City Council

CITY OF LINDEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 27, 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 6:30 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 service members overseas. City Council Present: Mayor Elizabeth Armstrong, Mayor Pro tem Jerry Link, Brad Dick, Pam Howd, Denise Miller Absent: Tom Hicks, Brenda Simons Others Present: Ellen Glass, City Manager; Scott Sutter, Police Chief; Brian Will, Fire Chief; Don Grice, Director of Public Works; Tessa Sweeney, Director of Senior Services & Community Engagement; Brooke Card, City Treasurer; Kristyn Kanyak, City Clerk a. Excuse Absent Member(s) Armstrong excused Hicks and Simons. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS None. PUBLIC HEARINGS (A) Brodie Killian, PFM Financial Advisors LLC – Water Review Killian presented a recap, shared findings pertaining to water rates and usage over the last year and next steps. Grice further explained reasoning for rate pause, provided an update on water main loop completion project on Ripley Road, as well as an update on system response to pressure increases and reasoning. Killian further reviewed next steps, brief discussion with Miller about no increases for this budget. Public comment asking about current water pressure, Grice explained. Armstrong asked about potential funding from the State, Killian explained. Glass further explained their recommendation. CORRESPONDENCE None. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 27, 2026 Page 1 of 4 PUBLIC COMMENT Public comment about Council and staff went to Lansing and requested clarification about funding use. Public comment shared speeding, parking and safety concerns. Armstrong explained public comment procedure. Public comment about rumors and speeding concern. Brooke Tucker, candidate for 67th District Judge, provided an introduction, shared professional experience, community involvement and requested support. Public comment on behalf of American Legion Auxiliary about Poppy Month; explained mission and Poppy significance. CONSENT AGENDA (A) City Council Meeting Minutes from April 13, 2026 (B) Amended Rules of Procedure (Unfinished Business Items) (C) Financial Reports (D) Application to Use Public Property - Linden Brewing Company: May 22-24, 2026 Motion by Miller, second by Armstrong to approve the consent agenda. Roll call. Motion carried 5-0. AYES: Dick, Miller, Link, Amstrong, Howd NAYS: None ABSENT: Hicks, Simons UNFINISHED BUSINESS (A) Monthly Grant Updates: All Pending & Newly Applied for Grants (B) Meeting Recording (C) Contract Statuses - Museum and Library in Mill Building (D) Loose Van Update (E) Comment Cards Update Link explained item removal, once closed. Brief discussion with Armstrong and Glass regarding addressing public comments. Kanyak and Glass provided an update on meeting recordings to satisfy microphone and sound need, Glass explained technical difficulties and reason meeting was moved into annex. Sutter addressed public comment regarding speeding and parking concerns with construction projects and also addressed public comment regarding speeding concern on North Bridge. Glass addressed public comment about potential water funding, fund use and request. Glass acknowledged public comments made about rumors and Poppy Month. (F) Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Draft Budget (Discussion Only) Glass explained draft budget purpose and referenced previous budget item priority discussions with Council; reviewed water fund budget amendment; update on Mill project and funding; wage comparison study information; major and local road fund gas increase; and solution for CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 27, 2026 Page 2 of 4 facilities. Card reviewed General Fund revenues; discussed Mill parking lot. Glass reviewed increases in City Council budget items and reasoning; no significant changes in City Manager. Kanyak reviewed Clerk’s Department and Elections budget request categories and reasoning, shared goals and areas of concentration for department. Sweeney discussed training budget category. Card reviewed Treasurer’s Department budget requests in detail, Glass discussed health insurance. Chief Sutter presented the Police Department budget requests, focus areas and discussed facilities and appropriations request, shared images of current condition, needs and current safety concerns. Chief Will presented budget item request for truck replacement and shared recruitment information. Sutter discussed appropriations request for two vehicles. Glass explained how fire truck is built into budget and bidding process, and facilities needs would be brought back. Glass and Sweeney reviewed Senior Services budget, explained budget, wages, equipment requests, and a staffing change. Glass and Sweeney also explained DDA budget areas of appropriations. Grice reviewed sewer fund budget items; Glass and Grice explained camera use and reasoning; reviewed water fund will update based on PFM’s presentation; water reliability study requirement. Brief discussion with Councilors and Grice about water main locations; camera details and Ripley Road Project engineer’s estimate and approach. Councilors and staff discussed the comment card updates; meeting recordings and funding; Sutter and Will’s budget presentations requests and safety concerns. NEW BUSINESS (A) Resolution No. 04-26 Approving Amended MI-MABAS Agreement Will reviewed the resolution request, reason and purpose, brief discussion with Councilors. Motion by Howd, second by Armstrong to approve Resolution No. 04-26 Approving Amended MI-MABAS Agreement. Roll call. Motion carried 5-0. AYES: Armstrong, Link, Howd, Dick, Miller NAYS: None ABSENT: Simons, Hicks (B) 2026 Roadway Mill and Overly Repair Program Grice reviewed memo within packet and request in detail, brief discussion with Councilors about the project/program details and timeline. Motion by Miller, second by Howd to approve the 2026 Roadway Mill and Overlay Repair Program. Roll call. Motion carried 5-0. AYES: Link, Armstrong, Miller, Howd, Dick NAYS: None ABSENT: Hicks, Simons CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Glass provided a verbal update on the following items: CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 27, 2026 Page 3 of 4  • Road closures, Grice updated on bridge projects • Safe Routes to School project • DPW Director Position being advertised • Box City reminder and shared dates • Upcoming Hydrant Flushing • Utility Billing Survey responses • Parks and Recreation event flyers • DDA and snow removal discussion • Draft Budget CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT Absent, none. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Armstrong thanked the Departments for their reports which included reports from the Police Department, Code Enforcement, Fire Department and Senior Services Department. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS Howd commented on FISH pantry items donation need, referenced item in Senior Services Department Report; brief discussion with Grice regarding road closure signage. Miller and Sutter briefly discussed radar sign and reason; meeting etiquette, plan to meet with Glass to review budget and thanked all departments and facilities needs. Dick commented on e-bikes, brief discussion with Sutter about the current ordinance language and Police monitoring. Link commented on House Appropriation Committee presentation by Glass and Grice and acknowledged Miller and Armstrong; and funding use for expenses. Armstrong welcomed students to come up. CLOSED SESSION None. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Howd, second by Miller to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Armstrong at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, ________________________________________ Approved: ________________ Kristyn Kanyak, City Clerk CITY COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 27, 2026 Page 4 of 4