Escanaba council sets final budget hearing, approves infrastructure and records purchases, and reappoints volunteers

The Escanaba City Council on May 7 set the final public hearing for the fiscal year 2026–27 budget for May 21 and approved a slate of routine and project-related measures.

Council opened the budget public hearing and, after no public testimony, a motion to schedule the final hearing for May 21 carried. The action preserves the city’s schedule for final budget review before adoption.

The council approved an additional $160,000 in nonparticipating-street funds for Ludington Street sanitary-sewer and streetscape work to replace deteriorated curb and some sidewalks, align grades and avoid returning for later repairs. City management said the extra work arose as crews exposed more damage during construction; council members questioned whether the engineering scope should have anticipated the need but agreed to act now to avoid higher future costs.

Council also approved a 12‑month contract with Smarsh Incorporated for an email and social‑media archiving and search platform, not to exceed $7,010 (staff noted that number is a high-end estimate and could be lower). Staff described the platform as an AI-driven online tool to speed FOIA searches and help with internal records retrieval. Council asked whether social platforms beyond Facebook are included; staff said Facebook was included as a promotional add‑on and that multiple city mailboxes and some departmental pages would be in scope.

Other approvals included Resolution 26‑06 designating the city’s MDOT street administrator signatory (moved to the director of public works) and the investment‑policy update for the defined‑benefit pension plan, with explicit legal review added at council request to clarify authority and guardrails tied to the plan’s authorization. Council recorded no conflicts of interest.

The council noted and signaled no objection to multiple reappointments and appointments across boards and commissions, including the library trustees, harbor advisory committee, planning commission, public‑safety retirement board, recreation advisory board, traffic‑safety advisory committee and the zoning board of appeals. One library trustee vacancy and one downtown development authority vacancy remain.

Votes at a glance • Final FY2026–27 budget hearing: set for May 21, 2026 — approved (voice/roll call). • Ordinance No. 1319 (tree advisory board): second reading postponed to first meeting in July — motion carried (see separate agenda item). • Investment policy update (pension): approved with added legal review — approved (roll call). • Resolution 26‑06 (MDOT street administrator): approved — approved (roll call). • Ludington Street sanitary/street improvements: additional $160,000 approved — approved (roll call). • Smarsh archiving contract (12 months, up to $7,010): approved — approved (roll call). • Board and commission reappointments: no objections noted; appointments to proceed — approved.

The council recessed for five minutes near the end of the meeting and planned to return to continue business.