Hamtramck residents press council on festival noise near mosques, mural dispute, cleanup and expedited permits

Several Hamtramck residents and local organizations used public comment at the Oct. 14 Hamtramck City Council meeting to raise community events, religious accommodation and local development issues.

Daniel Brickley submitted an emailed announcement on behalf of the Hamtramck Beautification Commission about a community cleanup set for Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., meeting in front of City Hall; the email said supplies will be provided and volunteers may receive rewards.

Representatives of Al Islah Islamic Center asked the council to place music stages for city festivities at a greater distance from the mosque in future years to reduce sound interference with prayer. The organization said it has two mosques within one block serving about 5,000 worshippers and requested that future festivity stages be placed “at least 1 or 2 blocks north” of the prayer site to avoid disruption during services. The submission was attributed to Musarath Khan and Mark Khorai on behalf of Al Islah Islamic Center.

Multiple residents spoke about a local dispute involving a proposed mural and an adjacent retail development. Bill Meyer criticized attempts to alter a previously negotiated master agreement and urged transparency in council actions. He said parties had spent years negotiating a master agreement and that recent attempts to change terms would be unfair to other stakeholders. "Let's remember transparency," Meyer said during his remarks.

A business owner asked the council to expedite a building permit for a property listed as 3011 Holbrook so work could begin quickly; the clerk indicated the matter would be referred to the acting city manager or the city manager’s designee to follow up with the building department.

Speakers also noted administrative matters: the clerk reminded the public that the council’s Nov. 11 meeting falls on Veterans Day and will be canceled, and speakers reminded residents the general election is Nov. 4.

The council did not take formal action on these public comments during the Oct. 14 session. Many comments were statements of concern or requests that staff follow up; the transcript records staff acknowledgment and that some items will be referred to the appropriate department for action or scheduling.

Ending: Public comment concluded and the council moved on to the consent agenda and other business.