Village Council

VILLAGE OF SPARTA Kent County, Michigan Village Council Meeting Monday, July 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM 75 N. Union St. (Sparta Civic Center) Present: President Robert Whalen, Council Members Brenda Braybrook, Robert Carlstrom, David Cumings, Courtney Mais, Tom Peoples, Bill Taylor Absent: None Also Present: Village Manager James Lower, Village Clerk Kristen Phelps, Police Chief Andrew Milanowski, Airport Manager Mike Krzciok, DPW Director Bill Hunter, Deputy DPW Director Conrad Bowman 1. Call to Order a. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Robert Whalen 2. Pledge of Allegiance a. The Pledge was recited at 7 pm. 3. Roll Call a. Formal Roll call was taken. Attendance is noted above. 4. Additions or Corrections to Consent and Business Agenda Consent Agenda: a. Approve Regular Village Council Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2025 b. Approve Fire Board Meeting Minutes of June 19, 2025 c. Approve DDA Minutes June 10, 2025 5. Approval of Consent and Business Agenda a. The Consent and Business Agenda were approved as presented • Motion: Mais Moved to approve the consent agenda support by Braybrook. Motion Carried unanimously. 6. Public Comment for Agenda Item Please Note: This Public Comment portion of the meeting is reserved for comment on agenda items. Personal or abusive attacks on Council members, staff members, or other participants will not be tolerated and may result in the Village President taking action, up to and including, having the speaker removed from the meeting by law enforcement officers. 7. Public Hearing a. None. 8. Old Business a. None. Page 1 of 3 9. New Business a. Res. 25-07 A Resolution to Tentatively Award a Construction Contract for Waste Water System Improvements • Motion: Braybrook moved to approve resolution 25-07 as presented, supported by Cumings. Motion passed 7-0 b. Res. 25-08 A Resolution to Authorize Issuance of Sanitary Sewer System Bonds • Motion: Cumings Moved to approve resolution 25-08 as presented, supported by Carlstrom. Motion passed 7-0 c. Res. 25-09 A Resolution to Authorize the Village Manager to Award Bids, Sign Contracts, and Provide Cash Flow for the 2025 Town Square Project • Motion: Mais moved to approve resolution 25-09 as presented, supported by Peoples. Motion passed 7-0. d. Res. 25-10 A Resolution to Expand the Social District in Downtown Sparta • Motion: Braybrook moved to approve resolution 25-10 as presented, supported by Carlstrom. Motion passed 7-0 e. Approval Jet-A Fuel Farm project • Motion: Cumings moved to approve project as presented, supported by Mais. Motion passed 7-0 f. Village Complex IT/Security Systems RFQ Award • Motion: Cumings moved to approve project as presented, supported by Braybrook. Motion passed 6-1 with a no vote from Taylor g. Civic Center/Historic Commission Trade Proposal • Motion: Braybrook moved to approve proposal as presented, supported by Mais. Motion passed 7-0 h. Village Hall Offers Discussion • Motion: Carlstrom moved to approve the offers to sell the Barbershop portion to Downtown Trini’s and Margarita Joe’s for $100,000, and to sell the Bank Portion to Chad Momber for $200,000, with the stipulation that the façade cannot be changed on the Bank Portion. Supported by Mais. Amended to state that the Barbershop has to close before the bank portion can close. Motion passed 6-1 with a “no” vote by Braybrook. i. Cityhood Committee Update from Chairman Carlstrom • Update from Chairman Carlstrom 10. Executive Session a. None. 11. Village Manager & Department Reports a. Village manager spoke about various topics and ongoing developments within the Village. 12. Communications 13. Payment of Bills June Payables Page 2 of 3  PAYABLES (101) General Fund $641,663.82 (202) Major Street Fund $792.86 (203) Local Street Fund $8,603.93 (581) Airport $66,934.01 (590) Sewer Department Fund $214,684.88 (591) Water Department Fund $39,100.05 (661) Equipment Rental Fund $1,437.30 Total $973,216.85 Informational: $7,009.18 (206) Fire Department $12,435.24 (208) SRA Park Fund $8,036.06 (248) Downtown Development Authority $27,480.48 Total • Motion: Taylor moved to approve the payables as presented, supported by Peoples. Motion passed 7-0. 14. Public Comment a. Roxanne Claxton 224 Heatherview said Thank you and had a question about WWTP project. 15. Council Member Announcements a. None 16. Adjournment a. Meeting Adjourned 8:17 pm at by President Whalen. Page 3 of 3