Linden council awards Mill Pond sidewalk contract, approves BS&A cloud upgrade and MDOT Hyatt Lane agreement

The Linden City Council on June 23 unanimously approved three principal measures: a stamped-concrete contract for the Linden Mill Pond sidewalk project, a multi-year BS&A cloud software upgrade, and a Michigan Department of Transportation agreement for work on Hyatt Lane.

Mayor Elizabeth Armstrong called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. and the council proceeded through a consent agenda before taking votes on the listed items. The consent agenda — which included minutes from the June 9 meeting, an application to use public property for the Linden Homecoming Parade (Sept. 26, 2025), the 2025 Tax Request L-4029, Resolution No. 13-25 (fiscal year budget amendments), and financial reports — was approved on a 7-0 roll-call vote (Dick; Miller; Hicks; Simons; Link; Armstrong; Howd).

Sidewalk contract: The council voted 7-0 to approve the Linden Mill Pond Sidewalk Project, selecting Alternate A (stamped concrete), and to award the contract to Great Lakes Concrete. Don Grice, Director of Public Works, reviewed the project memo and Ellen Glass, the city manager, said the Downtown Development Authority had budgeted for the work. Council discussion addressed stamped-concrete selection, brick color, and material strength to support emergency vehicles. The motion to approve the contract was made by Councilor Pam Howd and seconded by Councilor Brenda Simons; the roll-call vote recorded all seven members as voting yes.

BS&A cloud upgrade: City Manager Ellen Glass presented a proposal to move the city's BS&A financial/records system to a cloud service, noting the plan would be paid over two fiscal years and is expected to improve security and yield server-cost savings. Councilors generally supported the upgrade as proactive and mandatory going forward. The motion by Councilor Denise Miller, seconded by Councilor Tom Hicks, passed 7-0.

MDOT agreement: The council approved Resolution No. 14-25, authorizing an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for engineering and work related to enhancements of Hyatt Lane. Glass reviewed the resolution and councilors said the work will improve safety. The motion by Councilor Pam Howd, seconded by Mayor Elizabeth Armstrong, passed on a 7-0 roll call.

Operations and follow-up: In her report, City Manager Ellen Glass said staff will follow up with Priority Waste after resident complaints about missed yard-waste service and that Priority Waste representation is expected at the next meeting. Glass also reported on coordination items (schedule with Lew), the annual risk-management meeting, work on the water report, taxes and utility bills, fiscal-year-end matters and the Loose Senior Center transition, follow-up with the Historical Society about lease and insurance, and progress with EGLE on a cofferdam.

Personnel procedure: Council moved into a closed session for the City Manager’s review on a motion by Howd, seconded by Armstrong; the council reconvened in open session on a motion by Miller, seconded by Hicks. After returning to open session, the council adjourned at 7:29 p.m.

The council did not take public testimony at this meeting and no votes failed; all recorded motions passed by unanimous roll call.