A wide-ranging Albion City Council meeting the day after Labor Day resulted in approvals across the agenda, from housing grants and dam design to public safety equipment and facility repairs. Unlike the packed meetings in August, which centered on one landmark project, this session drew a lighter audience but covered more ground on long-term planning.

The agenda stretched to 188 pages, with topics ranging from downtown housing and historic preservation to dam removal plans and road improvements. One of the main presenters, engineer Suzannah Deneau of Wightman, drove an hour and a half to give an update on the river and dam removal project. Her presentation included 43 pages of blueprints, now at the 60 percent design stage. The discussion was difficult to follow for some watching on YouTube due to audio challenges, so this article offers an overview, with separate stories prepared on individual topics for readers who prefer more detail.

One highlight was a resolution supporting historic preservation, a step that keeps Albion aligned with state and national standards and maintains eligibility for future grants.

Residents who own homes in designated historic districts may also qualify for the Michigan Historic Preservation Tax Credit program, which can provide up to a 25 percent credit on qualified rehabilitation expenses. Homeowners are encouraged to research the program if they are planning repair or rehabilitation work in 2025.

All items on the agenda were approved by the council, which had full attendance. Approvals included:
– Applications for nearly $900,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding to rehabilitate three downtown buildings into upstairs apartments, with at least three units reserved for low- or moderate-income households.
– Adoption of the city’s $60 million Capital Improvement Plan, a five-year roadmap for water, sewer, and street projects.
– $74,298 in repairs to City Hall’s roof and windows, following the March 30 storm damage.
– Recognition of a 60 percent design milestone for the river and dam removal project, required under state dam safety rules.
– Discussion of a pilot deer management plan, which will begin cautiously with help from the Department of Natural Resources.

Interim City Manager Doug Terry emphasized that approvals are only the first step. “Approval doesn’t mean the project starts tomorrow,” he said. “It means Albion is prepared to apply when funding becomes available.”

The meeting closed with an invitation for volunteers to join the One Albion Community Day, hosted by Albion College’s Center for Sustainability and the Environment.

Participants will gather at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 6, at the Victory Park Pavilion before heading out to community service projects.