Taylor City Council unanimously approves routine contracts, sets April 23 public hearing on 2026-27 budget

The Taylor City Council on Feb. 17, 2026, unanimously approved a series of routine administrative, procurement and grant-funded items and set a public hearing on the city’s Fiscal Year 2026/2027 proposed budget for April 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

Council Chairman Charley Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Taylor Municipal Building. All seven council members were present and each recorded motion carried by unanimous vote.

Major financial and advisory actions

Council approved engaging Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLLC as bond counsel for a proposed capital improvement bond issuance, with a contingent fee not to exceed $59,500 to be funded from bond proceeds. The council also approved engagement with PFM Financial Advisors LLC for financial advisory services related to the same proposed bond; the contract terms include an $8,000 base fee plus $0.90 per $1,000 of bonds issued. Both motions were moved by Councilmember Gerald P. Thomas and supported by Councilmember Dan Wallace.

Infrastructure, procurement and grant-funded projects

Council approved Hennessey Engineers for Community Development engineering, planning and support services for an amount not to exceed $26,700, funded through the Community Development Block Grant account. The council also approved a 0% interest deferred loan (project #2025-07) of $13,250 to Optimum Contracting Solutions for an emergency roof replacement; funding is through the Community Development Block Grant Home Rehabilitation account and subject to program limits.

On sustainability infrastructure, the council approved Superior Comfort Heating and Cooling to install two electric-vehicle battery chargers for an amount not to exceed $5,173, funded through the Community Energy Management Grant.

Public safety and training

Council approved payment of up to $4,370 to Michigan Police Training for commercial vehicle enforcement training for two officers (funded through the Act 302 Police Training Fund) and authorized renewal of the Law Enforcement State Accreditation module through Lexipol for $31,300, funded from General Fund Police Contractual Services.

Licenses, recognition and administrative items

The council authorized the City Clerk to sign the Michigan Charitable Gaming Licenses application recognizing St. Joseph’s Helpers as a nonprofit organization and approved an Amusement Device permit for Kudos Taproom & Fieldhouse at 14100 Pardee for 19 amusement machines under Chapter 4, Article III of the City of Taylor Code of Ordinances.

Other administrative approvals included contracting KCI Printing for postage for 2026 Assessment Change Notices (not to exceed $13,479), increasing a blanket purchase order to Med‑Tech Resource by $20,000 (Fire Department ALS Transporting account), approving CivicPlus DocAccess licensing and installation for up to $28,135 to add an ADA-related website component, and approving up to $6,700 for Department of Public Works staff to attend the APWA Great Lakes Expo (funded through the Water Supply System Fund).

Appointments and proclamations

Council reappointed Ronald Bentley and Nick Dmitruchina to the Museum Commission for three-year terms through Feb. 17, 2029, and approved a proclamation honoring the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA).

Procedural and next steps

Council set a public hearing for the FY 2026/2027 proposed budget on April 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.; the property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the budget will be subject to that hearing. Every motion recorded during the meeting carried with seven ayes and no nays. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.

Votes at a glance

All motions recorded in the minutes for this meeting passed unanimously. Where the minutes list movers and supporters, those names are recorded in the meeting timeline and in the actions array of this report.