Coldwater council approves $619,658 in bills; city manager outlines parks, street and recreation work

The Coldwater City Council on July 13 approved payment of bills and accounts totaling $619,658 after staff explained several larger line items. City Manager Keith Baker said some of the biggest invoices reflected quarterly health-insurance premiums and increased IT and network administration expenses—projects that are partially paid through grant funds. He also cited a township tax-sharing payment tied to recent sidewalk work and a Republic Waste monthly invoice of about $59,000 (Keith Baker, speaker 8).

Council moved to pay the bills and the motion carried. "So moved," a councilmember said before the roll-call affirmation to pay the bills (Moderator comment, speaker 1).

Baker also gave a multi-item project update: Rotary Park work continues on a boat launch, a new boat-wash station and a new parking lot, with a second grant-funded phase (fishing pier and pavilion) bid-opening scheduled July 16; Liberty Street final paving is complete; Monroe Street reconstruction is expected to finish by the end of August with possible Saturday work to speed the schedule; and West and East Pearl Street work is scheduled to start in mid-August and extend into the fall. Baker said the Heritage Recreation Center would be closed through Aug. 3 for court refinishing and multipurpose-court resurfacing, and recreation staff have been temporarily relocated to City Hall (Keith Baker, speaker 8).

No formal budget amendment was proposed at the meeting; council received these operational updates and approved the bills as presented.