Mount Clemens commission delays master-plan vote after public raises concerns about past spending and water sales

The Mount Clemens City Commission voted to remove agenda item 9A from tonight's session and hold it for the next meeting so absent commissioners could participate. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Commissioners Ford, Hill, Crop and Bunton voting yes and Commissioner Mener voting no.

During the public-comment period, resident Gloria Hower (260 Cass) criticized earlier master plan work and questioned the value of repeated updates. She said the city previously paid $65,000 for a 2008 master plan and later another $50,000 that she said "went nowhere," and urged commissioners to ensure Planning Commission follow-through before spending taxpayer money. Hower also told the commission the city could not sell water to neighboring communities because those utilities have long contracts with the City of Detroit, and she urged limits on charitable solicitors in busy intersections for safety reasons.

Other residents raised separate matters: Joe E. Harrington (152 Court Street) reported persistent odors from the sewer/water treatment plant on CA Street and said a new consultant had not resolved the problem. Michelle Weiss (Clinton Township) updated the commission on a fundraising match for the Mount Clemens Public Library elevator: organizers are within $5,000 of a $60,000 goal and a donor will match contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 through 5:00 p.m. Friday.

Administratively, the commission approved minutes of the previous meeting, approved purchases and payments of invoices, and adopted the consent agenda; roll-call approvals were recorded for each action. Interim city manager remarks noted a special meeting scheduled for Aug. 22, 2016 to discuss city manager search criteria with the Michigan Municipal League and announced the retirement of blight enforcement officer John Damy on Aug. 19 after more than 14 years of service.

The commission closed the meeting after additional commissioner remarks offering condolences for Neil Dempsey and encouraging community support for local events and the library elevator fundraiser.