[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6182315,"mediaKeyId","5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61","parentId",5107032,"title","Commission adopts $20.25 millage rate and FY 2025–26 budget","audioSeconds",65,"startMs",2590000,"endMs",2655000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61&start=2590&end=2655","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61/thumbnail_2590000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6182315/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Commission-adopts-2025-millage-rate-and-FY-202526-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182315-57456e8ed98973fbd116f3977e595480/orig.mp4?Expires=1775225199&Signature=czXe3u79XHefi2oM1OA9GLXpJAuBBACJnqSb9YO3gsf3jHojixqi8-MPMh8fR0JPrKainm2O8BKEArdVsh3ZPFCg4~Nri9nj7EZT2AtMZ9cMbVrHyVvqrV40ryE5wJRKgHPncuYqxbbCC-ovqULRdnjyeE65gWsMByCltb5fXcftM1n2fmUVOqXP8eHBDPDQHutpZhskcuEK50IQqtai0WGTHJJi0hL9crsoSGsA8H~gLl3SC5G4Iehr-5jkwtqnBxxXcnXFzQeVil713q8kllG7Ez66gXgtttXAbIxbWJDWelJyqMCwPuG-Gkcw9S0hVtviz4L6swLls~QDQqiBTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Battle Creek, MI","date","2025-06-04T12:32:16Z","article","The Battle Creek City Commission on June 3 adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 general fund and special funds budget and set a $20.25 millage rate (Resolution 149).

A commissioner thanked the commission and city administration for their work on the budget and said staff had addressed several concerns raised by commissioners during the process. The mayor called for a vote; the commission approved the resolution at the meeting.

The resolution implements budget and millage actions for the upcoming fiscal year. No detailed line‑item changes or roll‑call vote tallies were recorded in the public transcript portion of the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Battle Creek City Commission regular meeting - 6/3/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Commission voted to set a $20.25 millage rate and adopt the general and special funds budget for fiscal year 2025–26 (Resolution 149). Commissioners thanked staff for addressing several commission concerns during budget development.","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},6182320,"Commission introduces ordinance to classify reckless driving, racing vehicles as public nuisances",75,2270000,2345000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61&start=2270&end=2345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61/thumbnail_2270000.jpg","/articles/6182320/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Commission-introduces-ordinance-to-classify-reckless-driving-racing-vehicles-as-public-nuisances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182320-511ff4cf0cf5cb3e007e2e7c39ed4016/orig.mp4?Expires=1775225199&Signature=ns0IDdAR43IvDDY9umPJLGWHceUKTtsCHoxREpH~mvflJEr7fdWeWStOdkndn6pfzYih-ZsA78Lg~MeqQXXg6yvqWMO76n94u1nckr-7Q8AjVmf7I3XsZfE8CpBA-2dLULJC1bB0tJ7oTXRhPezO0S8nv5b4HhRTsWOS8i6ja0NHYUmJPhvNPWf5Jw~CeBu1YkaAYsgOIcrl9nDfWDmkDwRScWqFMoS-BSalgFInnvW0BLUrLfx4K4rDKmzd4jukn11993m5YauQgEc8QeDvQ8204u2UUbDXQ3w6lSQTHttQwfDsAbFq6NZwUdYj5JpXr2mg7K3pBXJTe7gAPczrkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Creek City Commission introduced Ordinance O‑3‑2025 on June 3, a proposal modeled on other Michigan municipalities that would declare vehicles used in reckless driving or racing, tools used to maintain those vehicles and any proceeds from such activity to be public nuisances.

The ordinance text presented to the commission also authorizes seizure of nuisance vehicles and allows forfeiture through a nuisance abatement action filed in the Calhoun County Circuit Court. City staff said the ordinance is similar to measures adopted elsewhere in the state and is intended to provide municipal tools to address reckless driving and street racing.

The introduction motion was moved and supported on the floor; the commission voted to introduce the ordinance. The public hearing and final adoption would occur at subsequent meetings if the ordinance follows the usual legislative schedule. No amendments or final vote on adoption were recorded at this meeting.","The commission introduced Ordinance O‑3‑2025 to treat vehicles used in reckless driving or racing — and tools used to maintain them — as public nuisances, and authorized seizure and forfeiture via nuisance abatement in Calhoun County Circuit Court.",{"_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},6182325,"Resident alleges CJIS violation by police chief, urges commission to direct investigation",242,3242000,3484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61&start=3242&end=3484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61/thumbnail_3242000.jpg","/articles/6182325/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Resident-alleges-CJIS-violation-by-police-chief-urges-commission-to-direct-investigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182325-bee60f5802197acfcfb5ca6282767952/orig.mp4?Expires=1775225199&Signature=NOL6pBXOuoY81EXUvYSLgmFoBPRSxxrfyNOxb~7tH7Gq3F5QNlAtXBfaxeo77EFX5Pd9YIfWWmtQOAPtAJmA1NZKtYyn2uP4H4qrfN30YnJr7jtcQfrNpqfCqtdT0Juu8aCx~ZhJvMocqYVumTwX2Jg0HWKiajExO43K4GDS8bc~Es1HjNbBZC~~ZCR-E0zVxnun-EDaSxieOcwi~ghtJKCryQMeqX7lX5gAVD7jeVtc8VkehQQLhDBwiSaEM9EFy4wiUpdMVVSxODSWXyoTCUtMguZmLVDmQFikCjwYA2B-HCZQyIQjZQA4GapCgCFUtUw-~jUHIXIlD4rm0HGElg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 3 meeting a resident, Ellen Smith, accused the Battle Creek police chief of violating Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) policy by releasing protected law‑enforcement information through the Signal app and asked the City Commission to direct an investigation.

Smith said the chief acknowledged the release at a prior meeting and that she had reported the matter to the FBI. She told commissioners she had also contacted each of them by email and sometimes by phone and criticized a lack of response. \"No discipline, no investigation, no accountability,\" she said, attributing those words to the absence of city action following the alleged admission.

Smith also accused the city attorney of defying a commission directive. She said the commission previously voted (Resolution 132) to reverse a FOIA denial and that the city attorney has not complied with that directive to release the requested document. Smith asked the commission to direct the city manager to investigate the police chief and city attorney and to hold city leaders accountable.

Smith referenced federal CJIS safeguards and two Battle Creek Police Department policy numbers she said describe proper handling of law‑enforcement data; she provided copies of the department policies to commissioners during the meeting. No city action or vote was recorded in response to her request during the meeting.

The claims are presented here as allegations made during public comment. The commission record from this meeting shows Smith made the allegations publicly and requested an investigation; it does not record any formal commission directive or disciplinary action on this topic.","A resident publicly accused the police chief of improperly releasing criminal justice information via Signal and said she reported the matter to the FBI. The resident also alleged the city attorney has refused to comply with a commission FOIA reversal; she asked the commission to order an investigation.",{"_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},6182330,"Residents press Battle Creek commission on water safety, rate hikes and transparency",2620,1134000,3754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61&start=1134&end=3754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61/thumbnail_1134000.jpg","/articles/6182330/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Residents-press-Battle-Creek-commission-on-water-safety-rate-hikes-and-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182330-6fbb74849dba2236be00f4a67d23bf9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775225199&Signature=R~U8VLzaYIsZ5y97~Iy7TNEJhMAZVhdxPhka5ja7a77itNmzEq1oQ-ZYMCQSyKRoQEike9Z~j3LY2C~RZVofiVpVKnc2ROokrBULBxlFVNkCl6uinzAXUxBQeNB6tmuKuwUDdb3gGsdzU7KdeeFQviWppD0nWDkbfyzOUz5oTdBtKXJziJ5P8FnruFuSIiL3P4SBJyb29N1JkuXbsXYFlEyh1bEh1Y8MyPnWi-mZJYuUN6kwSO1dm2OmWcJQqdAoupyc0Up0OvF2y-jIABpwBfdQrIxX8ArJNfZkMPywB-aLdZhJ2LX8yEWTqKPoO3M9Z2tqqh5sm4PNzr~zAAcxrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used the June 3 public comment period to raise concerns about Battle Creek’s water quality, proposed water rate changes and the city’s communication around those issues.

Speakers described a chemical smell in tap water, criticized a lack of public updates and said they had paid to obtain records through the Freedom of Information Act. One resident said she paid almost $60 for documents and remains unsatisfied with the information provided.

Michelle Gregory said there has been \"zero transparency\" about the water issue, described a chemical odor in faucet water and told the commission she was preparing to move because of unresolved concerns. Another speaker, Autumn Smith, criticized a readiness fee associated with water services and said the fee was being used to pay for activities she described as unrelated to core water operations; those claims were presented as public comment and not corroborated during the meeting.

Other residents raised practical impacts from recent water‑system work: Steve Gutsch said a recent excavation related to lead‑line replacement left a road hazard that damaged his vehicle rim and asked the city to coordinate between the water and roads departments to ensure prompt road restoration.

Commissioners did not vote on water‑rate changes or water policy at the meeting. The city manager and public works officials were present on the dais for agenda items; during public hearings and comments, residents requested clearer, more frequent communications about water quality testing results, the scope of any contamination, the source of funds for water readiness fees and the city’s plans to address hazards created during utility work.

Those requests were framed as public appeals rather than formal petitions; no new city directive was recorded in the minutes from the meeting to require additional disclosure or to halt rate changes.","Multiple residents raised concerns in public comment about a suspected water contamination, proposed increases to water rates and alleged lack of transparency from city officials. Speakers asked for clearer communication and updates; commissioners did not take formal action during the meeting.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6182335,"Battle Creek approves two downtown brownfield plans for mixed‑use housing projects",1385,1479000,2864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61&start=1479&end=2864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107032-110625b2e7a4f8801cab8c66f26f5e61/thumbnail_1479000.jpg","/articles/6182335/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Battle-Creek-approves-two-downtown-brownfield-plans-for-mixeduse-housing-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182335-356527df2a25a77ea458e1f35ca13403/orig.mp4?Expires=1775225199&Signature=Ui7b3BV3sUPqD2DJ5rMmwOVdT2K0CfnYK-n9zClHvsIE~UonOeGpGX2aKHfGkceahh3RqwcpRyFNHHzbV4o1BLXfbzR40IuVY4HNo6yP0AqTAgtMO3VE52l~oEKZSJLpxNq1KAcMwyYUx7m24q6~NYAMume-HUfDJWSslLRo62pcqBEKZmJXHD77eFdl09LxOnn3J~Y6VJOtRDh7C1wJXW6G-tan0ZxpoVewNM~l~2w7gKlvysFXTQ2P~uBCgFj2WtYS2hXmkSnZsq~M185ltoFB5896gziu2qDuLE2UvICBPvvRmfkE9HGGDyy3qSuEW6XhiF-WbPx5~XqElMPQhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Creek City Commission on June 3 approved brownfield plans for two downtown redevelopment projects, clearing the way for a mix of apartments, retail space and structured parking at 99 West Michigan Avenue and 119 West Van Buren Street.

The two approvals came after public hearings during which developers and supporters described the projects as investments in downtown housing and commerce and some residents asked how taxpayer risk would be protected.

The Jackson Bean Management LLC proposal at 99 West Michigan Avenue would rehabilitate an existing single‑story commercial building, build a second and third story, refurbish the basement and add rooftop space. Developer Percy Bean told the commission the project would include restaurant space on the ground floor, a basement entertainment area and residential units on the second and third floors — five units on each floor, he said — and a rooftop amenity intended to draw visitors and residents. Bean described the project as a multi‑year effort and said construction costs have increased.

At a separate public hearing, representatives for Northeast Property Group LLC described a larger redevelopment at 119 West Van Buren Street that would replace a city surface parking lot with a mixed‑use complex containing about 199 residential units, a parking deck (about 230 spaces) and roughly 10,000 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space. Michigan Growth Advisers consultant Jared Lutz said the project represents about a $51 million investment and would bring significant new housing to the urban core.

Members of the public asked two recurring questions during both hearings: what amount of eligible environmental and non‑environmental costs would be reimbursed through the brownfield mechanism, and what guarantees protect the city and taxpayers if the developer fails to meet projections. One commenter said the Jackson Bean project had roughly $1,100,000 in eligible reimbursements; another cited about $14,000,000 for the Van Buren project. City staff explained that the brownfield plans use tax‑increment capture to reimburse developers and that reimbursements occur only if the projects generate the projected incremental tax revenue. The city manager told the commission that if projected incremental taxes do not materialize, the developer—not the city’s general fund—bears the shortfall.

Both brownfield plans were adopted by resolution (Resolution 151 for Jackson Bean Management LLC and Resolution 152 for Northeast Property Group LLC). Commissioners who spoke in favor highlighted the need for more downtown housing; a commissioner on the dais noted housing, jobs and quality of life as priorities.

Supporters at the hearings included downtown neighbors and representatives of local business organizations who said residential density and new restaurants or entertainment options would help sustain downtown retail and hospitality. Critics sought clarity on reimbursement amounts and safeguards for taxpayers.

The commission’s approvals authorize the brownfield plans to move forward to implementation steps described in each plan and allow the tax‑increment capture mechanism to be used to reimburse eligible cleanup and redevelopment costs according to the plans’ schedules.

Commissioners did not identify a city obligation to repay developers from the general fund if incremental revenues fall short; the city manager’s explanation stated reimbursements are tied to captured incremental taxes and would not automatically draw on city general funds.

The approvals complete the commission’s statutory step to adopt the brownfield plans; subsequent administrative steps (assessor calculations, intergovernmental authorizations where required and developer reimbursements tied to captured taxes) remain part of the implementation timeline.","The City Commission approved brownfield plans for redevelopment at 99 W. Michigan Ave. and 119 W. Van Buren St., advancing two projects that together would add about 209 residential units, structured parking and commercial space while using tax‑increment capture to reimburse developers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission adopts $20.25 millage rate and FY 2025–26 budget

Commission introduces ordinance to classify reckless driving, racing vehicles as public nuisances

Resident alleges CJIS violation by police chief, urges commission to direct investigation

Residents press Battle Creek commission on water safety, rate hikes and transparency

Battle Creek approves two downtown brownfield plans for mixed‑use housing projects