[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6362480,"mediaKeyId","2167792-8ae923dbfb76a9176ab852723bbd306f","parentId",2167792,"title","Residents press council over new 96-gallon garbage carts; officials say transition saved money","audioSeconds",1219,"startMs",139000,"endMs",1358000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167792-8ae923dbfb76a9176ab852723bbd306f&start=139&end=1358","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167792-8ae923dbfb76a9176ab852723bbd306f/thumbnail_139000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362480/Livonia/Wayne-County/Michigan/Residents-press-council-over-new-96-gallon-garbage-carts-officials-say-transition-saved-money","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362480-0e040ef72adaf7d18aac4356658b8f57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193063&Signature=OVvV8auDiHg0aPdGPi834hss3-sI-uXsFZS1VGg5k2Ld0uTydvGZv2cZCQBbAVVs0m~PBXr2Z5WU6l0Y9Qq-zEtkiYpuGbjo-tMS7VZSDUpveOtedPSRj2F3JMOCJheCnXpWNBlWQ9132UiiNydWOrUEs9yefkdtja2FQ4q~Z8ZIPv5neboPJcKwPibFHoQJ0yKZ5EqW8P3BKq3twGg2fjfjRIW9v3fB3t6prtijMOoGTSDQr-BP0UoY~mp5uioXs6IChKFkrbqxwP1jyaVTSuSitprHzaAUkmBxcTtv6IzAcoRK3tOd2kXa4q27q2yOyw~utDf1~ZUDUPVxFUdf4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","LivoniaTV","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","Residents at the council meeting raised complaints about the city’s recent switch to new 96-gallon automated garbage carts, saying the size is excessive, the trucks lacked proper lifting equipment and the rollout reduced choice for households.

Resident Steve King told council he heard many residents preferred 64‑gallon carts as the default and that the city spent about $4 million on carts he said were manufactured in Mexico rather than locally. “I believe 64 should have been the default size,” King said during audience communications, adding that many households had put the large carts out of sight because they consider them “ugly.” He also said haulers (identified in public comments as Priority Waste) did not have equipment to handle the larger carts, which he said resulted in litter during pickup.

Council response: Multiple council members acknowledged the concerns and described the procurement and transition as a multi-meeting process. Councilman Scott Morgan said the city saved tax dollars by shifting to carts and that the change reflects regional trends among haulers: fewer companies remain willing to provide traditional pickup. He noted some trucks have been updated and others are still transitioning to equipment that handles the larger carts. “We did save a considerable amount of money by shifting to the carts,” Morgan said, and urged patience while the vendor and truck fleet adjust.

Context and next steps: Council members said the cart decision followed several public meetings and consideration of vendor capabilities and costs. Residents asked the city to revisit cart size options and to address equipment compatibility and pickup reliability; council members responded that staff would follow up on operational complaints and that some truck fleet updates remain ongoing.

Ending: No formal council action on the carts was recorded at the meeting; matters raised during audience communications were recorded for follow-up by city staff and the relevant departments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Livonia City Council Regular Meeting - January 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and councilmembers discussed the citywide switch to 96-gallon automated carts during audience communications. Speakers criticized cart size, supplier equipment, and appearance; council members said the change followed multiple public meetings and saved tax dollars.","taxTitle","Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",4046,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6362485,"Livonia council approves consent items and librarian pay change; first reading on easement",7928,1312000,9240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167792-8ae923dbfb76a9176ab852723bbd306f&start=1312&end=9240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167792-8ae923dbfb76a9176ab852723bbd306f/thumbnail_1312000.jpg","/articles/6362485/Livonia/Wayne-County/Michigan/Livonia-council-approves-consent-items-and-librarian-pay-change-first-reading-on-easement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362485-d4f45daf4a466cc624030d424a2d1804/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193063&Signature=KbqdgiECEbMQs~hjjSDueKdaSdhUwKHUfhvhT6dn5pf9z8cyugvDn3F081fyWVyFdLVkTIy6yUlTchHyg8h6nxKJ9AgdW-ggRxPnlgs5GqX6jmFhlrlFgQxFp8tbivSpGsX6lMouio8m2yHZW5-7cbm58sQwxnkFYNGPk-TefTbPa1zyuZanZ~KrwtvJPfiMEsxx6kl9pqhirSHpujx0KFQxzU7-qG38aIlN3gzvffMYtF7Oncw07wA8MyLSEefCoFKPVjFJUq6xI6eA~Uca3IVfEDCH5h68f8godLOdM-eL7lBfc-hyPjIqQyQZnNrJBucy3Q0fvganLaXlcM1uHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Livonia City Council approved routine minutes and a consent agenda, unanimously adopted an hourly pay increase for certain library classifications and took a first reading on a storm-drainage easement vacation.

Votes at a glance
- Minutes from the Jan. 15, 2025 regular meeting: Approved, 7–0. (Motion to approve the minutes carried with a roll call vote.)
- Consent agenda (items 1–16): Approved as one block, 7–0. (These items were discussed at the prior study meeting and were deemed noncontroversial.)
- Item 18 — Hourly rate increase for student substitute librarian and substitute librarian classifications (Civil Service): Approved, 7–0. The council adopted revised qualifications and matched the pay rate for the student substitute librarian to the substitute librarian classification to promote equity and recruitment. Civil Service Director Janine Leibel explained the change was intended to attract and retain staff by aligning educational qualifications and pay.
- Item 19 — Petition to vacate portions of a storm drainage easement at 18586 Comstock (petition 2024-10-03-02): Received a first reading. No final vote recorded; council member offered the first read on the ordinance amendment as presented.

Context: The consent agenda items were described as previously discussed at the study meeting on Jan. 15, 2025, and the council indicated they were noncontroversial. The library pay change stemmed from an internal civil service review of librarian qualification and compensation standards; council adopted the adjustment unanimously. The easement matter received a first reading and will return for further action in a future meeting if scheduled.

Meeting procedure note: Roll call votes were read aloud by the clerk for each formal action; the minutes and consent agenda were passed without debate. The Sheetz rezoning (item 17) was taken up separately and received extended public comment and debate (see separate coverage).","At the regular Livonia City Council meeting the council approved minutes and a consent package, unanimously approved an hourly pay adjustment for substitute librarian classifications and held a first reading on an easement vacation request.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6362489,"Livonia council denies rezoning request for proposed Sheetz at 8 Mile and Newburgh",7463,1623000,9086000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167792-8ae923dbfb76a9176ab852723bbd306f&start=1623&end=9086","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167792-8ae923dbfb76a9176ab852723bbd306f/thumbnail_1623000.jpg","/articles/6362489/Livonia/Wayne-County/Michigan/Livonia-council-denies-rezoning-request-for-proposed-Sheetz-at-8-Mile-and-Newburgh","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362489-21eea3c68c54760531fb2a84748f71e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193063&Signature=SQG~jGuEdrzKAuKM4qBN-i2stEBrYaZ50bg6aXKqy5HS0jadrqTcEOc14kzC3JwImJ5msMXSvKuIqiSEqlUf1HPazW1ezqhgSbR1KKCiF4axbdfhY3Dk-PDg81Fm~VLtRtAEk8mQYH~9qqdBr7lT~-ASMUDNUi8me89icnF438oHn549r9711OvNKy78P38XJpxK7lbMepIDgy3WxmRbcoppPXc0IV7Bpf0SN6su9H9VAqj0w-0Ss9WFOh~sDzjb4yhh36weW-IRoVL0DqsH~cthzp8Rq6E7YmoxA6oc3Zg1NHTD9msTGq~~B3d6EUs52pE5PkMsTdAU6FE~nYqRuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Livonia City Council members on Monday denied a request to rezone a commercial parcel at the southeast corner of 8 Mile (M-102) and Newburgh Road to allow a 24-hour Sheetz convenience store and gas fueling operation.

The council voted 5-2 to deny the rezoning after extensive public comment and a lengthy exchange among council members about traffic, neighborhood character, environmental risk and municipal planning goals. Councilwoman Laura Toy made the motion to deny; the motion passed with Toy, Councilmember Donovic, President McCullough, Councilmember Budzinski and Vice President Tashnik voting in favor. Councilmembers Shield and Morgan voted no.

The petition before council sought to rezone the parcel from C-1 (local business) to C-2 (general business) to permit a ~6,139-square-foot convenience/restaurant building with a 12-station, 6-pump fueling canopy on a roughly 1.83-acre developed site. Sheetz representative Alex Sawicki told the council the project would involve roughly $10 million in construction, create 30–35 full-time positions and would include an on-site kitchen, a drive-through ordering point and a “made-to-order” food program.

Why it matters: The site sits across from Greenmead Historical Park and adjacent to golf courses and residential subdivisions. Opponents argued a highway-commercial rezoning and a 24-hour convenience store with fueling would be inconsistent with the city’s Vision 21 planning guidance and Greenmead plan and would harm neighborhood character, create safety and traffic concerns, and present environmental risks because of the site’s soil issues. Supporters cited job creation, tax revenue, redevelopment of a vacant corner and Sheetz’s corporate compliance programs.

Council discussion and procedural steps: Council considered a substitute motion to send the item to committee of the whole for further study. That substitute motion failed on a 4–3 vote (Councilmembers Scheel/Shield, Morgan and Donovic voted to send to committee; Toy, McCullough, Budzinski and Tashnik opposed). After additional public testimony and council comments, Toy offered the denying resolution that ultimately passed 5–2.

What proponents and opponents said: In a presentation to council, Alex Sawicki, representing Sheetz, described the company’s operations, safety practices and community contributions. “We are requesting a rezone from C1 local business to C2 general business for a 6,139 square foot restaurant convenience store and gas station,” Sawicki said while outlining site plans and economic projections. He told council the company performs third-party environmental inspections and operates a central security operations center that monitors stores 24/7.

Opponents — many of whom live within a few blocks of the site — urged council to preserve the area’s residential and recreational character. One resident summarized neighborhood concerns about traffic and safety and asked council to “listen to the people that put you in this position.” Several speakers cited the city’s Vision 21 and the Greenmead plan and urged adherence to those planning documents. Other residents said they welcomed redevelopment but not a 24-hour fueling and convenience operation at this corner.

Council members split along differing emphases. Councilman Scott Morgan repeatedly said he wanted more time to review technical materials and supported referring the petition to committee for additional study. Councilwoman Laura Toy said she shared residents’ concerns about harmony with surrounding uses and moved to deny the rezoning. Vice President Tashnik and Councilmember Budzinski cited environmental and planning concerns in explaining their no-on-rezone votes.

What council did not decide: Council’s action was limited to rezoning; it did not approve any site plan, building permit, or operational detail. Several council members and planning staff noted that site-specific matters such as lighting, stormwater controls and delivery turns are finalized later in plan review if zoning is changed. The denial prevents the petitioner from advancing with the proposed C-2 site design under Livonia zoning.

What’s next: With the denial, the property remains zoned C-1. Petitioners and property owners could revise a future application that fits the current zoning or potentially reapply for rezoning at a later date. Several residents and speakers indicated they would continue to monitor future proposals for the corner.

Ending note: The Sheetz proposal drew one of the largest turnout and most sustained public comment sessions the council has seen in recent months; council members acknowledged the intensity of public engagement when explaining their votes.","After more than two hours of public comment and council debate, the Livonia City Council voted 5-2 to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed a 24-hour Sheetz convenience store and fueling site at the southeast corner of 8 Mile (M-102) and Newburgh Road.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press council over new 96-gallon garbage carts; officials say transition saved money

Livonia council approves consent items and librarian pay change; first reading on easement

Livonia council denies rezoning request for proposed Sheetz at 8 Mile and Newburgh