[{"_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",6462349,"mediaKeyId","5810485-70f51286c0b6c7b5b5f998f395e956d5","parentId",5810485,"title","Benton Harbor staff say BEAD award bypassed city; AT&T permit status remains unclear","audioSeconds",168,"startMs",2067000,"endMs",2235000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810485-70f51286c0b6c7b5b5f998f395e956d5&start=2067&end=2235","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810485-70f51286c0b6c7b5b5f998f395e956d5/thumbnail_2067000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462349/Benton-Harbor/Berrien-County/Michigan/Benton-Harbor-staff-say-BEAD-award-bypassed-city-ATT-permit-status-remains-unclear","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462349-1602a376480e71216f6f7ccbfb937e08/orig.mp4?Expires=1770744408&Signature=YfbYELrdg9nIafVrytk8RK~fjT92BAzJrYuq0B~nI~04bf3FpIkz2b50ShSD6otQN0r3gCXrX2cddg7iA0oa6ZEI4br2BfPrYa5hvCHiaaAPUuEspvcfMHqCtO3OG8NYU33Z2VnsDWP~I5SCkxrM3Cdz24Jm6-pwihwEIXp8U8AgNkE5xuhVjizDyBo-ep5AOUUOkexBBl2eULk-8YjFWjPGnQOhk~OfhcaL~iTRZ44ZtPKCjFwp3BjIUHTK0d07ut4zRNO92mpfCsPkcu6FTaIDYxJFIs93YCkrIX4ZWvv1sBwp1ahhM1L3iIcQEVf3FJbYublWAgeZbNom5FWr8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Benton Harbor","date","2025-09-22T21:37:20Z","article","A city staff member identified in the meeting as Mr. Little told the Public Relations Committee that Benton Harbor did not receive federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program funds in the initial round, in part because federal applicants treated existing cable plant as evidence of service.

Mr. Little said the city communicated that the presence of cable lines does not equate to affordable, usable high‑speed Internet for residents who cannot afford service. Despite that argument, he said the city was not a beneficiary of the BEAD allocations. He added the city is continuing discussions with an entity identified in the meeting as PFA to coordinate future broadband work, noting that the PFA effort is separate from the city’s bond broadband project but could present opportunities in the future.

Mr. Little also said AT&T submitted a permit request to install broadband infrastructure covering a large portion of Benton Harbor about two years ago; he said staff had not seen evidence that the work described in the permit has been completed and that the city is asking AT&T for a status update.

A commissioner urged staff to press AT&T to act on the earlier permit and to explore ways the city could accelerate broadband access beyond the downtown and Fourth Ward areas. No formal vote was taken; staff said they would continue communications with federal, state and private partners and report back to the committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Communication/Public Relations 9.22.25","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported Benton Harbor did not benefit from the BEAD broadband rollout and is in contact with a third party (PFA) about other efforts; staff said AT&T submitted a permit two years ago but no work has been observed.","taxTitle","Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Michigan","taxId",70841,"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},6462354,"Commissioners press for education and stepped enforcement on alley maintenance, illegal dumping",485,1400000,1885000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810485-70f51286c0b6c7b5b5f998f395e956d5&start=1400&end=1885","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810485-70f51286c0b6c7b5b5f998f395e956d5/thumbnail_1400000.jpg","/articles/6462354/Benton-Harbor/Berrien-County/Michigan/Commissioners-press-for-education-and-stepped-enforcement-on-alley-maintenance-illegal-dumping","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462354-d591a9f798d8771879176b365ece44d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770744408&Signature=NmC7hj099zZc9MeXnGHYQz4997L1UDHaacXQvUUr5E3delhSqasd2J9Ap3l8ALOOXcv6YPrKAz-DIv14FmFhwKicoWcGCbNmvgcgBJPgRDvw~p5exNtJk4Z45qg64TpTCoBVGf~lZPAZdc5aIwyvYiBiHnpsvF4~IECs5M-1R8PpLY~j51AHtE9~c9idTrAVCCmhieO0lorUyb9k3WoZeU3H~Fbk73OgzIhforlw5S~OY44CHpa8d6T8XqvNlBl1~Y4erJFPPSl7CxPyBrHa9zFelhHnYfrF45k3IGap1kSg2FFZRdJkD380LNzrihCovT6rAw0I0r6MhZ~J0fjT-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners at a Public Relations Committee meeting emphasized resident responsibility for property maintenance, urged more education and said staff will pursue stepped enforcement for repeated violations.

A city official said sections of the city code require property owners to maintain the portion of land extending from the curb to the middle of the alley and described repeated instances of illegal dumping on city‑owned lots and private alleys. The official said the city has limited capacity and cannot clean every illegally dumped pile immediately.

Commissioners and staff recounted historic service levels — the city used to pick up trash twice weekly and had larger public‑works crews — and said current staffing means crews prioritize tasks such as refuse pickup, pothole repairs and branch removal. Staff said efforts to hire seasonal and permanent workers have had limited success: they reported seeking as many as 48 workers over the summer with little hire success.

A commissioner urged a combination of “compassion and education,” asking staff to give residents reasonable time to comply before enforcement. Committee members asked staff to begin issuing first‑time warnings for certain property‑use or parking violations and to escalate to citations if violations continue; staff agreed to pursue that stepped approach while also exploring ways to connect residents with resources for legitimate small businesses.

Speakers raised public‑safety examples: large appliance or vehicle storage blocking streets or alleys, residents blowing yard debris into storm sewers that then clog in heavy rain, and blocked driveways that can delay emergency vehicles.

No formal vote was taken; the committee asked staff to prioritize public education campaigns on code responsibilities, to help short‑term compliance where feasible, and to return with implementation suggestions.","Committee members discussed alley upkeep, illegal dumping, backyard businesses, burning and animal complaints; staff said property owners are responsible and urged resident reporting while warning capacity limits in city crews.",{"_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},6462359,"Benton Harbor officials report social‑media gains and push to add mass texting for resident alerts",2292,112000,2404000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810485-70f51286c0b6c7b5b5f998f395e956d5&start=112&end=2404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810485-70f51286c0b6c7b5b5f998f395e956d5/thumbnail_112000.jpg","/articles/6462359/Benton-Harbor/Berrien-County/Michigan/Benton-Harbor-officials-report-socialmedia-gains-and-push-to-add-mass-texting-for-resident-alerts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462359-fd0504e1ef8046b5501702be85f4dbe4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770744408&Signature=M2IEdbOzdaJtboOaCj8SJuzS-snMDIUSbmJDho-rKfxo2Hadpjec8NJT0-Fdk9rol1tELZ8h4aoNX80qrIJtg2p0yDjGUG7JZQcXyCgLmUo6SSix24nMfNkUZKoII~aTw7--VohQI05k2moqYNPDDlrFcG8ckcQCf94qj3kTgqRYJyqc1DnBNdXKHy2fCs5MXcic5laslnyI5~A1DWXeGJXx6IV3x~oFDFGj49wnCEVB-NJoctsymXdrc0AVAQbeJCP-1sc~4NvPgr5IwBU5KgiNnLW5ED-sClQYlc1Q8yclCTquhYN1xHrsua-Q3DimLlABrc7TqbHeOTVn2Wdppw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nick Gunn, the city’s social media presenter, told the Public Relations Committee that Benton Harbor’s official accounts have seen steady growth and are being used to correct misinformation and share project updates.

Gunn said Facebook followers have climbed past about 1,040 and Instagram recently passed 100 followers. A commission recap video posted in September has drawn nearly 9,900 Facebook views and about 3,300 views on Instagram with 59 recorded shares; staff also reported more than 200,000 total views across platforms in the past 90 days, a 72% increase from the prior 90‑day period.

Committee members and staff said the posts aim to keep residents informed about ordinances, commission actions and city projects. Gunn described a recent community block grant story about a Shaw family home repair and photos and posts about the Benton Harbor Waterfront Plaza nearing completion. He also previewed an Ox Creek Photo Walk event organized with the arts coordinator and said the Boys and Girls Club had expressed interest in bringing students to a photography session.

A commissioner asked staff to limit the use of Gunn’s personal image in posts and requested that resident faces be handled carefully. City staff framed the accounts as educational tools intended to correct misinformation and to provide factual, timely updates on commission work.

The committee also discussed mass texting as an outreach tool. One commissioner pressed staff to accelerate work on a mass‑texting capability and requested a proposal at the next monthly meeting; staff said the city is already testing systems that send automated notifications but that sign‑up/opt‑in and legal considerations remain. A staff member said they would investigate options and present proposals next month.

Gunn said commission recap posts were started in response to misinformation around the Harbor Towers resolution and are intended to provide factual context after every commission meeting. He said staff plan to continue posting project updates and event information to increase engagement and transparency.

Staff and commissioners did not vote on new policies during the discussion; they directed staff to return with more detailed information about messaging options and a possible mass‑texting implementation plan.","City staff said social‑media engagement has risen and highlighted commission recaps and community stories; commissioners urged investigation of mass texting and raised limits on staff images in posts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Benton Harbor staff say BEAD award bypassed city; AT&T permit status remains unclear

Commissioners press for education and stepped enforcement on alley maintenance, illegal dumping

Benton Harbor officials report social‑media gains and push to add mass texting for resident alerts