Bay City Commission approves $220,000 CDBG sidewalk contract, receives planning report and confirms two mayoral appointees

The Bay City Commission on the consent agenda approved a contract with Customer Concrete and Excavating LLC of Fennville, Michigan, not to exceed $220,000 for the 2025 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) sidewalk replacement project.

The approval drew extended discussion from commissioners concerned about whether CDBG funds were being used fairly across wards and whether sidewalk dollars could be reallocated for street repairs. "This money was set aside for sidewalks," Rachel, a city staff member who answered commissioners' questions, said. "We do have $500,000 from the CDBG that's going towards local streets. We'll be doing that construction this summer. We're in the middle of design right now." Rachel said the $220,000 award is part of money already earmarked for sidewalks and that streets and sidewalks have separate allocations in the capital improvement program, which is posted online.

Commissioner Bernie Overshaw asked that the item be referred back to staff so the commission could consider using funds for streets or pothole repairs, noting he believed the city had "$5,000,000" available; the referral motion received no second and died on the floor. Commissioners requested that…