Commission reallocates mayor's grant to buy books, approves $1,000 scholarship allocation

The Michigan City Commission on the Social Status of African American Males voted Feb. 11 to amend earlier spending plans and direct mayoral grant funds toward books and scholarships.

Commissioners agreed to reallocate one-third ($1,000) of a previously awarded mayor’s grant — originally designated for workforce-development tools — to purchase books for a training program that the commission plans to launch on Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. The books were quoted at $1.16 each during the meeting. Members discussed the program location at 1602 Tennessee Street (the former Burnham Globe Factory) and the ongoing nature of the training schedule. After a motion to change the purchase from tools to books and a second, the membership voted in favor; the transcript records the affirmative voice vote, "Aye."

Separately, with the funds now in the commission’s account, members also moved and seconded to apply $1,000 to the BJ Ashley Scholarship Memorial — matching a previously discussed scholarship allocation. The motion to allocate the scholarship funds passed by voice vote. Commissioners discussed updating scholarship application materials and having the education committee coordinate applicant review (historically the education committee enlisted school board reviewers to avoid conflicts of interest).

Commissioners also noted that $1,000 remained available for neighborhood cleanups; Commissioner Millsap said he will present a cleanup proposal at the next meeting after coordinating with other commissioners and accounting for weather.

The commission did not provide a numeric roll-call vote in the transcript; outcomes were recorded by voice as passing. Implementation tasks assigned include purchasing books using the allocated grant funds, education committee review and update of scholarship materials, and presentation of a neighborhood-cleanup plan at the following meeting.