elevated-trihalomethanes-in-drinking-water-officials-offer-limited-immediate-remedies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6069694-bd3850fd43273c2b9b937dc0734f28d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137009&Signature=Cqr-phPeBcxXkCp48RHr0Via5XnLAuvUQS-pIzxGFdYDr4ivVWAP~~YB4CcxDwCyzS-fRHcjQM4gb~TUfio7juxmIF9~rEU2uDcAKJXzS8T9Jebpd1OrThDAwe6NMyiWV4aBimpq8ijrwrMAdzXhFRRX~cBo6gB1SSiNMADPWvnGLkIMJALN8JI44IQEbrI3d2cYyDA~cnDnQvbxNBYueykrgMth3NG22gAoPqyVT~R0o8c3W~T2vGEZ~V6heehKe3Rym1-Gcyscn6HTF9QZUUHVXoz7SRqohi6DQbb8~Iia3MdWlMYoC6ymNTbqK0Z7plTTqXAysfNIMVLBppppYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Battle Creek","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","Several Battle Creek residents used the city commission's April 8 public-comment period to press city leaders about a March 21 water-quality notice showing elevated total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) in parts of the local drinking-water system, warning that chronic exposure can increase risks to liver, kidney and the central nervous system and may raise cancer risk.

Why it matters: TTHMs are regulated as a group under the federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes (80 parts per billion). Multiple speakers said sampling results released by the city showed concentrations above 80 ppb at several system sites and that the public had not been given clear guidance or immediate mitigation such as bottled water distribution or targeted medical-advice resources for vulnerable residents.

What residents said

- Adam Smith said the city's March 21 notice admitted elevated toxins in the Verona wellfield and that the notice gave a list of possible health effects without detailing remedies or timelines. Smith said he and others had reported the issue to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and asked why wells were drilled near a Superfund site if contamination risk existed.

- John Kennefect read the city's water-notice language into the record and cited sample values reported for system sampling points: Battle Creek site 1 at about 150 ppb, Battle Creek site 2 at about 140 ppb, Springfield at about 120 ppb and Emmett Township at about 170 ppb. He emphasized that the notice said the city exceeded the TTHM standard (80 ppb) and quoted the advisory language that the situation was \"not an emergency\" while warning of possible long-term health effects.

- Rhonda Veil described that family members with severe medical conditions were forced to rely on bottled water and outside bathing arrangements because of uncertainty and the inability to reach additional resources for help; she said residents phoned repeatedly and had trouble getting answers.

City response on record

At the meeting staff reiterated that the city had issued a public notice identifying a drinking-water standard exceedance for total trihalomethanes and that the city was \"actively addressing\" the issue. The notice language included the federally recognized benchmark of 80 parts per billion and advised that infants, the elderly and immunocompromised residents should consult health-care providers. The transcript records no new distribution plan (bottled water, filters) announced during the meeting nor a specific timeline for remediation.

Public-health context

Total trihalomethanes are disinfection byproducts that can form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in source water. The federal standard is set to limit chronic exposure; public notices for MCL exceedances commonly include the advisory language cited at the meeting. Several speakers expressed comparisons to past public-water crises and urged the city to provide clearer interim protections and an explanation of how the exceedance occurred.

Requests and next steps

Residents asked the commission for clearer communication, an outline of remediation steps and targeted assistance for vulnerable households. Several asked whether alternative well sites previously capped after annexation could be evaluated as short-term supply options. The transcript does not show staff committing to specific mitigations or dates during the public-comment period; staff indicated the city was addressing the issue and provided the public-notice language on the record.

Provenance: the water concern appears in public comment starting with Adam Smith's remarks (public comment period) and later in a longer reading of the public notice by John Kennefect; both are quoted above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission regular meeting - 4/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents at the April 8 meeting said they were alarmed after a March 21 notice showing total trihalomethanes above the federal standard at several system sampling sites. Commenters asked for remedies for vulnerable residents; a city notice on the record described the exceedances but stated the situation was not an emergency.","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},6069699,"Battle Creek City Commission approves series of contracts, licenses and purchases; commissioners flag road-sealing, pet-licensing concerns",234,1755000,1989000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3066934-22c22c37c7f0d000962450176d7b7da8&start=1755&end=1989","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3066934-22c22c37c7f0d000962450176d7b7da8/thumbnail_1755000.jpg","/articles/6069699/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Battle-Creek-City-Commission-approves-series-of-contracts-licenses-and-purchases-commissioners-flag-road-sealing-pet-licensing-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6069699-9943bd231600cd963bb54bd2659b0dff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137009&Signature=HecUvx3BMhtAhJeYSlQnx4BhhIiRaQOLo2IHTeM4rtzU9dWyzdXMc1OSo6Rg-hCTFAcI5N1Y7nRJaTA7vV6cLRFgKGgXjVWB5puI~7GiMFhmqavhZw-JphF5FgLgWGg-UoiPQO5Mds~qzWNRwN0V89AMbincIREGRtjA0wv33sOuBfQnQwp1kd7pgeV8f88A-OewEucAf0FjssFljGYn9BXsnE4EdTvA22s5JRRZRhh0iA0RkAeOogF61~D3F9lPgUTUueAahGIBA7UnYlnOdfOmEWk5PBAlNELwJVIhsdhFv4uZfAmSzBPF49w7erLV29Vcrrf~lhK2GMyYzNC07w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Creek City Commission on April 8 approved a series of business items including a new liquor license for a downtown food co-op, a three-year Microsoft licensing contract, purchase of a new fire apparatus and two pavement maintenance contracts, while several commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about road-sealing quality and animal-licensing data.

The votes settle a set of vendor contracts and licensing requests the city manager recommended for this fiscal year. Commissioners approved Resolution 98 to support a Class C on-premises liquor license for a food co-op planned at 119 West Michigan Avenue; Resolution 99 to renew Microsoft 365 licensing under a three-year enterprise agreement; Resolution 100 to buy a new fire apparatus via Sourcewell; Resolution 101 accepting a bid for the 2025 Capital Preventive Maintenance Program (chip seal); Resolution 102 accepting the low bid for the 2025 rehabilitation (milling and paving) program; and Resolution 103 to contract with DocuPet for online animal licensing.

Why it matters: the approvals commit several hundred thousand dollars of city resources, authorize contractor work on miles of streets and change how residents register pets. Commissioners and residents used the meeting to flag implementation details they said need follow-up — notably the chip-seal program's durability and whether the DocuPet system measurably raises pet-license compliance.

Commission action and key details

- Resolution 98: Approved. Purpose: authorize city application to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for a new on-premises Class C liquor license at 119 West Michigan Avenue (Uproot food co-op). Commissioner Patrick O'Donnell explained the license is primarily to allow limited beer and wine use for food preparation and product sales; Commissioner Morris abstained from the vote due to a board affiliation with Uproot. (Public comment earlier included opposition to turning downtown into an alcohol district.)

- Resolution 99: Approved. Purpose: authorize a three-year Microsoft Enterprise Agreement from SHI International in a not-to-exceed amount of $722,354.61 to cover Microsoft operating systems, Microsoft 365 email (580 licenses) and Office software.

- Resolution 100: Approved. Purpose: authorize purchase of a new fire apparatus from First Due Equipment Sales and Repair, Inc., not to exceed $703,099, using the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract. A public commenter questioned the timing and financing for equipment purchases relative to prior bonds.

- Resolution 101: Approved. Purpose: accept the low bid from Pavement Maintenance Systems, LLC, for the 2025 Capital Preventive Maintenance Program in an estimated amount of $340,806.78 (unit prices prevailing) with the city manager authorized to approve change orders up to 10% aggregate. Commissioner Simmons announced he would vote against the chip-seal contract, citing recent failures in local chip-seal applications and saying contractors have not been held sufficiently accountable.

- Resolution 102: Approved. Purpose: accept the low bid from Lakeland Asphalt Corporation for the 2025 Rehabilitation Program in an estimated amount of $870,564.60 (unit prices prevailing). The project scope described at the meeting included milling and paving approximately 68,000 square yards of local streets, 31 ADA ramp upgrades and other site-specific work.

- Resolution 103: Approved. Purpose: authorize the interim city manager to enter into an agreement with DocuPet Corporation to facilitate online animal licensing. Commissioner Simmons said he would vote no without better data showing an increase in licensing compliance since the system's earlier pilot; staff said the county's animal-control model differs and DocuPet yields better tracking and a more user-friendly process for residents.

- Resolution 104 (amendment and approval): Approved. Purpose: set a closed session at the April 8 regular meeting to discuss a legal matter; the commission amended the motion to add discussion of the city manager search as permitted by Section 8(1)(f) of the Open Meetings Act. Vice Mayor Sofia moved the amendment with Commissioner Lacoste supporting; the roll call on the amendment recorded unanimous yes votes.

Post-closed-session actions

The commission returned from closed session and moved two votes: approval of a settlement agreement in the case Lower Orta v. City of Battle Creek (EEOC case number 471-2020-31449) and a motion to reschedule city manager candidate interviews while directing the interim city manager to review the hiring process. Both were moved and supported and recorded as unanimous.

Public comment and follow-up requests

Public commenters raised several procedural and policy concerns tied to the day's votes: opposition to a concentration of alcohol-serving venues downtown, concern about using bond proceeds and debt to fund city projects (raised during discussion of the fire apparatus), repeated complaints about potholes and road safety that dovetail with debate over the chip-seal program, and requests for more detailed metrics on DocuPet's licensing results before committing ongoing funds.

What happens next

Contract awards and licensing actions are now authorized consistent with the motions approved. Several commissioners requested follow-up reporting: clearer contractor accountability measures and performance data for the chip-seal program, and usage/compliance metrics and cost reporting for DocuPet. Those requests were made during the meeting but no specific reporting deadlines were set on the record.

Votes at a glance: summary of recorded dissent and abstentions

- Resolution 98 (liquor license): Approved; Commissioner Morris abstained (affiliation: board member, Uproot).
- Resolution 101 (chip-seal contract): Approved; Commissioner Simmons voted no.
- Resolution 103 (DocuPet): Approved; Commissioner Simmons stated he would vote no absent better data but the resolution passed.
- All other recorded items: approved (no roll-call tallies provided in the transcript excerpt).","The Battle Creek City Commission on April 8 approved a set of resolutions including a downtown liquor license, a three-year Microsoft licensing agreement, a new fire apparatus purchase and multiple roadwork contracts. Commissioners raised concerns about the city's chip-seal program and animal-license data during votes.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents press Battle Creek leaders over elevated trihalomethanes in drinking water; officials offer limited immediate remedies

Battle Creek City Commission approves series of contracts, licenses and purchases; commissioners flag road-sealing, pet-licensing concerns