Wayland City Council members said they were very pleased with the way things went at this year’s Summerfest celebration downtown Friday and Saturday, except for one persistent and nagging problem.
Mayor Jennifer Antel told colleagues Monday evening that careless motorists are ignoring barriers forbidding entry and one motorcyclist came dangerously close to plowing into her daughter who was setting up a booth.
Concrete barriers are sometimes used to deter unauthorized motor vehicle traffic from entering the downtown’s four corners. The offending motorists even removed the current barriers in order to gain access to the downtown.
City Manager Erik Wilson said he and other city officials will explore some options.
In other business at the meeting Thursday night, the council:
- Decided to have a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 30, to determined the successor of recently resigned Councilman Jerry Jansen. Wilson said Jansen stepped aside June 2 and state law calls for appointing a successor with 30 days. Anyone interested in serving is encouraged to contact Wilson or City Hall.
- Approved 3% increases in fees for city water and sewer in the 2025-26 fiscal year. City Treasurer Kate Balfoort said, “We’ll have to do a deeper dive on connection fees.”
- Agreed to replace the Internet server, which officials called “ancient” and which almost went down entirely in the storm last month, Wilson noted. The succeeding device will cost a little more than $40,000.
- Approved payment of $39,900 to Pristine Roofing of Flint to replace the roof above City Hall.
- Approved the zoning map for the city, which Wilson said, “will allow us to use a new zoning map every year.”
- Was told by Public Works Director Cole Lutz that the recent trash pickup in the city captured almost 4.3 tons of refuse.
- Agreed to a replacement for Lift Station #1 for the water system.
