Alma council approves rehab exemption, equipment purchases and contract extensions; sets MDNR hearing

The Alma City Council approved a commercial rehabilitation exemption for Journey Federal Credit Union’s planned renovation at 130 West Superior and signed off on multiple equipment purchases and contract extensions, the council recorded in a meeting captured in the provided transcript.

Journey Federal Credit Union — commercial rehabilitation exemption Brian Smith, representing Journey Federal, and Will (identified in the record as CEO of Journey Federal Credit Union) described a downtown commercial rehabilitation at 130 West Superior. Smith said the project is “roughly a 3 quarter of a million dollar project, maybe upwards of 800” and that it will create four new jobs and employ 30 to 40 construction workers during the renovation. Council opened and closed a public hearing and then approved a resolution to issue a 10-year commercial rehabilitation exemption certificate; the exemption applies to increases in assessed value resulting from the rehabilitation, not to the underlying property tax owed, council members said.

Pavement maintenance contracts and street work Council approved amendment No. 1 to the 2024 chip-seal coating contract with Highway Maintenance and Construction Company to extend the contract one year (the extension covers a chip-seal project described in staff materials and maps that affects about 1.1–1.5 centerline miles of pavement). Separately, the council approved amendment No. 1 to the 2024 pavement crack-sealing agreement with Wolverine Seal Coating, extending that contract one year and authorizing crack-seal work on 35 streets (described as roughly 8.75 centerline miles). City staff and commissioners said funding will come from a mix of the renewed street millage and Act 51 gas-tax funds and noted that preserving streets at PASER ratings in the mid-6 to 7 range with crack seal and chip seal extends pavement life.

Equipment purchases for Public…