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Three Oaks council approves lagoon change order, radio encryption, LiDAR unit and 2% COLA; multiple appointments confirmed
Summary
At its Nov. 12 meeting the Three Oaks Village Council approved a $35,630 lagoon change order, purchases to encrypt police radios and a handheld LiDAR unit for speed enforcement, reappointed several board members and granted a 2% employee cost-of-living increase.
The Three Oaks Village Council on Nov. 12 approved a series of routine and policy items including a $35,630 change order for the lagoon project, purchases for police communications and speed-enforcement equipment, and a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for village employees.
The council unanimously approved Change Order #7 for $35,630 to relocate an existing manhole, replace a sanitary sewer line, and add a new sampling manhole to resolve a conflict with a 4-inch water service. Councilmember Hinman moved the measure and Councilmember Thomas supported it; the motion carried with all members voting aye.
The council also authorized a $3,260 purchase of an encryption module for four portable handheld radios, which the meeting minutes state is required by the FBI to prevent public interception of police radio traffic. That motion passed unanimously (moved Jones, supported Niemzyk). The council approved a $2,342.75 purchase of a handheld Kustom Signals LiDAR unit for speed enforcement; Officers Klynstra and Mulder are certified on LiDAR use and Chief Krause was noted as needing certification for the new unit (motion moved Jones, supported Springer).
In personnel action, the council approved a 2% COLA for village employees, effective Dec. 1, 2025. Manager Faulkner told the council he recommended 2% rather than the 2.8% figure cited by the federal schedule; Councilmember Kramer asked why the higher federal figure was not adopted. Faulkner said merit raises could be considered separately.
Council members also approved multiple appointments and reappointments: Kevin Harrington (Planning Commission), Ira Johnson (Parks and Recreation), and Eric Derucki and Mike Holfels (Zoning Board of Appeals), with terms expiring in November 2028. The council accepted the resignation of Marco Chavarry from the Downtown Development Authority.
Other approvals included up to $15,500 to repair damaged brick work at Village Hall, planting three donated pine trees in Dewey Cannon Park, authorization for the manager to prepare a lease with the Three Oaks Makers and Merchants Association (TOMAMA) for Unit 6 with proposed rent of $625–$675 per month, and smaller routine expenditures such as purchase of Christmas lights (not to exceed $1,000) and a $200-per-employee appreciation payout totaling $4,200.
Votes at a glance: • Change Order #7 — Lagoon Project ($35,630): moved Hinman, supported Thomas; outcome: approved; Ayes: Niemzyk, Kramer, Thomas, Hinman, Jones, Springer, Graziano. • Spectrum radio encryption module ($3,260): moved Jones, supported Niemzyk; approved; unanimous. • Kustom Signals LiDAR ($2,342.75): moved Jones, supported Springer; approved; unanimous. • Village Hall brick repair (up to $15,500): moved Jones, supported Hinman; approved; unanimous. • TOMAMA lease authorization (Unit 6): moved Niemzyk, supported Springer; approved; unanimous. • Appointments to Planning, Parks and ZBA: approved; unanimous. • Employee COLA (2%): moved Thomas, supported Jones; approved; unanimous. • Codification of ordinances 219–247 ($4,300–$5,400): approved; Councilmember Jones voted Nay on that item but the motion carried.
The meeting record shows routine oversight and implementation actions with low implementation risk, and most items passed with unanimous support. The council set President Graziano as authorized signer for two MDOT contracts related to resurfacing and CMAQ work. The council adjourned at 8:09 p.m.; its next meeting is Dec. 10, 2025.
