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Battle Creek commission approves LDDA bylaw change, $62,000 lead‑abatement grant and Valentine Center renovation contract
Summary
The Battle Creek City Commission on Dec. 2 approved three resolutions: an amendment to the Lakeview Downtown Development Authority bylaws to require a city‑commission representative, authorization to accept a $62,000 lead‑abatement grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and a not‑to‑exceed $797,314 contract with Phoenix Builds LLC to rehabilitate the Valentine Center.
The Battle Creek City Commission on Dec. 2 approved three resolutions affecting downtown governance, public‑health grant funding and renovation of a city‑owned childcare facility.
The commission approved Resolution 276 to amend the Lakeview Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) bylaws to require that a city commission representative appointed by the city manager, with city commission approval, be a member of the LDDA board; that the commissioner’s membership expire when they leave elected office; and to adopt gender‑neutral language and set the LDDA annual meeting for the fourth Tuesday in October at 4:30 p.m. The clerk presented the change and a motion to approve was moved and supported before the commission adopted the resolution.
In Resolution 277, the commission authorized the city manager to execute a fiscal‑year 2026 Medicaid CHIP lead health and safety grant agreement worth $62,000 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and to accept any additional amounts that may be added to the grant during the fiscal year. The clerk noted the City of Battle Creek’s Community Development Department has administered a lead‑abatement program funded by the state since 2017. The commission moved, seconded and approved the authorization.
Resolution 278 authorizes the city to accept a bid from Phoenix Builds LLC in an amount not to exceed $797,314 for rehabilitation of the Valentine Center, a city‑owned facility at 75 Irving Park Drive currently leased for daycare operations. The resolution authorizes the city manager to execute all necessary contracts and to approve change orders up to 10 percent in aggregate for city‑initiated preapproved changes due to unforeseen conditions. Commissioner Patrick O'Donnell commented that residents he spoke with were pleased to see needed improvements at the Valentine Center and supported the renovation to serve future generations.
All three resolutions were moved, seconded and adopted during the meeting; the clerk read each resolution into the record and the chair called for votes. The commission did not provide roll‑call vote tallies in the transcript for these items; the clerk announced each resolution as approved.
What happens next: The commission’s approvals authorize the manager to execute the grant agreement and the construction contract and set the LDDA bylaw changes into effect as described in the resolutions. The transcript does not specify implementation timelines, contract start dates, or the exact vote tallies.
