City Council - Regular Meeting

[music] [music] Good evening everyone. The time is 700 p.m. and we are officially calling the Inkster City Council meeting to order. At this time, we will have prayer. If everyone would please stand. Cooper and Sister Barbara Cooper, would you lead us in invocation, please?

Our most gracious heavenly father, we come this evening, Lord, just to give you all the praise, the honor, and the glory. Lord, we ask that you bless this meeting. Bless our mayor, our council, all the residents of the city of Inkster. Lord, just bring us all together on one accord. Lord, at this time, I wish to thank everyone under the sound of my voice that has been praying for my husband. Just please keep praying for him. These and all other blessings. Amen. Amen.

If you would continue standing for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Madame clerk, roll call, please. Oh boy. Mayor Nolan excused. Mayor Pro Tim Chisum, present. Councilwoman Rage, present. Councilman Bishop excused. Councilwoman Scott excused. Councilwoman Howard here. Councilwoman Richardson present. Mayor Pro Tim, you do have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. We're moving down to item number two, approval of the agenda. Has everybody had an opportunity to review the agenda? Yes. So move. Yes. Support. [laughter] Y'all trying to get out here tonight. I didn't hear the call. [laughter] It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion hearing? None. All in favor? I I

All oppose. Motion passes. Item three is presentations, introductions, guests, and announcements. We don't have any presentations at this time. I don't see any other additional elected officials in the building. So, we move down to item number four, public hearing. We don't have any public hearings at this time. Item number five, consent agenda. Some move. Second. This is for the approval of the regular city council meeting minutes November 17, 2025. It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I.

All oppose. Motion passes. We're down to item number six, boards and commissions. Do we have anything for boards and commissions? All righty. Moving down to item number seven, ordinances. We don't have a first or second reading. So, we're down to item number eight, new business. Consider approval to purchase one vacant parcel, case LD25-08. The parcel is located on the west side of Allen Street between Beach Street and Chestnut Street. Parcel ID noted for 1500. Please see the attached Wayne County public records. Move for approval. Support.

It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I I. All oppose. Motion passes. Consider authorizing administration to sign the administrative compliance agreement with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Drinking, Water, and Environmental Health Division for the city's water supply. So move second. It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? All in favor? I. All oppose. Motion passes. Item C,

consider authorizing administration to approve major contracting group to replace the water man in middle on middle belt road at Rosewood Street in the amount of $313,326 plus a 10% contingency of $31,333 for a total of $344,659 for construction. So move second. It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I I. All oppose. Motion passes. Item D.

Consider authorizing the admin administration to approve an amount of 1 million 1,000. No. $1,ion30 for Banesh to provide preliminary engineering and design services for needed water main and lead service line replacements throughout the city to comply with Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act 399 Eagle Lead and Copper Rule and the strict terms conditions and schedule of the recently awarded 18,775,000 in drinking water state revolving funds which also includes 23% loan for forgiveness amount of 4,88,250,000 for water mane replacements and 50 50% loan forgiveness amount of 500,000 for lead service replacement

some second it's been properly moved and seconded is there any discussion and we were talking about this uh well not we but DWSRS stands for drinking water state revolving funds just for anybody that was curious about the acronym on the agenda. Is there any discussion hearing? None. All in favor? I. All oppose. Motion passes. We are complete with new business. Now we are down to public participation. Again, you have three minutes. The city clerk will set the timer. When your name is called, please approach the podium.

Mr. Donnie Harris. Yes, sir. Good evening, council and and board. Uh just have two comments. One about the speed bumps. What we going to do with those? Uh Mr. Bivis, can you speak up, please? What we going to do about those speed bumps that you know, we sat down um I think one of our city workers on on Pine Street hit the speed bump and it's going north. They're being taken up right now. Oh, okay. Because I last time I was here, I thought we was just going to put them down in the summer and put pick them up in the winter. We got caught by the snow. So, they're going up this week.

Okay, sounds good. And uh my next question, I was like uh incident that happened at Bogards since they are uh using that parking lot for expansion. I was wondering if we can turn some kind of heat up on them to uh come into compliance to fix that building up the front in the front of the building. It's been looking the same way for 40 years and there's a lot of I believe there's a lot of u illegal activity going on in that that that building. Can you prove it? Excuse me. Oh, that's Hold on one second. Continue, sir. All right.

So, before I was so rudely disturbed, it broke my uh concentration. But anyway, there's a lot of illegal activity going on in that building and and if we want some u uh for us to prove it. Yeah, I think we can prove it. Okay. Uh so that being said, I uh I'm going to yield back my time. Okay. And we'll forward that information over to the proper departments. All righty. Thank you, Mr. Harris. Uh Director Lisa B. Good evening, council and residents.

Good evening.

So, we have a celebration coming up on December 12th, Friday. It is called Joy in the City. It is one of uh our first Inkingster community Christmas celebration. Um, it will be located right here next door to city hall um from 6:00 p.m. to 900 p.m. The address is 26125 Trobridge. If anyone was um lucky enough to attend the Halloween event, it's the same location. Um we had a huge turnout. Um the kids had an amazing time, so we are um looking for a repeat. So make sure you guys come out again. and that is December 12th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. And this is a completely free event. We have our Shop with a Cop, our annual Shop with a Cop that's coming up and we just wanted to give a shout out to our uh supporters, those that donated um organizations that donated to make that possible. Um, Gabbard's Concrete, Bishop Auto Wrecking, Road Ready Incorporation, FNR Auto Repair, Jeff Benson Car Company, Veterans Cleaners, Westborne Collision, Maris Food Service, Murray Real Estate, Rocket Auto Wash, DMV Utilities, and 315 North Dispensary. like to thank all of the uh those who uh who donated to help make uh shop with a cop possible. Uh December newsletters will be um they are available here tonight. Um they're also will be distributed via email to um our in-house residents. Um and we have a challenge this December. So this year we're doing this month, I'm sorry, we're doing a self-care cal uh self-care challenge.

Today is set your goals for the new month. So think about tonight what you would like to achieve at the end by the end of this month. And that is all I have. Thank you. I have a question. Oh, go right ahead. Yes. Phone, please. Thank you. [clears throat] Okay. [cough] Um I know you mentioned the Joy in the City on December the 12th. Yes. And the Shop with the Cop the same day. Um no. So, Shop with the Cop um is going to be the following week um on the 18th, December 19th. 18th. 18th. Yes. Okay. Cuz I had a flyer in their head.

Yes. So, we changed the the location time and so those um applications uh those who were accepted will be notified um by the end of this week and they will have the the updated date and time. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.

All righty, Sister Barbara Cooper [clears throat] to council. Once again, um I just like to thank everyone for participating and helping with the good fellows. Our annual paper drive will be this Friday. Uh, I know we'll have some fire on the corners. I don't know about the police, but I think we going to have them on the corner as well. Um, and we'll be at the uh Book of Dojo Recreational Complex uh from 8 until everybody come in and turn in uh their money. And I'm looking uh for Inkster to come on and help. No Child without a Christmas. We need everybody everybody to come out and help us. And those who who can just come out, those that hear me can come out and help us do the papers, please do because several of our staunch uh paper people aren't going to be with us this year uh because they're hurt. But Randall said he was going to be there and that's Middle Belt Michigan Avenue. And he just had surgery on his knee. So I told him, "Don't try it." And I called him the other day. I said, "You know, it's going to be in the 20s on Friday. I'm going to be there." I said, "Okay." And I believe he will be. And he's the one that stays out there all day and he comes in at the end of the day. But we are so appreciative for everyone who comes out and help us. So please continue to help the Insta Good fellas. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr. Craig Kane. Craig Kabilo live on North River Park. My question is the end of the season ended. Are the crews coming back to finish restoring our neighborhood or have they signed off on the project and it's going to be like it is now? Mr. Bivvens need some coming back in spring.

Coming back in the spring. They are okay because I lived there 35 years and I think it's a shame that the construction company took used their front end loader to clean up their garbage and dumped it down the hill in front of my house. 35 years I've been fighting illegal dumping. Wow.

And now I have a garbage dump in front of my house. The park looks like a war zone. And if anybody cares, since I'm retired and I'm home every day and I have to look at it, I have about 700 photographs of this project from three and a half years ago stating and showing how everything was beautiful and now it looks like a garbage dump on the on the park side of the street. Wow. Okay. The grass is gone. It's garbage. There's rocks. There's broken concrete. all the stuff they left over and they scraped it up and dumped stuff in front of my house. I got it on video because we already lost a lawsuit 25 years ago because we didn't have proof of what it looked like first. So, I made sure I have this project documented. And if you'd like, I'll put on a presentation here and show you 700 slides of what went on. Wow. Now, the main part of the project, and I do want to compliment Maya Roots, who was great at keeping in touch with us, emailing us, letting know everything that was going on. But there's got to be some oversight in the springtime because it looks like a gravel pit down the hill in front of my house where I used to have a park. So, I just want it on record before we sign off and get it That's all

understood. Thank you for letting us know that. And like I say, no, I we learned this lesson, like I said, years ago when we had to pay for replacing the John Dailyaly Road bridge. And I don't think that's all. This is an issue that it should be cleaned up and made, restored like it was. Okay. We had a beautiful park and a beautiful thing in front of our house, and it ain't like that no more. Gotcha. So, all righty. Thank you, Maya Roots. No, I don't know if she works there still, but she was on with emails and everything, keeping us informed, calling special meetings and everything. So, I want to compliment her on that.

Great. We'll make sure she gets your kudos as well. Thank you, Octavia Smith. Greetings, council members and residents and all of our directors. Um, just coming to you just to give you a reminder of the trusted connector program. We have one um event. It's going to be at Inks Rec on Tuesday, December the 16th. I believe I've sent this to council and members are ready, but I I'm continuing to send it so that everybody will not forget the information. But I'm just going to read off the flyer um so that you all can hear what I'm talking about. It's a program that's um for people who do own their businesses already. Um and being in this particular program, it's going to allow um businesses to become a member of the chamber um through attending this program. is not a lot of time that's going to be spent on it, but we just want to make sure there are a lot of businesses in the city of Inkster who are not members of the chamber and we want to make sure that window of opportunities open to the businesses so that they can become a member for a year free of charge. Um, again, I have sent the information out to you and I I can't seem to find the um message right now, but I know I have it on my phone somewhere. And um for the last workshop of the year with the Small Business Development Corporation, it will be Monday um December the 8th from 3 to 5 at Inkster Chambers Council um Hall right there 26717 Michigan Avenue. And this particular workshop will be for people who are entrepreneurs who want to open

up their own small business. Again, this is free of charge. You guys can sign up on the Sman Michigan SBDC Michigan website. And again, I will send that out. It's all over everywhere, but I still try to put it out as much as possible because sometimes people do forget with our busy lives and everything that we do, but there are things and resources available. So, we just want you to know about them. Thank you so much. Have a good night. Thank you. Thank you. And that is the end of public participation. Madame clerk.

Um just a update. All of my letters have went out for the 2026 business renewal licenses and they're starting to come back and be in process. So that's about it. Great.

Mr. Treasure, uh good evening, council. Um wanted to update everyone. Um we're completing the um mailing of the water bills. Um we're still running a month behind, but the September bills have gone out and um uh we'll be getting those out. So, we just want to um continue to kind of update you as we go through the um you know, transition to our new billing system, complete complete the transition to our new billing system. Additionally, uh as of today, the winter taxes uh uh uh have been online and those are available. We did get the um um bills over to the printer before the Thanksgiving holiday, so residents should start receiving those bills uh this week sometime. Um they're being printed and mailed um by our printer. Uh but that information is available online. if residents want to look it up online or if they're ready to pay their bill, they can come into city hall and we can pull that information up for them and process their payments.

Thank you. Mayor Council communication, we are going to start to my left. Councilwoman Richardson.

Okay, just one item. Um, since this is the winter months, uh, just want to let everyone know that the, uh, American Red Cross still offers free smoke detectors and alarms, free installation. Um, this is a time of season we have a [clears throat] lot of fires. So, we would like to remind you to make sure that you contact the Red Cross and they will come out and they will install it for free. Um, there should be notices there. If they're not, um, I'll see that the city clerk make copies and put them available for you. And that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Howard. Nothing at this time. Councilwoman Ratlitch. Yep.

I just want to make an announcement that um Shawana Joeski of Joeski Homes will be doing um doing the new construction over there on Middle Belt um and Annapolis Point. Uh they will be setting their first house, couple of houses on December 11th at around 8 o'clock a.m. So if anybody wanted to come and see that, you can come and see that. It's probably going to be very interesting. They have these big cranes coming in and so it's construction that's going on in this city. And I just want to say that I'm very proud of Shawana. Thank you. Thank you. Um and I guess it's on me now. Someone asked for the address of that. It's on Bridgeport um and Middle Belt. Bridgeport Court.

Bridgeport Court. Thank you. Bridgeport and Irene. Huh. And Irene. All righty. Um there's no I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Pro. There's um I don't know what the address is of it, but you you won't be able to miss it. You'll see the big hole. It's already the hole is dug, so you won't be able to miss it once you get in the middle building and Annapolis area. Mr. Ch. All righty. Um, oh, you're passing that point. Okay. Well, okay. Might as well go home. I'm glad Barbara was here. [laughter] Is it pertaining to the good fellas or

Well, action dog, she she here. I know that's taken care of. I just want to say some beautifification, all that, you know. You know, I'm I'm cool, you know. Okay. No, I'm all right. No, I don't have nothing to say. [laughter] You made me interrupt you and you don't have anything to say. I'm I apologize. No problem. All righty. Bucket here. You know, for good fellas tonight. Yeah. Anybody want to come by, you know, you got some spare change or whatever, you know. All righty. So, if anybody on your way out feels uh compelled to donate to the Good Fellas tonight, see Mr. Gabe Henderson on your way out.

And we going we going and I might as well Can I go through there after I and put it in the in the in the the office or in the by the information desk like always. Yeah. Okay. All right. Oh, okay. Thank you. All righty. So, um on Thanksgiving day, there was a uh celebration, a food dispersement that morning put on by the Insta Cobras, the Insta task force, I believe, the Mayor Nolan, and I'm not sure of the other entities. So, I just want to say thank you to you all who participated. I don't want to leave anyone out. My apologies. blame my mind, not my heart if I forgot an organization. Um, they prepared dinners and dispersed them. I think believe it was about 400.

You were on site as well, right? Okay. I'm not sure if any other council members were able to make it, but I just want to give you guys a shout out and just say thank you. I know those families deeply appreciate that. [applause] And then I also want to just say thank you to the city uh staff employees and all the different entities that participated in the turkey giveaway. Um I heard there was a lot I guess Gleaners is on site as well. And there was a line out to Middle Belt and down Middle Belt. I know that took a lot. And you all

the way Michigan Avenue. Oh wow. I have to see the drone footage that was uh captured. But just thank you for your time and your efforts and all of that. Standing out there in the elements and everything that really means a lot to the families in need. Um, other than that, oh, I'm sorry, madam clerk. Oh, just want to say congratulations to our council woman Lindsay Scott on the blessing of her beautiful [applause] baby. Thank you for that. That's it. And if all minds are satisfied, the time is now 7:24. This meeting I'm sorry, I can't adjourn it. I have to call for a motion. Right. Right. [laughter] It's been properly moved and seconded. All in favor? I.

All oppose. This meeting is now adjourned. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.