Michigan City unveils winter emergency plan; council approves staffing changes and multiple budget ordinances

City officials on Tuesday presented an expanded winter emergency storm plan and the Michigan City Common Council approved a package of ordinances and staffing changes aimed at shoring up public works, planning and public safety operations.

Daryl Garbaczyk, superintendent of Central Maintenance, told the council the city has developed a four-level Severe Weather Emergency Team response, maps for eight primary snow routes and an operational communications chart. Garbaczyk said the plan is a "living document" and that the version shown to the council is not a public document in full because it contains personal contact information. He said the plan lists warming centers and identifies a street director as the snow removal coordinator.

"This is what we have come up with," Garbaczyk said, explaining the team and levels. "When we get to level 3, that's what we call all hands on deck. A blizzard is coming, an ice storm is coming, severe weather that's going to nail us is coming." He added that level 4 focuses on post-storm cleanup such as removing snow from intersections.

Council members asked questions and offered support for the plan. Sean Smith, the street director named in the plan as snow removal coordinator, was present at the meeting.

On personnel and budget matters, the council moved quickly through a series of votes after presentations and public comment:

Votes at a glance

- Encumbrance resolution: Council approved a resolution to encumber certain 2024 purchase orders so payments occur from prior-year obligations rather than 2025 operating funds. Motion passed 6-0.

- Planning appropriations shift (contractual services): Council approved moving $21,250 from salary/wages to contractual services to fund a three-month contract for a building superintendent (David Albers), as a bridge while the administration hires permanent staff. Motion passed 6-0. Mayor Angie said no additional funds are required; the charge will come from existing budget lines.

- Arborist apprentice position: Council added an arborist apprentice position to the 2025 salary ordinance and approved second and third readings the same night. Michael Wolf, city forester, said the apprenticeship is a three-year program designed to produce an ISA-certified arborist. Council approved the ordinance (waiver of rules and passage), recorded 6-0.

- Fire department salaries: The council approved an ordinance establishing fire department salaries for 2025 after waiving the rules for second and third readings; motion passed 6-0.

- Permit specialist and building superintendent positions: The council approved creating two positions in the Planning & Inspection Department and approved a short-term contract for David Albers to serve as building superintendent while the department is reorganized. Motion passed 6-0.

- Redevelopment fund appropriation: Council approved an additional appropriation for the redevelopment fund to cover salaries for the redevelopment director and redevelopment business manager; the ordinance passed after public hearing and vote, 6-0.

- Tree Board appointment: Laura Henderson was reappointed to the Michigan City Tree Board; appointment approved by unanimous voice vote (acknowledged "Aye").

- Revolving Loan Fund committee: The council tabled appointments to the revolving loan fund committee to allow legal review of the ordinance language that requires one member to be a "senior level professional loan officer." The motion to table passed 4-2.

Details and context: The planning-department action accompanies a three-month contract approved by the Board of Works to place experienced management in the department while the city recruits permit and building staff. Mayor Angie said the contract moves a budgeted salary line item into contractual services for a short term, and that the administration wants the council to support second and third readings quickly so hiring can proceed.

Wolf said the arborist apprentice position is grant-supported: "The salary for this position is coming out of the $1,000,000 grant that the department received for new trees and the associated expenses," he said.

What to watch: Council members asked the city attorney to review the revolving loan fund ordinance language and requested a firm definition or ordinance amendment to clarify the "senior level professional loan officer" requirement before making permanent appointments. The council tabled the matter for follow-up legal guidance.

The meeting also included routine approvals: minutes, claims docket, monthly police and fire reports and correspondence. Public comment included notices about local events, Black History Month programming and calls for infrastructure coordination before paving projects.