City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, honorable city council members, to our mayor in his absence, our city clerk in her absence, to our treasurer, chief of staff, city attorney, administrative staff here in the council chambers, members of the audience here in the council chambers, and those viewing via our broadcast channel and YouTube live. Welcome to the City of Romulus City Council regular meeting. Today is Monday, September 14, 2026. Members of the public wishing to participate in this meeting may do so under the public comment portions of the agenda. Please fill out a request to speak public comment card located on the table in the back of the chambers and hand it to me, Deputy Clerk. At this time, we will have roll call. Councilwoman Abdo.

Here.

Councilman Bullock. Here. Councilman Jones. Here. Councilwoman Roscoe. Here. Councilwoman Talley.

Here.

Councilman Wadsworth. Here. And Councilman Wilhite.

Here.

Madam Chair, there is a quorum for tonight's agenda.

Thank you.

Tonight's agenda is as follows. Number one, agenda two, public comment for agenda items only. Number three is the approval of the consent agenda. Four, discussion items removed from the consent agenda. Number five is petitioner. Number six, chairperson's report. Seven, mayor's report. Eight, clerk's report. Nine, treasurer's report. Number 10 is public comment. Number 11, unfinished business. 12, new business. 13, warrant. Number 14 is communication. And number 15 is adjournment. And a motion will be in order to accept tonight's regular meeting agenda as presented.

So moved. So part. It's been motioned by Mr. Jones, supported by Ms. Abdo for the approval of the agenda as presented. Mr. Jones? Yes. Ms. Abdo? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Mr. Wadsworth? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, City Council. Number two is public comment for agenda items only. This is the portion of the agenda for those in the audience who would like to address the City Council regarding agenda items only. Comments on non-agenda items will be heard later in the meeting during the second public comment period, which is agenda item number 10. The rules to address the City Council can be found on the back of the meeting agenda. If you would like to address the City Council for items on the agenda, please raise your hand, and after being acknowledged by the chairperson, approach the podium and state your name. Members of the public who submitted a public comment card will be called upon first. You will have three minutes to speak. Any additional time will be upon the consent of the chair. Madam Chair, I do not have any requests to speak public comment cards.

Thank you, Dijon. Is there anybody who would like to speak right now regarding items on the agenda? as presented. All righty, we'll close that out.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Number three is the approval of the consent agenda. All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered routine by the council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion of an item is requested, it will be removed from the consent agenda and considered under the next agenda item. Consent agenda item 3A, approval of the minutes from the regular meeting held on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 7.30. 3B, approval of the minutes from the special meeting study session held on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 6.30 p.m. to discuss proposed amendments to the purchasing ordinance. Agenda item 3C, approval of a special meeting study session request for Monday, October 12, 2026, at 6.45 PM to discuss the quarterly investment report. Agenda item 3D is to authorize a no-fee permit for the following road closures from 9 AM to approximately 10.30 AM on Saturday, September 19, 2026 for the 2026 Pumpkin Festival Punky's 5K Run-Walk Ride. and those roads are Grant Street from Gabriel Street to St. Aloysius Street, Neville Street from St. Aloysius Street to Osca Street, Osca Street from Neville Street to Five Points, and Goddard Road from Five Points to Shook Road. Agenda item 3E is the approval of a second reading and final adoption of budget amendment 26-27-1 in the amount of $250,000 transferring funds from the major roads fund to the local streets fund to cover additional expenses related to Cogswell, Wade, and Superior culverts. This budget amendment was introduced at the August 24, 2026 regular meeting. And that concludes items on the consent agenda.

Madam Chair. Ms. Roscoe. I'll make a motion for the approval of the consent agenda.

Support. It's been motioned by Ms. Roscoe, seconded by Mr. Walsworth for the approval of the consent agenda. Ms. Roscoe. Yes. Mr. Walsworth. Yes. Mr. Wilhite. Yes. Ms. Abdo. Yes. Mr. Bullock.

yes mr jones yes chair votes yes motion approved thank you city council there were no items removed from the consent agenda so we are on agenda item number five petitioner uh madam chair and council there is one petitioner um present and it's for a black party and road closure request The recommendation is to approve the petitioner's request for a Black Party event scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the closing of Greenview Street between Harrison Street and Harriet Street with access granted for emergency vehicles. This petition was reviewed by the Assessor's Department, Police Department, Fire Department, as well as DPW with no objections. I believe the petitioner is present in the council. The petitioner is Monica Edwards. Would you like to step to the podium?

Yes, as he was saying, we're looking to have a love party for our community, for the children. I have another colleague with me, Teresa Williams here. She's also assisting us with this as well. This is a... This is a party that Virginia Williams helped me have and get approved for in 2024. She was very fond of community and love and giving as well. So we're trying to do this again for Greenview. We've had a lot of people to ask us about this. And so we were like, why not? Let's see if we can get approved, right? Because it is for the children. And while we were there, we had a great time. We had a lot of ages there. There were a lot of people at the haunted houses enjoying playing freeze tag with the zombies. And the community just came out and just had a great time. Everything was free. Nothing was paid for. We had a lot of donations, a lot of support. And so we are here to see if you guys are willing to let us do it again.

Okay.

May I want to make a motion?

Through the chair. I'll make that motion that we approve the road closure and block party request.

It's been motioned by Ms. Abdo, seconded by Mr. Jones for the approval. of the block party and road closure request as presented for the block party scheduled for Saturday, October 10th, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the closing of Review Street between Harrison Street and Harrison Street with access granted for emergency vehicles. Any discussion? Question. Mr. Weisberg.

Monica, last time I made donations, would the process be the same? Would they have to contact you? Yes. Okay.

Thank you so much, too. I appreciate it. Thank you. And is this your second year doing it? This will be the second year, yes.

Yeah, I don't know when you're going to cut it. This is a no-sell. You've got to sell this. Madam Chair. Mr. Weisberg.

So have you invited the police department and the fire department to attend?

Yes, they're welcome. I do believe we had some of them there that day. Jamie showed up, and she also kind of like pointed me out to some of the fire people. They were all under regular clothing, right? So then he went with everyone and saw everything. We abided by their orders that they had, and it was great. It was a great turnout. Kids are still asking, are we still doing it? That's great.

And then later on in the evening, do you have any kind of security there?

We have security in the neighborhood. Everyone is participating. Everyone is making sure that everything is safe for the kids as well as for the adults. So everyone is outside making sure their area, they're watching the kids as they go through. It is a team effort, so we have everybody on deck to help us out.

So it's a family-oriented thing, and there's not going to be any outside security?

No, no. It's just all just the name of the family. We become a family.

WONDERFUL. I WISH MORE NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD DO THAT. YEAH, BECAUSE Y'ALL HAD NO ISSUES LAST YEAR.

PARDON?

Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES LAST YEAR.

NO, WE DIDN'T. IN 24-HOUR, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES. EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. The weather was great, the kids were just awesome, including the adults came out and they dressed up, they played the freeze tag, we weren't anticipating all of that. We had just asked for the people in our neighborhood to just do it, but they joined in because, you know, we put signs up the day before stating it was a zombie rough on Greenview and everybody came out. It was amazing. They got great bags in the process. The kids enjoyed it. The adults enjoyed it. I have to admit, a lot of people put it on social media. I don't have social media, but a lot of people put it on social media.

I don't either. I'm with you.

No, thank you.

Thank you for coming out and presenting it. No problem. Any other discussion? We'll run the vote. Ms. Abdo? Yes. Mr. Jones? Yes. Mr. Wadsworth? Yes. Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved. Have fun.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you, City Council. And Ms. Edwards, the clerk's office will reach out to you and provide you with the physical role closure permit.

Thank you so much. No problem.

Number six is the chairperson's report.

Thank you, Dijon. I'm going to open up with boards and commission update. I think everybody pretty much updated the last meeting. I think the only one we may have is Ms. Abdo.

Yes, I just want to announce that at the library, the babies and books is canceled for tomorrow, but it will be back on September 15th.

Okay, thank you, Ms. Abdo.

I'm sorry. It's canceled for tomorrow, September 15th. It'll be back on September 22nd. Thank you.

Thank you for that. Just a couple of things. I was able to attend over the last couple of weeks. The school had a great back-to-school event yesterday. of Bratz BBQ and Back to School. It was a great event, a great turnout. They always have a great turnout over there right before going back to school, right on Wayne Road where you can see all the activity going on. And I met so many new residents in Rhymelis that have been here A YEAR, LESS THAN A YEAR. AND IT WAS JUST GREAT TO SIT THERE AND TALK TO THEM AND JUST REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE DISTRICT. SO, GREAT JOB TO THE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT, THEIR ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT. IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT AND A LOT OF FUN FOR THE KIDS. SO, THANK THEM FOR THAT. AND THEN, WE HAD THE Mayor had his golf outing. It was a great turnout with his golf outing. I think that was this past Thursday. So great job to the mayor for his golf outing. Great turnout. And then we had an honorary street signing on Friday for Mr. Harry Horry. who received the flag on Flag Day this year, and he was honored with an honorary street sign, so I just want to congratulate him and thank him for all his service, and his daughter, Letitia, who was there, and she's just loving on her dad, so great job with the street sign and everybody that was involved with that. And last but not least, I was going to leave it for the mayor. We had just a great time. Groundbreaking for our public safety building. Oh, my goodness. I mean, I can't even – it's not enough words to say. It was just a great event. And the touch you guys gave and not the pins for the public safety – I didn't have my pen handy, but I just was great. If you attended, you would have got one. And since you didn't, you don't get one. But thanks to everybody who did attend. It was a great event. If you didn't come, you missed out a great event, a great win in our city of Ramblers. And I know when the mayor comes back, he'll have more to say about it. It was great. Kevin Krause, Chief Hefner, Chief Faunus. Julie and y'all team just walking behind the scenes pulling that event together. So thank you, thank you, thank you. Great event. So many people came out to support it. Our senator, Darren Camilleri. I'm not going to go through all the names, but we had a nice turnout of people outside of Roms that came and support that event. So great job to the city, the mayor, his directors, and everybody involved with the process. Can't say enough about it. And I'm sure, like I said, the mayor had more to say. Anyway, with that being said, I didn't get to make the mental health day, so I'm sure it was a great event. And if somebody wants to speak on that, they can, but I wasn't able to make it because I did have to work. I do have a job, y'all. Yes, I do. So anyway, great job for our city and everything that we're doing in our city and our mayor and his team. And that will close my report.

Madam Chair.

Ms. Roscoe.

I will make a motion to accept your report.

Support. It's been motioned by Ms. Roscoe, seconded by Mr. Jones for the approval of the chairperson's report. Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Mr. Jones? Yes. Mr. Wadsworth? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Ms. Sabdo? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Number seven is the mayor's report, and to present the mayor's report is our chief of staff, Julie Waitoko.

Thank you, Deputy Clerk, and good evening to our city council, our city treasurer, to those in the audience this evening and those listening at home. Before I get into the mayor's report, the first thing I'd like to do is share our upcoming events presented by our own Vanessa Tolliver from the mayor's office.

Hello, I'm Vanessa Tolliver, and here are some events happening in Romulus. The 28th annual Romulus DDA Pumpkin Festival is upon us. The fun will begin on Friday, September 18, when the festival will officially open at 4 p.m. with the craft and vendor show, food trucks, bingo, and more. Leading up to the Romulus Rotary Parade of lights beginning at 8 p.m., following the parade, the Pumpkin Puff will be open to connect with friends of old and new with live entertainment taking place at 10.30 p.m. Saturday, September 19th, the festival will continue with a jam-packed day of events. The morning will begin with Palky's 5K Fun Run Walk Bike at 8 a.m. The Romulus Fire Department IAF at Road Road 4126 will be serving pancakes from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Different events and activities for the day will include a car show, Children's Fun Zone, sponsored by UAB, Pumpkin Painting Bingo, Pumpkin Chunkin', Live Entertainment, and Pumpkin Pub will be open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The fun doesn't stop there. On Sunday, September 20th, the day will begin with a non-denominational worship in the park at 10 a.m. Activities for the day include Pumpkin Painting, Hometown Hero Ceremony, Rockless' Got Talent Competition, Nerf Song, Rock Wall, entertainment, and more. For complete calendar events and information, please go to the Romulus DEA Pumpkin Festival Facebook page, the Community Connector newsletter, or the city website at romulusgov.com. The fall free City Yard Sale will be held on September 24th through September 27th. You can register in the Clerk's Office or on our website. The annual City of Romulus and St. John's Lodge Number 44 Community Horsetrip Tournament will take place at Elmer's Johnson Park on Wednesday, September 23rd, beginning at 5 p.m. All are welcome to participate. Mark your calendars to have breakfast with our very own Mayor McCrae. The next one, Romulus Community Meeting, will take place on Saturday, October 17th at the Romulus VFW Post 78. The Romulus Goodfellas are accepting applications for assistance. Applications are available at City Hall or online. Thanks everyone and remember to like and share us on Facebook and YouTube or visit our website for more information. Have a lovely fall evening.

Thank you Vanessa. Great job as always. As the Mayor Potem touched on, it was a historic day in the City of Romulus on Friday and I know the Mayor will definitely want to share more thoughts and on that event when he returns to the next council meeting. However, I have to say it just was so heartwarming to see so many of our retired police officers and some of our retired firefighters that were out there. This was just such a needed facility in our community, and of course we've got a little ways to go before it's going to be operational, but the Groundbreaking was certainly momentous and just wait to see what we plan for the ribbon-cutting and again can't say it enough This is all being done with no, you know No additional taxes to our residents and definitely we're very fortunate to be able to have this facility Coming to our community

Along with that, Vanessa just... Can I interrupt real quick? I'm sorry. And then it was on 9-11. You guys, the way you planned it on 9-11. So it was a great segue for 9-11 that day. And I failed to mention that. That was great.

Absolutely. You can't honor the past without, you know, building for the future. And that was kind of our theme for the day. And I think it was absolutely fitting. So it was just a wonderful day. The weather was perfect. Pastor Willis, you know... provided a prayer and blessed the grounds. And it was just great. And then I don't know if for those of you that were there that stuck around, we had the police and firemen, you know, even out on the equipment, taking some pictures for the construction equipment. So they're excited. We're thrilled. It's definitely needed in this community. And so, again, Mayor will have more to say when he returns. Unfortunately, he's a little under the weather today. So Vanessa shared quite a bit about the Pumpkin Festival. I had the privilege earlier this afternoon of watching the podcast that our DDA director, Jerry Frayer, Mayor, Councilwoman Tina Talley did, along with some staff members, talking about the weekend and all that's going to be offered and available. That'll be, I believe, released probably tomorrow, so you can check that out. But you've got your community newsletters. There's details in there. There's something for everyone. with the Parade of Lights on Friday night, events all day on Saturday, and then of course capped off by the UAB that puts together our community day, our unity day, and it's just a lot of exciting things. So it's gonna be a fun time. The one thing, everything's free. Unless you wanna do a little bit of shopping, there's so many activities for the kids that are free. But remember to thank the volunteers. They've done so much work. They'll start planning next year as soon as we wrap this one up. So please, when you see them out there, just give them a thank you. And there are still volunteer opportunities available. So if you haven't signed up yet, please consider that as well. At this point then, I'll go ahead and get into the mayor's action items for this evening. Item 7A is a request for an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with Wayne County, and that's for the park millage proposal. And with council's concurrence, we are requesting that you authorize the mayor and clerk to enter into the attached Amendment 1 intergovernmental agreement with Wayne County to reallocate funds previously approved for Elmer Johnson's Park to the Ramos Historic Park for safety enhancements.

Madam Chairman, I'm going to move that we approve the amendment for the IGA with Wayne County for the park millage proposal. And I have a comment.

Support. Thank you. It's been motioned by Mr. Walsworth, seconded by Ms. Roscoe to concur with the administration and authorize the mayor and clerk to enter to the attached amendment one intergovernmental agreement with Wayne County to reallocate funds previously approved for Elmwood Johnson's Park to the Romulus Historical Park for safety enhancements. Mr. Walsworth.

And if I could, first of all, I think This is good, and I'm going to vote for it. But I was going to bring this up under new business. Have we ever thought about looking into a permanent bathroom facility at the historical park?

Yes, absolutely. We've applied for grants in the past, and we will continue to do so.

I mean, I've had some people that, I guess, go there and eat a little lunch, and they think it's great, but their biggest complaint is the bathroom facility.

It is absolutely needed, and it is on this administration's radar.

I'm glad to hear that. Thank you.

We have a discussion. Hearing none, Mr. Wadsworth. Yes. Ms. Roscoe. Yes. Mr. Wilhite. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Ms. Abdo. Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, Council. Item 7B is the fiscal year 2526 encumbrance listing. With Council's concurrence, we are requesting authorization for the fiscal year 2526 encumbrances for capital outlay purchases in various city projects in the amount of $14,988,026.99.

Madam Chair.

Ms. Roscoe.

I'll make that motion to concur with the administration and authorize for fiscal year 25-26 encumbrance for capital outlay purchases in various city projects in the amount of $14,988,026.99 be rolled over into the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and paid accordingly. Support.

It's been motioned by Ms. Roscoe, seconded by Mr. Bullock for the concur with the administration and authorized the fiscal year 2025 slash 2026 encumbrances for the capital outlay purchases in various city projects in the amount of $14,988,026.99 to be rolled over into the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and paid accordingly. Any discussion? Hearing none, Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Mr. Bullard? Yes. Mr. Jones? Yes. Ms. Abdo? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Mr. Wosworth? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, Council. Item 7C is a request to piggyback on the My Deal contract with Cintas for supply and maintenance of employee uniforms. With council's concurrence, we are requesting that you authorize the administration to piggyback on the my deal contract MA2500000086 with Cintas for the supply and maintenance of employee uniforms at an annual cost of $25,145.12. Madam Chair. Mr. Jones.

I move to concur with the administration and consent to piggyback on the ideal contract MA2500000000086 will sent us for the supply and maintenance of employee uniforms and an annual cost of $25,145.12.

I'll second that. Thank you. There's been a motion by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Wilhite, to concur with the administration and consent to piggyback on the my deal contract number MA2500000086 with Centos for the supply and maintenance of employee uniform at an annual cost of $25,145.12. Any discussion? Hearing none, Mr. Jones. Yes. Mr. Wilhite. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Ms. Roscoe. Yes. Ms. Abdo. Yes. Mr. Wadsworth. Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, counsel. Item 7D is a request for disposal of surplus cardiac monitors for the fire department. And with counsel's approval, this would authorize the disposal of four older cardiac monitors that have been replaced through recent grant-funded equipment purchase and authorize the acceptance of the highest offer to sell all four units at a cost of $14,000 and to reallocate that $14,000 to be utilized for additional EMS medical equipment You'll see further in your agenda that would be pending first and second reading of budget amendment 2627-3 for that action.

Madam Chairman, I'm going to move that we approve the request for the disposal of the surplus cardiac monitors.

Support.

It's been motioned by Mr. Wadsworth, seconded by Ms. Roscoe, to concur with administration and authorize the disposal of four older cardiac monitors that have been replaced through recent grant-funded equipment purchase and to authorize the acceptance of the highest offer to sell all four units at a cost of $14,000 and to reallocate that $14,000 to be utilized for additional EMS medical equipment pending first and second reading of budget amendment number 26-27-3. Any discussion? I just want to say, Chief Hefner, thank you for reselling and giving us a little money to give for those old equipment that we can't use anymore. So thank you for that. That was a great job. So thank you. Mr. Wadsworth. Yes. Ms. Roscoe. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Mr. Wilhite. Yes. Ms. Sabdo. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, Council. Item 7E is a request to award bid ITB 2627-03, and that's for the Eureka Road Fire Station Interior Renovations Award. The Council's concurrence would be to award bid ITB 262703 to the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder, Braun Construction Group, LLC, for interior renovations of Fire Station No. 4 in the amount of $307,163, with a 10% contingency for any unforeseen issues that may arise during a renovation, for a total cost of $337,879.30. Madam Chair. Ms. Roscoe. I'll make that motion to occur with administration and award bid ITB26-A.

27-03 to the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder, Braun Construction Group, LLC, for interior renovations at fire station number four in the amount of $307,163 with a 10% contingency for any unforeseen issues that may arise during the renovations for a total cost of $337,000. $879.30. Support.

It's been motioned by Ms. Roscoe, seconded by Mr. Wadsworth to concur with the administration and award bid ITB 26 that 26-27-03 to the lowest, most responsive and responsible builder, Bronx Construction Group, LLC, for interior renovations at Fire Station No. 1 in the amount of $307,163 with a 10% contingency for any unforeseen issues that may arise during the renovation for a total cost of $337,879.30. Any discussion? Quick question. Chief, this is a grant, isn't it? Yes, ma'am. It is a grant. Okay. Thank you for that. Mr. Wadsworth. Yes. Ms. Roscoe. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Mr. Wilhite. Yes. Ms. Abdo. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, Council. Item 7F is a request to piggyback on the MPP Gov. Lion contract for the purchase of turnout gear components from Phoenix Safety Outfitters for the Robin Lewis Fire Department. With Council's authorization to piggyback on the MPP Gov. Lion contract number PS26210 for the purchase of turnout gear components for eight firefighters from Phoenix Safety Outfitters for a total cost of $22,752 and further authorized purchases on an as-needed basis throughout the remainder of the 26-27 fiscal year with expenditures not to exceed the budgeted amount of $74,000.

Madam Chair.

Ms. Roscoe.

I'll make that motion to concur with administration and consent to piggyback on the NPVGOV Lion contract number PS26210 for the purchase of the turnout components for eight firefighters from Phoenix Safety Outfitters for a total cost of $22,752 and further authorized purchases on and as needed basis throughout the remainder of the 26-27 physical year with expenditures not to exceed the budget amount of $74,000. Support.

It's been motioned by Ms. Roscoe, seconded by Mr. Wilhai, to concur with the administration and consent to piggyback on the MPP-GOV line contract number PS26210 for the purchase of turnout gear components for eight firefighters from Phoenix Safety Outfitters for the total cost of $22,752 and further authorized purchases on an as-needed basis throughout the remainder Of the 26-27 fiscal year with expenditures not to exceed the budgeted amount of $74,000. Any discussion? I do have a question, Chief. Can you come up for one second? And I just want to be clear because we got the purchasing ordinance coming in that we're up to. You want to... authorized purchases as needed throughout the remainder of the fiscal year, but they would have to come back to council if they're over $16,000. Is that, no? So that means that if you, okay, I need to be clear then.

So throughout the course of the year, we anticipate having to purchase various components of firefighter turnout gear, whether it be for new hires or some of the turnout gear that we have will age out. It typically becomes too old and we have to get rid of it and replace it with new equipment. We also have in the works several grant opportunities that we have applied for which could provide us other turnout gear opportunities to where we may not have to purchase as much. So really we are in an immediate need for the 22,000 because we're currently renting that gear and we would like to get out of the rental of those components of gear for current firefighters. But we are also in the process of onboarding additional firefighters. So in the coming months we do anticipate having to purchase some of the gear depending on the size of the gear that a firefighter may need. We did budget $74,000 this fiscal year for replacement of turnout gear that we knew was going to happen. But with all of those variables coming into play, we're kind of doing it in phases to make sure that we don't spend more than we need to while still being able to capitalize on potential grant opportunities that we are in the works with currently.

Okay. Ms. Roscoe.

On top of what the chair had to ask, so the 22,752 comes out of the 74,000, correct? That's correct. Okay. So totally, you're technically asking for the $74,000 to be able to spend on the turnout care and other items.

Potentially, if needed. And there's always that opportunity. We always continue to try to find other ways of funding that through grants. And if we can, of course, we would use the grant funding instead of that $74,000. Thank you.

And if I may, through the chair, those expenditures would also return back before council on the warrant. When those purchases would be OK and you know, understanding that the the. basis of what they use this equipment for. Sometimes it is an emergency. So that would allow us to go ahead and make those purchases. But it still would be required to be within their budgeted amount.

No, and I hear you, Julie. My only concern is that you guys live the budget. And I think I've said this in meetings before. We approve the budget once a year. I get that. And we don't get to live the budget like you guys day to day. So when this stuff comes before us, we do checks and balances. So it's good to see that stuff coming for us so we'll know, kind of keep our hands on it as well at this time. I'm not going to vote against it, but it is something for me. I'd like to see it come back so I can understand what we got going on because we don't see this every day like you guys live it, like we do. I mean, we don't live it like you guys do every day. So that's just my comment.

If I may, through the chair, it would be acceptable what we could do. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask the chief that should, after this original purchase that we're getting approved this evening, if there are additional, that we send you an FYI on it and let you know that that's occurred. Would that be acceptable?

Yeah.

And it's not something we ask for very often, but in this instance, I think it's absolutely appropriate.

No, you've done a great job in that role. We can do that. To me, I just want to keep it. That would be great. FYI would be awesome.

Perfect.

Okay.

Thank you. Any other discussion?

Okay. Hearing none, Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Mr. Jones? Yes. Mr. Wiseworth? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Ms. Abdo?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. Motion approved. Thank you.

Thank you, council. Item 7G is a request for introduction of budget amendment 2627-2. This is actually... Request to concur with the administration, introduce budget amendment 2627-2 to recognize $10,000 in revenue from the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence grant and to cover expenses associated with the November 2026 general election. And might I say, great job out of our city clerk's office receiving this grant.

Through the chair.

Through the chair.

Ms. Abdo?

I'll make that motion to concur with the administration and introduce budget amendment 26 slash 27 dash 2 to recognize $10,000 in revenue from the US alliance for election excellent grant and to cover expenses associated with the November 2026 general election.

Support. Okay. It's been motioned by Ms. Abdel, seconded by Mr. Wadsworth, to concur with the administration to introduce Budget Amendment 26-27-2 to recognize $10,000 in revenue from the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence Grant and to cover expenses associated with the November 2026 general election. Any discussion? Hearing none, Ms. Abdo? Yes. Mr. Wadsworth? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Mr. Jones? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, Council. Item 5H is also an introduction to a budget amendment 2627-3. And we discussed this earlier on this evening under the mayor's report, but with your concurrence to allow the administration to introduce budget amendment 2627-3 to recognize revenue from the sale of four cardiac monitors and to allow for upcoming expenses in the public safety fund fire department.

Yes, Chair. Ms. Roscoe. I'll make that motion to concur with administration and introduce budget amendment 26-27-3 to recognize revenue for the sale of the four cardiac monitors and to allow for upcoming expenses and the public safety fund. Fire.

Support. It's been motioned by Ms. Roscoe, seconded by Ms. Abdo, to concur with the administration and introduce budget amendment 26-27-3 to recognize revenue from the sale of four cardiac monitors and to allow for upcoming expenses in the public safety fund fire. Any discussion? Hearing none, Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Ms. Abdo? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Mr. Jones? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Mr. Wasworth? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, council. Item 7i is introduction of budget amendment 2627-4. And with that, we're requesting your concurrence to introduce budget amendment 2627-4 to recognize revenue from the bond sale for the construction of the public safety headquarters.

Madam Chair. Mr. Jones. I move to concur with the administration and introduce budget amendment 26-27-4 to recognize revenues from the bond sale of the construction of the public safety

Support. It's been motioned by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Wadsworth to concur with the administration and introduce budget amendment 26-27-4 to recognize revenue from the bond sale for the construction of the public safety headquarters. Any discussion? Hearing none, Mr. Jones? Yes. Mr. Wadsworth? Yes. Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Ms. Abdo? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, council, and that will conclude the mayor's report this evening. Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Chief of Staff. Number eight is the clerk's report. I got a few items under the clerk's report. Agenda item 8A is a resolution to approve a temporary polling location. Due to an event space and atrium expansion project at the Romulus Athletic Center, the Romulus Athletic Center will be inaccessible for the November 3rd, 2026 general election. The Romulus Athletic Center is the current polling location for precinct four. It is therefore necessary to establish temporary polling location for voters in precinct four the romney's election commission met on tuesday september 1st 2026 to approve and recommend a temporary polling location to the city council mco 168.662 subsection 6 states that the legislative body of the city or township or a board of county election commissioners as provided in section 720G shall not establish, move, or abolish a polling place, early voting site, or central polling place less than 60 days before an election unless necessary because a polling place, early voting site, or central polling place has been damaged, destroyed, or rendered inaccessible or unusable as a polling place, early voting site, or central polling place. It is requested that the City Council concur with the recommendation of the Romulus Election Commission and adopt the attached resolution establishing the former 34th District Court Building, also known as the Romulus Municipal Annex, located at 11131 Wayne Road as a temporary polling location for Precinct 4 for the November 3rd, 2026 general election, pursuant to MCL 168.662, subsection 6 of the Michigan election law.

Madam Chair, I'll make that motion for resolution to approve a temporary polling location for November 3rd, 2026 for the general election. This would be for Precinct 4 only, and that would be moved to 11131 Wayne Road. as a temporary polling location.

I support, and I have a question. Okay, it's been a motion by Ms. Roscoe, seconded by Mr. Wadsworth, to concur with the recommendation of the Romulus Election Commission and adopt an attached resolution establishing the former 34th District Court Building, otherwise known as the Romulus Municipal Annex, located at 11131 Wayne Road as a temporary polling station for Precinct 4 for the November 3rd, 2026, general election pursuant to MCL 168.662, subsection 6 of the Michigan election law. Mr. Wilesworth.

If I could, through the chair of the clerk, I presume these folks are going to be notified, but how are they going to be notified? Are they going to get some little card in the mail that they won't pay attention to? Are they going to get a big letter from the city telling them about it?

So our normal practice is to send a postcard to try to utilize what we have in the budget in the most fiscally responsible way. But we're required under Michigan election law to notify all registered voters of a particular precinct if we move a polling location for that precinct.

Are we going to do it just once or maybe twice during the next election? Two months?

Well, at this point, one time is what's required.

I know that's what's required, but I think it would be better if they got two notices maybe a month apart. That's my own personal opinion.

But, you know, we would definitely look into that and look at our budget to make sure, because we still have other expenditures that we have to make sure we have.

You just got $10,000 extra bucks here for the elections today.

And I'm not discounting that we won't utilize that.

I'm just expressing how I feel. I don't know how the rest of them feel. But, you know, we're going to hear, well, I didn't know it got switched around. And when they go there that day to vote, is there going to be a big sign to tell them that it's closed and go somewhere else?

We would definitely increase the size of our postcards so we could still maximize what we currently have while also utilizing what we applied the grant for because there were specific provisions that we stated we would use the grant for. One was a messaging campaign. because we understand there's a lot that's going on with absentee voting. So we can pair that information with the messaging campaign that we want to send out to all registered voters regarding absentee ballots.

Okay, but on the day of the election, if somebody shows up to direct the vote, is there going to be a sign?

We're required to have a notice, a sign, that directs them to the temporary coding location. So that will be there, yes. Thank you.

Through the chair. Ms. Abdo? Perhaps this is something that we can announce at council meetings. Okay. Just to get more things out there, as Bill was saying, he's worried they may not, one postcard may not do it. It'll be on our website too, won't it?

Yep, it'll be on our website.

And we can announce it, and you can think of anything else we could do?

We would definitely maximize all the messaging avenues that the city has to make sure that we communicate to the voters.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, we just had the same thing happen for the primary. We had two polling locations we had to change their location, correct? Correct. Yeah, and I think we got the notifications out there and got everything out there from my understanding. And that was two polling locations.

Just as a heads up. And our office didn't receive any complaints, but that doesn't mean that there weren't any complaints. But by all means, if council members should receive complaints or concerns from residents, definitely direct them to the clerk's office. Okay.

Thanks, Deshaun. Mr. Weir, Mrs. Roscoe. Yes. Mr. Weisberg. Yes. Ms. Abdo. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Mr. Wilhite. Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, City Council. Agenda item 3B. It's a request to approve the first reading and introduction of amendments to chapter 39, sections 39-1 through 39-15 of the City of Romulus Code of Ordinance. And this is the purchasing ordinance.

Madam Chair, I'll make that motion to approve the first reading and introductions of amendments to Chapter 39, Section 39-1 through 39-15 of the City of Romulus' Code of Ordinances for the Purchasing.

I support. Okay, thank you. It's been motioned by Ms. Roscoe, seconded by Mr. Jones to approve the first reading and introduction of amendments to Chapter 39, Section 39-1 through 39-15 of the City of Robins Code of Ordinances regarding purchasing. Any discussion? Hearing none, Ms. Roscoe, I'm sorry. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Mr. Wadsworth? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Ms. Abdo? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, City Council. Agenda Item 3C is a request to approve the first reading and introductions of Amendment to Chapter 38, Parks and Recreation, Article 1, Section 38-2, Hours of the City of Romulus Code of Ordinance.

I'm the chair. Mr. Jones. I move to approve the first reading and introduction of amendment to Chapter 38, Parks and Recreation, Article 1, Section 38-2, Hours of the City of Romney's Code of Ordinance.

Support. Thank you. It's been motioned by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Wadsworth, to approve the first reading, the introduction of amendments to Chapter 38, Parks and Recreation, Article 1, Section 38-2, Hours of the City of Romas Code of Ordinances. Any discussion?

I just have one comment, Madam Chair. I'd just like to state that it will be changing from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to dawn to dusk.

Thank you. Mr. Jones? Yes. Mr. Weisberg? Yes. Ms. Abdo? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you, City Council. And just a few announcements. Thank you to Vanessa during the video announcements. Mentioning the fall citywide yard sale, our office is still accepting applications and registration for the citywide yard sale, which again is Thursday, September 24th through Sunday, September 27th. Also in conjunction with that, we have our fall community shred day. And that will be on Saturday, September 26th at the City Hall Complex from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. It's a drag-through event. You don't have to get out your car. The workers will take the boxes that you are wanting to shred and shred them and put them back in your car. And it's also an electronic recycling event. So you can go to the city's website so you can look at all the accepted and non-accepted items that can be recycled. finally our office will be mailing out absentee ballots on next Thursday September 24th so residents you can expect that in your mailbox and the following days we're asking to give because we understand what's going on with Mail, just in general, mail has been running slow. Give it at least five to seven days. If you have not received your ballot in about seven days, then you can contact our office or come to the clerk's office and we can issue out a new ballot.

Thank you.

And that will conclude the clerk's report. Number nine is the treasurer's report.

GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. I HAVE A FEW ITEMS UNDER MY REPORT TONIGHT. AS A REMINDER, WE ARE COMING CLOSE TO TAX DEADLINE. 2026 SUMMER TAX BILLS ARE DUE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH. If you have any questions, please give the treasurer's office a call. As a reminder, we have the 10th annual veterans resource fair coming up. That is on November 19th from 10 to three, please contact the treasurer's office because you need to register and I can answer any questions on that. And then finally, I do have, um, item eight under my report. I respectfully request that the proposed cash payment and penny rounding policy be placed on a future city council agenda for discussion and consideration of approval. As the availability of pennies decreases, the city needs a consistent procedure for handling cash payments when exact penny change cannot be provided and we are running out of pennies and we cannot get them from the bank anymore. The proposed policy establishes a uniform process while continuing to calculate all taxes, fees, penalties, and other charges to the exact cent. Under the proposed policy, when exact change cannot be provided, cash payments would be rounded down to the nearest nickel. Non-cash payments would continue to be processed for the exact amount due. The policy will provide clear directions to employees, promote consistent treatment of taxpayers, and establish appropriate cash handling and accounting procedures. I respectfully request council's consideration and approval of the proposed policy. I've attached policy as well. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

I'M SORRY. ARE YOU WANTING TO APPROVE THIS?

WELL, I'M GOOD. BECAUSE IT SAYS YOU WANTED TO REQUEST FOR THE PROPOSED TO BE PLACED ON THE FUTURE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, BUT IS THAT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO APPROVE THIS?

IT'S FOR TONIGHT. I SENT IT TO DESHAWN, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS IN REGARDS TO. BUT YES, IT'S FOR APPROVAL FOR TONIGHT. I GOT YOU. BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING LOW ON PENNIES. WE CANNOT GET THEM FROM THE BANK ANYMORE. And so we need to come up with a policy so when our customers come. And just as a reminder, this is only for cash. If somebody's obviously paying for check or, you know, ACH or any other form or method, it's going to be to the exact penny. This is just for cash.

Okay.

Madam Chair. Okay. Ms. Roscoe. Just one last question. Stacey, the policy that you have attached here, is what it will be? Exactly. Okay. Nobody has any other questions, Madam Chair?

Well, make a motion. Okay.

I'll make that motion to adopt a resolution approving for immediate effect the City of Ramos cash payment and penny rounding policy.

Support. It's been motioned by Ms. Roscoe and seconded by Mr. Weisberg to adopt a resolution approving for immediate effect the City of Ramos cash payment and penny rounding policy. Doug, I guess we should do a discussion right here. Any more discussion? Hearing none, Ms. Roscoe. Yes. Mr. Wilesworth. Yes. Mr. Wilhite. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Ms. Abdo. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Thank you. I appreciate your support. I'm sure our customers will as well. And that is it for items under my agenda. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Treasurer. Number 10 is public comment. This second public comment period is for those in the audience who would like to address the City Council. The rules to address the City Council can be found on the back of the meeting agenda. If you would like to address the City Council, please raise your hand, and after being acknowledged by the chairperson, approach the podium and state your name. Members of the public who submitted a public comment card will be called upon first. You will have three minutes to speak. Any additional time will be upon the consent of the chair. Madam Chair and Council, I did receive one public comment card, and this is from Tammy Yeager.

Hello, how are you? Good evening. I live between Middleville and Inkster Road on Beverly. I'm pleading with you if you could possibly do something for the road. The roads are terrible. It's like a minefield. I have plugged four tires, had to buy three tires, put a new muffler on my car, and it just is not getting any better. when it rains is terrible right now down by the trucking companies it's it's everywhere down through there but down through the trucking companies where the garbage truck and the other trucks are there's a hole down there now that's got to be at least five foot wide your tire goes inside of it And it rips the side wall. And it's just terrible. Not only that, but we need somebody like they have on 4th Street over there where they have the sign that says when you're coming up, the speed thing is there. And then it tells you how much it is. The trucks are flying down through there. The noise is so loud that your house shakes. And they're flying. I've got cracks in my walls since they started doing that. It's just gotten terrible. So I know they fixed Eureka Road and they put the blacktop on it. Is there any way possible that they could put just blacktop down on it to... Because when the water rain and the snow and everything, it gets in between them cracks and it just breaks and the cement is laying all over the road. It's terrible. So I wish somebody or maybe you could take a trip down there and just look because I'm telling you, it's... You won't come back down there again. The Uber drivers won't even come down. They're complaining. The people that drive the bus and stuff, they don't want to come down there. And when you're driving also, because you have three lanes, you've got a turn lane. Well, everybody keeps riding in the turn lane. As you're driving in that lane, they will not get over. IF YOU KNOW A HOLE IS COMING UP, YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY STOP BECAUSE THEY'LL JUST BOOT YOU RIGHT OFF TO THE SIDE. SO I'M JUST HOPING THAT SOMEBODY CAN COME DOWN THERE AND DO SOMETHING. I MEAN, THEY PATCH THE ROAD, BUT THE PATCH DOESN'T STAY VERY LONG BECAUSE USUALLY A DAY OR SO AFTER THAT, IT STARTS RAINING AND IT JUST DISAPPEARS. SO IT'S POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, MS. DAGER. YEAH.

YEAH. MAYBE JULIE CAN GIVE US SOME INSIGHT ON THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS, OKAY?

MAYBE THEY CAN PUT IT IN THE BUDGET, I'M HOPING, BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE OF BEVERLY HAS BEEN DONE A COUPLE OF TIMES ALL AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THROUGH THERE HAS BEEN DONE AND WE LOOK LIKE SITTING DUCKS ON A MINE FIELD.

NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? Let's close that out.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Number 11 is unfinished business.

Through the Chair, Roberto Scappaticci, if you could come up for just a minute. We are fully aware of Beverly Road and have been looking at that, so I'll ask him to give just kind of an update on where we're at. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council. We know the condition of Beverly. midst of trying to put together a plan to come up with some funding. Right now, I think the reconstruction of Beverly would be about $8 million. We receive about $3 million in our Act 51 money for our roads department. That includes all the salt, coal patching, um insurances fuel vehicles so on and so forth and what little bit of construction we can do so there's going to be some tough decisions ahead we're meeting actually tomorrow with the mayor and the city attorney to discuss options one of them is a special assessment district So the users of the road would help pay for the reconstruction of the road. I don't want to give out too much detail because we're still in the midst of figuring out how this would work. But we are well aware of the condition of Beverly. The resident mentioned Beverly between Merriman and Middlebelt and the construction that happened there. When I started about 10 years ago, submitting to the Federal Aid Committee on that portion of Beverly, they capped me year after year, I think it was $1.5 million, and we did it in three phases, and that was all federal aid, state shared revenue, how that road was reconstructed. Unfortunately, we have a lot of distress in our road system. It's something that we all know about. And there's some solutions to that. But unfortunately, we're in a position that we've got to figure out the best financial solution

Okay. Yeah, because this one seemed like it's been ongoing for a while. And it sounds like it probably needs to be a priority, would you think, Roberto? Because it sounds real. I know it's bad.

Right. We have, it is a priority. We have a lot of priorities. We have so many, we don't have enough money to fund them all. Gotcha. But I think we're, for a solution. I can't say enough about what we have, what we're thinking about, but it's definitely in our mind. We know the road is falling apart. We put the cold patch in. The cold patch comes back out. There's no solution to patching it. The pavement is suffering from ASR, which is alkalized silica reaction. That's why when you throw the patch in, deteriorate under the patch and the patch comes back out. So every winter it's just a cyclical event.

So I know you guys are flushing out this process. When do you think you guys might come to something like a solution? Maybe you can come back and report out to us so we can kind of keep the resident abreast.

Right. Well, you know, I would say, you know, this last payment options, so on and so forth.

Okay. Thanks, Roberto.

Are there any more unfinished business? Number 12 is new business. Number 13 is warrant for approval is warrant number 26-17.

Through the chair, I'd like to make a motion we pay warrant 26-17 in the following amount. General Fund, $153,476.52. Major Street Fund, $90,904.82. Local Street Fund, $1,436,147.77. Public Safety Fund, $112,544.90. Cable TV, $1.36. Merriman Road Special Assessment, $6,417.48. Street Lighting Fund, $43,158.57. Garbage and Rubbish Collection Fund, $123,357. Oakwood SAG, $703.45. Tax Increment Finance Authority, $131,289.94. Downtown Development Authority, $104,458.05. Michigan Indigent Defense Fund, $21,252.80. 911 Service Fund, $9,540.11. Library Fund, $11,000. $806.01 2014 Capital Improvement Bonds $19,642.50 TIFA Public Safety Headquarters $190,045 Water and Sewer Fund $1,099,887.91 Motor Vehicle, $126,588.68 Technology Services, $20,617.49 Retiree Insurance Benefits, $166,573.49 Revolving Fund $8,870 Current Tax $178,027.68 Impressed Payroll Fund $260,025.20 Delinquent Personal Property Fund $15,493.21 Totaling all funds, $4,330,829.94. Support. It's been motioned by Ms. Abdo, seconded by Mr. Wadsworth to approve warrant number 26-17 for checks presenting an amount of $4,330,829.94.

Any discussion? Hearing none, Ms. Abdo? Yes. Mr. Wadsworth? Yes. Mr. Wilhite? Yes. Mr. Bullock? Yes. Mr. Jones? Yes. Ms. Roscoe? Yes. Chair votes yes. Motion approved.

Number 14 is communication. Madam Chairman.

Mr. Wasworth? If I could, to the chair, I just want to remind the public that St. Aloysius Catholic Church is going to have a white elephant garage sale on September the 25th, 26th, and the 27th, and it'll be in their barn behind the church. And it starts every morning at 10 a.m. Thank you. Thank you.

Ms. Roscoe?

Through the chair, I just want to remind everyone that Forgotten Harvest is back at the high school. It will be there tomorrow, Tuesday, from 8 to 12 in the morning. And so now it's, from what I understand, it's back every week.

Thank you. Are there any more communications from council? Number 15th is German. Time is 8.36. So moved.

Support. It's been a motion by Mr. Wadsworth, seconded by Mr. Jones to adjourn this meeting. Mr. Wadsworth. Yes. Mr. Jones. Yes. Ms. Roscoe. Yes. Ms. Abdo. Yes. Mr. Bullock. Yes. Mr. Wilhite. Yes. Chair votes yes.