Michiana council approves tractor purchase, parking sticker pilot and joint police grant resolution; recommends raises for two officers

The Village of Michiana council on March 14, 2025 approved several administrative and capital items, including plans to purchase a replacement DPW tractor funded in part by a maturing certificate of deposit and water bond funds, a one-year parking-sticker pilot for Grand Beach, and a co-sponsored grant resolution for a joint police safety building with Grand Beach.

In the meeting, council members agreed to hire Orbis Environmental Consulting for $2,105 to complete an EPA-required National Historic Preservation review tied to the village's water-project grant application. Councilmember Mike Mumper reported that Merritt Engineering is finalizing the water project plan and that a new 750mp pump has been installed under the first grant. The council voted to approve Orbis's quote.

The council discussed replacing a nearly 30-year-old tractor used by the Department of Public Works and Water Department. Two vendor quotes were presented: a John Deere priced in the packet at $68,789 with a $10,000 trade-in allowance and a Kubota at $89,210. Council approved a motion to purchase the John Deere and to use the maturing vehicle CD ($20,640, due in May) together with Water Bond funds to cover the balance; council did not amend the current budget. A separate roll-call vote to cash out the CD when it matures passed 4-0.

Other approved items included a one-year trial allowing Grand Beach to buy designated parking stickers for $300, posted hours for the Tennis/Pickleball courts (9 a.m. to dusk, locked overnight), and the purchase of a replacement police base radio tower for $2,540. Police Chief Ryan Layman told the council that MDOT will not install a stoplight at the Grand Beach/Highway 12 entrance and that the department continues to investigate vandalism that felled 12 trees on village property; he introduced Brendan Stadler, who will attend the police academy in May.

The council also approved a resolution authorizing Michiana and Grand Beach to co-sponsor and co-sign a federal funding proposal for a joint Police Safety Building and approved a draft police survey for possible distribution to residents. During public comment, residents asked about a pending lawsuit with New Buffalo Township, the proposed site for the safety building (council identified roughly four acres on the frontage road donated by a Grand Beach resident), and asked that the check register be read aloud.

Following a closed session, the council voted 4-0 to recommend an hourly rate increase for the village's two full-time police officers, effective April 1, 2025, as a retention measure. The meeting adjourned at 3:26 p.m. EST.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (Dec. 13, 2024 and Jan. 13, 2025): passed (voice vote). - Purchase of replacement police base radio tower ($2,540): approved (voice vote). - Environmental consultant for National Historic Preservation study (Orbis, $2,105): approved (voice vote). - Purchase of John Deere tractor; funding from maturing Vehicle CD and Water Bond: approved (motion passed; CD cashing roll call 4 ayes, 0 nays). - Grand Beach parking stickers pilot ($300 for designated parking): approved (voice vote). - Tennis/Pickleball court hours (9 a.m.–dusk) and gating procedure: approved (voice vote). - Grant resolution to co-sponsor a joint Police Safety Building proposal with Grand Beach: approved (voice vote). - Draft police survey: approved (voice vote). - Recommendation for hourly pay increase for two full-time officers (effective April 1, 2025): approved (roll call 4 ayes, 0 nays).

What happens next: Merritt Engineering will continue the water grant project plan; the village will cash the vehicle CD when it matures in May to fund the tractor purchase, staff will proceed with the police survey and the grant application process for the joint safety building, and the police department will continue its investigation into the tree vandalism.