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BUCHANAN — The first day of Tony McGhee’s tenure as the Buchanan City Manager went smoothly if Monday’s Buchanan City Commission meeting was any indication. McGhee, a former Abonmarche executive, was chosen to be the new manager in late November after a month long search.

      McGhee reported that he “hit the ground running” Monday and looks forward to working with the City Commission. “Day one is in the books, it’s been a great first day, I hit the ground running,” he said.

      “Welcome to the jungle,” Commissioner Dan Vigansky said. “It went pretty smooth tonight.” Other commissioners agreed and gave their welcome. Mayor Mark Weedon also took time to thank outgoing city manager Tim Lynch for his efforts.

      “First and foremost, welcome,” Weedon said. “Tony, we’re super excited that on day one you have already proven your worth and we’ve only just begun. It’s good to have someone capable and who understands what’s coming up.”

      “We were also very fortunate we had Tim to get us on the straight and narrow,” he added. “He proved that the city was not in financial straits we had all believed it was.”      

      McGhee was able to give his expertise on several of the items on Monday’s agenda. One included the city’s acceptance of a state grant for $120,000 to pay for public safety and public works improvements. The grant is from the Financially Distressed Cities, Villages and Townships Grant program.

      He also weighed in on the amendment to the city’s contract with the Prein & Newhof engineering firm. That amendment set the 2025 hourly rates for engineering work. He told commissioners that while the new rates are in line with industry standards, he will look at changing the contract so the hourly rates won’t change every year.

      City Commissioners acted on two trail related items. Work will also be moving forward on the extension of the McCoy Creek Trail Extension Project after commission action. Commissioners approved the contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the completion of the project.

      The project extends the existing trail a half mile along Schirmer Parkway to River Street and then across the River Street Bridge into Buchanan Township and out to the River St. Joe brewery and restaurant on Walton Road.

      Funding for the $1.57 million project is coming from a variety of sources including federal and state grants and local private donations. Suzannah Deneau of Wightman and Associates said the project had to be rebid after initial bids came in too high.

      She said that funding for the project includes $900,000 from two state MDOT grant sources, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant for $300,000 and then private donations of over $200,000 from local sources.  The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and Be Healthy Berrien contributed another $100,000, she said.

      Commissioners and residents also discussed future trail plans including connecting the McCoy Creek Trail with the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail as the latter trail is extended north from Niles.

      Friends of McCoy Creek Trail Chairman Jerry Flenar presented a proposed letter of support his organization wanted the city to sign. Commissioners ended up voting to have Mayor Mark Weedon sign the letter to support for the project.

      The letter presented by Flenar stated that the city of Buchanan supports the Niles-Buchanan Trail Connection Project that involves the construction of a 3.4 mile improved shared-use path along Walton Road including a trailhead at Walton and Winn Roads.

      “This key project in Southwest Michigan will connect the cities of Niles and Buchanan in Berrien County by linking two regionally significant trails, the McCoy’s Creek Trail and the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail,” the letter stated. “The McCoy’s Creek Trail is a six mile trail through Buchanan, while the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail is a 20 plus mile trail that routes from Niles to Mishawaka, Indiana.”

      The letter goes on to note that the project will have multiple benefits ranging from health and community building to economic and tourism development and improving the quality of life.

      Work on the Front Street retaining wall can move forward with the commission accepting a bid of $303,130 from a local construction company. The project was rebid late last year and four bids were received with the new bidding.

      Also Monday, commissioners approved the renewal of two adult use marijuana retailer permits for Zen Leaf and Cannavista as well one medical marijuana retailer permit for Zen Leaf. Community Development Director Richard Murphy noted that while the cannabis market is changing, it has served as a catalyst for other development in the downtown.

Commissioners approved the restaurant incentive grant for the newly opened Thistledown & Row restaurant. They approved draft school election agreements with Buchanan Community Schools, Lake Michigan College and Berrien RESA as well as the demolition of a structure at Victory and Richards Streets with funding from the Niles-based Hunter Foundation.

      Commissioners also heard about a new restaurant opening in the former Redbud Insurance building on Main Street. Murphy introduced the investors who told commissioners a little about their plans.