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NILES — Riverfront Park will be a popular destination for residents and visitors alike this summer.

The council approved a trio of agenda items concerning the park, which included moving forward with annual events such as Riverfest, the Niles Bluegrass Festival and Jesus Fest. The three events are organized by the Riverfront Optimist Club.

Riverfest will take place from Thursday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 10 at the Riverfront Park Amphitheater and will feature music, carnival rides, games and food and craft vendors. The annual festival serves as a fundraiser for the growth and development of the festival. The city will close various streets and parking lots, provide police and fire services, electric and water usage, use of Riverfront public park and facilities but stopped short of waiving in-kind fees associated with the events.

The Niles Bluegrass Festival will take place from Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8 at the amphitheater and will feature several popular bluegrass and Americana acts as well as food and beverage vendors.

Jesus Fest will take place from Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13  at the ampitheater and will feature Christian music from a variety of genres as well as food, arts and crafts vendors.

For all three Optimist Club events, police presence will be left at the discretion of Police Chief Jim Millin.

In other business, council:

• Approved the quote from Texas A&M University’s Maritime Archaeology Conservation Center of College Station, Texas in the amount $3,744 for the conservation of iron architectural hardware with the cost paid for from a French Heritage Society grant.
• Approved the quote from Double M Painting Services of Dowagiac in the amount of $3,474 for phase two of painting at the Mansion, with the cost to be covered from a private grant. The History Center has received a private grant in the amount of $25,000 for painting upstairs at the Chapin Mansion. These rooms have not been painted since City Hall moved out in 2012. The walls and ceilings need painting; there are stains, chips and shadowing left from modern office fixtures. The walls are mostly white, which does not match with the home’s Victorian character.
  While planning for this painting, some of the original wall and ceiling murals were uncovered. Artist Bob Cross has worked to reveal these patterns and designs. In order to preserve the murals with the hope that one day they can be restored, painting the walls and ceilings in these rooms needs to be carefully approached. Mike Moroz of Double M Painting originally recommended Bob Cross for the work of uncovering murals and has submitted this proposal. Moroz is skilled in historic house work and familiar with Cross’ techniques for uncovering murals.
  Moroz serves as the President of the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County and is working to restore the historic Bonine House. Moroz will work with the History Center Director to repair, paint and improve the historic appearance of the rooms while taking care not to damage or cover any of the original murals. The work is expected to take about two to three weeks to complete and would begin in June.
• Approved updated investment policies for trust accounts held by 1st Source Bank and authorize the Mayor to sign the documents.
• Authorized the police department to purchase a 2025 Chevrolet PPV 4WD Silverado for a Captain’s vehicle from Berger Chevrolet of Grand Rapids, Michigan at the MiDeal contract price of $49,687, with the cost to be charged to the police equipment replacement fund.
• Authorized the police department to enter into a contract with the Michigan State Police Grants and Community Services Division, to utilize funding in the amount of $11,545 to purchase a Live Scan fingerprint scanner with the City to be reimbursed that amount through the grant, and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract.
• Authorized the Utilities Department – Electric Division to accept the bid of $110,389 from T & R Electric Supply Co. of Colman, South Dakota for the purchase of 56 pole mounted transformers, with the expense to be charged to the transformers budget.
• Authorized the Utilities Department – Wastewater Division to accept the bid of $415,978 from Advanced Rehabilitation Technology of Bryan, Ohio, pursuant to a Purchasing Cooperative of America contract for the OBIC polyurea coating of the chlorine contact tanks at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, charge the expense to their Building and Buildings Equipment budget.
• Authorized the Utilities Department – Electric Division to accept the sole-source quote in the amount of $672,427.00 from Systems Control of Iron Mountain, Michigan for a prefabricated control enclosure to be installed at the Southside Substation during the 2026 upgrade, pending AEP approval of the enclosure and cost as a reimbursable expense.
• Approved the MERS Application for Additional Service Credit Purchase for Taner Dalenberg.