NILES — A mayoral proclamation designating Sept. 17 to 23 to be Constitution Week kicked off the formal action at Monday night’s city council meeting at the Fire Department Complex at 1345 E. Main St. in Niles.

Among the items approved was a change in the schedule of fees for vendors.

Vendors, which include businesses such as pop-up artisans and food trucks, can now set up in private or approved public locations by being approved for and purchasing a $20 license from the city each year.

Vendors that are part of an event in city limits must pay any price set by the event’s sponsor. That sponsor will then send $20 per vendor to the city, with a maximum payment of $1,500.

Previously, food vendors had to pay $500 for a license each year or $50 per setup. Other vendors had to pay $20 per setup.

The decision changes a vending ordinance fee structure approved by city council in 2017. The structure was created with the insights of some local vendors.

An ordinance committee meeting on June 24 brought the fee schedule into question. Some of the same vendors that were proponents of the original fee schedule reversed their opinions, noting that other nearby communities do not charge a vendor fee.

During the June 24 meeting and subsequent committee meetings, officials and city employees agreed that fees were needed, but said the current fees were too high, especially when it came to events.

“You kind of feel like you’re being double-dipped,” said City Administrator Ric Huff about event fees at a Aug. 26 committee of the whole meeting.

Some officials said that fees would offset the potential lost revenue nearby brick and mortar businesses would face. They also said that fees would help the city keep track of and regulate vendors.

All other approvals were unanimous and included the following:

• A five-year contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation. It will require the city to perform largely routine maintenance work on the parts of M-139, M-51 and M-60 that are within city limits. The city would be reimbursed by MDOT for its work.

The contract had been approved five years prior, but it was set to expire Sept. 30.

Niles Public Works Director Joseph Ray was reassigned as the superintendent for the project.

• A requirement and expectations agreement between the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Niles DDA Main Street.

The agreement brings the Niles DDA one step closer to becoming part of an MEDC program that is meant to provide training and services to designated Michigan municipalities.

• A loan of up to $90,000 to the Niles DDA. The money will be taken from the city’s revolving loan fund.

The loan will be used to provide three loans to business start-ups the Niles DDA is working with. If a business owner receives funding from a Match on Main grant, part of the city’s loan would be used to fund their start-up until the Match on Main grant is received.

Once the state funds are received, the city will be reimbursed with the assistance of a loan repayment guarantee.

• An approximately $10,000 purchase from Bell Equipment Company of Lake Orion, Michigan. The city will receive repair parts for its leaf vacuums.