Lincoln Park council approves police & fire millage ballot language, contract extensions and police fingerprint system
January 27, 2026 | Lincoln Park, Wayne County, Michigan
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Lincoln Park — At its Jan. 14 meeting the City Council approved several routine but consequential items: ballot language for a police and fire millage renewal, multiple contract extensions for public-works programs, authorization to sell shares from the deferred-compensation account, and a police request to purchase an upgraded fingerprint system.
Ballot question: Council approved ballot language for a charter amendment to continue a police and fire millage of 3.4591 mills for three years (2026–2029). The city estimates the renewal would generate approximately $2,747,921 in 2027 if approved by voters. The clerk read the proposed ballot language and council adopted it by the required three-fifths vote.
Contracts and procurement: Staff recommended and council approved extensions of current unit rates for several vendors rather than rebidding: CHOP (tree services) for the 2026–27 season, Great Lakes Contracting for the 2026 utility pavement repair program (at 2022 unit rates), Hutch Paving for the 2026 resurfacing program (2019 unit rates), GV Cement for 2026 concrete reconstruction (2019 rates), and J’s contracting for concrete sectioning. Staff said extensions would save rebidding costs and preserve continuity; a council member noted the city had opportunities for local bidders but that the listed contractors were the low bidders in the earlier competitions.
Police equipment purchase: Police Chief Lavis requested authority to waive the formal bidding process and purchase a LifeScan fingerprint system for $10,055 from ID Networks (a Michigan MiDeal participant). The purchase was authorized and funds were to come from a forfeiture account. Chief and staff also listed recent grant awards and pending federal grant applications that supported equipment purchases and training.
City finance and operations: City Manager Lisa Griggs reported follow-up work on road bonds (roughly $6.4 million remaining from an earlier bond program), work on SRF (drinking- and clean-water) funding, a pending leak-detection study, and the need to develop a deficit-elimination plan and possibly a water/sewer rate study. Council directed staff to return with the formal bond-sale resolution and SRF documents as they are finalized.
Why it matters: The millage question will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot if council proceeds with scheduling; contract extensions affect the cost and timing of road and utility repairs; the LiveScan purchase updates police capability and was paid for from forfeiture funds.
Ending: After finishing these items the council moved on to department reports and citizen communications and adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Ballot question: Council approved ballot language for a charter amendment to continue a police and fire millage of 3.4591 mills for three years (2026–2029). The city estimates the renewal would generate approximately $2,747,921 in 2027 if approved by voters. The clerk read the proposed ballot language and council adopted it by the required three-fifths vote.
Contracts and procurement: Staff recommended and council approved extensions of current unit rates for several vendors rather than rebidding: CHOP (tree services) for the 2026–27 season, Great Lakes Contracting for the 2026 utility pavement repair program (at 2022 unit rates), Hutch Paving for the 2026 resurfacing program (2019 unit rates), GV Cement for 2026 concrete reconstruction (2019 rates), and J’s contracting for concrete sectioning. Staff said extensions would save rebidding costs and preserve continuity; a council member noted the city had opportunities for local bidders but that the listed contractors were the low bidders in the earlier competitions.
Police equipment purchase: Police Chief Lavis requested authority to waive the formal bidding process and purchase a LifeScan fingerprint system for $10,055 from ID Networks (a Michigan MiDeal participant). The purchase was authorized and funds were to come from a forfeiture account. Chief and staff also listed recent grant awards and pending federal grant applications that supported equipment purchases and training.
City finance and operations: City Manager Lisa Griggs reported follow-up work on road bonds (roughly $6.4 million remaining from an earlier bond program), work on SRF (drinking- and clean-water) funding, a pending leak-detection study, and the need to develop a deficit-elimination plan and possibly a water/sewer rate study. Council directed staff to return with the formal bond-sale resolution and SRF documents as they are finalized.
Why it matters: The millage question will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot if council proceeds with scheduling; contract extensions affect the cost and timing of road and utility repairs; the LiveScan purchase updates police capability and was paid for from forfeiture funds.
Ending: After finishing these items the council moved on to department reports and citizen communications and adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
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