At Monday’s Cassopolis Village Council meeting, several seats that are typically empty were occupied by men and women dressed in suits. However, these people were not there to listen to the board’s meeting, they were there to present.

The council listened to three presentations from three different firms optioning to work on the village’s new master plan at their workshop meeting Monday evening. Groups Beckett & Raeder, McKenna Wolf and Wightman presented to the board.

The village is looking to prepare this master plan differently than past plans, by getting the firms freedom to be creative and develop what they believe Cassopolis needs rather than just giving the firm a list of checks to cross off, said Village Manager Emilie Sarratore.

“The village is preparing to start the master plan, parks plan and facilities plan process,” Sarratore said. “The three companies present [Monday] night. Each one discussed working hand in hand with the community to come up with a plan.  This was a significant reason each of these three companies were chosen to present to council.”

Beckett & Raeder presented to the council first, with senior associate Leah DuMouchel leading the presentation.

Like the other two firms, Beckett & Raeder presented a community focused approach, saying they saw a great deal of potential in the architecture of Cassopolis.

“We meet communities where they are and guide them to where they need to be,” DuMouchel said.

McKenna Wolf, who worked on the village’s last master plan 10 years ago, was the second firm to present to the board.

Sarratore said McKenna Wolf’s plan was significantly less expensive than the other two firms, which made their plan attractive. However, not every member of the council was convinced.

“I’m just concerned because they worked on the last master plan, and when I’m driving through Cassopolis, I don’t see it,” said Councilwoman Cynthia Jackson-Ash.

The final group to present was Wightman, who was the only firm to bring visuals to display to the council.

Wightman discussed past work they did in Schoolcraft as part of its pitch, which impressed some of the council members.

“We want people to see what you have to offer,” said one of Wightman’s presenters.

The council will continue to discuss and consider the firms for the master plan project as they go forward.

In other business:

• The village announced that leaf pickup by public works will be on Monday mornings, weather permitting.

• A piece of playground equipment called the “chili pepper” was installed in Don Horne Park. A $25,000 project, the new equipment included an ADA compliant ramp and rubber mulch. A portion of this project was paid for by a $5,000 grant through Midwest Energy that the village received last year.