Alma council authorizes closed session on litigation, awards bids and approves transit change order; Pine Avenue work to start in March

The Alma City Council on Wednesday took several administrative and contract actions, including authorizing a closed session on pending litigation, awarding a pavement-marking contract, approving a change order for the Alma Transit building expansion and setting a start date for Pine Avenue reconstruction.

Closed session: The council voted to enter a closed session under the Open Meetings Act to consult with the city attorney regarding pending litigation identified as City of Alma v. Summerax and to discuss settlement strategy. The motion cited the Open Meetings Act exception (section 8(e), MCL 15.268) permitting attorney-client privileged consultation when open discussion would harm the city's financial position. The roll call recorded votes of "yes" from Commissioner Holman, Mr. Baer, Vice Mayor Harrison, Commissioner Warnick and Mayor Knight; Commissioners Gibson and Fitz were absent. The motion carried.

Bids and contracts: The council received two bids for citywide traffic-control pavement markings and awarded the contract to PK (listed as PK contracting in the record). The meeting record shows two bids were received from PK and Michigan Pavement Markings in the ranges shown on the bid tabulation (approximately $41,217 to $49,133). Council members approved the award by voice vote.

Transit building change order: Council approved a $16,700 change order to the agreement between Alma Transit and Progressive AE to fund required soil borings for the design and engineering phase of the Alma Transit building expansion. Officials said the additional cost will be covered by MDOT grant funds awarded for the project.

Pine Avenue construction: City staff announced a start date for Pine Avenue reconstruction and utility work. Construction will close Pine Avenue from Washington Avenue to Panther Parkway beginning March 3, 2025, with the project scheduled to continue through the summer and an anticipated traffic re-opening in late August 2025. The city manager told residents, "It is going to be inconvenient. That's, that's just the bottom line," and said businesses such as Arbor Grove and nearby medical offices will remain open but may face limited or alternating access as underground utilities are installed.

Parks and other items: The council received parks-committee recommendations to seek grant funding for a walking path at Wright Park (phase 1 to provide ADA access between the parking area, a short pavilion and restrooms) and to explore establishment of a dog park under the county parks millage program. The council accepted committee minutes and received multiple reports, including a monthly progress report from OHM Advisors on drinking-water SRF projects.

Other votes: The council appointed a member to the public library board for a five-year term ending June 1, 2030, approved appropriations payment, and received several board and commission draft minutes.

All listed motions carried by voice vote unless a roll-call vote was recorded in the case of the closed session authorization.