BC City Connection Podcast

As 2024 closes, the City of Battle Creek looks upon some new beginnings in 2025. Ten-year City Manager Rebecca Fleury has retired, providing a chance for her successor to be discovered in 2025. The city also hired a successor for longtime attorney Jill Steele and decided on a plan to upgrade the city's fire stations. And then there's the Olive Garden. Mayor Mark Behnke and Interim City M...

Did you know there are about 300 road miles the City of Battle Creek has to clear when it snows? That's just one fact among many in this BC City Connection episode with Field Services Superintendent Todd Gerber, who also discusses 'Snowtifications' meant to help keep residents informed. Click to listen, as well, to hear how you can make your mark on the city's snowplow trucks b...

Modern voting in Battle Creek means there are multiple options to cast your ballot: Early voting, absentee ballot or on Election Day. But, before your ballot is cast, there are important things to know. In this episode of BC City Connection, Battle Creek City Clerk Victoria Houser tells us the top three things voters should be aware of before they make a choice and cast their ballots. Episode Reso...

This episode of the BC City Connection podcast welcomes three members of the Battle Creek Fire Department to update residents and listeners on several important topics. Part of the discussion is key information every resident should hear about fire safety in their homes, including what to do if you can't afford or need help getting smoke detectors installed in your home. Also discussed: The l...

In this episode of BC CIty Connection, Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury discusses how the city manager and commission-form of government operates. She takes time to bring context and understanding for listeners on how each segment interacts. Fleury also discusses how elections can have an effect on that interaction. Episode Resources City of Battle Creek website Battle Creek Mayor and Comm...

This year, 2024, marks the centennial of the Battle Creek Executive Airport. In this episode of Inside Calhoun County , Aviation Director Phil Kroll talks about the history of the airport, a special event the public can attend to commemorate the occasion, as well as some other details. Episode Resources Battle Creek Executive Airport website Airport Centennial Celebration info Watch the video of t...

Warm weather months in Battle Creek bring city staff out to prepare parks and recreation spaces for summer. In this episode, Duska Brumm visits with BC City Connection to talk about parks and recreation options in the city - everything from Bailey Park to Full Blast to Binder Park Golf Course. Episode Resources BC Parks and Recreation website Watch the video of this discussion here or see the epis...

In this episode of the BC City Connection, Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury and Fire Chief Bill Beaty help listeners understand the reasoning behind a proposal to upgrade the city's fire stations. At the center of the reasoning is one city fire station built more than 100 years ago, along with a second which are no longer suitable as fire station buildings. Click to hear how the city...

The City of Battle Creek has undertaken the significant task of replacing lead service lines in the water distribution system. In this episode of BC City Connection, the Water Division's Matt Miller and Amber Whitcomb discuss the progress made on the replacements and how residents can assist by completing a special city survey. The pair also discusses the city's water quality report and...

How should you recycle styrofoam? Can your commingled curbside recycling be in a bag inside your recycling bin? The answers might surprise you! This time, the BC City Connection podcast welcomes Bessie Stears, Environmental Program Coordinator and Patty Hoch-Melluish, Environmental and Storm Service Manager at the City of Battle Creek. Bessie and Patty also discuss how you can participate in speci...

In the time since citizen input was sought in November 2022 about a potential Battle Creek Community Oversight Board, information gathering and other work has continued. Additionally, the Battle Creek police chief has changed and a new diversity, equity and inclusion officer has joined the team. In this episode, Chief Shannon Bagley and DEI Officer Kimberly Holley visit the BC City Connection Podc...

In the first episode of the BC City Connection Podcast , Battle Creek City Clerk Victoria Houser discusses a new voting option: Early voting. When Michigan voters passed Proposal 2 in 2022, that cleared the way for 9 days of early voting ahead of many elections going forward. The idea behind it: Provide additional chances for voters to cast a ballot in addition to Election Day voting and via absen...