Niles approves annual Renaissance Faire for May

Published 12:48 pm Thursday, April 17, 2025

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NILES — Fans of kings, queens and knights will have a chance to celebrate next month.

The Niles City Council approved the request of Wolfshead Productions to hold the annual Niles Renaissance Faire on May 17 and 18 at Plym Park.

All ages are invited to join in the merriment and revelry through a variety of performances and vendors. Ongoing shows will feature comedy, Celtic and folk music, combat, magic, fairy tales and storytelling. Handcrafted items for sale will include jewelry, costumes, ceramics, wooden items and more. Food will be available for purchase. Games and other activities will be available for children. A raffle with prizes donated by faire vendors is a possibility.

The council also approved the request for a demolition waiver at 1221 S. 11th St., Niles.

The building owners demolished the east part of their building for additional parking and to accommodate excess traffic flow of their current tenant, Levels Provisioning of Niles. During the demolition, footings were discovered that extended continuously under majority of the remaining building.

As stated in the City of Niles Code of Ordinances Section 18-277 (3) “…All materials from foundations, walls, basements, floors and footings shall be removed from the parcel.”

It was recommended by the contractor and architects/engineers that it is best to not disturb any of the continuous footings and wing walls that were formed with the footings.

The owners sought a request for waiver, per City of Niles Code of Ordinances Section 18-231, to pave over the existing slab and footings to keep the integrity of the soil while adding more parking.

In other business, council:

  • Adopted a resolution to place a DART millage renewal on the November 4, 2025 General Election.
  • Approved the City of Niles 2025 Public Participation Plan.
  • Approved the purchase from Energy Products of Grand Rapids, Michigan for 28 batteries for use in the golf carts at Plym Park Golf Course at a cost of $5,035.32 to be charged to Plym Park Golf Course Other Equipment – Maintenance Account.
  • Authorized payment in the amount of $18,229 to the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce for business, economic development and education services within the City of Niles and the Greater Niles area and charge the expense equally between the City’s general fund and City’s utility fund.
  • Approved the quote of $1.224 per gallon for an approximate total cost of $12,240 to Great Lakes Chloride of Grand Haven, Michigan for the liquid calcium chloride application on approximately 5 miles of unpaved city streets and charged the expense to the General Fund.
  • Approved the quote for Action Remote Monitoring and Management computer services in the amount of $6,323.21 from SHI of Somerset, New Jersey and charged the expense 40 percent to the Utilities Department and 60 percent to the General Fund Computer Equipment and Supplies budgets.
  • Approved a confidential quote in the amount of $7,011.90 for computer security services from the reseller SHI of Somerset, New Jersey, charge the expense 40 percent to the Utilities Department and 60 percent to the General Fund Computer Equipment and Supplies budgets.
  • Adopted a resolution authorizing DART staff to apply for and execute grants from the FTA for Dial-A-Ride.