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Perry City Council approves permit-fee increases, seeks MDOT speed study and authorizes two congressional funding applications
Summary
At its March 19 meeting the Perry City Council approved higher building and trade permit fees, adopted zoning amendment #407, appointed Meggen Galbreath as parks administrator and RRC coordinator with two $3,000 stipends, authorized OHM to prepare two FY27 congressional funding applications, and passed a resolution requesting an MDOT speed study.
The Perry City Council on March 19 approved a package of local actions including higher permit fees, a zoning amendment and a resolution asking the Michigan Department of Transportation to conduct a speed study on a stretch of M‑78.
The council voted to raise application and inspection fees for plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits to $75 per application and $75 per inspection, and to change building permit calculations to $75 for the first $1,000 of construction and $5 for each additional $1,000. The fee changes are set to take effect April 1, 2026. The council approved the change on a motion moved by Mayor Pro‑Tem Larry Lambert and seconded by Councilmember Kamal Ghazi.
Mayor Susan Hammond said the council also adopted Zoning Ordinance amendment #407 (Section 2.04 Definitions – C and Section 2.17 (P) Pets), a measure that had been read at the March 5 meeting before this final vote.
The council approved engaging consultant OHM to prepare two FY27 congressional (congressionally directed spending) applications at no cost to the city. Mayor Hammond described the requests as: (1) new street lighting along Lansing Road and M‑52, and (2) a water‑main replacement on Keeney Street within the right-of-way. Council approved OHM’s offer so the applications could be submitted before the March 31 deadline.
On personnel, the council accepted Mayor Hammond’s recommendation to appoint Treasurer Meggen Galbreath as the city’s Park Administrator and as Redevelopment Ready Community coordinator. Council approved two annual stipends of $3,000 each for those roles, to be paid from the Park Fund and the General Fund respectively, retroactive to July 1, 2025, with the treasurer determining the pay schedule.
Councilmember Lambert moved—and the council seconded and approved—a resolution formally requesting MDOT, in cooperation with the Michigan State Police, to conduct a speed study on M‑78 from Perry Lake Drive and West Britton Road east through the M‑52 intersection to the city’s eastern limit. The resolution notes MDOT/MSP will use engineering data to consider whether to raise, lower or maintain the posted speed limit and states the city will abide by the agencies’ decision.
Clerk Shirley Smith read a summary email from County Commissioner Cindy Garber reporting 4,149 veteran contacts in 2025 (counting each assistance instance), 32 applications for assistance (27 approved, four denied), five homeless veterans assisted, 754 veteran transports and seven volunteer drivers; the email noted the Pleasant View expansion is slightly ahead of schedule.
Other routine business included approval of bills, scheduling an Ordinance Committee meeting on March 26, and reminders of a city budget workshop on March 24. No members of the public spoke during the public comment period; one community member attended the meeting in person. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
