Escanaba council approves permits and purchases; several items passed by voice or roll call

The Escanaba City Council approved a series of routine motions and procurement items during its March meeting, including the closeout of a small-business CDBG grant, a charitable-gaming license, a special-event permit, a public-works flooring repair and a playground purchase. The body also approved both the regular and the special meeting minutes.

City staff said the CDBG project for Leverage Chiropractic, PLLC had a $35,000 project cost and met its job-creation goal by hiring one low- to moderate-income employee; the council opened and then closed the required public hearing and accepted the final report. City manager staff noted only final administrative steps (signed minutes) remained.

Council approved Resolution 26-04 to permit charitable gaming for the New Life Community Center to enable large-scale fundraisers, after a short staff presentation and a roll call vote. The council also approved a special-event permit for the Ready Results (RN) block party (100 block of South 11th Street) scheduled for July 24, 2026, with staff noting that alcohol sales and state liquor-control rules would apply and that organizers must name the city as additionally insured.

On procurement, the council approved hiring Pemble Concrete to reapply epoxy in problem areas at Public Works for $7,940 (city to supply materials), after Public Works staff explained prior installations were no longer under warranty and described the operational trade-offs. The council also approved purchasing a playground from GameTime with a net city contribution of $15,318.06; staff said total project approval listed $58,710, that the city received roughly $14,900 from an Oktoberfest donation and that an MPARX grant would cover part of the balance. Staff said the city's crew would install the playground.

Votes were recorded by roll call and voice at various points during the meeting; the clerk recorded the roll for several motions. Where the transcript recorded a roll call, it listed named votes in sequence. The council adjourned after a brief round of announcements.