The Benton Harbor City Commission voted Nov. 3 to approve replacement of a donated Morton Park sign at a cost of $9,000 while discussion about funding two splash pads was deferred until staff returns with more information.

The commission considered a resolution that would have authorized the city manager to approve multiple project expenditures, including a Morton Park sign replacement ($9,000) and two splash pads (combined estimate $40,000). “The sign that was demolished, we have to replace that,” Mayor Pro Tem Dwayne L. Seats said, noting the sign had been donated and replacing it would be less expensive than filing an insurance claim.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on funding and timing for the splash pads. “When I see projects like this that are pretty fruitless, don’t give any human infrastructure in it,” Commissioner Henry said, urging restraint given the city’s financial department recommendation to limit nonoperational spending. City Manager Alex Little told the commission Union Park is the confirmed site for one splash pad and that the second would be either Hall Park or June Woods Park; he said the vendor had not been selected and the $40,000 figure is an estimate that may not fully cover final costs.

Other commissioners urged balancing priorities. “We have discussed this over and over about people not having specifically youth not having things to do in our community,” Commissioner Henderson said, arguing the splash pads would provide summer relief for children and are a valued recreational investment. Commissioners also emphasized the projects are separate decisions: replacing a donated sign versus committing funds for future capital work.

After debate, Mayor Pro Tem Seats moved to amend the resolution to approve the Morton Park sign replacement now and return the splash-pad proposal to committee for additional study; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded unanimous votes in favor of the sign-only amendment.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of Morton Park sign replacement (amendment to resolution): motion to amend and approve carried; recorded roll-call vote: Commissioner Henry—yes; Commissioner Isom—yes; Commissioner Kennard—yes; Commissioner Singleton—yes; Commissioner Warren—yes; Mayor Pro Tem Dwayne L. Seats—yes; Commissioner Clark Griffin—yes; Commissioner Henderson—yes; Mayor Mohammed—yes.
- Motion to authorize two splash pads as presented: not approved in this meeting; staff to return with vendor information and cost estimates.

What’s next
City staff will return to the commission with vendor proposals, firm cost estimates and site planning for splash pads before the body considers committing funds. The Morton Park sign replacement can proceed under the authorization approved Nov. 3.

Speakers quoted in this article: Mayor Pro Tem Dwayne L. Seats (Mayor Pro Tem), Commissioner Henry (Commissioner), Commissioner Henderson (Commissioner), Alex Little (City Manager).

Clarifying details
- Morton Park sign replacement: $9,000 (amount specified in the resolution read into the record).
- Splash pads estimate: $40,000 combined; sites cited by city manager: Union Park (confirmed) and either Hall Park or June Woods Park (to be finalized).
- Vendor status: no vendor selected; staff said they will seek vendors after funding direction from the commission.

Proper names
[{"name":"Morton Park","type":"location"},{"name":"Union Park","type":"location"},{"name":"Hall Park","type":"location"},{"name":"June Woods Park","type":"location"}]

Topics
[{"name":"parks_playgrounds","justification":"Central to the approved expenditure and substantive debate about splash pads and the Morton Park sign.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.95,"depth_score":0.75,"opinionatedness":0.05,"controversy":0.50,"civic_salience":0.55,"impactfulness":0.40,"geo_relevance":1.00}},{"name":"city_budget","justification":"Discussion pivoted on budget limits and the finance department's recommendation to limit nonoperational spending.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.85,"depth_score":0.70,"opinionatedness":0.05,"controversy":0.60,"civic_salience":0.80,"impactfulness":0.60,"geo_relevance":1.00}}]

Actions
[{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"project_slug":"morton-sign-and-splashpads-2025"},"motion":"Approve project expenditures including Morton Park sign replacement ($9,000) and two splash pads ($40,000) — amended to approve sign replacement only and return splash-pad planning to committee.","mover":"Dwayne L. Seats","second":"Commissioner Henry","vote_record":[{"member":"Commissioner Henry","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Isom","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Kennard","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Singleton","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Warren","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mayor Pro Tem Dwayne L. Seats","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Clark Griffin","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Henderson","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mayor Mohammed","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":9,"no":0,"abstain":0},"legal_threshold":{"met":true,"notes":"Simple majority of quorum; requirement met."},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Amendment approved to fund sign only; splash pads deferred.","amendments":["Amend to approve Morton Park sign only and return splash-pad planning to committee."]}]

Speakers
[{"name":"Dwayne L. Seats","role_title":"Mayor Pro Tem","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"City of Benton Harbor","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:37:57","transcript_line_range":[2277,2311]}},{"name":"Alex Little","role_title":"City Manager","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"City of Benton Harbor","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:55:52","transcript_line_range":[3188,3193]}},{"name":"Commissioner Henry","role_title":"Commissioner","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"City of Benton Harbor","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:37:06","transcript_line_range":[2076,2101]}},{"name":"Commissioner Henderson","role_title":"Commissioner","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"City of Benton Harbor","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:41:05","transcript_line_range":[2450,2469]}},{"name":"Commissioner Clark Griffin","role_title":"Commissioner","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"City of Benton Harbor","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:30:53","transcript_line_range":[1852,1860]}}]

Authorities
[]

Clarifying_details
[{"category":"donation","detail":"Morton Park sign was donated to the city; replacement cost listed in the resolution: $9,000","value":"$9,000","approximate":false},{"category":"splash_pad_estimate","detail":"Two splash pads combined estimate","value":40000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Alex Little"}]

Searchable_tags
["parks","splash_pad","mortron_park","budget","homelessness"]

Provenance
{"transcript_segments":[],"description":"Discussion appears in transcript from the clerk reading the resolution through the final amended vote (beginning ~00:30:53; amendment motion and vote ~00:55:52–00:57:10)."}