ROGERS CITY CITY COUNCIL Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING 

OF THE ROGERS CITY CITY COUNCIL

HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON JULY 7, 2026

Mayor McLennan called the meeting to order at 9 am and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL:  Adair, Bielas, Fuhrman, VanderWall and McLennan. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Bielas/VanderWall, to approve the agenda as presented.

ROLL CALL: Ayes – All, the motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Fuhrman/Adair, that the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of June 25, 2026 be approved as written.  ROLL CALL: Ayes – All, the motion carried.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT:

CHECK AND INVOICE APPROVAL:

Adair/Fuhrman, that the following total fund expenditures be recognized as payments made and payments to be made, in the amount of $243,001.31 and the Mayor is authorized to sign the check register.  ROLL CALL: Ayes – All, the motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS: 

MSHDA HOUSING GRANT- PUBLIC HEARING

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-70

McLennan/Bielas, to allow Mayor McLennan to abstain from MSHDA discussion and vote.

ROLL CALL: Ayes – All, the motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING

Mayor Pro Tem Bielas opened the public hearing 9:16 am and City Mgr. Hefele reviewed the grant information. There were no comments. The public hearing was closed at 9:26 am.

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-71

Fuhrman/Adair, to approve the following resolution.

WHEREAS, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has invited Units of General Local Government to apply for a Community Development Block Grant through the MI Neighborhood program; and 

WHEREAS, the City of Rogers City ( hereinafter referred to as “City”) desires to request $1 million in CDBG funds to (1) rehabilitate the living space above a currently vacant downtown building, creating five new apartments, (2) extend water, sewer, and street infrastructure to a 16-acre vacant piece of residential property, on which five homes would be constructed initially with an opportunity for more than 40 additional homes to follow, and (3) help at least four qualifying homeowners rehabilitate their homes; and

WHEREAS, the City commits cash of at least $150,000 from its water, sewer, and street funds, in addition to in-kind labor and equipment use, in conjunction with the infrastructure portion of the project, with an additional $1.9 million in matching funds pledged by private and nonprofit developers toward turning vacant downtown space into five apartments and constructing five new homes on the residential property to which the infrastructure will be extended; and

WHEREAS, the proposed project is consistent with the City’s master plan and 2024 housing market study, as described in the Application; and

WHEREAS, all activities will be taken for the purpose of providing and/or improving permanent residential structures, a majority of which, upon completion, will be occupied by low- or moderate-income households; and

WHEREAS, no project costs (CDBG and non-CDBG) will be incurred prior to a formal grant award, completion of the environmental review procedures and formal, written authorization to incur costs has been provided by the CDBG Specialist assigned to the project;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Rogers City hereby directs the City Manager to certify and submit to MSHDA the grant application in the amount of $1 million, including all attachments, and further designates the City Manager as the National Environmental Policy Act Environment Review Certifying Officer, the person authorized to sign the Grant Agreement, all amendments to the Agreement, all payment requests, and any additional documents required to carry out and complete the grant. 

ROLL CALL: Ayes – All, the motion carried. Abstained – McLennan.

SERVICMAN’S CLUB REQUEST

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-72

Bielas/Fuhrman, to approve the use of the City parking lot at 4th and Erie for their event on August 1, 2026 and work with City Mgr. and Police Chief and the Liquor Control Commission on rules and regulations. ROLL CALL: Ayes – All, the motion carried.

CLOSED SESSION:  

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-73

Bielas/Fuhrman, that the Rogers City Council enter into closed session pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.268(c), to review a confidential written legal opinion by the City Atty.

ROLL CALL:  Ayes: All, the motion carried and the meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 9:44 am. Upon reconvening in public session at 9:58 am no action was taken.  

ADJOURNMENT:

Mayor McLennan declared the meeting adjourned at 9:59 am.

Condensed version, complete minutes are available at City Hall.