Bryan DeGroot

The agenda for the March 10, 2026 meeting included discussions on correspondence, public comments, and pending business. New Business featured a request for a Special Use Permit for Inside Out Auto Detailing at 5417 Grand Haven Road, which required a public hearing and subsequent resolutions for use and site plan approval. The document also contains minutes from the February 10, 2026 meeting, during which the commission recommended approval for a Zoning Ordinance Amendment to eliminate Section 48-1081(8), a Zone Change request for 592 W. Pontaluna Road from R-5 to Planned Unit Development (PUD), and a Land Division request for 1160 Judson Road. Furthermore, the February meeting approved a site plan for a 50-unit townhome development at 1325 Seminole Road, subject to staff revision approvals and pond screening maintenance.

The meeting agenda for the City Council included several significant items. Under Consent Agenda, actions involved authorizing bids for street materials, amending the fee schedule, and setting the Board of Review Schedule. New Business items encompassed awarding bids for Avondale Park basketball court resurfacing and paint, adopting a Short Term Rental Ordinance, adopting a Zoning Ordinance Amendment concerning Section 48-1081(8), adopting a Zone Change for 592 W. Pontaluna Road regarding Paramount Development Corp., and considering a Special Use Permit Amendment for Calvin Christian Reformed Church at 973 W. Norton Avenue. The agenda also allocated time for a public hearing and general public comment.

Key discussions during the meeting included a review of the financial report as of August 31, 2022, which indicated $2.259 Million in the WMRWA Fund. There was a substantive discussion regarding potential rate increases, considering past annual increases and the implications of a standard raise effective January 1, 2023, versus maintaining a refund as savings. Information was shared regarding two new developments in Fruitport Township: a Holiday Inn Hotel and the Harmony Lakes Apartment Homes. Additionally, the Board addressed damage to the fence at the Brooks and Broadway water tower site, opting to utilize an insurance claim of approximately $5,000 for repairs, including the installation of a guardrail. The recommendation on rate raising was postponed pending further financial analysis.

The organizational meeting focused on several key administrative actions. The agenda adoption was accepted by consensus. The Authority proceeded with the election of its officers, resulting in the unanimous re-election of Jim Murphy as Chair, Todd Dunham as Vice Chair, Steve Biesiada as Secretary, and Chris Lyonnais as Treasurer. The Board also adopted a schedule for the next year's meetings, maintaining the current schedule with an exception for the September meeting. A primary business item involved authorizing the repayment to the City of Norton Shores in the amount of $265,015.10 to cover the Authority's portion of the Seminole Road Phase I 12-inch Ductile Iron upgrade to the Water and Sewer Line.

The board meeting included the acceptance of the agenda and minutes by consensus. The Treasurer reported on the financial budget and current account statement, noting work continuing on reconciliation for the October audit. Key business items discussed included the informational status of the 2025 WMRWA Audit, which is scheduled for the last week of October, checking the SCADA system status with Fruitport regarding Kennedy Industry monitoring, the status of the FCC License renewal check sent in early August, brief status updates on the PFAS Class Action Suit Settlement and the WMRWA Risk and Resilience Assessment Draft Report, and noting no update on the Dixon Water Tank Inspection. The board also discussed the possibility of relocating or repairing gate valves in conjunction with the Muskegon County Airport.