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Taylor council approves contracts, CDBG projects and receives Ethics Commission report; reverses Big League Brews suspension
Summary
At its Aug. 19 meeting the Taylor City Council approved a set of routine purchases and CDBG street contracts, received and filed the Taylor Ethics Commission's findings, and reversed the mayor's suspension of Big League Brews after a public hearing and assurances from police and the business.
The Taylor City Council on Aug. 19 approved a slate of routine purchases, accepted feedback from the city's Ethics Commission and reversed a mayoral suspension of a local bar following a public hearing.
Council voted to receive and file the Ethics Commission's report after Michael Hargreaves, the commission's chair, described a three-meeting process that reviewed roughly 907 pages of evidence and produced a resolution the board presented to the council. "This board met 3 times ... and reviewed 907 pages of evidence," Hargreaves said, adding the board worked to apply the city's code of ethics without bias.
On procurement and budget items the council approved: sending four police officers to the Michigan Association of Hostage Negotiators conference (not to exceed $2,926); renewing an annual Oracle/financial-software support agreement with Connect IT (packet lists the vendor as Cloud Blaze/Cloud VICE) for up to $78,864; purchasing four Dell Pro rugged laptops for police (not to exceed $9,404); hiring Hennessy Engineers for CDBG construction engineering for up to $48,000; and awarding the 2025 CDBG resurfacing contract to S & J Asphalt for $220,900 with a 10% contingency, not to exceed $242,990. City staff explained that CDBG-funded street work follows a different timeline and that best-case construction starts could be before Labor Day but remain weather-dependent.
In a public hearing over the mayor's suspension of Big League Brews' business license, council members and police described steps the establishment had taken since the mayor's action: removing live music, increasing security, banning problematic patrons and working with police on undercover checks. Councilman Johnson moved to reverse the suspension effective Aug. 20, 2025; the motion passed after council discussion emphasizing collaboration between business and police. Police Chief noted the department would continue monitoring nightlife establishments citywide.
The meeting also included ceremonial business: the council approved a proclamation honoring the life and decades of service of Judge William J. Sutherland and observed a moment of silence.
Next steps: several ordinances on first reading, including a fats/oils/grease control ordinance and amendments regulating gas-station spacing, were placed on future agendas for additional review and final votes.
