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Regular Meeting September 22, 2026
Village of Marcellus Council Proceedings
President Pro Tempore Engstrom called the regular meeting of the Marcellus Village Council to order at 7:00 p.m. on September 22, 2026, in the Marcellus Village Hall. Trustees present Markle, Haley G. and Watts. President Irwin and Trustees Webb and Haley M. were absent (President Irwin excused Webb for reason of health June 15, 2026, forward).
Agenda Motion by Markle, supported by Haley G., to approve the agenda with the following addition:
- Under President's Report — Add Item B. Downtown Beautification Project Railings and Higgins & Associates’ Proposal
Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. Minutes Motion by Markle, supported by Watts, to include public comments in all Village Council
minutes. Roll call vote —- Ayes: Watts, Haley G., Engstrom and Markle. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Markle, supported by Engstrom, to reschedule the review of the August 25, 2026, and the September 8, 2026, meeting minutes to the October 13, 2026, Village Council meeting. Roll call vote - Ayes: Markle, Haley G., Watts and Engstrom. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Bill
Motion by Haley G., supported by Engstrom, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of $119,971.26. Roll Call Vote —- Ayes: Engstrom, Haley G., Watts and Markle. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Engstrom, supported by Markle, to receive and place on file all items on the Consent Agenda. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
President's Report
MAESA September 14, 2026, Meeting Packet
Motion by Markle, supported by Engstrom, to acknowledge receipt of and place on file the September 14, 2026, MAESA meeting packet; and to follow up with questions to the fire department regarding the meeting minute motions to purchase nozzles and public use of the fire department parking lot. Roll call vote — Ayes: Haley G., Engstrom and Markle. Nays: Watts. Motion carried.
Downtown Beautification Project and Higgins & Associates’ Proposal
Village Council members discussed the proposed railings shop drawings submitted by Wightman & Associates, Inc., and the review proposal provided by Higgins & Associates.
Manager/Clerk Terrill was asked to send a list of questions to Village Attorney for the Downtown Beautification Project Daniel Hatch regarding the Downtown Beautification Project.
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Regular Meeting September 22, 2026
Village of Marcellus Council Proceedings
Motion by Engstrom, supported by Haley G., to approve the review of the proposed railings by
Higgins & Associates at a cost of $1,000.00. Roll call vote —- Ayes: Markle, Engstrom, Watts and Haley G. Nays: None, Motion carried.
Clerk's Report CHILL, MI Neighborhood and MIN 2.0 Updates
MSHDA CHILL, MI Neighborhood and MIN 2.0 team member Seth Carlson provided an update on the Village’s three housing rehabilitation programs and provided information regarding an informational open house where people can learn more about these programs, scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Patch & Remington.
MSU Training Proposal — Ethical Public Service for Elected and Appointed Officials — October 8. 2026
Manager/Clerk Terrill shared an MSU proposal for a joint training session on Ethical Public Service from Tyler Augst of the MSU Extension. This session will explore the principles of ethical public service, emphasizing transparency and accountability in governance. Participants will learn practical strategies to navigate ethical challenges in decision-making, and the effective use of bylaws and codes of conduct in board operations and will be presented during the October 8, 2026, Joint meeting of the Village Council, DDA and Planning Commission. Markle moved, supported by Watts, to approve the $330.00 cost for the program. Roll call vote - Ayes: Watts, Engstrom, Markle and Haley G. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Revitalization and Placemaking Grant Amendment for Additional $5,655.00
Motion by Engstrom, supported by Watts, to accept and approve the additional $5,655.00 in grant funds, approval and execution of the sub-grant agreement with Southwest Michigan First for the Village of Marcellus Streetscape Revitalization Project, making the total grant for the project $230,825.00. The amendment comes with no further requirements. Roll call vote — Ayes: Engstrom, Watts, Haley G. and Markle. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Ray Gyllstrom Memorial/ Marcellus Lions Club Park — Patronicity Campaign
Before turning the discussion regarding the Ray Gyllstrom Memorial/Marcellus Lions Club Park and Patronicity Campaign over to Deputy/Utility Clerk Garcia, Village Manager/Clerk Terrill commended her on the work she has done to bring the campaign to launch-ready status. In addition, she reported to the Village Council that Ms. Garcia has spent months working on putting this campaign together and reminded the Council members that many of the projects require weeks and months of work, significant preparation and long terms of administration behind the scenes that is not always visible when meeting materials are added to their packets.
Deputy/Utility Clerk Garcia reported that the Village has been approved for participation in the MEDC Public Spaces Community Places crowdfunding program administered through Patronicity. The campaign will launch on September 30, 2026, and will be active for 60 days, as required by the MEDC’s campaign window. She noted that the MEDC requires the fundraising goal to be fully met within that timeline in order to receive the match and that contributions above the goal are not eligible for matching . Following the closing of the campaign, it will take the MEDC 45 days for processing and disbursement of the matching grant once proof of the offline donations is submitted and verified.
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Regular Meeting September 22, 2026
Village of Marcellus Council Proceedings
She explained that Patronicity applies a 5% fee to online donations and that the MEDC requires at least 10% of total contributions to be made online and caps the maximum contribution from any single donor at $10,000 or 35% of the campaign goal, whichever is lower, which for the Village of Marcellus's $25,400.00 goal is $8,890.00.
Quote — McGill Leaf Vac Hose Approved for $691.64 — Total with Freight $913.93
Motion by Engstrom, supported by Haley G., to reapprove the purchase of the 16” x 10’ Fix- Thane HD Leaf Vacuum Hose from McGill Hose & Coupling, Inc., of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, which was previously approved at a cost not to exceed $800.00, due to shipping charges bringing the total to $913.93. Roll Call Vote — Ayes: Markle, Engstrom, and Haley G. Nays: Watts. Motion carried.
Austin “Bryce” Davis Resignation from DDA
Motion by Engstrom, supported by Watts, to accept Austin “Bryce” Davis's resignation from the DDA, with thanks for his service. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Planning Commission
Planning Commission Recommendation to Repeal Section 19.13 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance
Planning Commission Chair James R. Thomas, Jr., reported that the Planning Commission has recommended the repeal of Section 19.13 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance, as outlined in the draft minutes of the August 12, 2026, Planning Commission meeting.
Ordinance No. 264, An Ordinance to Repeal Section 19.13 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 249) Entitled “Keeping of Animals” and Ordinance No. 265, Village of Marcellus Backyard Chicken Ordinance and Keeping of Animals
Motion by Markle, supported by Watts, to accept the Planning Commission's recommendation to repeal Section 19.13 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance and to adopt Ordinance 264, An Ordinance to Repeal Section 19.13 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 249) entitled “Keeping of Animals” and to adopt Ordinance No. 265, entitled “Village of Marcellus Backyard Chicken Ordinance and Keeping of Animals Ordinance”, both with an effective date of October 12, 2026. Roll call vote — Ayes: Markle, Watts, Haley G. and Engstrom. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Planning Commission Recommendation to Repeal and Replace Section 19.10.A.1 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance
Planning Commission Chair James R. Thomas, Jr., also reported that the Planning Commission has recommended the repeal of replacement of Section 19.10.A.1 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance, as outlined in the draft minutes of the August 26, 2026, Planning Commission meeting.
Ordinance No. 266, An Ordinance to Repeal and Replace Section 19.10.A.1 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 249) Entitled, “Fences, Walls and Screens”
Motion by Markle, supported by Engstrom, to accept the Planning Commission's recommendation and to adopt Ordinance No. 266, Ordinance to Repeal and Replace Section
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Regular Meeting September 22, 2026
Village of Marcellus Council Proceedings
19.10.A.1 of the Village of Marcellus Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 249) entitled, “Fences, Walls and Screens" with an effective date of October 8, 2026. Roll call vote — Ayes: Haley G., Engstrom, Markle and Watts. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Public Comment
Village resident A.J. Scoggin, of 118 East Read Street, asked about the timeline for a Zoning Re-Inspection for the front porch rehabilitation project.
Trustee Markle shared information regarding his ad hoc meeting that is open to the public and will be held at Patch & Remington Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Adjournment
Motion by Markle, supported by Haley G., to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion passed.
Ui dle
Dennis Irwin illage Manager/Clerk Village President
Text extracted from the official record; formatting may differ.