Adrian approves revised Town Square plan, strips proposed fire pits over safety worries

The Adrian City Commission on March 16 approved a revised Town Square plan but removed proposed timed gas fire pits from the project after several commissioners and residents raised safety and liability concerns.

Commissioner Banky moved an amendment to delete the fire pits from the Town Square scope; the amendment passed on roll call and the commission subsequently adopted the amended resolution (R26-025). Commissioners who voted against the amendment or final resolution cited concern about process and the unsigned memorandum of understanding with Lenway Now, but a majority favored moving the project forward without the fire pits.

Consultants from the Smith Group presented renderings showing added green space, rain gardens, benches, restrooms and food-truck parking with electrical hookups in Town Square. Staff said the Town Square total cost is about $2.8 million, with roughly $318,000 already spent on design, and that the enhancement grant would fund remaining expenditures. City staff emphasized that if the commission opts out of fire pits, they can be removed from bid documents before construction.

Several commissioners expressed discomfort with timed gas fire pits in an unsupervised downtown setting, citing potential risks to children and intoxicated patrons. "I do not feel comfortable with those fire pits," Commissioner Roberts said during debate. Staff responded that fire pits could be designed with timers, elevated controls and that bidders could remove them from the scope if the commission instructs.

Next steps: staff will update bid documents to reflect the removal of fire pits and return to the commission with revised construction documents and final bids for approval. The city attorney and administrator said they continue to negotiate an MOU with Lenway Now and will report back during procurement steps.