Lapeer City Commission pauses special assessments, approves downtown housing grant and multiple infrastructure purchases

The Lapeer City Commission on Sept. 15 voted to pause use of the city's special assessment district policy while staff develops a 10-year road plan and revised funding approach, approved a Community Development Block Grant application to convert the Old Opera House to seven apartments, and took a string of other actions on infrastructure, housing and public-safety grants.

Mayor Debbie Montfort opened the meeting. County Commissioner Greg Hagedahl told the commission that Lapeer County adopted its 2026-27 budget, and said the county will review its budget line-by-line every four months. Several residents used public comment to report a late-night altercation downtown; Austin Franzel and Jacob Leroy urged stricter local response to what they described as intoxicated people on city streets, while resident Stephanie Hamilton praised police response and a candlelight vigil.

In one of the meeting's most consequential votes, City Manager Michael Womack told commissioners he had reviewed the city's special assessment district policy (in place since about 1989) and found it inconsistent with long-standing practice and not sufficiently transparent. Womack recommended four steps: suspend imposition of new special assessments through Jan. 1, 2027; direct staff to engage an engineering firm to develop a 10-year road infrastructure plan (funded in this year's budget); develop a sustainable road-funding plan; and restructure funding for current road and bridge projects without using special assessments. Commissioner Brady moved to direct the manager to follow those four points and the motion carried after discussion about fiscal impacts and public notice.

The commission approved a resolution to authorize submission of a Community Development Block Grant application to create seven apartments in the Old Opera House at 350 N. Court St.; the public hearing on that item had no speakers and the motion carried. Commissioners also adopted an amendment to Chapter 7 of the zoning ordinance to reclassify a nearby building to neighborhood business (B1), a move proponents said should make first-floor tenancy easier and require property improvements tied to new uses.

On public-safety technology, the commission postponed action on the city's proposed automated license-plate reader/camera system and the associated policy until the next meeting so the technology and its use policy can be presented together. The item was tabled to the Oct. 6 meeting.

Utilities and capital equipment purchases approved included: - Purchase of one secondary effluent pump from Smith & Loveless Inc., not to exceed $30,885, with authority for the wastewater superintendent to sign documents. The motion was approved by roll call. - Purchase of one Triton aerator from Solberg Knowles & Associates, not to exceed $101,196.10, approved by roll call.

The commission approved Phase 2 of Parking Lot No. 5 work with contracts to TG Prize Batting Company ($24,500) and D & D Excavating ($49,250), with total project cost not to exceed $100,000 and a related fiscal-year 2025-26 budget amendment. Staff said the approach of splitting work into subcontracted pieces was intended to save the city money compared with a single general-contractor bid; staff said earlier work on the project cost about $187,000 and the remainder is expected to come in under the approved maximum.

The commission approved transfer of multiple marijuana processing licenses (no new licenses or location changes) from 4 KS Processing, Inc., to Kode Holdings, Inc. City staff and the city attorney explained the ordinance allows license transfers but does not increase the total number of processor licenses; commissioners said the city's limit on processors remained as established in prior ordinance language.

The commission accepted a $50,000 Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) grant to fund a rewrite of the city master plan and a non-motorized (walk-bike) plan. City staff said the master plan dates to 2008 and needs a full rewrite; the commission discussed the planning principle commonly called a "15-minute city," described by staff as a planning concept that aims to locate many daily needs within a 15-minute walk, bike or drive of residences. Commissioners approved accepting the MEDC funds and authorized the city manager to sign grant documents; staff said the city is not required to use the firm that helped secure the grant but that Roe was the consultant that produced the proposal and could be engaged for the work.

MSHDA funds previously awarded to the city were approved for reallocation to park and public-recreation improvements: safety mulch for five playgrounds (Optimist, Soccer Complex, Antwerp Park, Audubon Park, Crampton), three or four benches for Parking Lot No. 5, and educational signage for wildflower narratives. The motion to spend the MSHDA funds carried.

In his manager's report, Womack highlighted inconsistent historical application of the special-assessment policy, and recommended pausing new assessments while staff develops transparent rules and a funding plan. He also told commissioners the city had received a demolition quote of about $97,000 to remove an out-of-service water tower; a cosmetic "make safe" option was quoted at about $77,000 and a full repaint would cost between $800,000 and $1,000,000 because of required lead-paint abatement. Staff asked commissioners for a site visit; the commission scheduled an on-site meeting for Sept. 23 at 5 p.m.

The commission confirmed several appointments: Joseph Williams to the EDC/TIFA board (term to 06/01/2027) and Valerie Miller to the Lapeer Housing Commission (term to 08/01/2027), Housing Board of Appeals (term to 05/01/2027) and Lapeer Neighborhoods Inc. (term to 08/01/2026).

Why it matters: The special-assessment pause and the directive to develop a 10-year road plan change how the city will approach paying for major public works short-term and could affect property owners who might otherwise have been assessed for street improvements. The downtown housing grant and zoning change aim to increase housing supply and encourage property rehabilitation in the city's core. Approved equipment and parking-lot work aim to keep utilities operating and public spaces usable.

Votes at a glance (items recorded on the Sept. 15 agenda): - Motion to approve meeting agenda with additions: carried (mover: Commissioner Atwood; support: Commissioner Glisman). - Minutes for Sept. 2 and Sept. 8: approved (mover: Commissioner Brady; support: Commissioner Atwood). - Bill listing for 09/15/2025, $1,374,778.70: approved by roll call (motion by Commissioner Brady; supported by Commissioner Swindell). - CDBG application (Old Opera House, 7 apartments): resolution to authorize submittal approved (mover recorded; roll call recorded as "motion carried"). - Ordinance amendment, Chapter 7 zoning (rezone to B1/B2 for specified property): adopted (mover: Commissioner Brady; support: Commissioner Atwood). - Postponement of Flock camera system and policy to Oct. 6, 2025: approved (mover: Commissioner Atwood; support: Commissioner Swindell). - Purchase: secondary effluent pump, Smith & Loveless Inc., not to exceed $30,885: approved (mover: Commissioner Brady; support: Commissioner Petrie; roll call in favor recorded). - Purchase: Triton aerator, Solberg Knowles & Associates, not to exceed $101,196.10: approved (mover: Commissioner Brady; support: Commissioner Swindell; roll call in favor recorded). - Phase 2 Parking Lot No. 5 (TG Prize Batting Co. $24,500; D & D Excavating $49,250), total not to exceed $100,000 and related budget amendment: approved (mover: Commissioner Swindell; support: Commissioner Atwood; roll call result: carried). - Transfer of marijuana processing licenses (4 KS Processing, Inc. to Kode Holdings, Inc.): approved (mover: Commissioner Swindell; support: Commissioner Amloyd; motion carried). - MEDC grant agreement to update master plan and non-motorized plan (authorize city manager to sign): approved (mover: Commissioner Brady; support: Commissioner Allen). - Spending of MSHDA funds for playground mulch, benches and signage: approved (mover: Commissioner Brady; support: Commissioner Atwood). - Direction to city manager to pause special assessments until 01/01/2027, engage engineer for 10-year road plan, develop funding restructure and avoid assessments for current projects until policy is rewritten: motioned by Commissioner Brady, supported and discussion followed; the motion carried (recorded votes: three yes, two no as recorded by the clerk during roll call discussion; see minutes for exact roll-call names). - Appointments (Joseph Williams to EDC/TIFA; Valerie Miller to housing bodies and Neighborhoods Inc.): confirmed (motions carried).

Meeting context and next steps: Staff will return with the draft revised special-assessment policy and a 10-year road infrastructure plan. The Flock camera policy and technology vendor will return together at the Oct. 6 meeting. City staff also will bring proposals for the sewer line behind the downtown buildings and prepare the MEDC agreement and consultant contract for master-plan work for future commission approval.

Ending: Commissioners scheduled a site meeting at the water tower for Sept. 23 at 5 p.m.; staff said more detailed budget and contract terms will be brought back in coming meetings for the water-tower work, parking-lot projects and the sewer repair proposals.