Richmond council confirms volunteer fire chief, approves Main Street water main contract and several infrastructure purchases

The Richmond City Council confirmed Robert Rindell as fire chief of the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department and approved several infrastructure contracts and purchases during its March 3 meeting at City Hall.

The actions taken at the meeting included formal approval of a fire chief appointment required by the City Charter, introduction and first reading of a zoning ordinance amendment on recreational-vehicle parking, award of a contract to replace a Main Street water main, and purchases and engineering authorizations for wastewater-treatment equipment. Council also approved two special-event requests and scheduled three budget-workshop meetings.

The appointment: Council confirmed Robert Rindell as fire chief for a one-year term beginning March 1, 2025. Rindell addressed the council after the confirmation and thanked outgoing Chief Tran and the department officers he said would serve with him. "This is truly a team effort," Rindell said, listing officers present and recognizing department members who could not attend. The motion to confirm was approved by voice vote.

Special events: Council approved a request from Grace Community Church to place a 20-by-20 tent along the Friday Street side of the church property for Vacation Bible School from July 28 through Aug. 1, with the sidewalk temporarily redirected around the tent. Steven Demcich, who identified himself as a resident at 36029 Friday Street, spoke in support. Council also approved a request from Saving Destiny Animal Rescue to permit a mobile food vendor, Oscar and Wally's, at a benefit professional wrestling event on April 12; William Tremblay spoke about the vendor's prior performance at a similar event.

Zoning ordinance amendment: Council introduced and gave first reading to an amendment to Section 9.04 (Residential Parking Standards) of the Richmond Zoning Ordinance to clarify when recreational vehicles and boats may be parked in front-yard areas and to state that such parking may not block sidewalks. The ordinance change, which the planning commission reviewed in February, would explicitly allow travel trailers in front driveways for up to 48 hours before and after a trip and allow boats for 24 hours but no more than 48 hours in a seven-day period; the amendment emphasizes that sidewalk clearance takes precedence. Members of the code-enforcement committee and administrative staff participated in drafting the language; a second reading and possible adoption were scheduled for a future meeting.

Main Street water main replacement: Council authorized payment of $897,680 to Superior Contracting for the Main Street water main replacement project, covering the stretch from Division Road to the CN Railroad tracks. Jim, a city staff member who answered council questions about the bid, said the existing main dates to before 1916 and is currently an 8-inch line; the project will install a 12-inch high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe and use directional drilling except where local connections or hydrants require excavations. Council discussion noted that the FY2024–25 budget included project funding and that part of the project is supported by an approximately $943,000 EPA grant secured through U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain's office. The motion passed by voice vote. The council and staff emphasized that the work will be primarily bored/directional-drilled, with limited surface excavation for connections.

Wastewater plant purchases and engineering: Council authorized three items for the wastewater treatment plant. It approved the purchase of fiberglass-reinforced-plastic (FRP) weirs for the plant's two final clarifiers at a cost of $56,805, with staff noting FRP resists corrosion and UV degradation. The council also authorized $37,500 to Tetra Tech for design engineering for a raw-sewage pump replacement project; staff explained the plant is transitioning from larger screw pumps to submersible pumps and needs electrical and control design (including SCADA integration and programming) for the new equipment. Both motions passed by voice vote.

Budget workshops and other business: Council scheduled three budget-workshop meetings to review the manager's proposed FY2025–26 city budget on April 28, May 5 and May 19, each beginning at 5:30 p.m. In miscellaneous updates, the city manager reported Macomb County Public Works work on a drain line west of the railroad tracks to reduce localized flooding, and an MDOT funding notification for a roundabout at Mountainville Lane and Gratiot; staff said design funding is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. The meeting concluded with customary departmental and council remarks and adjournment.

Votes at a glance: - Confirmation of Robert Rindell as Richmond Volunteer Fire Department chief (one-year term beginning 03/01/2025): motion carried, voice vote. - Grace Community Church special-event tent (July 28–Aug. 1): approved, voice vote. - Saving Destiny Animal Rescue event mobile food vendor (Oscar and Wally's) for April 12 benefit event: approved, voice vote. - Introduction and first reading of ordinance amending Section 9.04 (Residential Parking Standards) of the Richmond Zoning Ordinance: introduced and given first reading; second reading/adoption to follow. - Main Street Water Main Replacement — authorize $897,680 to Superior Contracting (expenses charged to major street and water funds; project partially funded by EPA grant obtained via Rep. Lisa McClain's office): approved, voice vote. - Purchase of FRP weirs for wastewater clarifiers — $56,805: approved, voice vote. - Engineering design for raw sewage pump replacement (Tetra Tech) — $37,500: approved, voice vote. - Schedule budget workshops April 28, May 5 and May 19 at 5:30 p.m.: approved, voice vote.

The council heard no recorded roll-call tallies for the motions; council approved each item by voice vote during the meeting.