By Bruce Rolfe
A village resident’s detailed documentation of alleged ordinance violations led the Climax Village Council to forward the complaints to the Village’s ordinance enforcement officer at SafeBuilt for further investigation.
The Village resident read what he feels are 21 different ordinance violations in five categories of the Village’s Code of Ordinances that have taken place in the 300 block of East Maple Street at the regular village council meeting April 7.
The Village resident feels four code violations are taking place under the Village’s Public Nuisances Ordinance, six violations are taking place under Noise Control Ordinances, four Code Violations under Blight, three under the Junkyards Ordinances and four code violations under Zoning.
The property owner told the council there is loud music being played in a non-attached garage late into the night.
The village resident claims a commercial automobile repair shop is being operated at the location which is zoned residential.
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said because of the complexity, the number of issues compiled within the resident’s complaint and the length of time the alleged violations have occurred, the committee requested the complaint be turned over to the village’s enforcement officer at SafeBuilt, which handles building permits, zoning and ordinance services for the Village, to review.
Library Board Member Resigns, New Board Member Named
Lawrence Memorial District Library President Joel Amos informed the board Library Board member and Treasurer Wendell Stouffler has submitted a letter of resignation effective April 28, 2026.
The Council unanimously approved the resignation letter and to appoint Wesley Fry as the new Library Board member and treasurer as a village representative 4-0, with Village President Bill Lewis, who is currently the Library director, abstaining.
Four Street Improvement Projects Approved
The Council approved road maintenance projects that will be performed by the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County, on four local streets at a cost not to exceed $22,000 by a 4-1 margin (Carolyn Kelly voted no).
The approved projects include chip seal, crack fill and fog seal on Cherry, Sheldon, South Church and East Hancock Streets.
DPW Manager T. J. Gibson said the price will include cutting the shoulder back 6-12 inches to allow for better water run off and drainage.
DPW Report
Department of Public Works employee Lucas Piper informed the Council and audience water samples and pumpage reports for the month have been completed.
A section of damaged sidewalk has been removed at the corner of Cherry and Sheldon Streets. The section will be turned back to grass, which the homeowner approved.
Piper said the DPW has started to get tree maintenance quotes for 3 trees on North Church Street.
Curbed streets have been swept and pot holes in the roads have been patched.
A new Memorial Day banner has been ordered and is expected to be installed soon.
All four tires on the red DPW truck need replacing. The DPW estimates the replacement cost will be approximately $2000.
The DPW suggested some more flowers for planting near the center of town be purchased. The Council will look into cost and discuss options at the next meeting.
Memorial Day Run to Climax Event Approved
The Council unanimously approved a request by organizers from The Run to Climax event to use designated streets in the Village for the Memorial Day 7K run and 1-Mile fun run. The streets in the Village that will be used for the two runs will be barricaded during the two runs.
Jamie Morrison said the same route will be used. The 7K run will start at South Church Street at 8 a.m. The route moves down Hancock, onto South Main Street and out of the village before returning to the Village on East Maple Street and ending on North Church Street.
The 1-Mile Fun Run will start at the Climax United Methodist Church, go down North Church Street, east on Cherry Street, south on Sheldon Street to East Maple Street before ending at the finish line on North Church Street near the United Methodist Church.
The organization carries its own insurance for the day.
Curb Side Trash Pick Up April 18
The spring curb side trash pickup is Saturday, April 18 for Best Way customers only in the Village.
Mattresses need to be placed in mattress plastic bags that can be obtained for free at some locations that sell mattresses or purchased from a moving company.
In other items covered at the April 7 meeting:
• The Council approved a request from Lawrence Memorial District Library President Joel Amos to use the Village Park for eight Movie in the Park events. The first Movie in the Park will be held Memorial Day weekend and the last event will be in September.
The Council also approved a request by Amos to allow the Climax Rotary Club to provide a food truck on the Harvester Lot, owned by the Village, in conjunction with the Movie in the Park events.
• With treasurer Sydney Cope expected to go on maternity leave at the end of April, the Council unanimously approved a motion to retain the services of Village of Augusta officer manger Julie Glenn as a temporary replacement at $26 per hour. Glenn has knowledge of the water billing program the village uses.
Cope will be on maternity leave for up to 12 weeks. Council trustee Denise Pyle said Cope does not qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act, meaning the maternity leave will be unpaid.
• In the Public Safety/Fire/Law Enforcement/Disaster Planning update, it was noted the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department responded to six citizen initiated calls (two suspicious, one assist a person, assist another department, one disturbance one, and one blight) in the village for the month of March. There were 13 officer initiated calls for service in the village, 11 direct patrols, one follow up response, one ticket issued and two noise complaints.
• Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said there are three ordinance violations the committee is working on, two relating to zoning.
A village resident’s detailed documentation of alleged ordinance violations led the Climax Village Council to forward the complaints to the Village’s ordinance enforcement officer at SafeBuilt for further investigation.
The Village resident read what he feels are 21 different ordinance violations in five categories of the Village’s Code of Ordinances that have taken place in the 300 block of East Maple Street at the regular village council meeting April 7.
The Village resident feels four code violations are taking place under the Village’s Public Nuisances Ordinance, six violations are taking place under Noise Control Ordinances, four Code Violations under Blight, three under the Junkyards Ordinances and four code violations under Zoning.
The property owner told the council there is loud music being played in a non-attached garage late into the night.
The village resident claims a commercial automobile repair shop is being operated at the location which is zoned residential.
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said because of the complexity, the number of issues compiled within the resident’s complaint and the length of time the alleged violations have occurred, the committee requested the complaint be turned over to the village’s enforcement officer at SafeBuilt, which handles building permits, zoning and ordinance services for the Village, to review.
Library Board Member Resigns, New Board Member Named
Lawrence Memorial District Library President Joel Amos informed the board Library Board member and Treasurer Wendell Stouffler has submitted a letter of resignation effective April 28, 2026.
The Council unanimously approved the resignation letter and to appoint Wesley Fry as the new Library Board member and treasurer as a village representative 4-0, with Village President Bill Lewis, who is currently the Library director, abstaining.
Four Street Improvement Projects Approved
The Council approved road maintenance projects that will be performed by the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County, on four local streets at a cost not to exceed $22,000 by a 4-1 margin (Carolyn Kelly voted no).
The approved projects include chip seal, crack fill and fog seal on Cherry, Sheldon, South Church and East Hancock Streets.
DPW Manager T. J. Gibson said the price will include cutting the shoulder back 6-12 inches to allow for better water run off and drainage.
DPW Report
Department of Public Works employee Lucas Piper informed the Council and audience water samples and pumpage reports for the month have been completed.
A section of damaged sidewalk has been removed at the corner of Cherry and Sheldon Streets. The section will be turned back to grass, which the homeowner approved.
Piper said the DPW has started to get tree maintenance quotes for 3 trees on North Church Street.
Curbed streets have been swept and pot holes in the roads have been patched.
A new Memorial Day banner has been ordered and is expected to be installed soon.
All four tires on the red DPW truck need replacing. The DPW estimates the replacement cost will be approximately $2000.
The DPW suggested some more flowers for planting near the center of town be purchased. The Council will look into cost and discuss options at the next meeting.
Memorial Day Run to Climax Event Approved
The Council unanimously approved a request by organizers from The Run to Climax event to use designated streets in the Village for the Memorial Day 7K run and 1-Mile fun run. The streets in the Village that will be used for the two runs will be barricaded during the two runs.
Jamie Morrison said the same route will be used. The 7K run will start at South Church Street at 8 a.m. The route moves down Hancock, onto South Main Street and out of the village before returning to the Village on East Maple Street and ending on North Church Street.
The 1-Mile Fun Run will start at the Climax United Methodist Church, go down North Church Street, east on Cherry Street, south on Sheldon Street to East Maple Street before ending at the finish line on North Church Street near the United Methodist Church.
The organization carries its own insurance for the day.
Curb Side Trash Pick Up April 18
The spring curb side trash pickup is Saturday, April 18 for Best Way customers only in the Village.
Mattresses need to be placed in mattress plastic bags that can be obtained for free at some locations that sell mattresses or purchased from a moving company.
In other items covered at the April 7 meeting:
• The Council approved a request from Lawrence Memorial District Library President Joel Amos to use the Village Park for eight Movie in the Park events. The first Movie in the Park will be held Memorial Day weekend and the last event will be in September.
The Council also approved a request by Amos to allow the Climax Rotary Club to provide a food truck on the Harvester Lot, owned by the Village, in conjunction with the Movie in the Park events.
• With treasurer Sydney Cope expected to go on maternity leave at the end of April, the Council unanimously approved a motion to retain the services of Village of Augusta officer manger Julie Glenn as a temporary replacement at $26 per hour. Glenn has knowledge of the water billing program the village uses.
Cope will be on maternity leave for up to 12 weeks. Council trustee Denise Pyle said Cope does not qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act, meaning the maternity leave will be unpaid.
• In the Public Safety/Fire/Law Enforcement/Disaster Planning update, it was noted the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department responded to six citizen initiated calls (two suspicious, one assist a person, assist another department, one disturbance one, and one blight) in the village for the month of March. There were 13 officer initiated calls for service in the village, 11 direct patrols, one follow up response, one ticket issued and two noise complaints.
• Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said there are three ordinance violations the committee is working on, two relating to zoning.
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