During the meeting’s public comment, the Mount Pleasant resident, along with several others, proposed an all-inclusive ordinance aimed at preventing discriminatory acts against city residents.

Currently, Mount Pleasant is without such an ordinance and remains the state’s only municipality that is home to a large university and doesn’t have one.

“We’ve done a great deal of our homework, but tonight was not about presenting that,” said Bailey, who is a professor of teacher education and professional development at Central Michigan University. “Tonight was about just making our statement.”

Acting as spokesperson for the crowd of nearly 60, Bailey presented commissioners with a draft ordinance and a letter of support signed by 13 community leaders, 10 business owners, nine clergy and faith groups, and a number of CMU staff and faculty.

She said it demonstrated a “broadness of support” for the movement.

Commissioners were asked to review the draft ordinance and express any concerns with the city manager by the start of next year.

The hope, Bailey said, is to make a formal presentation, equipped with evidence of discrimination in the community, by the end of January. She said they have until then to establish the need.

Commissioner Sharon Tilmann said someone would have to “be living in a cave” not to have heard of an instance of discrimination in Mount Pleasant. But she maintained it was too soon to know how the commission would perceive the ordinance.

“What I do think (is) this commission will be very open-minded. I don’t see us as closed-minded,” Tilmann said. “It works very diligently to do the homework and listen to what the citizens want. If this is an ordinance the time (for which) has come, I think the commission will be sensitive to that.”

Still, Mayor Bruce Kilmer said some legal issues need to be involved in its development.

“I just think we need to refer it to (the city attorney) to see if a city ordinance is an appropriate way to enforce anti-discrimination,” he said.

Part of a larger movement

Bailey preferred not to identify the exact group spearheading the effort, but pointed to a 10-member steering committee that has been researching the issue since April.

It’s also not the first time such a law has been proposed.

Isabella County Commissioner Jim Moreno said he presented a similar idea to the City Commission when he was on it several years ago.

Now, Moreno said the biggest difference is that other communities in Michigan are considering similar policies and the Mount Pleasant movement comes amid a statewide push to include sexual orientation and gender identity in Michigan’s Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Bailey said the statewide effort has spurred much of the local drive, but the proposal before the city includes everything from height, marital status and age, to disability, race and religion.

“The reality is the state already protects everyone else,” she said. “But they don’t protect gender identity and sexual orientation, so many municipalities just let that go. They say, ‘Oh, everyone’s already protected. We don’t need to worry about it.’”

Adopting regulation to protect all demographics would also make students feel safer and more welcome in the community, said Shannon Jolliff, CMU’s director of gay and lesbian programs.

She said there is a need, despite the fact that students are protected inclusively under CMU policy.

“As soon as they step off campus, they are open to potential harassment and discrimination,” Jolliff said. “So when you think of going for a job interview, going to an apartment (complex), what this ordinance will do is provide them that protection.”

Adopting the ordinance came up to the CMU Student Government Association’s House of Representatives the Monday before Thanksgiving, and SGA President Vincent Cavataio said he personally gave his signature to the letter received by the commission.

The Shelby Township senior said he hadn’t heard of any specific examples of students being discriminated against in the community.

“But I do believe there is a need. I think people should be protected should an issue arise,” he said. “I don’t think people being protected is out of line.”

“It seems like something that would be obviously granted to people,” he added.

On Monday, city commissioners approved a $100,000 purchase of 40 acres that could allow a 2,500-foot turf runway to be paved, bordered with lighting and extended to 3,500 feet.

The decision comes from what some city officials say has been an increase in flight traffic into the region over the last several years.

Mount Pleasant already has one paved runway facing east and west. The current turf, or grassy, runway faces northeast and limits both the months of when and what kind of planes can land, said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger.

“The problem is, under federal aviation rules, an airport must control more land than just what’s on the runway. They have to control clear zones on either side,” she said. “Not only for airplanes that overshoot or land sooner, but to protect and provide safety.”

The land is now owned by a company called Turf, Inc.

Extending and paving the “crosswinds” runway has been part of the city capital improvement plan and municipal airport’s master plan for a number of years.

But 10 to 15 years ago, Grinzinger said aviation authorities were not “in a position” to reimburse the city for the purchase.

According to a note to commissioners, about 97.5 percent will be financed with Federal Aviation Administration grand funds and others from the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Aeronautics. The airport’s 2.5-percent contribution of the financial cost was included in the city’s 2011 operating budget.

Support for the airport

Commissioners each chose their top five proposed projects and programs on Monday to submit to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe for consideration to receive funds as part of its 2-percent disbursement program.

Among the most selected was street resurfacing, funding for the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, a new recycling program truck and the city’s Partners Empowering All Kids program.

However, Mayor Bruce Kilmer and Commissioner Jon Joslin were the only two to include a new $275,000 corporate aircraft hanger at the municipal airport.

Kilmer said investing in the airport would help the city at large, whether it be by bringing more supplies and goods for local business or bringing in entertainers to perform at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd.

“I thought the airport would help us as a city expand because the larger hangers we have, the larger the jets that can come in here,” he said.

Joslin said any time the city expands use of the airport, it has the potential to make money, especially with a “steady flow” of traffic.

“We make a good amount of money on fuel sales out there,” he said. “If it’s more viable to use that airport, especially for corporate-type stuff, that helps recruiting and retaining businesses in the area.”

University President George Ross at 6:30 p.m. will brief Mount Pleasant officials on  the university’s ongoing and future initiatives at Monday’s City Commission meeting. The presentation, which is the first to city commissioners during Ross’ tenure in office, is expected to be a general overview of what CMU is doing and where it is going. He may also touch on collaborations with the city.

Mayor Bruce Kilmer said George Ross sees “the value of the city to CMU.”

“He thinks a good city will make kids want to come to school here and vice versa,” Kilmer said.

Commissioner Jim Holton said when Ross first became president just over a year ago, he did set up a separate meeting with the city to discuss issues and become acquainted. The commission, he said, has seen more of George Ross in one year than all the past presidents combined.

He said it has a lot to do with the changes in leadership staff at CMU, pointing to individuals such as David Burdette, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, and Kathy Wilbur, vice president of Development and External Relations, who have made appearances at past city meetings.

“But the people in (Ross’) office really welcome the city,” Holton said. “There used to be this feeling of the university is down there and the city is up here.”

No comment regarding Ross’ appearance or his agenda for the meeting were available, as University Communications were unable to be reached over the weekend.

Commissioner Nancy English agreed that over the last few years the city and CMU have worked more closely together.Now there seems to be more communication between everyone, she said.

“We’re working more closely together to meet the needs of the community as well as CMU students to make their stay enjoyable here,” English said, “but we also want them to know what goes on in this city.”

In areas like public safety and quality of life projects, such as the downtown Campus Connector project, she said, the university and Mount Pleasant have been collaborating more.

The roundabout that was added to Bellows Street this past summer was also a project carried out between the city and CMU.

“CMU proposed this to the city,” English said. “They were hoping to establish a marker for people to know that they were now entering the campus.”

The two entities are also both dealing with budgets getting slashed, and together they are seeing what to do to be more efficient, Holton said.

“This is truly a breath of fresh air,” he said “We are hoping to foster a great relationship and I look forward to what’s to come.”

During the regular meeting, the mayor will make a proclamation in support of Beautification Day on April 15.

The commission will also consider a recommendation from the appointments committee to fill the City Commission’s open position since a seat became vacant when Commissioner David McGuire resigned in February.

Kilmer took over as mayor at the beginning of this year, succeeding Jim Holton, who served in the position for two years.

Bruce Kilmer

With his experience as vice mayor, Kilmer thought he had a good idea of the way things would work. What he did not anticipate was the numerous meetings he would have to attend.

“I do enjoy the meetings with different heads of government like the county, the university, mid-Michigan and such,” Kilmer said. “It fosters communication with all the different entities so we can all be working together.”

It is a very time-consuming job, he said.

When Holton announced his decision not to seek reappointment, he immediately endorsed Kilmer to take the job.

“When it was time for me to move on, I knew there was no better person for the job,” Holton said. “So far he is doing a fantastic job.”

The majority of Kilmer’s work for this term has been focused on the Mount Pleasant Center decision, in which the City Commission decided in March to purchase more than 300 acres of land which may need clean-up efforts before it is usable.

He spent the first weeks of his term working to ensure a decision was made in time to meet the deadline set by the state.

“It’s good to have a decision made, but there is still lots of work to be done,” Kilmer said. “I think it’s an excellent addition to the city.”

Holton said he was also overwhelmed in his first year as mayor. The mayor can end up spending a lot of time visiting other cities for things such as mayor-to-mayor dialogue days.

“It’s a volunteer position basically,” he said. “I mean, it’s about 1,250 bucks a year, but it’s a lot of work.”

Vice Mayor Kathy Ling said Kilmer has done a good job so far, and that the Mount Pleasant Center purchase was a solid group effort on the commission’s part.

“(The mayor’s) job basically is to preside over our meetings and make sure everything goes smoothly,” Ling said, “… but we function as a whole and most of the decisions are done as a group.”

A financial focus

Commissioners will now start working on what effect Gov. Rick Snyder’s revenue sharing plan will have on the city budget.

Last year the city had to come up with $1 million worth of cuts. Mount Pleasant could come close to that again with the new governor’s plan, Kilmer said.

Discussion is important for the city to keep moving forward amidst budget difficulties, Kilmer said.

“What I like most about my job is being able to do things that help our city,” Kilmer said. “It’s fun to be involved with all the different people in the community.”

The bill allows for state financial authorities and the governor to appoint an emergency manager to any local government declared to be in a financial emergency.

The emergency manager would have sole control of a government’s budget, along with having the authority to terminate any contracts, end collective-bargaining agreements with labor unions and dissolve the municipal government.

With the reconciled bill approved yesterday, outcry is emerging from some residents and local government officials.

Isabella County Commissioner and Mount Pleasant resident Jim Moreno is involved with protesting the bill in Lansing, as well as objecting to numerous others he finds alarming.

“What many people don’t realize is that if and when an emergency financial situation is declared, these managers can dissolve city councils, county councils and school boards,” Moreno said. “It’s actually quite dictatorial.”

With all the massive cuts around the state in key areas, Moreno said the financial emergencies would be guaranteed. It’s a sort of “shock doctrine,” he said.

Vice Mayor Kathy Ling said she was concerned about the “cookie-cutter” approach to solving local governments’ problems.

“By treating all local governments the same they assume we haven’t done what we needed to do by tightening the belt and making cuts,” Ling said. “That just isn’t true for us.”

Ling credited Mount Pleasant with being effective and efficient in adjusting to the economic downturn and decrease in revenue sharing.

However, not all local officials are in opposition of the bill.

“I think it’s well overdue and necessary when municipalities or governments get in trouble,” said County Commissioner Roger Trudell. “The governor ought to have the authority to appoint someone to come in and make changes that are necessary.”

City Commissioner Sharon Tilmann said Mount Pleasant has done an outstanding job of listening to citizens about the services they want funded.

But Tilmann said she worried local government-mandated service will suffer with all the cuts Snyder is proposing.

“He can’t just cut this off and trim that off,” Tilmann said. “He came in with a business mentality of how government should be run and the citizens will pay the price.”

Moreno is upset at lawmakers’ disregard for what their constituents want.

About 1,000 people protested at the Capitol while the Senate was looking at the bill. People came from Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Traverse City and even the Upper Peninsula, Moreno said.

Some protesters were even in congress chambers chanting in opposition, but representatives failed to listen.

“We had split up into groups earlier and all talked to our representatives,” Moreno said. “They completely ignored us and voted to pass it anyway.”

Moreno said though there is nothing left to do now that the bill has been passed, it is likely to be legally analyzed and fought.

If it does become a law, Mayor Bruce Kilmer is confident Mount Pleasant will not be affected by because of advanced planning measures.

“The city is nowhere near these drastic situations,” Kilmer said. “We’re not even close to bankruptcy or not paying our bills.”

Staff Reporter Theresa Clift contributed to this report.

Le Tour de Mont Pleasant is a series of community and pro-racing bicycling events being held June 10 to 12. The Mount Pleasant City Commission resolved to support the event at a meeting Monday.

Summerfest is an annual five-day community celebration that includes parades, rides, fireworks, a petting zoo and many other attractions. It will be held for the 27th year this June.

Commissioners were concerned about holding two large events at the same time because of parking issues.

“I’m just worried it isn’t going to work,” said Commissioner David McGuire. “We need to look at doing something.”

Last year Le Tour de Mont Pleasant brought about 600 racers to the area — doubling its size from its first year.

“The point-to-point race on Sunday is 128 miles, which is the longest race east of the Mississippi,” said Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Hadden.

Plans are being made to possibly utilize church and Central Michigan University parking lots, Hadden said.

Organizers are looking into the potential for shuttle busing and working with ICTC.

Mount Pleasant Center

The City also held another work session regarding the upcoming decision of whether to purchase the Mount Pleasant Center.

A meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m On March 24 to reach a final decision.

“If we buy it we are only spending the initial $50,001,” said Mayor Bruce Kilmer. “I don’t think just because we can’t answer everything that’s a reason not to buy it.”

Before the vote, commissioners will hear a report from ATK Peerless about the findings of the Phase II environmental study.

An estimate for the cost of demolition should also be completed some time this week.

During the regular meeting Planning Commission Chairman Peter Orlik presented the 2009 and 2010 community improvement awards to five recipients.

Work done by Olivieri Management Inc. and Ames LLC to improve residential housing was recognized.

Taco Bell, along with the MC Sports and Sears plaza were honored for their improved appearances in the business category.

Roy’s Magneto and Electric Service was awarded the first ever award for restoration after redeveloping and redesigning the business after it was destroyed.

“This is a great template and a great example for the industrial district,” said Orlik.

Mount Pleasant will also soon give input to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe regarding what projects should receive 2-percent allocations. All city commissioners received a packet from the City Manager and were instructed to rank their top five projects.

The license would be transferred to the L-1 Bar & Grille, 1705 S. Mission., from the now closed Gracie’s Country House in Saginaw County.

The circumstances were unusual because the City Commission does not have specific policies for the transfer of a liquor license. It only has specifics for new licenses and some criteria for renewals.

Commissioners determined whether the proposed location complies with city ordinances and codes. They also reviewed the applicant’s background.

“The zoning board and planning commission have acted on those and found the plans will comply with state construction code and fire code,” said city attorney Scott Smith. “And public safety has found no reason the applicant shouldn’t have a liquor license.”

Although the resolution was approved, commissioners were upset by the lack of policy and options in their decision.

Heavy discussion followed the approval, including the need for ordinances about liquor license transfer, as well as procedural adjustments.

“I felt put in a corner and as Vice Mayor Ling said, we were just a pass through,” said Commissioner Sharon Tilmann. “I think this amplified that we have procedures that need to be revised.”

The commission also approved appointments to various boards and commissions.

A special proclamation was made at the beginning of the meeting in honor of the Sesquicentennial of the First United Methodist Church, 400 S. Main St.

“This is my first proclamation as mayor and I’m happy I get to do it for my home church,” said Mayor Bruce Kilmer.

A special meeting was set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 to gather citizen input on whether the city should purchase a portion of the Mount Pleasant Center property on West Pickard Street.

For the local businessman and city official, it was a no-brainer who should replace him at the turn of the calendar. Bruce Kilmer, the second-year vice mayor, had stepped in multiple times for Holton at events in and out of town.

The commission agreed, voting unanimously to approve Holton’s nomination of Kilmer at the new year’s first meeting.

Bruce Kilmer, newly appointed mayor of Mount Pleasant, poses for a portrait on Jan. 4 in his office at the Borden Building. Kilmer, formerly the vice mayor, steps in after Jim Holton made the decision to step down to focus on his business efforts. "I was humbled and thankful for the confidence the other commissioners placed in me, and I'm excited to work for this great city." (Photo by Sean Proctor/Staff Photographer)

“It was the best preparation, because I got to be in all the meetings,” Kilmer said. “I was able to watch Jim (Holton), and in the two years he was mayor, he did a wonderful job.”

Holton stepped down from the position to focus on family and business matters, including the expansion of his Mountain Town Station restaurant, 506 W. Broadway St., set to begin in the spring.

In addition to a new budget that includes some cuts to spending, Kilmer is faced with several looming decisions the city must make, including the future of the Mount Pleasant Center. The city has until April 25 to complete an assessment of the property.

“In the midst of all that, I want to keep attracting businesses and families to Mount Pleasant,” Kilmer said. “I’m excited. I think we’re going to come out of this economy well –— Mount Pleasant has weathered it a lot better than other cities.”

That feeling is shared by Kathleen Ling, who was appointed vice mayor by the commission upon Kilmer’s nomination. Ling said she hopes to further address continuing concerns in the community of making Mount Pleasant more pedestrian-friendly.

“I’m happy to have the opportunity to serve in the position,” Ling said. “I would like to see us continue to work close to CMU, especially to create the walkable, bikeable route between CMU and downtown. There are lots of advantages.”

Law and Politics

Although he has served on the City Commission for five years, Kilmer never thought of joining local government until his wife, Cynthia, urged him. Cynthia was on the commission for nine years and also served as mayor in 2006.

“I knew that some day he would become mayor,” Cynthia Kilmer said. “He’s smart and will handle it well.”

Before his tenure with the city, Bruce Kilmer was an attorney for a private practice firm.

Kilmer currently serves as a regional administrator for the Michigan Supreme Court. The new mayor spent his first week in Lansing instructing newly elected judges, but is now back in Mount Pleasant for his first full week in the position.

“I’m really looking forward to my interaction with the residents and the other officials,” Kilmer said.

Union Township Supervisor John Barker said he has always enjoyed working with the City Commission and sees that relationship continuing.

“I hope that Bruce and the new vice mayor will be as cooperative as the former mayor and vice mayor,” Barker said.

Holton will remain on board as a commissioner through 2011. He said the long hours eventually became somewhat cumbersome for him.

He said although he believes Kilmer can handle the position well given his past experience, he looks forward to offering the new mayor advice if he needs it.

“He’s a perfect fit for the job,” Holton said. “He stepped into several occasions where I just couldn’t.”

The former vice mayor was appointed by the Mount Pleasant City Commission Monday night. He will replace Jim Holton, who announced his departure from the position in December.

Bruce Kilmer

Holton nominated Kilmer for the mayor’s position, which was met with unanimous approval by the commission.

“I’m looking forward to the interaction with the residents and the other officials,” Kilmer said. “I want to thank (Holton) for a wonderful job as mayor the past two years. He’s represented our city, he’s worked hard, he’s worked long hours.”

On behalf of the City Commission, Kilmer presented Holton with a plaque recognizing his service to Mount Pleasant. Kilmer nominated Kathleen Ling for vice mayor, a motion that was also approved by commissioners.

“This is her second time on the City Commission. She’s a very detailed person.” Kilmer said. “I thought she would be a great asset because of her knowledge and also her ability to study things in detail and understand it.”

He said his experience as vice mayor for two years has prepared him well for the mayor’s chair.

Kilmer pointed to lingering budget issues as a key challenge the city faces this year. The city cut nearly $1 million from its budget in December.

He also serves as a liason for the Michigan Supreme Court and works with 27 county court systems.

Ling is a retired teacher and has been a commissioner since January 2008. She said she learned how to effectively reach out to the community and gather input as a commissioner, which helped prepare her for the position of vice mayor.

“I have learned that people are responsive if you ask them directly for their opinion,” she said. “When we asked people for their input on the budget, we got very, very valuable input.”

Holton said business matters and family were key factors that influenced his decision not to seek reappointment. He will remain on board as a commissioner for the rest of his term, which expires at the end of 2011.

He said Kilmer demonstrated a superior ability to make solid mayoral decisions during his temporary absences.

“There’s a lot of character involved with being the mayor,” Holton said. “Bruce has exemplified that … he’s stepped into several occasions that I couldn’t. It just shows that he’s well-prepared.”

In addition to the new appointments, Ling and Commissioner Nancy English were sworn in at Monday’s special session meeting after being re-elected to their seats.

At Monday’s City Commission meeting, Mayor Jim Holton announced he will not be looking for or accepting a nomination for another year as mayor. However, he will finish up his term as commissioner through 2011.

Mayor Jim Holton

With two major projects coming up in the next year for the Mount Pleasant Brewing Company and Mountain Town Station, Holton decided it would be best to let someone else take the reins. He owns both businesses.

“I need to focus on these two projects,” Holton said. “I know that I wouldn’t be able to provide the attention to the mayoral position like I have in the past two years.”

During his time as mayor, Holton faced major issues like the 2011 budget and the tribal lawsuit. Commissioner Kathleen Ling and Vice Mayor Bruce Kilmer both commended Holton for the role he had in handling those issues.

“He did a good job handling difficult issues like the tribal lawsuit,” Ling said. “And with his help we were successfully able to settle that lawsuit this year in a positive way.”

When first beginning the position two years ago, Holton hadn’t realized the amount of time the job consumed.

Vice Mayor Bruce Kilmer

“I was overwhelmed by informational requests, wedding requests and special meetings involving the tribal lawsuit and budget,” Holton said. “I was putting in over 20 hours a week.”

Despite all the time and effort required of the position, Holton said he enjoyed the job.

One reason it was so rewarding was the progress made in moving the city and the commission forward, he said.

Holton credits his fellow commissioners in the role they played in this process.

“I was lucky to have the commissioners I did,” he said. “They’re probably the best team of commissioners out of any the city’s ever had.”

Next mayor

With Holton stepping down, Kilmer is likely to be elected mayor. The pattern is for the vice mayor to move up to mayor in an event like this, Holton said.

“I would welcome the position of mayor,” Kilmer said. “I think it’s been a good experience being vice mayor first and learning the workings of the city.”

Kilmer took a very active role in working alongside the mayor in the decision-making process, Holton said.

“Bruce was my side-person through thick and thin,” he said. “He helped me make the right decisions to help the city move forward.”

Kilmer said he was a “sounding board” for Mayor Holton’s ideas, and the two had a great working relationship. They met on a regular basis before every meeting and kept in contact between meetings.

Although they didn’t always agree, they were always open to listening to each other’s ideas, Kilmer said.

Holton said he would be willing to help guide whoever steps into the role of mayor, and Kilmer would be willing to accept the offer.

“I would call on him and seek advice if needed,” he said. “Luckily he is still on the commission so that’s great.”