Council hears mayor’s plan to restructure planning, add permit specialist and building superintendent; forester’s apprentice funded by grant

The Michigan City Common Council on Jan. 21 received presentations and held first readings on a set of staffing ordinances designed to reorganize permitting and redevelopment work and to add a grant-funded forestry apprentice.

Mayor Angie described a planned reorganization of Planning & Inspection that would create two positions: a permit specialist who would serve as a “gatekeeper” for permits and software and a building superintendent who would supervise the permit tech and a group of part-time, retired trade inspectors (HVAC, plumbing) recruited to provide inspections without full benefits. The mayor said salaries for those positions have already been appropriated in the budget and that some existing positions’ salary lines will be moved to other funds; the ordinances were introduced on first reading and will be carried to the next council meeting for final action.

Mike Wolf, city forester, spoke for an ordinance to amend the salary ordinance to create a three-year arborist apprentice position funded entirely by a grant. Wolf said the apprentice—identified by name in the meeting as “Bea”—will be a temporary full-time employee for three years, receive benefits, and be trained for roughly 2,000 hours per year to meet the minimum requirement to sit for the arborist exam. Wolf said the apprenticeship is intended to prepare future trainers but that there is no guaranteed conversion to a permanent full-time post.

On redevelopment staffing, the mayor proposed an additional appropriation from redevelopment (TIF) interest to fund a redevelopment director and redevelopment business manager. Sponsors and council members discussed the interest available in the redevelopment account: Councilman Beatrice cited last year’s TIF interest as approximately $440,969.59 and said funding the two positions would total about $263,012.15, leaving an approximate balance of $177,848.99 from that year’s interest. The mayor described the approach as an experiment to fund roles related to redevelopment and CDBG activity from the redevelopment interest rather than general funds; she said the structure will be reviewed after about 18 months.

Public commenters and council members broadly supported the proposals, with questions focused on benefits, long-term staffing plans and the five-year interest history for the TIF account. Council members requested that the mayor’s office provide a five-year average of TIF interest and other supporting details before final votes. All personnel-related ordinances were carried to the council’s next meeting for further consideration.