President Irwin called the regular meeting of the Marcellus Village Council to order at 7:00 p.m. on January 13, 2026, in the Marcellus Village Hall. Trustees present: Markle, Engstrom, Webb, Irwin, Haley M., Haley G. and Watts.
Agenda
Motion by Irwin, supported by Engstrom, to approve the agenda with the following addition:
-Under President’s Report – Add Item K. MAESA Board Member Application and Appointment
illaAyes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Minutes
Motion by Webb, supported by Watts, to approve as presented and place on file the corrected minutes of the December 9, 2025, regular meeting and to approve as presented and place on file the minutes of the December 16, 2025, regular meeting. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Bills
Motion by Haley G., supported by Engstrom, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of $140,295.30. Roll call vote – Ayes: Engstrom, Haley M., Watts, Webb, Irwin, Haley G. and Markle. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Webb., supported by Haley M., to receive and place on file all items on the Consent Agenda. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
President’s Report
Flyover Art Request for Approval for Specialty Designated Merchant and Club License with Dance and Entertainment Permissions
Sarah Ayers addressed the Village Council to request approval for Flyover Art’s application to the State of Michigan Liquor Control Commission for a Specially Designated Merchant and Club License with Dance and Entertainment Permissions and explained that if approved, this license would be different from and in addition to the Special Events Liquor License that it already has for events held at Patch & Remington. Ms. Ayers shared that, if approved, this license would be for the sale of beer and wine only to members of the club. The license application procedure requires local approval in the form of a resolution supporting the license application.
Resolution 2026-01 – Resolution of the Local Governing Body, Village of Marcellus, for Michigan Liquor Control Commission License
Motion by Markle, supported by Haley M., to adopt Resolution 2026-01, a Resolution of the Local Governing Body, Village of Marcellus, for Michigan Liquor Control Commission License.
Roll call vote – Ayes: Irwin, Haley G., Webb, Engstrom, Watts, Markle and Haley M. Nays: None. Motion carried.
President’s Report
MAESA Report and 2025/2026 Budgets
President Irwin presented the amended 2025 MAESA budget and the approved 2026 MAESA budget from the December 18, 2025, MAESA public budget hearing. Webb moved, supported by Irwin, to approve and place on file the amended 2025 and proposed 2026 MAESA budgets as presented. Ayes: Engstrom, Webb, Irwin, Haley M., Haley G. Nays: Markle, Watts. Motion passed.
Motion by Irwin, supported by Haley G., to receive and place on file the December 18, 2025, and January 12, 2026, MAESA meeting packets. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
DDA Report
President Irwin reported that the DDA is still looking for board members and shared the November 28, 2025, DDA meeting packet. Markle moved, supported by Irwin, to receive and place it on file. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Webb moved, supported by Markle, to approve and place on file the 2026 DDA budget. Roll call vote – Ayes: Irwin, Webb, Markle, Haley M., Watts, Engstrom and Haley G. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Committee Appointments
President Irwin made the following appointments:
Parks & Recreation Committee – Trustees Haley G. and Haley M.
Personnel Committee – Trustees Engstrom and Markle
Utilities Committee – Trustees Engstrom and Watts
MAESA Council Representative – President Irwin
Planning Commission Representative – Trustee Markle
Motion by Webb, supported by Watts, to ratify and confirm those appointments. Roll call vote – Ayes: Haley G., Webb, Irwin, Markle, Engstrom, Haley M. and Watts. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Window Quotes – Patch & Remington
President Irwin shared two updated quotes for replacement of the broken window at Patch & Remington. Updated quotes were solicited by Village Manager/Clerk Terrill as recommended by Daniel Hatch, Village Attorney, for the Downtown Beautification Project. Irwin moved, supported by Watts, to approve payment at the quoted price of $1,314.17 by Harmon Glass Doctor, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, at a quoted price of $1,314.17 to replace the east front window at Patch & Remington for damage reported to have resulted from work performed by Balkema Excavating, Inc., and to authorize the Village to execute the necessary hold-harmless agreement with Patch & Remington, to proceed with the repairs contingent upon its execution.
This cost will be incorporated into the Village’s reimbursement claim against Balkema Excavating, Inc. Roll call vote – Ayes: Markle, Webb, Irwin, Haley M., Haley G., Watts and Engstrom. Nays: None. Motion carried.
MAESA Board Member Application and Appointment
President Irwin appointed Daniel Ludlow to the MAESA Board. Motion by Engstrom, supported by Watts, to ratify and confirm that appointment. Roll call vote – Ayes: Webb, Irwin, Haley M., Markle, Haley G., Engstrom and Watts. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Clerk’s Report
MSHDA CHILL and MI Neighborhood Program Updates
MSHDA CHILL and Mi Neighborhood Program Team Member Seth Carlson provided the following updates for the programs:
MI Neighborhood Program
The MI Neighborhood Program is nearly complete and ahead of schedule. Two homes are in the formal complaint resolution process; one case appears resolved after a meeting between the contractor and homeowner, while the second is just beginning the required review of the bid, specifications, contract and MSHDA standards. The contractor and homeowner will meet on January 13 and then submit documentation outlining agreements, disputed items, proposed changes, and timelines, with no changes or payments moving forward until that review is complete. To prevent delays for homeowners who cannot travel for notarization, the team secured a public notary commission so mortgage and note documents can be completed without barriers.
CHILL Program
Cohort one is fully complete with all documents recorded. Cohort two has all materials approved and construction is beginning as contractors finalize timelines. Cohort three has strong homeowner interest, with five candidates entering intake; eligibility review, inspections, scopes of work, and bidding will occur over the next two weeks. Across both programs, the focus remains in compliance, accountability and ensuring high quality, accessible repairs for Marcellus homeowners.
TPA Administrator Change of Work Order
Mi Neighborhood TPA Sarah Ayers requested approval of Invoice No. 4, and Third-Party Administrator Change of Work Order for staffing hours required throughout the MI Neighborhood program implementation and explained that these funds will be reimbursed from and come from the MSHDA MI Neighborhood administrative grant budget. Motion by Irwin, supported by Watts, to approve the change and payment to Sarah Ayers in the amount of $4,500.00 and to approve and place on file Seth Carlson’s report on both programs. Roll call vote – Ayes: Webb, Engstrom, Markle, Haley M., Watts, Irwin and Haley G. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Ordinance No. 263 – Amending Litter and Vehicle/Machinery Storage Ordinance
Motion by Webb, supported by Irwin, to adopt Ordinance No. 263, an Ordinance Amending the Litter and Vehicle/Machinery Storage Ordinance, with an effective date of February 26, 2026. Roll call vote – Ayes: Haley G., Engstrom, Watts, Markle, Webb, Irwin and Haley M. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Capital Improvements Plan for 2026 – 2031
Motion by Irwin, supported by Haley G., to accept and approve the proposed Capital Improvements Plan for the years 2026 through 2031. Roll call vote – Ayes: Engstrom, Watts, Markle, Haley M., Irwin, Haley G. and Webb. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Quotes – Repair Middle Overhead Door in Fire Department: Motion by Irwin, supported by Watts, to approve the quote from Overhead Door Company of Kalamazoo, Inc., for replacement of a new operator motor for the middle front door of the Fire Department at a cost of $2,483.00. Roll call vote – Ayes: Haley M., Webb, Irwin, Watts, Haley G., Engstrom and Markle. Nays: None. Motion carried.
DPW
Clean Earth – Quote for Cleaning Storm on North Street
Motion by Engstrom, supported by Haley M., to approve the quote from Clean Earth for vactoring to clean the stormwater basin and high velocity jet wash of approximately 300 ft. of stormwater pipe on North Street starting about midblock between South Centre Street and South Jones Street at a cost not to exceed $2,800.00. Roll call vote – Ayes: Irwin, Watts, Engstrom, Haley M., Haley G., Markle and Webb. Nays: None. Motion carried.
December 2025 DPW Report
Motion by Irwin, supported by Webb, to receive and place on file the December 2025 DPW Report. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
SSO Notice
DPW Superintendent Michael Clark shared the press release that was issued on Monday, January 5, 2026. The release shares the following information, which was also shared with the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department and EGLE:
Village of Marcellus, Michigan — The Village of Marcellus reported a sewer overflow from East Lift Station No. 1 on January 3, 2026, after a valve in the system was not opened during operation. The Village of Marcellus’s drinking water system was unaffected.
On January 3, 2026, at approximately 8:00 a.m., a sanitary sewer overflow began near 638 East Main Street and was contained to the lift station area.
As of 11:00 a.m. on January 3, 2026, the valve was properly exercised to stop the intermittent flow of wastewater. The overflow was estimated at less than 4,249 gallons.
Please note that Sewage is the wastewater released by residences, institutions and businesses in a community. It is 99.94 percent water, with only about 0.06 percent of the wastewater dissolved and suspended pollutants.
Planning Commission
Planning Commission Public Hearing – Master Plan January 14, 2026
Planning Commission Chair James R. Thomas, Jr., reminded Village Council members that the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the Master Plan on January 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Planning Commission 2025 Annual Report
Planning Commission Chair James R. Thomas, Jr., shared the Planning Commission’s 2025 Annual Report, noting the various activities and accomplishments of the Planning Commission during the year. He noted Planning Commission member and Village Manager/Clerk attendance at a number of training classes, review of the Planning Commission’s bylaws and its public engagement efforts and results for 2025.
Motion by Webb, supported by Irwin, to receive and place on file the 2025 Planning Commission report after correcting the term dates for two Planning Commission members. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Adjournment
Motion by Markle, supported by Haley M., to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion passed.
Jacqueline A. Terrill
Village Manager/Clerk
Dennis Irwin
Village President
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