MONTAGUE — During the work session that followed Monday's regular meeting of the Montague city council, the council discussed how it will enact its annual senior millage allocation for 2026, which will be $14,334.
Though a final decision will not be made until March's council meeting, the council appeared agreed on continuing to use the bulk of the allocation - $11,128 - on administration and distribution of Montague Farmer's Market vouchers for seniors, a program that has proven "wildly popular," said city clerk Kelly Markley. The remainder of the allocation, if approved, would be used for insurance and general maintenance at the White Lake Senior Center.
The proposal from the senior center/millage subcommittee is to make the vouchers available for pickup by Montague seniors on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month beginning on June 27 and going through Sept. 26. Last year distribution took place on only the second Saturdays of the month, but demand is such that the subcommittee recommended adding a Saturday. It was reported that out of 9,000-plus vouchers distributed last year in the city, only 136 went unused.
The millage allocation could see a slight change based on a public comment given during the council meeting by Frank Hollister, a wheelchair user and advocate for the disabled in Muskegon County. Hollister noted several Montague businesses "fall woefully short" in complying with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act - he added with a touch of irony that the Senior Center bathroom has a cupboard installed under its sink that makes it daunting for a wheelchair user to wash their hands. (Hollister, who made a similar comment at a Whitehall council meeting this month, suggested tax incentives to help businesses make necessary changes, or requiring ADA compliance upon ownership changes to prevent new owners from being unaware of needed tweaks.) Council member Laura LaGuire suggested senior millage money could be used to remove the cupboard to make the Senior Center bathroom compliant.
During the council meeting, the council gave a 6-0 approval to the water and sewer rate schedule changes discussed at February's work session. (Council member Paul Schultz is recovering from a recent surgery, said city manager Jeff Auch, and was granted an excused absence.) The changes are identical to what was discussed at the work session and are mainly focused on rounding rates to the nearest five cents to account for the U.S. Mint no longer producing the penny. Auch said on average, users will see about a 50-cent increase per month in their bill as a result of the changes.
Those changes also were added to the city's fee schedule, which also received a 6-0 approval. Besides cash payments again being rounded up to the nearest five cents - which as a result of the water and sewer changes will only apply to property taxes - the fee schedule also added the ability for "small commercial enterprises" to seek a yard waste disposal license for $10 ($100 if sought after the fact). Council member Bob Hires noted that citizens will still be able to deposit their leaves without charge.
Montague will continue its agreement with Muskegon County to use the county offices on Marquette Avenue in Muskegon as an early voting site for future elections. The council gave 6-0 approval to a revised agreement; the revision was due to Dalton Township and Holton joining the other participating municipalities in the county in utilizing the site. Their joining the agreement, Auch said, will reduce the per-election cost to the city to $1,140.
During the city manager's report, Auch said the city may be able to pursue an emergency preparation grant that would pay for solar-powered streetlights to be installed in Montague. This would allow streetlights to continue to operate if the city faced a power outage. The city will look into two example installations later this year before determining whether to move forward.
The city police department offices are on course to undergo renovations later this year. Similarly to the 2025 renovations in city hall, the police department would have to temporarily relocate while the renovations are in progress. Auch said cost estimates will come in by the end of the month.
During the work session, the council reviewed the guidance for renaming public parks or property in reference to a road that will soon begin being utilized on the west side of the city. The as-yet-unnamed road connects to Industrial Park Drive and continues in an L shape before coming close to a connection to Cook Street, and it was installed to minimize the impact of industrial activity on nearby residences. Auch said the road will need a name in the next couple of months so prospective buildings can have an address.
One name that came up in committee discussion as a potential namesake for the road was Bill Gillan, a longtime firefighter who began the White Lake Area Sportfishing Association's annual fish boil. Auch said he could not confirm it, but it is believed Gillan also played a major role in the establishment of the Montague industrial park. Council member Susan Newhof asked if it is required to name the street after a person, and Auch said it was not. As the discussion took place during a work session, no decision was formalized.
