City Council

CITY OF LINDEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 8, 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 fallen military heroes. 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; Tessa Sweeney, Director of Senior Services & Community Engagement; Kristyn Kanyak, City Clerk; Mike Gildner, City Attorney a. Excuse Absent Member(s) None. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS a. New Firefighter Introduction, By: Chief Will Chief Will introduced the new firefighter. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. CORRESPONDENCE a. Genesee County CDBG Program Continuation Letter Request b. Status of Cooperative Meeting/Study Email (Fire Dept.) Armstrong acknowledged items. PUBLIC COMMENT Armstrong read a statement about conduct and comment procedure. Public comment about new fire truck, costs and timeline. Public comment about Silver Lake Road speed limit, brief discussion with Chief Sutter. Also asked for County Line progress update, Armstrong explained public comment procedure. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 8, 2026 Page 1 of 7 Public comment on discussions about Ripley Road paving, shared findings and requested city’s assistance organize and facilitate next steps and options. Public comment about FOIA request and reviewing minutes for information. Public comment on support for City Manager. Also, shared concerns from the last DDA Board meeting. Public comment about Mayor and Council, City Charter, FOIA request, shared personal experience. Public comment on canceled classes at Loose; voting at Loose; consent agenda financials item; recording equipment; sidewalk ordinance; cars parks on sidewalks; yard signs in right of way; compost pickup issue; Council treatment and votes. Public comment about Linden Mill Project and parking lot. Senior services; library bookshelves at Loose and tax assessments, request tax refunded portion. Miller left the meeting at 6:52 p.m. and returned at 6:54 p.m. Public comment on budget review and comparisons from previous budgets, shared differences; requested reasoning for removal of items and decision. Staff addressed public comments about fire truck; speed limit comment, County water line project; Ripley Road; election day class and reasoning and class cancellations at Loose; meeting equipment; yard signs comment and how to report; Mill parking lot; director and community engagement title and senior services and library county millages; L-4029 and Treasurer will follow-up on budget comment. CONSENT AGENDA a. City Council Meeting Minutes from May 11, 2026 b. Financial Reports Motion by Miller, second by Howd to approve the consent agenda. Roll call. Motion carried 6-1. AYES: Dick, Miller, Hicks, Simons, Link, Howd NAYS: Armstrong ABSENT: None DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Mill Building Update Grice explained purpose of these presentations and an update on the Mill project. Public comment on projected overage, Grice responded. Public comment on Council’s approval for project overages. Public comment on project completion date, Grice responded. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 8, 2026 Page 2 of 7 Councilors thanked; commented on costs; Grice further discussed project findings and timeline. b. Church Parking Lot Grice reviewed engineers cost estimate within the agenda packet and requested Council direction. No public comment was received. Councilors and Grice discussed cost split; number of parking spots; configuration; if addressed with DDA; millings for alternative lot on the market; years of use for parking lot for events and community parking; discuss with DDA and representatives from Church to speak with. c. Barn Update Grice discussed storage options and recreational space concept at Loose Center reviewed cost estimate items provided and requested Council direction. Public comment about what’s being proposed. Councilors and Grice discussed storage facility and item options; size; climate control; design; discussed feedback received with Sweeney; contractor work and experience; and bids. d. FOIA Requests Glass explained agenda request. Miller explained reasoning. Kanyak and Sutter shared approximate number of FOIA requests over past three years. UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEMS a. Monthly Grant Updates: All Pending & Newly Applied for Grants (Written on Regular Meeting Agendas Only) Glass provided update regarding EPA appropriation process to obtain funding; monitoring appropriations for police cruiser and police fire upgrades; and FEMA Grant for fire truck. b. Meeting Recording Glass updated microphones are ordered. Motion by Miller, second by Armstrong all City Council meetings, including Parks and Recreation, Planning and Zoning, DDA, that we’re apart of be recorded. Miller shared reasoning. Councilors, Gildner and Staff clarified motion for this agenda item; discussed equipment; staff; current recordings and management; storage; minutes are the official record; and retention. Motion carried 7-0. c. Contract Statuses - Museum and Library in Mill Building Glass had no update to provide. d. Loose Van Update Glass updated van is still pending. e. Comment Cards Update CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 8, 2026 Page 3 of 7 Glass explained public comment cards included in the packet. f. Resolution No. 05-26 Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Glass reviewed item and explained wage resolution corrections and reasoning. Miller asked about moving Item F. Motion by Miller, second by Armstrong to move Item f. after Item i. Motion carried 7-0. g. Resolution No. 06-26 Adoption of City of Linden Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Fee Schedule No Councilor comments were received. Public comment about item comment, Armstrong clarified. Motion by Dick, second by Howd to the approve the Fee Schedule as presented. Roll call. Motion carried 6-1. AYES: Link, Simons, Howd, Dick, Miller, Hicks NAYS: Armstrong ABSENT: None h. Resolution No. 07-26 Authorizing Compensation for all City Officers, Employees and Volunteer Fire Department Glass explained corrections made. Public comment on raises. Public comment on the budget and staff; fire department and wages. Councilors discussed staff and wages up to city manager; feedback received; retention; pay increases; wage comparables; retention; increased workload; delay in getting comparables; smaller increments and reasoning; Card clarified budget binder provided after adoption; wage study data; justification; different factors being considered; position wages; and comfort level. No comment was received from Councilor Hicks. Armstrong explained public comment for wages is done. Miller discussed fire department. Link also explained rate study data for Fire Department. Motion by Dick, by Simons to adopt Resolution No. 07-26 Authorizing Compensation for all City Officers and Employees as presented. Roll call. Motion carried 5-2. AYES: Link, Hicks, Howd, Dick, Simons NAYS: Armstrong, Miller ABSENT: None i. Resolution No. 08-26 Adoption of Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Purchasing Resolution Glass explained no changes from last meeting. No public comment was received. No Councilor comments were received. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 8, 2026 Page 4 of 7 Motion by Miller, second by Hicks to adopt Resolution No. 08-26 Adoption of Fiscal Year 2026- 2027 Purchasing Resolution. Roll call. Motion carried 6-1. AYES: Miller, Simons, Howd, Dick, Link, Hicks NAYS: Armstrong ABSENT: None f. Resolution No. 05-26 Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Public comment on environment; previous experience; budget; city charter language; fire department; and staff. Public comment on city charter language; information requests; budget; FOIA; and last meeting; and the Mayor. Armstrong apologized. Public comment shared concerns regarding proposed budget. Councilors discussed budget process experience; requested Gildner’s insight on public comment, Gildner responded. Councilors discussed budget and impact if not passed; recent vote; work sessions and special meetings; finding information; and MML wage study. Motion by Dick, second by Howd to approve Resolution No. 05-26 Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. Roll call. Motion carried 5-2. AYES: Simons, Dick, Link, Howd, Hicks NAYS: Miller, Armstrong ABSENT: None BUSINESS ITEMS a. 2026-2028 City of Linden Assessing Services Agreement Glass reviewed item. No public comment was received. No Councilor comments were received. Motion by Simons, second by Dick to adopt 2026-2028 City of Linden Assessing Services Agreement. Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Howd, Link, Simons, Armstrong, Hicks, Miller, Dick NAYS: None ABSENT: None b. Resolution No. 09-26 MDOT TAP Application Authorization for Fenton Road Regional Trail Tyler Carpenter, Executive Director of Southern Lakes Parks and Recreation, reviewed the request. No public comment was received. Discussion with Councilors, Staff and Carpenter regarding ballot question in the past; pathway system; tap grants; 2021 approval; project status; benefits; municipality contributions passed Council commitment. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 8, 2026 Page 5 of 7 Motion by Howd, second by Miller to approve Resolution No. 09-26 MDOT TAP Application Authorization for Fenton Road Regional Trail. Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Hicks, Howd, Link, Armstrong, Dick, Simons, Miller NAYS: None ABSENT: None c. Sewer Inspection Camera Purchase Grice reviewed item. No public comment was received. Howd and Grice discussed benefits of the camera and sewer gas monitoring., shared with other city departments. Miller discussed timeline. Motion by Howd, second by Miller to approve Sewer Inspection Camera Purchase. Roll call. Motion carried 7-0. AYES: Armstrong, Miller, Simons, Howd, Link, Hicks, Dick NAYS: None ABSENT: None CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Glass provided a verbal update on the following items: • Thanked Council for budget • DPW Director interviews • MML Loss Control meeting will share recommendations • Ripley Road Bridge open • Broad Street Mill and Resurface update Link, Grice and Dick discussed driveway corrections in Lindenwood timeline. COUNCIL COMMENTS & REPORTS Dick commented on budget approval. Miller commented on rumors, reasoning for recording meetings, recent DDA Board meeting; the City Manager; budget process; and Fire Department. Simons commented on pathway project progress and budget process. Hicks commented on transparency; budget process; trying to help; city manager rumors. Howd commented on Memorial Day picnic and thanked Card for hard work on budget. Link commented on city manager rumor; evaluation of costs; wage study review; working together and getting along. CLOSED SESSION None. ADJOURNMENT CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 8, 2026 Page 6 of 7 Motion by Armstrong, second by Miller to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Armstrong at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, ________________________________________ Approved: ________________ Kristyn Kanyak, City Clerk CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 8, 2026 Page 7 of 7