Belleville council approves demolition contract, drone agreement, promotions and other measures

The Belleville City Council on Jan. 21 approved a series of contracts, personnel actions and appropriations including a $245,000 demolition contract for 14 properties, a three-year drone agreement for the regional special response team, and a $36,000 workers' compensation settlement.

These actions move forward city maintenance, emergency-response capabilities and property-remediation efforts while approving routine claims and personnel changes.

Key approvals and votes - Contract with Hanks Excavating — $245,000 for demolition of 14 properties (public health and housing committee). Motion made and seconded; roll call recorded with majority “aye”; motion carries. Mover: Alderperson Wethweiler; second: Randall (as recorded). - Three-year agreement for Belleville/Saint Clair County Regional Special Response Team drones with software and maintenance — $47,997.60 (police department). Approved by council; motion carries. - First-responder peer support network subscription with Bellum Solutions — $1,890 for Feb. 3, 2025–Feb. 2, 2026 (fire department). Approved by council. - Sale/conversion of a 2009 Ford Expedition and assorted SCBA and electronic equipment (fire department) — authorized for sale/conversion and removal from inventory; approved as part of grouped motion. - Amend ordinance (Title 3) to change Human Relations Commission membership and quorum (administration) — approved. - Motion authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with Lochmiller Group to apply for STP federal grant funding for Lucinda Avenue improvements through the East‑West Gateway Council of Governments — approved; council authorized application pursuit (no grant award yet). - Contract claims and disbursements — council approved claims totaling $1,205,349.31 (Jan. 21, 2025), ratified claims $1,856,880.24 (Jan. 6, 2025), payroll amounts on listed dates, and motor fuel claims of $152,360.39 (Jan. 6, 2025) and $68,135.41 (Jan. 21, 2025). Roll-call votes recorded as “aye” majorities; clerk recorded motions as carrying. - Promotions and hires in the fire department — promotion of Engineer John Eakus to captain; promotion of Rick Orchard to engineer; approval to hire probationary firefighters (names read by Board of Police and Fire Commissioners). Motions carried by roll call.

Executive session and settlement The council approved, in executive session, a workers' compensation settlement agreement with Richard Geissler in the amount of $36,000. The settlement vote was taken by roll call with council members recorded as voting “aye.”

Other actions - Reappointments: Tom Bell and Joe Harness reappointed to four-year terms on the Electrical Commission (motion carried). - Events and facility uses: council approved a slate of downtown and seasonal events and related city services (parades, races, holiday strolls) as presented by staff; approvals include dates and service requests for police, barricades, and public-works support.

What the approvals mean The demolition contract initiates demolition and remediation of 14 properties under city direction and will be administered through the public-health and housing department. The Lochmiller Group agreement authorizes staff to pursue federal STP grant funding; any award would require later council acceptance and budgeting. The drone agreement funds regional SRT capabilities through equipment, software and maintenance over three years.

No new taxes or general-fund appropriations were adopted at the meeting; grant application authorization does not obligate the city to accept funding until a separate appropriation is presented to council.