President Irwin called the scheduled regular meeting of the Marcellus Village Council to order at 7:00p.m. on May 26, 2026, in the Marcellus Village Hall. Trustees present: Markle, Engstrom, Webb, Haley M., Haley G. and Watts.
Agenda
Motion by Watts, supported by Markle, to approve the agenda as presented. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Minutes
Motion by Webb, supported by Haley G., to approve as presented and place on file the minutes of the May 12, 2026, 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 $47,676.95. Roll call vote – Ayes: Watts, Irwin, Engstrom, Haley G., Webb, Haley M. 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.
Bluegill Frolic
Todd Snider, President of the Bluegill Frolic Committee, requested approval for the 2026 Bluegill Frolic beer tent, during the event scheduled for August 14 and 15, 2026, at the Village-owned property known as “the old football field”. Mr. Snider also requested approval for beer tents during First Fridays events and the special Friday event scheduled for July 17, 2026, in addition to use of the Village’s snow fencing. Irwin moved, supported by Haley M., to authorize the Bluegill Frolic beer tent and the First Friday and special Friday event on July 17, 2026. Roll call vote – Ayes: Haley M., Markle, Webb, Engstrom, Watts, Irwin and Haley G. Nays: None. Motion carried.
President’s Report
Ray Gyllstrom/Lions Club Park
President Irwin reported that the completion of the new cement pad by Cairns Concrete at the Ray Gyllstrom/Lions Club Park on May 13 was immediately vandalized by a teenager who walked through the wet cement. The incident was recorded on video and was reported to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Cairns Concrete was present to repair the damage to the best of their ability without any extra cost to the Village. The Class of 2026 was able to proceed with the painted mural that was finished May 25, 2026, which will be sealed by the Village DPW.
Clerk’s Report
CHILL, MI Neighborhood and MI Neighborhood 2.0 Updates
Team member Seth Carlson provided an update on the Village’s three housing rehabilitation programs: MSHDA CHILL, MI Neighborhood, and MI Neighborhood 2.0 (MIN 2.0). He reported that the CHILL program activities are on track to be completed within the next two weeks, while the original MI Neighborhood program activities are already finished and expected to be fully closed out with the state soon. Additionally, the team has begun conducting applicant interviews for the new MIN 2.0 program and shared a draft press release with a call to action for local residents. Anyone interested in learning more about program details or determining their eligibility is encouraged to contact the team via email at chill49067@gmail.com, by phone at 269-290-1276, or by visiting the website at chill49067.my.canva.site.
Frontier North, Inc., Right-of-Way Permit Application (METRO Act) and Resolution 2026-05
Village Manager/Clerk Terrill shared the application from Frontier North, Inc., for Access to and Ongoing Use of Public Ways by Telecommunications Providers under Metropolitan Extension Telecommunications Rights-of-Way Oversight Act 2002 PA 48, MCL Sections 484.3101 to 484.3120 and Resolution 2026-05 for the same. Motion by Webb, supported by Irwin, to approve the application document and adopt Resolution 2026-05. Ayes: Haley M., Haley G., Engstrom, Irwin and Webb. Nays: Markle and Watts. Motion carried.
Server Replacement $10,451.25
Village Manager/Clerk Terrill reported that Microsoft’s extended support for Windows Server 2016 completely ends in February 2027, requiring the Village to purchase a new server to maintain daily operations without interruption. Mrs. Terrill noted that she has found a more reasonably priced hardware options from Dell and is still negotiating pricing for labor installation and service contracts. Motion by Irwin, supported by Webb, to contract with Dell Technologies for the server replacement at a cost of $10,451.25. Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Haley G., Engstrom, Webb, Irwin, Watts, Markle and Haley M. Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Village of Marcellus MEDC RRC Certificatio
Manager/Clerk Terrill announced that the Village of Marcellus has officially achieved its designation as a Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This certification formally recognizes the Village for establishing a predictable and efficient development environment designed to attract positive economic investment. To achieve this certification, the Village worked to align its local operations with the State’s extensive RRC Best Practices objectives. Accomplishments include requirements for training for local officials, streamlining internal development and zoning procedures and prioritizing stakeholder and public involvement to create community-driven visions and plans. The Village also updated its planning documents, which include the Master Plan, Zoning Ordinance and the Parks & Recreation Plan, to ensure a unified approach to local growth. This multi-year project required that the Village create an economic development and marketing strategy and identify its priority redevelopment sites to attract targeted, high-impact projects to the community.
Achieving this certification benefits the Village by unlocking priority access to state grants and community revitalization funding, as well as matching funds for technical assistance and local planning. The MEDC will also provide free professional site preparation services and actively market the Village’s priority redevelopment sites to regional and national developers. Additionally, these updates ensure a consistent, fair and clear path for local business projects looking to invest in Marcellus.
The community-wide certification recognition will take place on Friday, July 17, 2026, during the local “First Friday” event, where representatives from the MEDC will attend to formally present the recognition. Members of the Village Council, Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and Planning Commission will gather alongside the public to celebrate this achievement for the Village of Marcellus.
As-Needed Engineering Services & Water Treatment Plant Assistance Proposals
Motion by Irwin, supported by Webb, to award the one-year contract for as-needed engineering services to Abonmarche, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, at a cost not-to-exceed $7,500.00 and to award the contract for Professional Services for cost estimating and scoping for the Village’s Water Treatment Plant project to include a summary of construction costs per work item, priority rankings of improvements to pursue and recommendations for funding and use of EPA grant dollars with fees for the project at $500.00. Roll call vote – Ayes: Engstrom, Webb, Irwin, Haley M. and Haley G.Nays: Watts. Trustee Markle Abstained. Motion Carried.
DPW
Tree Quotes 2026
Motion by Irwin, supported by Markle, to approve the quote from J.C. and Sons, Inc., at $8,000.00 for tree removal and trimming in 2026. Roll Call Vote – Ayes: Watts, Webb, Irwin, Haley M., Markle, Haley G. and Engstrom. Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Planning Commission
McKenna Proposal for Planning and Zoning Services
Planning Commission Chair James R. Thomas, Jr., requested approval from the Village Council to hire McKenna Associates, Inc., of Kalamazoo, Michigan, for as-needed services to provide community planning and zoning assistance. Irwin moved, supported by Watts, to approve the proposal from McKenna. Roll Call Vote – Engstrom, Webb, Irwin, Haley G., Haley M. and Watts. Nays: None. Trustee Markle abstained. Motion Carried.
Adjournment
Motion by Markle, supported by Haley M., to adjourn at 8:21 PM. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Deborah Garcia
Village Deputy Clerk
Dennis Irwin
Village President
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