Mount Clemens approves $124,800 water-plant study; residents urge new tax, tax-help and neighborhood representation

The Mount Clemens City Commission voted Monday to award an engineering-services contract, not to exceed $124,800, to Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber to study upgrades needed at the city’s water filtration plant and produce cost estimates to maintain regulatory compliance.

The motion to award the contract, amended to require city-attorney review of the final contract language, was introduced by staff after a review of three proposals and interviews. Commissioner Mener thanked staff for the thorough RFP process and said the study is intended to identify capital improvements needed to modernize the plant and safeguard drinking-water quality.

During the public-comment portion of the meeting, several residents raised separate but related concerns. Ruthie Stevenson congratulated newly seated commissioners and urged civic participation, saying, "we have power in three places: prayer, our voice and our vote." Gloria Herer pressed the commission to prioritize city cash flow over other projects, urged commissioners to consider a city income tax paired with a rollback of the 'roof tax,' and proposed building a public bath house to leverage local mineral resources rather than focusing immediately on downtown development, saying, "put in a bath house" to attract visitors and long-term revenue.

A resident identifying as Sean Yo presented findings he said showed 18.7% of homeowners were delinquent on property taxes and proposed a proactive, hands-on outreach effort. He offered to organize a library-based session with volunteers and interpreters to help delinquent taxpayers navigate deferrals and payment programs, saying, "we don't need a reminder; we already know." Thomas Barnes asked commissioners to prioritize selecting a replacement for the late Commissioner Sunny Ford who would represent the city’s northeast neighborhood and its needs.

Before those public comments, the commission held a second public hearing on a proposed special assessment for downtown maintenance and confirmed the assessment roll as prepared by the city assessor. Comment during that hearing included concerns about recent sidewalk snow removal and accessibility for people using walkers.

The commission also discussed and approved a timeline to fill the commission vacancy created by the passing of Commissioner Ford. Staff presented a schedule: accept letters of application beginning the day after the meeting through Dec. 2; have applicants introduce themselves during public participation on Dec. 2; hold candidate interviews during the week of Dec. 9; and appoint a replacement at the Dec. 16 meeting, all designed to comply with the City Charter's 60-day requirement.

Other business approved included routine purchases and payment of invoices and the formal approval of minutes from previous meetings. City staff announced holiday schedules, the 44th annual Macomb County Santa parade and other community events.

The contract award includes a not-to-exceed fee of $124,800; the study will identify needed upgrades and provide cost estimates to help the city plan capital improvements and maintain compliance with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The commission approved the contract and related procedural motions by roll call votes as recorded in the meeting minutes. The vacancy-timeline motion also passed, and the body adjourned at the close of the agenda.