Summary of Minutes of the Mt. Pleasant City Commission Meeting – October 13, 2026

Summary of Minutes of the regular meeting of the City Commission held Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Commission Room, 320 W. Broadway St., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan with virtual options.

Approved the Agenda as presented.

Received petitions and communications.

Approved the following items on the Consent Calendar:

5) Minutes of the regular meeting of the City Commission held September 28, 2026;

6) removed from Consent Calendar;

7) Approved MDOT contract 2026-0846 for the Runway 9/27 Rehabilitation Project at the Mt. Pleasant Regional Airport and authorized the City Manager to electronically sign the contract;

8) removed from Consent Calendar;

9) Authorized the Mayor to sign a contract extension with Brown & Brown Insurance Services, Inc. for the period January 1, 2027 thru December 31, 2029;

10) Set a Public Hearing on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. to allow for public input and to receive a final report on the completion of the CDBG Housing Improving Local Livability (CHILL) Grant;

11) removed from Consent Calendar.

Authorized payment to M & M Pavement Marking, Inc.

Awarded contract with Mead and Hunt for engineering and project management services for the Runway 9/27 Rehabilitation Project at the Mt. Pleasant Regional Airport and authorized the City Manager to sign the contract.

Approved Payrolls & Warrants.

Approved dividing the question about menstrual products into two parts: (1) Consideration of menstrual product placement ordinance; and (2) Consideration of providing dispensers and associated budgetary impacts.

Amended the original motion by moving public comment on agenda and non-agenda items before additions and deletions and moving the second public comment period to the end of the meeting.

Approved the drafting of a resolution to move public comment on agenda and non-agenda items before additions and deletions and move the second public comment period to the end of the meeting.

Approved the drafting of an amended noise ordinance to establish quiet hours from 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and to limit noise from extending beyond the public right-of-way.

Held a follow-up work session on the proposed 2027 Operating Budget.

Adjourned the meeting at 10:15 p.m.

Topics to Watch at the Mt. Pleasant City Commission Meeting – October 13, 2026

Here are the topics to watch at the next in person, as well as virtual Mt. Pleasant City Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 12, 2026).

Presentation on menstrual product ordinances.

Discussion on providing free menstrual products in City-owned public restrooms.

Consider Updates to City Commission Agenda Structure.

Follow-up work session on the proposed 2027 Operating Budget.

To view the entire meeting packet visit:

E-Packet for Regular Meeting on Tuesday, October 13^th

How to follow public meetings:

The City Commission Meeting will be held in person in the City Chambers/City Hall (320 W. Broadway Street) with virtual attendance options as well. Non-voting participants may view the meeting live on the City’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/MtPleasantMi/, on Spectrum Charter channel 188 or via Zoom.

If a virtual option becomes unavailable due to technical difficulties, the meeting will continue as scheduled. Residents who would like to provide a comment during the appropriate time are welcome to come to the meeting at City Hall or email their statement to comment@mt-pleasant.org.

To participate via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87139859630?pwd=7DnatQb32UG2NH4MgmkkEZdP7Ag1G7.1

Meeting ID: 871 3985 9630
Passcode: 697971
Phone dial-in: (312) 626-6799

The audio and video will be muted for members of the public and then unmuted by the host during public comment periods.

For participants accessing via computer or smartphone please use the “Raise Your Hand” icon to indicate you would like to speak. First, click on the “Participants” icon at the bottom of your screen. Next, click on the “Raise Your Hand” icon near the bottom right corner of the screen.

To raise your hand for telephone dial-in participants, press *9.

Members of the public may be muted or removed if using abusive language or if they become disruptive to the meeting.

Virtual attendance at the meeting and participation during public comment periods will be conducted as follows:

Members of the public are asked to provide their name and address with any comments.
Comments/Questions may be sent ahead of the meeting, or during the meeting via email to comment@mt-pleasant.org. Comments sent via email will be read aloud to the Commission during the public comment period.

Individual commissioners can be contacted at the following email addresses:

Mary Alsager               malsager@mt-pleasant.org
Hanna Demerath        hdemerath@mt-pleasant.org
Maureen Eke              meke@mt-pleasant.org
Amy Perschbacher      aperschbacher@mt-pleasant.org
Grace Rollins               grollins@mt-pleasant.org
Ryon Skalitzky             rskalitzky@mt-pleasant.org
Boomer Wingard        bwingard@mt-pleasant.org

Persons with disabilities needing assistance to participate may call the Human Resources office on (989) 779-5314. Persons requiring speech or hearing assistance may contact the city through the Michigan Relay Center at 711. 48-hour advance notice is necessary for accommodation.

Topics to Watch at the 10/8/2026 Mt. Pleasant Planning Commission Meeting

Here are the topics to watch at the next in person, as well as virtual Mt. Pleasant Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 7 p.m.

PSUP-SPR-26-002 – 1516 S Mission St – Raising Canes Restaurant, LLC – Request for Special Use Permit for a new drive-through restaurant.

PSUP-26-003 – 1110 N Fancher Street – Lowkey Properties, LLC – Request for Special Use Permit to change the Adult-Use Marihuana Grower facility from Class C to a Class B category.

TC-26-03 – Introduction: Discuss proposed amendments to Table 154.410.A. Building and Lot Principal Use, Table 154.410.D. Building and Lot Accessory Uses and Section 154.410.B. Special Uses to replace Special Use Permits (SUP) with Permitted Limited (PL) Standards for missing middle housing in CD-3 Sub-Urban Character Districts, and associated modifications to their design standards within CD-3 and CD-3L Sub-Urban Large Character Districts.

TC-26-04 – Introduction: Discuss proposed amendments to Table 154.405.A. District Standards for all Character Districts to provide design flexibility for single-family homes and missing middle housing, particularly for the design of attached garages and building front setbacks, so that they better meet context and reflect current design trends.

To view the entire meeting packet visit:

October 8, 2026 E-Packet

How to follow public meetings:

The Planning Commission Meeting will be held in person in the City Chambers/City Hall (320 W. Broadway Street) with virtual attendance options as well. Non-voting participants may view the meeting live on the City’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/MtPleasantMi/, on Spectrum Charter channel 188 or via Zoom.

To participate via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84623857819?pwd=NbYBUvT67mL3XdmkPbyHbVCdiI5tnH.1

Meeting ID: 893 0229 8475
Passcode: 131047
Phone dial-in: (312) 626-6799

The audio and video will be muted for members of the public and then unmuted by the host during public comment periods.

To raise your hand for telephone dial-in participants, press *9.

Members of the public may be muted or removed if using abusive language or if they become disruptive to the meeting.

Virtual attendance at the meeting and participation during public comment periods will be conducted as follows:

Members of the public are asked to provide their name and address with any comments.
Comments/Questions may be sent ahead of the meeting, or during the meeting via email to comment@mt-pleasant.org. Comments sent via email will be read aloud to the Commission during the public comment period.

City Accepting Proposals for $130,000 in Opioid Settlement Funding

The City of Mt. Pleasant is accepting proposals from organizations and groups addressing opioid prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery for funding through the City’s Opioid Settlement Funds.

The City currently expects $130,000 to be available for distribution. Eligible organizations may apply for up to $25,000 for a one-year project or up to $50,000 for a two-year project. Funding will support the development, implementation, enhancement or expansion of programs addressing opioid use, substance use disorders, polysubstance use and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

Eligible applicants include:

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
School districts
Units of government
Other tax-exempt organizations

Applicants must have proper licensing, when applicable, and be capable of providing a budget, audited financial statement and most recent IRS Form 990, if applicable.

Priority will be given to proposals that:

Serve people within the Mt. Pleasant city limits.
Provide or improve access to housing for people with opioid use disorders and co-occurring conditions.
Expand evidence-based opioid prevention programs for youth in schools.
Provide transportation to treatment or recovery services.
Expand case management and wrap-around recovery services, including transportation, housing, employment and childcare support.
Provide evidence-based treatment and recovery support, including medication-assisted treatment.
Support community coalitions and prevention efforts, including stigma reduction and educational campaigns.
Provide treatment and recovery support services, including residential, inpatient, outpatient and recovery housing programs.
Address trauma experienced by individuals with opioid use disorders and their families.
Provide comprehensive syringe service programs and connections to treatment and other health services.

Applications will be accepted beginning October 5, 2026, with performance periods ending November 30, 2027, for one-year projects, or November 30, 2028, for two-year projects.

Proposals are due by 4 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2026. Proposals should be submitted by email to Lauren Wentworth at lwentworth@mt-pleasant.org. The City anticipates announcing awards by November 30, 2026.

The complete Request for Proposals and budget template are available at www.mt-pleasant.org/opioidsettlement

Questions about the funding opportunity may be directed to Lauren Wentworth at lwentworth@mt-pleasant.org.

Mt. Pleasant Fire Chief Doug Lobsinger Retires After 33 Years of Service

After 33 years of service to the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department, Fire Chief Doug Lobsinger will retire on October 30, 2026. Doug joined the department as a paid-on-call firefighter on October 18, 1993, and attended his first fire training course that same night. He became a full-time firefighter in 1997, was promoted to Fire Sergeant in 2015, Assistant Fire Chief in 2018, and was named Fire Chief in May 2023.

Throughout his career, Doug’s work extended well beyond emergency response. As a certified EMS and Fire I instructor, he dedicated much of his career to teaching. He also directed the Neighborhood Resource Unit, administered the MSHDA housing grant program to help residents make home exterior improvements, and served as Union Township’s Fire Chief and Fire Code Official. His involvement in community boards, public safety partnerships and outreach reflect his commitment to the people and communities he served.

Public Safety Director Paul Lauria said, “Doug has had a very positive impact on the Fire Department, but I think his impact on the community goes well beyond that. He has always been willing to take on projects and get involved, from the City’s TNR program to organizing Greeks Cleaned the Streets. That is one of the things I have always appreciated about Doug. He understood that public service was bigger than just his role as Fire Chief. He cared about the community and was willing to put in the work to make it better. I think his impact will be felt here for a long time.”

Looking back on his career, Doug shared that its greatest rewards have not come from any single achievement, but from the people he served with.

“When I think about what I am most proud of, it isn’t a particular fire, promotion or accomplishment. It is the people. I am proud of the firefighters who show up every day ready to help someone they may never have met.”

That belief shaped Doug’s leadership as chief. Through years of teaching and mentoring, he reminded new firefighters that making a difference isn’t always about saving a life or putting out a fire. It’s often about showing up when someone is having the worst day of their life and treating them with dignity and compassion. As chief, he found it most rewarding to watch his team do just that.

Doug is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, fishing, enjoying his hobbies and discovering life beyond the firehouse. After years of late-night calls, training and time away from home, he is grateful for the family who supported him throughout his career.

While he is ready for the next chapter, Doug knows the fire service will always be part of who he is.

“Once a firefighter, always a firefighter. The uniform may eventually come off, the pager may eventually stop, and the schedule will belong to someone else, but the memories, friendships, lessons, and experiences will stay with me forever.”

Reflecting on his time with the department, Doug shared his gratitude for the people who have been part of his journey and the opportunity to serve alongside them.

“For 33 years, I was fortunate enough to be part of something bigger than myself. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey. It has been an incredible ride, and now I am ready to see what is waiting around the next corner.”

Congratulations on your retirement, Chief Lobsinger. Thank you for 33 years of dedication to the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department and the community.