[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6555639,"mediaKeyId","3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad","parentId",3537787,"title","Council approves South City Pub social district application","audioSeconds",74,"startMs",2620000,"endMs",2694000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad&start=2620&end=2694","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad/thumbnail_2620000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555639/Escanaba/Delta-County/Michigan/Council-approves-South-City-Pub-social-district-application","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555639-9ffea6a91c76217a18e615eb3eb6610f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770983127&Signature=gNzNElFuV7FSNPO0y4~91TJsb1BaY8TEJQoNCSBXxl8whSViuqNtn3BLkS9mmh7kP-aZ30pTVMlerXcjhIhkarx5Pl5JnJxiBuApHbVlq8y57vo7c6Arn0s7RCYaX4GR~8ny2SoTuyQ6oggtOJ-k8~uGPQCS6calZ-KZCdgmUq88cCsPKlJQXlUhNBQD~mgkT0jZ9Xi4BtBKFrJlQmpcvbfjtSBD7j1Gt8F197TRKrh0nUHn2wjNoIHR~lilLbSqYyUs9vb~bq~V0e8svPbJ3PZ39EiTQL2iMxgLxTapXJfCTBZiAuC4m2MSf4ZNafNMFXNFVYIA4Y2ugmpw3PBFzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-16T12:25:36Z","article","The Escanaba City Council on May 15 approved a social district application for South City Pub.

Administration presented the application and recommended approval. Council moved and seconded the item and approved it on roll call with all voting members recorded as \"yes.\" No substantive public comment opposing the application was recorded during the meeting.

The approval authorizes the applicant to operate a designated social-district area consistent with city regulations governing outdoor alcohol consumption in authorized zones. The motion passed by roll call; city staff will follow up with the applicant to ensure signage, boundaries and operational requirements are met before the district opens.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting Thursday May 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Escanaba City Council approved a social district application for South City Pub, permitting designated outdoor consumption area under city rules.","taxTitle","Escanaba, Delta County, Michigan","taxId",54434,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6555645,"Council designates Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance as local arts agency to pursue NEA regranting",2863,331000,3194000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad&start=331&end=3194","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad/thumbnail_331000.jpg","/articles/6555645/Escanaba/Delta-County/Michigan/Council-designates-Upper-Peninsula-Arts-and-Culture-Alliance-as-local-arts-agency-to-pursue-NEA-regranting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555645-713e4b297c599768c3946588f4a0a34a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770983127&Signature=PVHIONAWtVWJqFGzcKmO9j2sKoceEANTPRDaDCPfOxn9Opn8mylU-7BNsgBz1HCzOA0ZTaBzP2j709XKtxaDL7ErqcnAK2X5bEYfQ9vzq8i2JyVY5wbscwIu5Vw2Mhczi-DgvN5JYQ2yoT2JlssefrGU6NCR83my15rD4SY4K3RNbLzTtWEhLrAt4FXIl5vpcYSo20q-Y-sNEA3Japub1WgDC8B7uytKUND~qIBkkognJWOrXIi9YXrXOUm0EWqihHwPcwcR0C05~Vmhwdwdja4Vpgo5vwp1DmxyvRLKAlgv88fyHWcNkcVpwa~8ZZ0WBO73n~FAAHa2j0v7SuaJyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Escanaba City Council on May 15 approved a resolution designating the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance as the city's local arts agency for purposes of applying for and, if awarded, regranting National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funds across the Upper Peninsula.

Sue Rolle, president of the nonprofit's board, addressed council during public comment and described the alliance as a regional nonprofit that supports arts, history, libraries, museums and cultural programming across the Upper Peninsula. Rolle said the NEA now accepts regranting applications that require local governmental endorsement and that the alliance seeks to secure up to $30,000 to distribute to arts and culture projects in multiple cities across the region.

\"We're all about promoting and facilitating arts and culture, which includes history, libraries, museums, arts, concerts, music, everything like that,\" Rolle said during public comment.

Councilors asked how the alliance would allocate funds if requests exceeded the award amount; Rolle said the alliance had not yet set final distribution criteria but intended to be open to eligible nonprofit arts organizations and to prioritize projects that demonstrated community connection. The resolution designates the alliance to operate \"in cooperation with the city and to receive and subgrant funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.\" Council approved Resolution No. 25-09 by roll call.

Next steps: if the NEA award is granted to the alliance, the group will submit distribution criteria and project proposals for local awards; the city's designation enables the alliance to demonstrate official municipal support as required by the NEA regranting program.","Escanaba council approved a resolution designating the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance as a local arts agency eligible to receive and regrant National Endowment for the Arts funds; presenter said the group seeks a $30,000 NEA regrant award to distribute across regional projects.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6555648,"Council approves America in Bloom funds for Ludington Park path enhancements after debate over plant choices and maintenance",3547,193000,3740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad&start=193&end=3740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad/thumbnail_193000.jpg","/articles/6555648/Escanaba/Delta-County/Michigan/Council-approves-America-in-Bloom-funds-for-Ludington-Park-path-enhancements-after-debate-over-plant-choices-and-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555648-d0d6aae6cbcb4dda206e51e2b7c67881/orig.mp4?Expires=1770983127&Signature=bBSs31n6Y5Z6pwiEKu2zAMvEAArgEv5JIwFepIiCr3g~OqYRapGWg~8eg8dAG-MTxb9Z8SSOJKnLvCMqc6R3US9HZdGddav7codS8JcGI9FOyIu6n00px9HDLQnkze9MQrXlxmSd6ZpVjs1EPgaczFFPKKoubS1l6eD8Hq0xxmye4jwTprrILZez-akPfPPnAf0puro8hIsg80CsUlLAxc1PmbBvm~673GilvxbuVhqfeVY4MiCV4Gmg8-rrcJ5aCqUWMGGNmIMIb4-~5IVGfNkwA5BX9XtiLpet8IN-FpV961orF4sbY4qxzjY23m1U2X~myLiVLlq5rPLV-dKpKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Escanaba City Council voted May 15 to permit use of America in Bloom funds to enhance an existing path in Ludington Park with trees and woody shrubs in a planned \"arboretum-type\" approach.

Enhance Escanaba and volunteer organizers presented diagrams showing multiple planting areas along the path and said the proposal emphasizes low-maintenance woody plants and flowering shrubs rather than mass plantings that require frequent deadheading and pruning. Organizers said the design was intended to be durable and community-involved; they listed anticipated volunteer support from Boy Scouts and an Eagle Scout preparing an educational kiosk.

At least two public commenters asked the council to reconsider the scale and plant palette. Resident Lehi Vandywater said he \"has a concern about having 25 of these areas for trees and shrubs\" and urged the council and committee to take another look at spatial layout and to increase the proportion of native species. Another resident, Glenn Vandywater, noted that the proposed plants are deciduous and will drop leaves, which raises maintenance questions for city crews.

Project proponents said the plan deliberately chose woody shrubs and trees that are \"more self maintained\" to minimize ongoing upkeep. Councilors asked whether the recreation advisory board retained approval authority; presenters clarified the recreation board would no longer have final approval of the design. Staff and the organizers said they will notify the community about volunteer opportunities and timing once administrative steps were complete.

Vote and implementation: the motion to permit use of America in Bloom funds for the Ludington Park path enhancement passed on roll call (one abstention recorded). Organizers said installation will proceed quickly once procurement and scheduling are set; the city will provide sod removal in-kind and volunteers will assist with planting and kiosk installation.

What remains unsettled: commenters asked for more native species in the planting palette and requested clearer commitments about who will perform longer-term maintenance; councilors and staff said those operational details will be coordinated with public works and volunteer groups after project approval.","Escanaba council approved using America in Bloom funds to add arboretum-style plantings along the existing Ludington Park path; residents expressed concerns about number of planting sites and choice of nonnative versus native species and maintenance burdens.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6555653,"Escanaba council approves $35 million project plan to pursue state revolving funds, CDBG grant and lead-service replacements",1444,596000,2040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad&start=596&end=2040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad/thumbnail_596000.jpg","/articles/6555653/Escanaba/Delta-County/Michigan/Escanaba-council-approves-35-million-project-plan-to-pursue-state-revolving-funds-CDBG-grant-and-lead-service-replacements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555653-4c7ed4c7f557184218fbc88137e45116/orig.mp4?Expires=1770983127&Signature=YNPv8phaed1cyQWTPXSjwfUsPCaV8MlYUQkEQ72t056WOpXJno997uiSrXNIt0gjTA4PVMwencgVg0Q-1LVN3elIsufUd~01DUuUFsb3wnDFbtXGpwSka-PdhZ5fYcFU-TFv0ijaCeSykZkbe4wclJwTvq7gggni5Zvdih4UlKwbEsGZQrZtATeQW-On6ElI7xN6vbIFQPEb8SErdhGx~OOgHfWCBX5n5scSFlJAFWFtOvsuKpJiY0sUBsgXhzGKJbjPlsCsj43gNBEKVISMMMpl95jr8r5JA~yQhAt-~5abg9JGto6TNrEXkqmFZpikDydTSPSZMgM7RDbFVmD8pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Escanaba City Council on May 15 adopted a final project plan to pursue Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) financing and authorized related grant applications and contractor hiring for lead service line replacement work.

City staff and C2AE engineers described a multi-faceted water improvement project that would replace aging water mains and lead service lines, upgrade components of the water treatment plant and add equipment to address trihalomethanes (TTHMs). The project plan identified roughly 18,000 feet (proposal target) of water main replacement within a broader inventory of older mains and an estimated 500 to 600 standalone service replacements affected by lead service lines. Project-level estimated cost presented to council was $35,000,000.

\"The estimated cost for this next phase of proposed improvements is $35,000,000,\" said Darren Payant of C2AE during the public hearing presentation.

Council action and related votes: council approved Resolution No. 25-06 adopting a final DWSRF project plan and designating an authorized project representative; approved Resolution No. 25-07 to submit a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) water-related infrastructure application focused on clear well and filter-bed upgrades; and authorized the city to contract for lead service line replacements at the rate of $3,350 for a half service and $6,200 for a full service per address.

Officials said applying to both the DWSRF and CDBG programs improves the city's chances to secure principal forgiveness or other grant funding; combining water main, lead-service replacements and treatment-plant work typically scores higher in state prioritization. The city manager and staff stressed that placement on the DWSRF list does not obligate the city to accept loan terms and that the amount of principal forgiveness will be determined by the state scoring process.

Construction impacts noted in the public hearing included temporary road closures, localized water interruptions (generally less than 12 hours for affected buildings), erosion protection and restoration work. Staff said the city has had no health-based violations in the past five years.

During the meeting one resident, Lehi Vandywater, asked about random lead testing and whether city sampling would occur this spring; city staff said they would follow up outside the hearing with specifics. Councilors also discussed reimbursement concerns from residents who previously paid privately to replace lines; staff and council said the city has no legal obligation to reimburse past privately funded replacements.

Next steps: staff will submit the DWSRF project plan and CDBG application, await state scoring, and return to council with funding offers and recommendations on project scope and financing. Contracted lead-service replacements will proceed using licensed, insured contractors at the approved per-address rates as projects are scheduled by the water department.","Council adopted a final project plan to apply to Michigan's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, approved a CDBG application resolution and authorized contracted lead service line replacements at specified per-site rates.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6555658,"Escanaba council adopts 2025–26 budget, sets millage at 17.442 mills",1782,480000,2262000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad&start=480&end=2262","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3537787-014869492cf6e548de4ee343676b52ad/thumbnail_480000.jpg","/articles/6555658/Escanaba/Delta-County/Michigan/Escanaba-council-adopts-202526-budget-sets-millage-at-17442-mills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555658-58265f415ae2bbfa6d6b2465f7c4f665/orig.mp4?Expires=1770983127&Signature=WVETC6Pvs9lRrGTLewWTmU6gunklSBiyV8E~DHgY4OVFt7N8O3gHfeHcNur0~JE1oqNpNB18PHEWjM2T8Zb~GiZy8xCM1n0U11uyzKWcewAv8kCDMxLAylgRCPCR5czAzXybIj~t5xks3TJMs6BqvQwsbfYl4qrvQ6y2gBT8NXUVItjgHfXWzQddal02kXu6nSYsg39N4-KL7Y21EhK6Anww2MMyLXjoMbxbjbjHpDUd0V8EcPDkR62mUOXgLGsYGBm661KY74oAw-GA5FcpqRn-v6VgXPYKIrXu5yP7Sx~XB0XhAjIWySDA1IleQb81CCH2p-h97wImdS1IaBY6Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Escanaba City Council on May 15 adopted the city's fiscal year 2025'26 operating budget and set the 2025 tax millage rate at 17.442 mills.

Council members said the action followed four prior public hearings and three budget work sessions. Administration recommended approval of the operating budget, the capital improvements plan and the city's master fee schedule.

The vote to \"establish the city millage rate at 17.442 mills for the 2025, 2026 budget year and to adopt the 2025, 2026 city budget, capital improvements plan, and master fee schedule as published\" passed on a roll call. Council members voting in favor included Councilor DuBourg, Councilor Flock, Councilor Moore and Mayor Hamill (recorded on the roll call as \"yes\").

Why it matters: the appropriation and millage ordinances give the city legal authority to levy the tax rate and spend revenues as laid out in the budget. City staff said the council's adoption meets charter and statutory scheduling requirements and enables staff to make the year'ahead capital and operating commitments.

What council discussed: the meeting included a short public hearing on the budget where administration noted the adoption process and encouraged public participation. Following the hearing councilors moved and seconded the formal motion to adopt the budget and set the millage rate before undertaking the separate, charter-required appropriations ordinance reading and tax-levy ordinance second reading scheduled for May 22.

Votes at a glance: the council recorded the motion to adopt the 2025'26 budget and set the millage at 17.442 mills as passed by roll call with councilors recorded as voting \"yes.\" The city scheduled the second reading, public hearing and adoption of the appropriations ordinance (Ord. No. 1303) and the tax levy ordinance (Ord. No. 1304) for a special meeting on May 22, 2025.

Next steps: the council scheduled the formal second readings and public hearings for the appropriations and tax-levy ordinances (to meet charter requirements) and will take up utility rate ordinances at later public hearings scheduled for June 2 and June 3 per the published calendar.","The Escanaba City Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget, set the city millage at 17.442 mills and approved the capital improvements plan and master fee schedule after a final public hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves South City Pub social district application

Council designates Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance as local arts agency to pursue NEA regranting

Council approves America in Bloom funds for Ludington Park path enhancements after debate over plant choices and maintenance

Escanaba council approves $35 million project plan to pursue state revolving funds, CDBG grant and lead-service replacements

Escanaba council adopts 2025–26 budget, sets millage at 17.442 mills