Wayland council members to decide on 2 ordinances

COVER PHOTO: The historic Henika Library building may be expanded after its purchase of neighboring property was approved.

The Wayland City Council Monday evening had public hearings and first readings of two proposed ordinances, one permitting and regulating vendors on city property and the other on residents’ shoveling snow from sidewalks in front of their homes.

Holly McPherson, director of the Main Street program, explained that the vendor ordinance would find a way to allow them to do business within the city on public property, but would subject them to regulations.

“The idea is to create small business opportunities outside of the box of our normal way (of doing things),” she told council members.

The businesses this ordinance would help particularly are food vendors who show up weekends at City Park concerts and other community events.

Mayor Jennifer Antel, however, said, “We want to know the difference between food vendors and peddlers.”

City Manager Josh Eggleston said the city probably would insist on purchase of permits.

However, this ordinance would not apply to such events as Summerfest and vendors at the Farmers Market.

The snow shoveling ordinance in past has prompted criticism from the public, which has indicated the city should plow all sidewalks. The city indeed will handle sidewalks on Main and Superior streets, the main arteries in the community.

Eggleston acknowledged that penalties likely will be $25 to $50 fines, but they will be reserved mostly for those who are consistent offenders, who ignore the rules and make no effort to comply.

Those who run afoul of the ordinance eventually could be subject to having the city doing the work and charging them.

Citizen Nan Olney suggested the city’s equipment for removing snow is outdated and inadequate.

Regardless, the council is scheduled to have second readings on both ordinances at the Nov. 20 meeting and then cast votes.

In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the council:

• Announced that Henika Public Library was the only bidder on the sale of parking lot property immediately to the north of the building. Representatives from the library acknowledged there may be plans to expand the historic, more than 125-year-old building. Cost for the purchase from the city was $1.
• Agreed to a pay raise for the full-time fire inspector, from $45,600 to between $53,000 and $54,000 a year. Eggleston said the average pay for anyone in Michigan with position is $54,000.
• Decided to take requests for proposals for 48 acres of land next to the sewer on the north side of town. The property in bygone years had been used for farming.
• Was told by City Engineer Mickey Bittner that bidding for road improvements for Church, Park, Elm and Mill Streets probably will be sought in January or February. He said they’d like to start work next spring on a project that has been delayed since 2020. The city received a $250,000 grant from the State of Michigan to help with the project. He added that $250,000 was the maximum amount allowed for any of these kinds of grants.
• Bid farewell to Councilman Rick Mathis, who decided not to seek a sixth two-year term on the council. He insisted that he has seen no evidence of any corruption on the Wayland City Council and praised his colleagues. Mayor Antel concurred, saying it’s difficult to serve because “You have to make difficult decisions and sometimes they aren’t very popular.”