BC City Connection Podcast

Food scraps, old tires, Styrofoam, stormwater, and trees all sound like separate problems until you’re staring at your trash can wondering what actually belongs where.  This time on BC City Connection, Battle Creek Department of Public Works Environmental Office leaders Patty Hoch-Melluish and new Environmental Program Coordinator Megan Bertucci to break down the city’s most useful environmental p...

The housing crisis can feel abstract until you look at a waitlist, a fixed income, or a building that needs repairs just to stay livable.  This time on the BC City Connection Housing Podcast , Chris Lussier, the new CEO of the Battle Creek Housing Commission, offers a clear view of what affordable housing looks like at street level in Battle Creek and why the pressure is rising across Michigan and...

This time on the BC CIty Connection , Battle Creek Police Sgt. Corey Champlin discusses Protected Places, a voluntary program that helps dispatch and officers get better information during emergencies.  Sgt. Champlin shares how optional live camera access, up-to-date contacts, and shared floor plans can make responses faster, safer, and more informed. Episode Resources More Info: Battle Creek Poli...

Housing discrimination isn’t always a slammed door. Sometimes it’s a quieter pattern: one person gets the full tour, another gets brushed off; one gets the helpful phone number, another gets “check the website.”  Those small moments can shape who gets access to safe, stable housing, as is discussed with Beth Romeo from the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan and Darcy Schmitt from the City o...

On this episode of BC City Connection , Community Oversight Board (COB) Chair Carey Whitfield and Vice Chair Clare Tanner to explain how Battle Creek’s police complaint review and appeal process works.  The Community Oversight Board is a community-based advisory board that serves the City Manager by reviewing appeals of investigations and findings related to community complaints made against the B...

This time on the BC CIty Connection Housing Podcast , REALTOR Talia Champlin joins the city's Darcy Schmitt to discuss what “equitable pathways to homeownership” really means and why the hardest part is often stepping onto the path in the first place.  Episode Resources City of Battle Creek website Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tu...

In their first interviews since Battle Creek Assistant City Manager Ted Dearing announced his retirement, he and successor Marcie Gilette talk through the priorities, partnerships, and resident input that will guide what comes next. Ted also reflects on his tenure in Battle Creek. Episode Resources City of Battle Creek website Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access V...

This time, the BC CIty Connection Housing podcast visits with Executive Director Mike King from Habitat for Humanity in Calhoun County to break down how the program turns renters into homeowners through affordable payments, volunteer labor, and strong local partnerships.  Darcy Schmidt from the City of Battle Creek weighs in about why homeownership matters for equity and how the city helps remove...

This time on the BC City Connection, John Hart of the Small Business Development Office talks about Open4BizBC.com, a self-serve website that helps entrepreneurs understand what it really takes to open a business in Battle Creek.  The discussion breaks down how the seven-step guide reduces surprises around zoning, permits, licensing, and costs so more small businesses can launch and last. Episode...

This time on the BC CIty Connection housing focus, Darcy Schmitt and Krista Trout-Edwards share how the city and the Calhoun County Land Bank align land, zoning, and neighborhood input to turn vacant parcels into infill homes.  The discussion maps the shift in acquisitions, highlights early wins in Washington Heights, and invites builders into a growing local pipeline. Episode Resources City of Ba...

On this episode of BC City Connection: Exploring how Neighborhood Planning Councils (NPCs) give Battle Creek residents a structured voice on policing, code, planning, and development, and why diverse, new members are vital.  CommissionerJessica Lacosse and Helen Guzzo, community development manager, detail how councils work, what they decide, and how to join. Episode Resources City of Battle Creek...

Over the course of 2026, the BC CIty Connection will include some conversations specifically focused on housing in the city. In the first of those episodes, Planning Supervisor Darcy Schmitt lays out how Battle Creek tackles the housing shortage with mixed-use zoning, infill, and accessory dwelling units, and why public input shapes every choice.  Episode Resources City of Battle Creek Housing Str...

This time on BC City Connection , a discussion outlining how Battle Creek is building an accessible digital city that meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards and puts residents first.  From language-ready alerts to a content-first website overhaul, the plan, the tools, and how neighbors can help us improve are part of the discussion. Episode Resources City of Battle Creek websi...

In this episode of the BC City Connection, Mayor Mark Behnke, City Manager Amanda Zimmerlin and Assistant City Manager Ted Dearing reflect on a year of change in Battle Creek and share plans to turn that transition into momentum. Episode Resources City of Battle Creek Battle Creek City Commission Battle Creek City Manager BC CIty Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications .

Battle Creek’s outdoor sirens are being modernized for targeted, reliable severe weather alerts. Also, learn why monthly tests are important.  In this episode of BC City Connection , Bret White from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) explains upgrades, vendor support, and how residents can get fast phone alerts and even join CERT. Episode Resources Outdoor Warning Siren Activation Projec...

In her first visit to the BC City Connection podcast, Battle Creek City Manager Amanda Zimmerlin discusses her background, what drew her to Battle Creek and the challenges and successes she sees in the Cereal City. Zimmerlin joined the City of Battle Creek after a 5-year stint as city manager in the Cincinnati suburb of Springdale, Ohio. Episode Resources City Manager's Office Battle Creek BC...

Since 2018, the City of Battle Creek has been selected to receive the Michigan Medicaid CHIP Lead Hazard Control Community Development Grant. Fiscal year 2026 is included. The grant was approved for a total of $1,345,000.  In this episode of BC City Connection, Battle Creek Lead Programs Coordinator Emily Arntz discusses how the funds help families reduce the risk of exposure to lead paint - espec...

A plan to reimagine Battle Creek fire stations is coming to fruition. In this episode of BC CIty Connection , Battle Creek Fire Department Battalion Chief Cody Titus discusses how the changes will advance firefighting in the city. Newly appointed Battle Creek Chief Facilities Officer Katie Norton also discusses the fire station updates, as well as a broad perspective on city facilities management....

The City of Battle Creek is actively addressing elevated total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) in the water system, a maximum contaminant level violation. The municipalities affected include the City of Battle Creek, Springfield, Emmett Township and a portion of Pennfield Township. The City of Battle Creek has outlined details in this mailing residents will or have already received. In this episode of BC...

In this episode of BC CIty Connection, Breanne Humphreys and Eric McClure from the City Hall communications office talk about the opt-in city alert system which helps residents stay informed. The BC City Connection podcast is also discussed - and the various ways it reaches viewers and listeners with pertinent and useful information from the City of Battle Creek. The city also seeks input periodic...

In this episode of the BC CIty Connection , Lt. Ryan Strunk and Sgt. Chris Rabbit bring listeners a wide-ranging list of safety and crime prevention tips. From driving safety to situational awareness and fraud, the BCPD encourages residents to think about these safety tips as it relates to their own situations. Episode Resources Battle Creek Police Department Watch the video of this discussion her...

The City of Battle Creek understands code compliance can be perceived as a roadblock sometimes. However, the city code compliance office wants to be helpful and resourceful for residents. In this episode of the BC City Connection podcast, Battle Creek Code Compliance Manager Jason Francisco talks about what each property owner should know about how the office works.  What's more, city residen...

In a partnership with the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the City of Battle Creek welcomed a Community Development Fellow in 2025. The role "...support[s] various initiatives within community development, to include planning and small business development," Battle Creek Community Services Director M...

The City of Battle Creek has activated a new online portal for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. In this episode of BC City Connection, Battle Creek City Attorney William Kim discusses the new process for FOIA requests, as well as why FOIA requests are submitted. Episode Resources City of Battle Creek FOIA Information and Submission Portal Watch the video of this discussion here or see t...

Even when Battle Creek residents might be immersed in winter activities, the city's Recreation Department is planning for warm weather fun - even when the snow is still flying. This time on the BC City Connection, Recreation Director Danielle Myrkle talks about the planning for everything from summer camp to Flash Flood and Binder Park Golf Course. She also discusses the types of summer job o...