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Michiana approves $5,000 capped stewardship contract for butterfly garden, plans transition to local stewardship
Summary
Council approved a 2026 stewardship contract with Pizzo & Associates capped at $5,000 (paid in eight installments) for the 2.78‑acre butterfly garden and an adjacent native plant border; council agreed 2026 is a transition year toward village‑managed or volunteer stewardship.
Council approved an updated 2026 stewardship contract with Pizzo & Associates for the butterfly garden and adjacent native plant border (the “trapezoid”). The contract changes Pizzo’s billing to a capped annual cost of $5,000, divided into eight payments of $625 from April through November. The contract explicitly includes the 2.78‑acre butterfly garden and the additional native plant border near the zip line.
Council and Pizzo representatives said new plugs installed per the 2025 agreement should yield stronger plant emergence with favorable winter scarification. Several members expressed concern about continuing annual costs and agreed that 2026 should be a transition year toward more village‑managed or community‑supported stewardship. Pizzo indicated willingness to train village staff and volunteers, and the council asked staff to incorporate training into the 2026 plan. The motion to approve the contract passed.
