By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN, MI – Past, present and future were discussed at last week’s Buchanan City Commission meeting. City Commissioners continued to praise the recent opening of the new nursing school on the city’s southeast side, approved a new filing deadline for city elections and set a first public hearing date for a new ordinance regulating sidewalk dining.
The first of two public hearings on the proposed new ordinance will be held at the commission’s Feb. 9 meeting. A second public hearing and adoption will be held at the commission’s March 9 meeting.
“We have a lot of new restaurants and bars and a significant number of them want to have outdoor seating,” City Manager Tony McGhee told commissioners.
McGhee said that he and the city attorney have come up with an approach to the issue that is different than what most municipalities. He said most municipalities have met Michigan Liquor Control Commission requirements on such ventures by reaching license or lease agreements with individual businesses.
Buchanan’s approach will be different and, according to McGhee, more efficient. The use of sidewalks for outdoor dining will be done through a municipal permit process established by ordinance. “Each permit will have to be approved on an individual basis, but this will lessen the approval time,” he said.
McGhee noted that the details of the new ordinance such as permit fees will be up to the commission. He anticipates that the outdoor dining will be limited in time and space. Time wise, outdoor dining would be available from spring through fall. Space wise, it will be offered on Front St, Main St, and Days Avenue in the central business district.
The outdoor dining proposal is one of several items city commissioners hope comes to fruition in 2026. Mayor Mark Weedon reiterated what he’s been saying for the last year, that Buchanan is on the cusp of a rebirth. “2026 is the beginning of what I’ve been calling the city’s three to five year plan,” he said.
He also cited plans to renovate Kathryn Park this year, a ribbon cutting for the new disc golf course on the city’s south side, the demolition of the old Buchanan Feed Mill and the efforts of the newly re-established Downtown Development Authority.
“We have an unbelievable amount of money to work on downtown upgrades,” Weedon said in reference to the $400,000 the DDA has in past reserves. “We’re going to have some great things going on. We also have the Buchanan…Boosters support system helping us. I think we will see different groups coming together.”
The Buchanan Business Boosters formed in 2025 during the city construction project with the goal “working and thriving together,” according to their public flyers. They also mention they’re “bringing Buchanan back” and are currently working on a map of downtown businesses with open hours to increase awareness for tourists and visitors, as well as community events like their Valentine’s Day pub crawl.
Weedon and other city commissioners also all took time to praise the recent opening of the ALR Educational Services nursing school in the former Stark Elementary School. “That was something I thought we would never have and now we have an amazing school,” he said. “It’s putting Buchanan on the map for something different.”
City Commissioners also acknowledged McGhee’s first year anniversary as city manager. “Tony will have had one year on the job tomorrow,” Commissioner Patrick Swem said. “We’re all thankful for all he has done. We did a lot in 2025 with the downtown construction.”
McGhee began his duties just a year ago after a long career with non-governmental public service organizations including Abonmarche where he spent the last 15 years before coming to Buchanan.
In action at last week’s meeting, commissioners approved a new ordinance on election filing deadlines after holding ha second public hearing. The ordinance revises the filing deadline to the 15th Tuesday before the August primary election. It restores what had been the filing deadline up until 2018 when it had been changed to 15th Tuesday before the November election.
A first public hearing was held on codifying current policy on responsibility for sewer laterals. A second public hearing will be held at the Feb. 9 meeting.
City hall office hours are being changed to accommodate those who can’t get to City Hall during regular business hours. Starting Feb. 2, city hall hours will change to Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. McGhee said city hall will be open the same number of hours but will have some off hours.