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Owosso council approves housing grant, contracts, easements and grants in April 20 meeting
Summary
The council approved a $1.475 million CDBG Homeowner Rehabilitation grant, multiple contract change orders to water projects, a website redesign contract, an easement for Consumers Energy, a $160,000 fund advance for a splash pad, and a $50,000 America 250 Michigan grant to the Lebowsky Center, among other routine actions.
At its April 20 meeting the Owosso City Council approved a package of grants, contract adjustments, procurement actions and municipal agreements that city officials said will support housing rehabilitation, public works projects, digital services and cultural programming.
Housing grant and contractors: The council authorized submission and administration of a $1,475,000 Homeowner Rehabilitation CDBG grant intended to assist low- and moderate-income owner-occupied single-family homes; each household may receive up to $40,000 for eligible interior and exterior code-related repairs. Council also approved CDBG Round 1 contractors' quotes totaling $117,435.30 for individual homeowner projects and designated the Community Development Director Tanya S. Buckelew as the CDBG grant administrator.
Water and treatment project changes: The council approved two change orders with Sorenson Gross Company: Change Order No. 2 for the 2025 Well Improvements Project increased that contract by $63,198 to expand a building footprint and remove discovered asbestos (revising the contract total to $1,890,851 and adding 150 days); and a rescinded and reissued Change Order No. 2 for the Water Treatment Plant Filters Improvements Project added $2,600 and 239 days, revising that contract to $1,879,689. Both change orders were noted as contingent on EGLE approval.
Technology and websites: Council authorized $1,700 for Simoni Systems, Inc. to prepare a design package for a new Council Chambers audio/video system, and approved a professional services agreement with Revize LLC for website redesign at a one-time project cost of $17,700 plus $3,400 annually for hosting and CMS services; year-one payments were authorized from the General Fund.
Contracts, payments and easements: The council approved Warrant No. 665 totaling $92,097.24 for specified vendor and intergovernmental payments. It also approved granting a permanent 12-foot easement at 1000 Bradley St. to Consumers Energy to serve a new residential build, and authorized payment to local contractors for CDBG projects as listed in the record.
Parks and cultural grants: Council authorized a one-year, 0% interest $160,000 fund advance from the General Fund to the Parks Millage Fund to begin splash pad construction (total splash pad cost noted as $166,046) to be reimbursed by voter-approved millage. The council also approved execution of a $50,000 America 250 Michigan grant with a required $15,000 match, with funds passed through to the Lebowsky Center for stage rehabilitation; the City Manager and Community Development Director were designated as authorized signers and administrators as appropriate.
Ethics and personnel: Council acknowledged Councilmember Carl C. Ludington's pecuniary interest in two Ludington Electric invoices totaling $240 and permitted his abstention; Ludington temporarily left the room during the vote. Council voted to hold a closed session to conduct the City Manager's annual evaluation under MCL 15.268(a) and upon return directed staff to provide additional HR information on comparable salaries and benefits.
Most resolutions and contract items were approved by roll call vote as recorded in the minutes; none of the listed items was tabled or failed at the April 20 meeting. The council set the next meeting for May 4, 2026 and listed multiple board and commission vacancies.
