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February 5, 2026 Regular Council Meeting

Mayor John Starzynski called the regular meeting of the Stephenson City Council to order at 6:00 PM.  Present were Council members Dale Parrett, Ronald Zahorik, Howard Fredrickson, Martha Haight, and David Solander.  Council member Brian White was excused.  Also present were Leon Felch, City Assessor, Jordan Belec, DPW Supervisor, and Karma Tessmer, City Clerk.

There was no public participation.

            Deputy Aaron Ihander provided the Menominee County Sheriff’s Report.  He left Council chambers at 6:03 PM. 

            City Assessor Felch provided the Assessor Report.  Board of Review training was held February 4th.  March BOR schedule has been given for dates 3-10-26 and 3-11-26.  Notices of Assessments will be sent this month.

             There was no Building Inspector/Code Official report.

             Motion made by Council member Fredrickson to adopt the agenda as presented.  Council member Haight seconded.  Motion carried.

             Motion made by Council member Zahorik to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2026 regular meeting.  Council member Parrett seconded.  Motion carried. 

            A report regarding the Department of Public Works was presented by Supervisor Belec.  He reported a water main break by Riverside Drive was repaired.  Let run notices have been issued.  Water system maintenance continues with a new chlorine pump pending installation.

            Motion made by Council member Haight to approve the bills for payment (General Fund Disbursements totaling $122,542.23 for checks #27382 through #27446 and EFTs 300 (E) – 302 (E), and 1357 (E) – 1365 (E)).  Council member Fredrickson seconded.  Motion carried.

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS210.09MENZA & ZAK HEATING COOLING120.00
AETNA3,999.21MICH PUBLIC POWER AGENCY1,201.39
AL MACCO445.32MICH. MUN. ELECTRIC ASSN.1,419.00
ALERUS FINANCIAL1,626.96MISCAUNO TAX ASSESSING LLC638.75
ANDY’S ACTION BUSINESS SOLUTIONS70.00MISS DIG 8111,283.18
AYRES ASSOCIATES, INC.1,161.30MML UNEMPLOYMENT FUND1.27
CELLCOM UP MI PCS160.86MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM3,311.00
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS49.29NICOLET NATIONAL BANK244.35
CLOVERLAND DISTRIBUTING LLC107.44NU-WAY CLEANERS75.55
DELTA DISPOSAL226.83PAIDL’S DO IT BEST HARDWARE1,288.46
DTE ENERGY1,498.21PETTY CASH/JODY MONETTE119.72
EFFICIENCY UNITED2,350.58POSTMASTER274.50
ELECTION SOURCE615.00SAULT STE. MARIE BRIDGE CO.145.00
GRAYBAR ELECTRIC CO.305.02STATE OF MICHIGAN3,159.02
HAVELKA CONSTRUCTION1,400.00STEPHENSON MARKETING CO-OP245.28
HURON COMMUNITY BANK2,160.00STEVE SCHMIDT40.00
JOHN FABICK TRACTOR CO.391.65THE STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY9.44
JORDAN BELEC40.00UPPER MI ENERGY RESOURCES CORP.4,834.85
KARMA TESSMER300.00UTILITY SALES & SERVICE6,800.88
KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS135.00VILLAGE OF DAGGETT1,168.00
KRIST OIL COMPANY824.64VSP199.72
LARA MI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION640.00WAUSAU CHEMICALS550.22
LUFT’S ADVERTISER558.30WISCONSIN PUBLIC SERVICE52,859.19
MENOMINEE COUNTY JOURNAL188.50PAYROLL AND TAXES23,089.26

  The 40101D Grant application remains pending. 

The City is waiting for attorney review regarding the re-zoning of the Industrial Park property. 

Motion made by Council member Parrett to accept a three-year Assessment Agreement as provided by Miscauno Tax Assessing LLC in the amount of $8,048.28 annually plus $500.00 annually for additional expenses.  Council member Zahorik seconded.  Motion carried.

Two items were discussed: 

The first was adding a summer help position to DPW for the WWTP as directed by EGLE.  A personnel meeting will be held on Thursday, February 12th at 5:00 PM to discuss.

The second was replacing a faulty transfer switch for the generator at WWTP.  Motion made by Council member Fredrickson to accept a quote from Solander Electric Inc. in the amount of $20,900.00 to replace the switch.  Council member Parrett seconded.  Motion carried unanimously with Council member Solander abstaining.

  Updates on the Rural Development projects were provided by Bill Marklein of UPEA.  He arrived at Council chambers at 6:20 PM.  Project bids as provided by Josh Harju of UPEA via email were reviewed.  No bids were received on Water and Wastewater System Improvements (Contract 1).  Two bids each were received for contracts 2 and 3.  Contract 2 is the Elevated Water Storage Tank Improvements and contract 3 is the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements.  Contract 1 for W/WW System Improvements will be revised for rebidding.  Contract 3 is pending acceptance.  Bids received, including alternates, were $499,740.00 from Prime Specialty Contracting and $318,468.00 from Valley Mechanical.  A letter of recommendation from UPEA was reviewed for contract 2 for the water tank improvements.  Bids, including alternates, were received in the amount of $505,000.00 from Maguire Iron and $939,000.00 from TMI Coatings.  Motion made by Council member Haight to adopt Resolution #26-01 awarding Maguire Iron the Elevated Water Storage Tank Improvements Project in the amount of $464,500.00 (2 alternates included).  Council member Zahorik seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.  Marklein departed chambers at 6:46 PM.     

Committee reports were given as follows:

             Fire:  No report given.

             Streets:  Council member Parrett would like to have the large cement planters moved in order to push snow banks back from the corners.  Truck and plow replacements are being considered.  Loader repairs were quoted at $4,438.96. 

            Parks:  The ice rink is open.

             Utility:  No report given.

             Personnel:  No report given.

             Finance:  The Finance Committee met to review transferring the July 4th account to the Fire Department.  Paperwork has been signed to update signers on the account.

             Insurance:  No report given.

             Zoning:  No report given.

             Technology:  A system IT review is planned for later this month.  BS&A, the software used by the City for accounting, etc. will be updating in the future to a Cloud based system.  Cost is expected to increase to $7,000.00-$9,000.00 annually.  Currently the City pays between $2,000.00 and $2,500.00 annually.

             Industrial Park:  No report given.

            Budget:  The Budget Committee met to review current budget.  No amendments are needed at this time.

            There was no correspondence.

             Comments were received.

             Council member Solander moved for adjournment at 6:58 PM. 

             The next regular City council meeting will be held on March 5, 2026.

             Respectfully Submitted,  

              Karma Tessmer, City Clerk