City Council

CITY OF LINDEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 AT 6:30 P.M. LOCATION: LOOSE SENIOR CENTER, 707 NORTH BRIDGE STREET, LINDEN, MI 48451 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. by Mayor Elizabeth Armstrong. The meeting was held at The Loose Senior Center located at 707 North Bridge Street, Linden, Michigan 48451. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. A Moment of Silence was observed for military overseas. City Council Present: Mayor Elizabeth Armstrong, Mayor Pro tem Jerry Link, Brad Dick, Tom Hicks, Pam Howd, Denise Miller, Brenda Simons Absent: None Others Present: Ellen Glass, City Manager; Scott Sutter, Police Chief; Brian Will, Fire Chief; Don Grice, Director of Public Works; Brooke Card, City Treasurer; Kristyn Kanyak, City Clerk; Mike Gildner, City Attorney a. Excuse Absent Member(s) None. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS a. John O’Brien, Genesee County Drain Commissioner Office – County Water System Update O’Brien presented an update on the Southern Lakes Water Main Project Phase IV. Public comment on city needs; city/county drain locations; and property impact, O’Brien responded. Public comment on financial benefit; county line connected to city line, O’Brien provided a response and further explained. Public comment on water pressure, O’Brien responded. Grice provided an update on gradual pressure increase and reasoning. Link asked about water main location and size, O’Brien and Grice addressed. b. Month of the Military Child Proclamation c. MCEC Month of the Military Child Proclamation Armstrong explained only Item b Proclamation, per resident request, and read provided Proclamation. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 Page 1 of 6 PUBLIC HEARINGS None. CORRESPONDENCE a. Letter Received from GCDC - Forest Ridge Estates Armstrong acknowledged item. PUBLIC COMMENT Public comment on city manager and previous managers. Public comment on water bill charges, misunderstanding and Board role. Public comment about Month of the Military Child and shared American Legion Auxiliary invitation. Also commented on senior services auto call regarding class cancellations; April event calendar changes; and storage. Ashley Prew, Genesee County Probate Judge Candidate, requested support, provided her background, experience and community involvement. Public comment on city manager and evaluation; history of past managers; shared personal experience serving on boards; involvement with past managers and staff; commented on current manager and staff. Public comment on city manager evaluation. Also shared concerns on scooters, mini-bikes and requested something to be done. Public comment referenced previous comment and city staff and manager. Public comment on city manager and staff, shared experience; business interaction and on manager evaluation. Public comment on city manager and staff, shared experience, business interactions; previous managers and staff interaction; shared frustrations; and experience with current Mayor. Public comment about city manager and evaluation; personal experience with Linden; leadership and communication. Public comment on city manager and staff, ZBA role and staff support; shared experience with Glass. Also commented on pathway project, condition of road and one-way consideration. Public comment on city manager, staff and evaluation; history; and experience with cemetery. Public comment about new pathway shared concerns on speed in that part of the city; township development and coordination. CONSENT AGENDA a. City Council Special Meeting Minutes from March 17, 2026 b. City Council Meeting Minutes from March 23, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 Page 2 of 6  c. Application Package for Happening In Linden Events d. Financial Reports Motion by Howd, second by Miller to approve the consent agenda. Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Dick, Miller, Hicks, Simons, Link, Armstrong, Howd NAYS: None ABSENT: None DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Rules of Procedure Amendments Kanyak reviewed purpose, changes and requested feedback. No public comment was received. Councilors discussed and no further changes were recommended. b. Parks & Recreation Commission Recommendation - Kayak Launch Project (Keepers of the Shiawassee) Glass and Grice reviewed topic, recommendation from Parks and Recreation Commission and project elements. No public comment was received. Councilors discussed and no concerns were shared. c. Draft Budget Glass explained topic and referenced draft distributed, details for next meeting, explained looking at staff wages and reasoning; PFM review and presentation at next meeting; budget public hearing and adoption in May. Councilors discussed reviewing and some meeting with staff to review. BUSINESS ITEMS a. Ordinance No. 426 Amending Section 31.040 of Chapter 31 (Parks & Recreation Commission Ordinance) Kanyak reviewed the topic; changes and reasoning. Councilors and Staff discussed changes and reasoning; voting roles and student role; Motion by Howd, second by Dick to approve Ordinance No. 426 Amending Section 31.040 of Chapter 31 (Parks & Recreation Commission Ordinance). Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Armstrong, Link, Simons, Howd, Dick, Miller, Hicks NAYS: None ABSENT: None b. Resolution No. 03-26 Authorization of Contract Extension Request to Genesee County CDBG Program Glass explained reason for topic and explained purpose. No public comment received. Motion by Miller, second by Howd to approve accept Resolution No. 03-26. Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Link, Hicks, Armstrong, Miller, Howd, Dick, Simons NAYS: None ABSENT: None CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 Page 3 of 6  c. Rebid Approval for the Linden Gazebo Sidewalk Reconstruction Project Glass explained reasoning for topic. No public comment received. No Councilor comments. Motion by Howd, second by Miller to approve rebid for the Linden Gazebo Sidewalk Reconstruction Project. Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Miller, Simons, Howd, Dick, Link, Hicks, Armstrong NAYS: None ABSENT: None UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEMS a. Meeting Recording Link requested status. Glass and Kanyak reviewed and discussed; requested feedback on YouTube video uploads; brief discussion with Link regarding no system available for previous cost discussed. b. Monthly Grant Updates: All Pending & Newly Applied for Grants (Written on Regular Meeting Agendas Only) Glass referenced recent list provided and updated on recent appropriation requests: police request for cruisers funding and City Hall for police and fire accommodations. Glass explained additional potential funding for utility type projects from State Rep. Mueller, no update yet and also discussed police and fire submissions with the 100 Club. c. Contract Statuses – Museum and Library in Mill Building Glass explained current contract with library and explained the museum was presented with draft lease, as we near completion and will return as necessary. d. Loose Van Update Glass explained this was a federal grant partnership with Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) and have not heard status, MTA lead on grant and will share if and when new van would be delivered and van size. Sweeney will work on how that service will be provided. e. Comment Cards Update Glass requested feedback from Council. Brief discussion between Glass and Link about grants received and status, Glass referenced previous list and will keep list updated; further discussed van grant and expense/budget. Councilors and staff discussed comment cards status; referenced previous discussion about hearing responses and including in agenda packet. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Glass provided a verbal update on the following items: • Significant rainfall • Safe Routes to School project • Box City Kick off and details • Bridge project Grice explained projects and further discussed Broad Street resurfacing project, explained work and detours and estimated timeline; finalizing details and will advertise public meeting. Council and staff discussed traffic and detours, will share more information once known; and location for millings. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 Page 4 of 6 Public comment about Ripley Road bridge project and timeline, Grice responded. Public comment offered to post project signage on property. Public comment about bridge project, Grice addressed. Glass provided additional updates on: • Working with VFW on Memorial Day Parade re-route • Memorial Day Picnic and details • Advertisement for Grice’s retirement • Survey for monthly or quarterly utility billing • Contact staff with water bill concerns/leak detection COUNCIL COMMENTS & REPORTS Howd shared March Metro meeting update; speed limit coming into town; and erosion control on the gazebo. Hicks requested for regular meetings add monthly reports on Loose Center, Glass confirmed they are included. Hicks also shared next Historic District Commission meeting date. Simons commented on looking at speed limit change; business advocation for City Manager; water level concern and retaining wall; staff wages and industry standards; gazebo retaining wall; and congratulated Grice on retirement. Miller shared a friend’s experience with city staff regarding increased water usage concern. Dick and Grice discussed County dam controls. Link offered to have students come up prior to Closed Session and congratulated Grice. Armstrong welcomed students up. CLOSED SESSION a. City Manager Evaluation Discussion with Armstrong and Gildner regarding procedure for entering into closed session. Motion by Simons, second by Howd to go into Closed Session. Gildner reviewed purpose of closed session request. Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Simons, Dick, Miller, Link, Armstrong, Howd, Hicks NAYS: None ABSENT: None Armstrong explained 10-minute recess, Council recessed from 8:08 p.m. to 8:18 p.m. Council entered closed session at 8:18 p.m. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 Page 5 of 6 Motion by Howd, second by Hicks to return to open session. Roll call. Motion carried 6-0. AYES: Howd, Link, Simons, Hicks, Miller, Dick NAYS: None ABSENT: Armstrong Council returned to open session at 9:25 p.m. Discussion regarding appropriate time to discuss staff pay increase, Council confirmed later discussion during budget. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Pro tem Link at 9:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, ________________________________________ Approved: ________________ Kristyn Kanyak, City Clerk CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 Page 6 of 6