By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax Village Council will seek input from its attorney for options to recover $25,000-$30,000 in fees and attorney expense at three locations in the Village of Climax that the Village has liens on.
The Village has liens at 110 South Main Street, 115 Watson Street, and 329 West Maple Street.
The Council unanimously approved the motion (Ben Moore and Denise Pyle were not present) at the November 4 meeting to have the attorney review the liens at all three locations.
Village Council President Bill Lewis said the debt included in a lien at the 115 Watson Street property has been in place for nearly four years. Lewis said the lien is for $2,580 for costs associated with hiring a company to remove items from the yard for an ordinance violation.
He adds the lien at 329 West Maple Street has been in place for over one year. The Council is trying to recoup $14,920 for demolition and attorney costs at the location.
The Council also holds a lien at 110 South Main Street for what was stated at a previous council meeting is a $25 per day fine for permit non-compliance through a court order that totals $10,675. It has been noted at previous council meetings the Council has also absorbed approximately $2,000 in attorney fees during the process at the location.
“No matter what we do, as a Council, we have the legal right, but we don’t have the wherewithal to step it forward. That’s where we need the attorney to step in. Bring it to negotiation. Bring it to the point where if he (the attorney) doesn’t get the answer he needs, we move it to either on to the taxes where we have leverage because they will get charged interest. Or, if they do not, we move it further in and do what we have to do. We don’t have the expertise,” explained Lewis.
When discussing the 110 South Main Street property, Lewis said the Village cannot charge for something that was not in the case.
“I’m not an attorney. I don’t know how it falls in. When we look at some things, they were not in the original case. I know it’s been said in here (the case), that he (the property owner) put a deck on. The deck was not in the original case. Was that a secondary case? I don’t know. I didn’t see a secondary case. But that was not there, so that falls off from that. That’s why we need to have someone involved that actually can interpret that law, and say where we’re at,” continued Lewis.
After the attorney offers an opinion how the Council could recover the funds, the Council will vote on a final decision.
Council Approves Choice for Library Board Appointment
Lawrence Memorial District Library Board President Joel Amos informed the council the Library Board received a letter of resignation from board member Jamie Camp at the board’s October 28 meeting. She has served nearly five years on the Library Board.
Camp’s resignation is effective November 1, 2025. Her term would have ended at the end of 2026.
After Amos informed the Council the Library Board would like to appoint Village of Climax resident Adam Audette to complete Camp’s term at the November Library Board meeting, the Council unanimously approved Audette for the appointment (Denise Pyle and Ben Moore were absent).
Audette is a lifelong resident of Climax, a graduate of the Climax-Scotts High School, is a paraprofessional at the C-S Elementary School in Scotts and is a Rocket Football coach.
Audette will be sworn into the Library Board office by Village Clerk Linda Coburn.
Water Rate Increase Discussed
Water/Recycling/Spring Cleanup Chairperson Joline Chaney brought up a topic that was discussed at the previous meeting, raising the Administration fee and changing the name of the fee. Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson said an EGLE representative said the name should be changed to a Readiness To Serve fee.
Chaney felt the council should consider the recommendation to change the name of the fee as well as the DPW manager’s recommendation to increase the Readiness To Serve fee from $25 per quarter to $31.25 per quarter, for an overall increase of $25 per year.
Council President Bill Lewis said since the Village is scheduled to switch accounting and water software over to BS&A next March, it might be better to make the adjustment beginning with the January-March, 2026 water billing cycle. The Council could vote on the increase as well as a per 1,000 gallon rate increase at the next meeting.
A Readiness To Serve fee covers expensive water system maintenance costs like repairing or replacing a pump or for a water main break, which Gibson said could cost up to $100,000.
Gibson said there are 305 water hookups in the village, meaning the Administration increase would generate approximately $7,600 that would go into a fund for water maintenance. He said the 25 percent adjustment is still lower than some municipalities in the area.
In other items covered at the November 4 meeting:
• Public Safety/Fire/Law Enforcement/Disaster Planning Chairman Nick Ludwig informed the Council and audience there were 30 officer initiated calls for service in the Village by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department for October, including 28 direct patrols, one follow up and one child abuse/neglect call. There were 11 additional citizen initiated calls for service in October in the Village of Climax.
• Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said two outstanding ordinance violations have been turned over to Safebuilt, the company the Village uses for permits and ordinance violations.
Kelly adds the Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Committee met and developed a new letter to send to residents about ordinance violations.
She said added options to correct ordinance violations as well as hours at the village hall a resident can discuss an ordinance violation, were included in the letter.
She said she has reviewed five locations for complaints. Two residents immediately took care of the problem.
• Village Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson informed the Council the John Deere backhoe tractor needs a fuel pump repair.
Gibson secured estimates from ASI and John Deere, The Council unanimously approved to spend up to $2,700 to have the back hoe repaired by John Deere, which provided a lower estimate.
• Kalamazoo County Commissioner John Gisler informed the council and audience he does not intend to run for re-election in 2028. He was first elected in 2010.
The Climax Village Council will seek input from its attorney for options to recover $25,000-$30,000 in fees and attorney expense at three locations in the Village of Climax that the Village has liens on.
The Village has liens at 110 South Main Street, 115 Watson Street, and 329 West Maple Street.
The Council unanimously approved the motion (Ben Moore and Denise Pyle were not present) at the November 4 meeting to have the attorney review the liens at all three locations.
Village Council President Bill Lewis said the debt included in a lien at the 115 Watson Street property has been in place for nearly four years. Lewis said the lien is for $2,580 for costs associated with hiring a company to remove items from the yard for an ordinance violation.
He adds the lien at 329 West Maple Street has been in place for over one year. The Council is trying to recoup $14,920 for demolition and attorney costs at the location.
The Council also holds a lien at 110 South Main Street for what was stated at a previous council meeting is a $25 per day fine for permit non-compliance through a court order that totals $10,675. It has been noted at previous council meetings the Council has also absorbed approximately $2,000 in attorney fees during the process at the location.
“No matter what we do, as a Council, we have the legal right, but we don’t have the wherewithal to step it forward. That’s where we need the attorney to step in. Bring it to negotiation. Bring it to the point where if he (the attorney) doesn’t get the answer he needs, we move it to either on to the taxes where we have leverage because they will get charged interest. Or, if they do not, we move it further in and do what we have to do. We don’t have the expertise,” explained Lewis.
When discussing the 110 South Main Street property, Lewis said the Village cannot charge for something that was not in the case.
“I’m not an attorney. I don’t know how it falls in. When we look at some things, they were not in the original case. I know it’s been said in here (the case), that he (the property owner) put a deck on. The deck was not in the original case. Was that a secondary case? I don’t know. I didn’t see a secondary case. But that was not there, so that falls off from that. That’s why we need to have someone involved that actually can interpret that law, and say where we’re at,” continued Lewis.
After the attorney offers an opinion how the Council could recover the funds, the Council will vote on a final decision.
Council Approves Choice for Library Board Appointment
Lawrence Memorial District Library Board President Joel Amos informed the council the Library Board received a letter of resignation from board member Jamie Camp at the board’s October 28 meeting. She has served nearly five years on the Library Board.
Camp’s resignation is effective November 1, 2025. Her term would have ended at the end of 2026.
After Amos informed the Council the Library Board would like to appoint Village of Climax resident Adam Audette to complete Camp’s term at the November Library Board meeting, the Council unanimously approved Audette for the appointment (Denise Pyle and Ben Moore were absent).
Audette is a lifelong resident of Climax, a graduate of the Climax-Scotts High School, is a paraprofessional at the C-S Elementary School in Scotts and is a Rocket Football coach.
Audette will be sworn into the Library Board office by Village Clerk Linda Coburn.
Water Rate Increase Discussed
Water/Recycling/Spring Cleanup Chairperson Joline Chaney brought up a topic that was discussed at the previous meeting, raising the Administration fee and changing the name of the fee. Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson said an EGLE representative said the name should be changed to a Readiness To Serve fee.
Chaney felt the council should consider the recommendation to change the name of the fee as well as the DPW manager’s recommendation to increase the Readiness To Serve fee from $25 per quarter to $31.25 per quarter, for an overall increase of $25 per year.
Council President Bill Lewis said since the Village is scheduled to switch accounting and water software over to BS&A next March, it might be better to make the adjustment beginning with the January-March, 2026 water billing cycle. The Council could vote on the increase as well as a per 1,000 gallon rate increase at the next meeting.
A Readiness To Serve fee covers expensive water system maintenance costs like repairing or replacing a pump or for a water main break, which Gibson said could cost up to $100,000.
Gibson said there are 305 water hookups in the village, meaning the Administration increase would generate approximately $7,600 that would go into a fund for water maintenance. He said the 25 percent adjustment is still lower than some municipalities in the area.
In other items covered at the November 4 meeting:
• Public Safety/Fire/Law Enforcement/Disaster Planning Chairman Nick Ludwig informed the Council and audience there were 30 officer initiated calls for service in the Village by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department for October, including 28 direct patrols, one follow up and one child abuse/neglect call. There were 11 additional citizen initiated calls for service in October in the Village of Climax.
• Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said two outstanding ordinance violations have been turned over to Safebuilt, the company the Village uses for permits and ordinance violations.
Kelly adds the Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Committee met and developed a new letter to send to residents about ordinance violations.
She said added options to correct ordinance violations as well as hours at the village hall a resident can discuss an ordinance violation, were included in the letter.
She said she has reviewed five locations for complaints. Two residents immediately took care of the problem.
• Village Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson informed the Council the John Deere backhoe tractor needs a fuel pump repair.
Gibson secured estimates from ASI and John Deere, The Council unanimously approved to spend up to $2,700 to have the back hoe repaired by John Deere, which provided a lower estimate.
• Kalamazoo County Commissioner John Gisler informed the council and audience he does not intend to run for re-election in 2028. He was first elected in 2010.
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