Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pastor urges support for year-round shelter as speaker raises splash-pad water concerns
Summary
Pastor Gary Beal described a winter shelter program that helped 20 people obtain housing and urged the council to back a year-round shelter; a resident questioned whether a reconstructed splash pad at Valley Park will reuse water and why households are being charged extra on water bills.
Owosso — During final citizen comments Pastor Gary Beal of Church of Jubilee urged the council to support expanding emergency shelter services in Owosso after a temporary winter shelter he worked on helped people secure housing.
Pastor Gary said the winter program, which ran roughly mid-January through the end of March, resulted in 20 people obtaining housing. “They had a roof over their head when they had to complete the program,” he said, and argued a full-time, year-round shelter would help residents return to employment and contribute economically to the city. He offered to assist Nathan and city staff in planning or answering questions.
Separately, resident Dana Vargas raised concerns about a splash pad at Valley Park that previously used recycled water with DEQ permits. He said the rebuilt splash pad now uses direct water and that households are being charged an extra $100 on water bills; he asked how that arrangement works and whether the city can restore water recycling for the splash pad.
Council did not take immediate action in response to either request during the meeting; Pastor Gary’s remarks were framed as an appeal for council support and staff cooperation, and Vargas’s splash-pad question was referred to staff for follow-up.
