Monday, June 27, 2022
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
At a work session before Tuesday’s regular meeting, the Ionia City Council voted to set a public hearing on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year for 7 p.m. on June 7 at City Hall.
Along with a hearing on the budget will be a hearing on an amendment to the utilities ordinance that would provide an increase to support the proposed $25.8 million budget.
With $100,000 hanging in the balance, the Ionia City Council unanimously approved a second amendment to the lease agreement between the city and the Ionia Free Fair Association.
City Manager Precia Garland told council members at their meeting last Monday that the IFF Association Board plans to apply once again to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) for a grant. However, to be eligible, the board must show it will have control of the property for at least five years following the date of the grant award.
Ionia Community Library Director Dale Parus presented the library’s annual report to Ionia City Council at its meeting Tuesday night.
During past reports, Parus said, he’s given council members a lengthy paper and on-screen report “with all sorts of numbers.”
When Moises Velasco moves his restaurant to downtown Ionia, he’s hoping to add a liquor license to his expanding business.
The Ionia City Council approved at Tuesday’s meeting a resolution recommending approval of a Class C liquor license from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, as applied for by Velasco.
Two street projects received the go-ahead Tuesday when the Ionia City Council approved bid awards to a local company that was the low bidder on both.
Bids for the Branch Street project, which will reconstruct three blocks of Branch Street from N. State (M-66) to Nicholson streets, were opened on Jan. 25.
The city of Ionia has a new sign ordinance after the City Council approved its adoption by a vote of 8-1 last Tuesday.
A public hearing on Ordinance No. 558, drew no comments.
A proposed policy related to the display of banners on city light poles stirred some controversy at Tuesday’s Ionia City Council meeting.
City Manager Precia Garland told council members some of the decorative light poles around the city have been fitted for brackets to allow for the display of city banners and special event banners by non-profit organizations. However, the city does not currently have a policy or formal process for deciding how the banners are approved and managed.
The city of Ionia received a “clean opinion” on both its audit of financial statements for fiscal year 2021, which ended June 30 and on its system of internal controls.
Peter Haefner of Vredeveld Haefner LLC, the city’s auditing firm, presented the results of the audit during the Nov. 2 meeting of Ionia City Council.
An overhauled sign ordinance is on its way to the Ionia City Council after the Planning Commission voted on Nov. 10 to recommend its adoption.
Ordinance No. 558 repeals a chapter entitled “Subdivision Regulations: Signs” and adds a new chapter, “Zoning: Signs.”
Due to lead time needed for constructing fire trucks, as well as rising costs — 1 to 1.5% every month — the Ionia City Council is planning ahead for the purchase of a new tender/tanker fire apparatus, due for replacement in fiscal year 2023-2024.
