Summary of Minutes of the regular meeting of the City Commission held Monday, November 25, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Commission Room, 320 W. Broadway St., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan with virtual options.
Approved the agenda with the deletion of Item #12 “Approve 2025 Proposed Operating Budget”.
Received petitions and communications.
Approved items on the Consent Calendar with the removal of Item #14 “Sponsorship Policy”.
7) Minutes of the regular session of the City Commission held on November 11, 2024.
8) Professional Engineering Services Agreement with Mead & Hunt for the procurement of a tractor-mounted snow blower for the Mt. Pleasant Regional Airport and authorized the City Manager to sign the contract.
9) Bids for 2025 Water Treatment Plant treatment (bulk) chemicals.
10) Fire Department budget amendment for the purchase of up to $65,000 in turnout gear and authorized a sole source purchase from Premiere Safety of Sterling Heights, MI.
11) Language for new Airport sign.
12) Item removed from Agenda.
13) Permanent Easement for Consumers Energy Guy Wires for GKB/Mid-Michigan Pathway.
14) Item removed from Consent Calendar.
15) Five-year contract for Audit Services with Vredeveld Haefner LLC.
16) Warrants and payrolls.
Approved the Asset Management Policy as presented.
Approved reappointments to various boards and commissions as recommended by the Appointments Committee.
Adopted a Climate Change Preparedness Plan as presented.
Approved creation of a short survey to go to all City staff on workplace climate with a work session in January 2025 to establish same.
Adopted a Sponsorship Policy to establish guidelines and procedures for the acceptance of donations to the City’s parks and recreation system and procedures for accepting sponsorships from for-profit organizations for City programs, events, projects, and sites.
The Mt. Pleasant Police Department (MPPD), Krapohl Ford Lincoln, as well as restaurants, Mountain Town Station, and Summit Smokehouse, invite the public to help ‘cram-a-cruiser’ with new, unwrapped, unopened toys to support Toys for Tots.
November 29 – December 16 Treat yourself to a delicious meal while helping the toy drive. Bring a toy and enjoy 25% off your individual meal at Mountain Town Station or Summit Smokehouse. (Alcohol excluded.)
December 4 from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. at Krapohl Ford Lincoln, 1415 E. Pickard Road.
December 12 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in front of the Division of Public Safety Building, 804 E. High Street.
MPPD Youth Services Officer Josh Theisen shared, “Every year our department looks forward to participating in the Toys for Tots program and helping our area youth have a good holiday.” He continued, “An added bonus is witnessing the strong partnerships and commitment between community members and local businesses to make this happen for our kids.”
Toy drop-off boxes are also located inside the Division of Public Safety Building Lobby (802 E. High Street) and the City Hall Lobby (320 W. Broadway Street).
The City is offering 150 households, within the City limits, up to 30 minutes of no fee brush chipping during the week of October 7, 2024. Brush chipping will be completed at curbside only, no alleys. Reservations will be accepted beginning September 23 at 8:00 a.m. until September 27 at 4:30 p.m., or until all spots are filled.
Reservations can be made by calling the Division of Public Works, 989-779-5401 or emailing publicworks@mt-pleasant.org.
At 9:19 a.m. on July 4, 2024, officers of the Mt. Pleasant Police Department were dispatched to a felonious assault involving a vehicle in the 2100 block of Mission Street.
Upon arrival officers observed a male victim who had been hit by a truck in a parking lot. The victim, from Rosebush, sustained non-life-threatening head injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
The male driver of the truck who is from Remus stayed at the scene to talk with police. This was an isolated incident between the victim and driver, who engaged in an argument earlier in the day.
The driver of the truck is currently lodged in the Isabella County jail awaiting arraignment.
This is an ongoing and open investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Mt. Pleasant Police Department’s Anonymous Tip Line at (989) 779-9111 or Central Dispatch (989) 773-1000.
The Mt. Pleasant Police Department was assisted by Central Michigan University Police, MMR, and Isabella County Central Dispatch.
Helpful information can be found in the City’s ‘home away from home’ guide composed specifically for college students.
See what Mt. Pleasanthas to offer: recreation, anhistoric downtown, parks,trails, a rolling river and more.
The City is thrilled to see Central Michigan University and Mid Michigan College students ‘coming home’ to the Mt. Pleasant area for the 2023-2024 academic year.
As part-year residents, students have the opportunity to explore the City while immersing themselves in college life. To make that transition easier, a ‘home away from home guide’ was created.
At 4:15 p.m. on February 16, 2023, the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 1300 block of Fessenden Street in Mt. Pleasant. Upon arrival, crews observed heavy flames and smoke coming from a single-story home.
The residents, home at the time of the fire, exited safely with no injuries. The fire was brought under control at 4:38 p.m. The house sustained heavy smoke, heat and fire damage.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department was assisted by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Fire Department, Deerfield Township Fire Department, Mobile Medical Response, the Mt. Pleasant Police Department and Isabella County Dispatch.
UPDATED: 11/5/2022 at 7 p.m. – The family of the two children have been located. There is no additional information at this time. Updates will be provided when available.
On November 5, 2022 at 12:45 a.m. Mt. Pleasant Police Officers responded to a call in which two small children were discovered unaccompanied within the city limits. The children are a 15 to 18-month-old male, and a 4 to 6-month-old female.
The children are currently under Child Protective Services guardianship.
The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the children and their parent(s) or guardian(s). Currently, only a photo of the 15 to 18-month-old male child is available.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Mt. Pleasant Police Department’s Anonymous Tip Line at 989-779-9111 or Central Dispatch at 989-773-1000. This is an ongoing and open investigation. Updates will be provided when available.
The Mt. Pleasant Police Department was assisted by the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Isabella County Central Dispatch, and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department.
MT. PLEASANT, MI – Director of Public Safety/Police Chief Paul Lauria recently announced personnel changes within the Mt. Pleasant Police Department (MPPD). Effective November 4, 2022, Assistant Police Chief Andy Latham will retire after 26 years of service to the department. Lieutenant Brandon Bliss has been promoted to Assistant Police Chief and will assume his new duties on November 6, 2022.
Director Lauria stated, “There is much to celebrate with these recent personnel changes. It is wonderful to witness a dedicated and successful law enforcement official like Assistant Police Chief Latham achieve retirement. His commitment to our profession and department is truly appreciated and we thank him for his service. It is a bonus,” Lauria continued, “to have the ability to promote a highly qualified individual like Brandon Bliss up through the departmental ranks to fill the role of Assistant Police Chief. Since joining the MPPD in 2008, Brandon has exhibited a strong work ethic and dedication. He will do well in his new role.”
During his tenure with the MPPD, Assistant Police Chief Andy Latham progressed through the ranks of Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Assistant Police Chief.
Special assignments included serving on the Isabella County Traffic Team, Bayanet, Youth Services Unit, and the Mt. Pleasant Fire Technical Rescue Team. He was also a Motor Operator, Arson Investigator and Commander of the Emergency Services Unit.
Andy has long taken pride in assisting his community by organizing MPPD volunteer activities including: Toys for Tots, Shop with a Cop, Shop with a Hero, Christmas Outreach, helping the Strickler Center Food Pantry, as well as preparing and serving food for the Isabella County Restoration House.
As Andy shared, “I am very fortunate to have spent my career at the MPPD. I have been encouraged and motivated to refine and grow my skill set.” During his law enforcement years, Andy completed multiple Michigan State Police Supervisory Courses, as well as graduated from the Grand Rapids Police Executive Leadership Institute, and the FBI National Academy. This is in addition to his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University.
Reflecting on his MPPD experiences Andy observed, “I have had the pleasure of working with many noble men and women over the decades. Our community is fortunate to have a Division of Public Safety populated with men and women who are courageous, caring and are deserving of continued gratitude and support. As I retire from the law enforcement profession,” He added, “I do so with great memories, lasting friendships and no regrets. It has been my pleasure to serve the Mt. Pleasant community alongside a talented and committed Public Safety team.”
Andy’s immediate retirement plans include assuming the role of Dean of Students/Athletic Director for Sacred Heart Academy in Mt. Pleasant.
In assuming his new position, Brandon Bliss possesses more than 17 years of law enforcement experience, with 14 of these years with the MPPD. During his time with the department he has served as a Lieutenant, Sergeant, Youth Services Unit Officer, team leader for the Emergency Services Team, lead Sergeant for the Field Training Program and held union leadership roles with the Police Officers Association of Michigan and the Command Officers Association of Michigan.
Brandon obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Saginaw Valley State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. Throughout his career he has also completed Michigan State University’s First Line Supervision Program as well as attending various other supervisory and leadership schools.
In regards to his new role Brandon shared, “There have been many exemplary leaders at the MPPD over the years. I look forward to carrying on that long tradition of excellence. I am even more excited to help and support a great group of officers who serve our community, in multiple ways, with integrity, pride and compassion.”
Nominating petitions for the office of City Commissioner are available at the Clerk’s office at City Hall, 320 W. Broadway Street, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Completed nominating petitions may be filed with the City Clerk starting Monday, June 27, 2022. The deadline to file is 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
Two (2) City Commission positions are available for the term January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025. The terms of current Commissioners Mary Alsager and George Ronan are expiring December 31, 2022.
The city election will take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
City of Mt.Pleasant 
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