Kalamazoo boards weighed $5.3M in water infrastructure items; minutes not yet published
Kalamazoo County boards and commissions met frequently over the past two weeks, but official minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent sessions. The summaries below reflect what was on each agenda; outcomes and vote tallies cannot be confirmed until minutes are released.
City Commission — July 6
The City Commission agenda included a $2,792,847 contract with Fer-Pal Construction for the 2026 pipe lining project and an ordinance authorizing up to $2,500,000 in Water Supply System Revenue Bonds. The consent agenda listed 19 items, among them a $344,990 purchase of a John Deere 544P Wheel Loader, an 18-month contract extension with Kendall Electric for electrical supplies ($608,000), and new Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificates for buildings at 825 Porter St and 810 N Pitcher St. Whether these items passed is not yet confirmed.
City Election Commission — July 9
The Election Commission was scheduled to appoint individuals to boards of election inspectors for 20 precincts, the absentee voting counting board, and the receiving board for the Aug. 4, 2026 election. The agenda also included a public accuracy test of voting equipment and approval of minutes from the April 9, 2026 meeting.
Zoning Board of Appeals — July 9
The Zoning Board of Appeals was set to hold public hearings on five variance requests. Three came from Statewide Rentals, LLC, seeking variances to the Natural Features Protection Ordinance for duplex developments at 132, 114, and 112 West Cork Street. The largest proposed encroachment was at 132 W. Cork Street: 27.78% (2,683.4 sq. ft.) of protected slope and 21.20% (655 sq. ft.) of setback. Two additional requests sought dimensional variances for wall signs at 151 S. Rose Street (two signs at 385.78 sq. ft., two at 210.69 sq. ft., exceeding a 200 sq. ft. limit) and at the Youth Sports Center, 1617 N. Drake Road (signs ranging from 174.1 sq. ft. to 1,203.3 sq. ft., exceeding a 24 sq. ft. limit).
Downtown boards — July 13
The Downtown Economic Growth Authority Board agenda included review of the 2027 DEGA draft budget, approval of Dams & Associates, Inc. as a strategic retreat facilitator at a cost up to $4,200, and acceptance of two grants from the Jim Gilmore Jr. Foundation: $15,000 for the Downtown Ambassador Program and $25,000 for the Farmer's Alley fencing project. The Downtown Development Authority Board agenda was limited to approving June 15, 2026 minutes and accepting the May 2026 financial statement.
Environmental Concerns Committee — July 16
The committee was scheduled to discuss a July 18 scrap tire event at 322 Stockbridge and a July 25 EPS drop-off event at Mayor's Riverfront Park, along with textile recycling pilot results. The agenda noted the city was recently awarded Gold Status by the MI Green Communities Challenge. Unfinished business included discussion of green zoning and stadium lights near Asylum Lake.
Historic Preservation Commission — July 8
The agenda included consideration of appointing Dan Kastner as a commissioner, review of the O'Connor Fund report, and receipt of the Q1 106 report.
Coming up
- **July 20, City Commission (Committee of the Whole):** A closed session to discuss pending litigation is scheduled.
- **July 20, City Commission:** Votes are scheduled on an $11,227,000 contract with LD Docsa Associates, Inc. for the Treatment Plant No. 25 Electrical Reliability Project; a $3,038,791 contract with Utility Metering Solutions, LLC for the 2026 Water Meter Replacement Project; a $2,577,774 contract with SWT Excavating, Inc. for the Burdick Street (Emerson to Stockbridge) Water Main Replacement Project; a $1,500,000 professional service agreement with Tetra Tech Inc. for design engineering of secondary clarifier rehabilitation at the Water Reclamation Plant; and a first reading of a $605,000 Buy/Sell Agreement with Parktowne, LLC for 1517 South Park Street. New business will discuss a moratorium on data centers.
- **July 21, Historic District Commission:** Reviews of alteration applications at 510 Minor (4 window replacements), 715 Wheaton (rear deck conversion to a 4-season room), and 1002 W North (7 window replacements), plus election of officers.