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White Cloud council approves $139,076 in December spending, hires airport consultant and legal counsel, amends budget
Summary
At its Jan. 6 meeting the White Cloud City Council approved December expenditures totaling $139,076.42, appointed Murphy, Caris & Miller P.C. as city legal counsel, retained Mead & Hunt for an airport layout plan, amended the FY25-26 budget to account for new grant revenue and higher liability insurance, approved an early-voting agreement update, and received the White Cloud Area Fire Department’s 2026-27 appropriations.
Mayor Brian J. Miller called the White Cloud City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2026, and the council approved the meeting agenda with an amendment to add a White Cloud Area Fire Department appropriations item.
The council adopted Resolution 2026-01 to approve December 2025 expenditures: payroll of $70,047.49 and claims of $69,028.93, for a total of $139,076.42. The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Council member Candice Dault and seconded by Damon Anuci; the minutes record a unanimous roll-call vote in favor.
Council also approved a cluster of administrative and operational measures. It adopted Resolution 2026-02 appointing the law firm Murphy, Caris & Miller P.C. to serve as city legal counsel and adopted Resolution 2026-03 retaining Mead & Hunt for professional consulting services related to the White Cloud Airport Layout Plan (ALP). Both motions were approved unanimously; the minutes do not include contract dollar amounts or scope details for the Mead & Hunt engagement.
The council approved Resolution 2026-04 to authorize the Michigan Department of Transportation "Individual Permit for Use of State Highway Right of Way" (annual application/permit for miscellaneous operations within state highway right of way). The minutes record the council’s approval but do not list permit conditions or associated fees.
With Resolution 2026-05 the council amended the FY 2025-26 budget to reflect grant revenue that was not previously budgeted and to cover an increase in liability insurance intended to avoid audit issues. The minutes note the purpose of the amendment but do not provide line-item amounts.
The meeting included several routine appointments: Lori Shears and Rich Dault were appointed to three-year terms on the Planning Commission; Brian Miller was reappointed to a five-year term on the Cemetery Board; Marva Shears and Jamie Steffes were appointed to three-year terms on the Zoning Board of Appeals; Rich Dault was appointed to a four-year term on the Marihuana License Board; Marva Shears and Rich Dault were appointed to the Tax Board of Review for two-year terms; and Mitch Graves was appointed as a ZBA alternate. All appointments were approved unanimously.
On elections administration, the council approved an updated Newaygo County Early Voting Agreement. The minutes highlight two substantive changes: billing for the early-voting site will be split evenly among participating jurisdictions, and three additional townships were added to the agreement. The motion to approve the updated agreement passed by unanimous vote.
Under new business the council received the White Cloud Area Fire Department Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget appropriations "as presented." The minutes record a unanimous roll-call vote to receive the appropriations but do not specify the appropriation amount or funding breakdown.
The council acknowledged routine department correspondence and reports (police department, DPW, city manager/treasurer) and noted a verbal communication from the River Country Chamber; the minutes record no public comment during the public-comment period. Council members Herm Becker, Lori Shears and Mayor Miller offered brief comments before the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
The city clerk’s signature block on the minutes is dated Feb. 3, 2026, indicating formal approval of these minutes at a subsequent meeting.
