Niles City Council approves Memorial Day Parade

Published 4:32 pm Thursday, April 25, 2024

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NILES — Floats, vehicles and more will parade down Main Street next month in honor of the men and women who had given their lives in service to the country.

The Memorial Day Parade, hosted by the American Legion Larue Messenger Post 26, had its permit application approved 6-1 by the Niles City Council on Monday. Councilmember Michael Thompson was the dissenting voter and councilmember Amanda Dunnem was absent. According to the city council report, the event will begin on Second Street in front of City Hall before heading east on East Main to end at Silverbrook Cemetery. The parade was originally planned to begin at 11 a.m. but the motion was amended to allow for an earlier start time pending discussion with parade organizers, who were not present.

The city street department will provide barricades and the police department will provide pollice support along detour routes and where street closures occur. The total approximate cost is $570. Thompson voted against the parade request because he does not believe the city should contribute funds toward events.

In other business, council approved a five-year lease with Pitney Bowes for a postage meter to be used by City Hall and a folder/sorter machine for use by the Finance Department at a monthly rate of $483.96 to be split 50/50 between the Utilities Department and the General Fund.

Council also awarded a contract to Great Lakes Chloride, Inc. of Grand Haven for the 2024 liquid calcium chloride application at a cost of $1.146 per gallon to be charged to the General Fund.

In further business, council:

  • Accepted the quote from Battery Systems of Elkhart, Ind. in the amount of $3,249.26 for the purchase of four sets (20 batteries) for golf carts at Plym Park Golf Course and charged the expense to the Other Equipment-Maintenance Account.
  • Authorized the emergency purchase of repair parts from JGM Valve Corporation of Commerce, Michigan for use at the Wastewater Treatment Plant to repair the Vaughan Chopper Pump in the amount of $6,670.25 and charged the expense to Wastewater Treatment Division, Maintenance- Plant Equipment.
  • Authorized the purchase of two additional concurrent licenses for Caselle Financial Software from Civic Systems of Madison, Wisconsin in the amount of $4,000 and charged the expense to the Electric, Water and Wastewater Division, Computer Equipment and Supplies.
  • Accepted the quote from Power Line Supply of Reed City, Michigan in the amount of $8,914.28 for the purchase of four electric cabinets for the Utilities Department, charge the expense to the Electric Division, Maintenance Field Equipment.
  • Accepted the quote from Mid County Lawn and Garden of St. Joseph, Michigan in the amount of $10,170 for the purchase of one Toro zero turn 74035 mower for use at the Fire Department.
  • Approved the proposed CDBG Code Enforcement and Procedure Manual.