[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6098174,"mediaKeyId","2824733-5923e675d10eb1857db09d98bd54a2b5","parentId",2824733,"title","Canton Township opens public hearing on 2025 sidewalk repair program after residents raise cost, notification and county-responsibility concerns","audioSeconds",3296,"startMs",454000,"endMs",3750000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824733-5923e675d10eb1857db09d98bd54a2b5&start=454&end=3750","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824733-5923e675d10eb1857db09d98bd54a2b5/thumbnail_454000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6098174/Michigan/Canton-Township-opens-public-hearing-on-2025-sidewalk-repair-program-after-residents-raise-cost-notification-and-county-responsibility-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098174-cd903dce94cb88d4c7e892d09d6d147d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775815084&Signature=hZyWNVhmboNLKpkK11W645q2db0lfACzsu3fq-BoHI6HEi4LonzFNhCFpbkgu1QZdAjCJCFz02pz~5RSy-ndeM1icpKFaYDFb8V9ugfGqNsmIae3wZ6qtVuZDVdLlgkVUzXFIUZAwo15n5TytC0Pgm79k5VmAxicwM870f2mvdXooVLhXDQ56OkRdSDNmix1Lut7Mlv~VkwCPFiJ~rHTouSdkaTwNi4RiSiiYtqVA592FOQKn3ol5aXfPHhSR2FsCNEOkAJ5rfR8oiGy~dY~BY6KVSFMC-iIhCTnzPHdoSOP1HA8bFA3FVIK68A8kbeGvG0RHIkTXKbEnm7znlDIPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Canton Community Productions","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","Canton Township Board of Trustees on March 25 opened a public hearing on the 2025 sidewalk repair program, heard about a half-dozen residents' concerns over cost, inconsistent markings and whether Wayne County should pay, and then adopted a resolution requiring replacement of sidewalks in the listed subdivisions and miscellaneous locations.

The hearing matters because the program uses a special assessment approach that can require homeowners to pay for sidewalk replacement in front of their property; board members said the program exists to reduce township liability from trip-and-fall claims while giving homeowners options for payment or to hire their own contractors.

Erica Hidalgo, staff engineer with the township's engineering services division, described the program's background, schedule and procedures. Hidalgo said the program started after a trip-and-fall liability ruling in 1999 and that the township's sidewalk program is a multi-year, zone-based cycle currently entering its tenth year. She said Zone 9 is scheduled for 2025 and named subdivisions on the list including Carriage Hills, Pickwick Village, Willowbrook Village, Willow Creek (Zones 4 and 13), Willow Veil and other miscellaneous locations. \"If you decide to hire an independent contractor, you need to pull a permit with Wayne County to do that work,\" Hidalgo said, and added that the township allows homeowners 60 days after notice to elect to do the work privately.

Hidalgo explained the marking system: red spray paint indicates sections the township will replace as its maintenance responsibility and green indicates homeowner responsibility. She said inspectors mark sections to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and try to minimize repairs; if a homeowner does nothing, the township's contractor will perform the work and the township will bill the homeowner afterward. She described defects that trigger replacement—spalling, cracking, ponding, displacement and slope/back-pitch issues—and said work is weather-dependent, typically beginning in May and projected to finish by August. \"The contractor will take that cost upon themselves\" if damage occurs during construction, she said.

Residents voiced several recurring concerns. Michelle Brewer, a special-education teacher and Canton resident, challenged the township's slope expectations and said higher local requirements create an unfair cost burden: \"If you're getting your sidewalk replaced because of 2.5 or, you know, 3% — you guys are exceeding the expectation that is required and we're getting charged for that.\" Hidalgo replied with the program's technical interpretation: she said a typical walking slope limit is 2% and that other ramp or longitudinal slope rules differ, noting a curb-to-sidewalk ramp has a higher maximum.

Other residents said they received little advance notice beyond spray-painted marks, pointed to inconsistent marking across the same subdivision, and described repeated replacements allegedly caused by the same street trees. Diane Cantini, whose mother lives in Canton and receives the bill, said the assessment presents a hardship: \"I'm paying a house payment. The house payment is almost my entire Social Security check... I just don't think this is fair at all.\" Several speakers asked whether Wayne County should pay for sidewalks in the county right-of-way; multiple residents said portions of sidewalk damage were caused by trees the county or developer planted.

Lucas Walsh and other residents sought clearer documentation and reinspection options after seeing seemingly worse sections unmarked elsewhere in their neighborhoods. Walsh asked whether work that increases the cost during construction could be charged to homeowners and whether scheduling could be coordinated around personal events (Walsh noted an expected May birth): \"So does that mean that we're gonna end up parking in the street for, you know, 1 week, 2 weeks?\" Hidalgo and board members said the township would work with residents individually on scheduling.

After public comment the board closed the hearing and moved to adopt the advertised resolution requiring sidewalk replacements as listed and published. Clerk Seager moved the motion, supported by Treasurer Slavens; the board called the question and the motion passed. Treasurer Slavens and board members reminded residents of payment options: assessments can be placed on the winter tax roll and paid over five years. Trustee comments reiterated that the township ordinance and the program were adopted to limit liability and that homeowners may choose their own contractor provided the work meets township standards and necessary permits are pulled.

What the board adopted and next steps
- The board adopted the attached resolution requiring replacement of sidewalks in the subdivisions and miscellaneous locations shown on the published list (resolution number referenced at the meeting as \"2020Five-nine\").
- Homeowners may elect to hire their own contractor and must obtain Wayne County or building permits as appropriate; work done privately must meet the township's standards and be completed within the timetable specified in the program notice.
- If homeowners do not perform repairs, the township contractor will perform the work and the township will bill the homeowner; invoices are mailed after work and can be placed on the tax roll with up to a five-year payment plan.
- Hidalgo said residents can request re-evaluations; she keeps a list of reevaluation requests and schedules grouped site visits with inspectors.

The board's action sets the program in motion for the listed Zone 9 areas; Hidalgo said she will be available after the meeting to schedule site visits and meet homeowners individually to review markings and answer permit questions. Treasurer Slavens reminded residents that invoices are often mailed in October–November with a due date the following year, advising homeowners to check the invoice year carefully if they consider tax-roll financing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Canton Township Board of Trustees March 25 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Canton Township Board of Trustees on March 25 opened a public hearing on the 2025 sidewalk repair program, heard residents' concerns about costs and inconsistent markings, and adopted a resolution requiring replacement of sidewalks in the listed subdivisions and miscellaneous locations.","taxTitle","Canton Township, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",63520,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6098169,"Votes at a glance: Canton Township Board of Trustees actions, March 25, 2025",93,5067000,5160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824733-5923e675d10eb1857db09d98bd54a2b5&start=5067&end=5160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824733-5923e675d10eb1857db09d98bd54a2b5/thumbnail_5067000.jpg","/articles/6098169/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Canton-Township-Board-of-Trustees-actions-March-25-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098169-e6c81d952ad67208720fcee3a58803b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775815084&Signature=MV68t-4eTf0Egp9bVUBUZ0NmCzrfg2lXO2dei7VBYX9wOotTN2ciwcUhcjiG9i~TQPbK7kXZw~Wb1Iskrj3MyP9LeS7MPwGkNfYql68PlqVt7-hQsGJs6NeHllDl7t7JLOy6z0fADAJWVj3hyftY--WmLUSQbjG9kvmqpHdahvUd0rFyXurTeSlFRXH-KinZWV8v77X6UozBmMZC6D3-NDvIJlFwh7e-R2JXevZiVcR7er8TeQwinISsoFg2sRJ~XN0wbwTHqeozjBA-eLaEeJ09yscrffqip7AktUk5Lqwc4qxGEkMtDNBx1cOMJl2jXgBE~CH9jYwpcze3cg5nPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its March 25, 2025 meeting the Canton Township Board of Trustees approved a set of routine and policy items after public hearings and staff presentations. Items passed with either brief discussion or unanimous voice votes. Key actions approved or introduced:

- Proclamations: The board adopted a resolution designating April 2025 as Fair Housing Month (motion by Trustee Berninski, supported by Treasurer Slavens) and proclaimed March 2025 as National Social Worker Month (motion by Supervisor Anne Marie Graham Hudak, supported by Trustee Foster). Both motions passed by voice vote.

- Sidewalks (public hearing and resolution): After a public hearing the board adopted a resolution requiring replacement of sidewalks in the subdivisions and miscellaneous locations on the published list (resolution referenced in the meeting as \"2020Five-nine\"); Clerk Seager moved and Treasurer Slavens supported the motion; outcome: approved. (See separate article for full hearing coverage.)

- Zoning first reading: The board introduced and held a first reading of planning application 031-RZ-8298 to rezone 6200 North Ridge Road from RR (rural residential) to R1 (single-family residential); motion by Clerk Seager, supported by Trustee Berninski. The planning commission had recommended approval. This was a first reading; a second reading is required before final adoption.

- Professional services: The board authorized staff to execute professional services agreements with 16 consulting firms selected from a January 16, 2025 RFP for five years of community planning services. Motion by Clerk Seager, supported by Trustee Foster; outcome: approved.

- Tree City USA: The board directed staff to prepare materials for Canton Township to pursue Tree City USA designation and to present a formal application at a future meeting (motion by Clerk Seager, supported by Trustee Berninski); outcome: approved.

- Public safety architecture: The board approved a proposal for conceptual architectural services with Partners in Architecture for an addition and conceptual budget estimate for the Public Safety Headquarters building (task 1 fee $24,450 plus $2,000 reimbursable), to be funded from Treasury forfeiture funds; motion by Clerk Seager, supported by Treasurer Slavens; outcome: approved.

- Grant writing: The board approved a one-year renewal contract for grant writing services with Davis Kirksey Associates, Inc., in the amount discussed ($39,600 referenced at the meeting) to be paid monthly from police, fire and general funds; motion by Clerk Seager; outcome: approved.

- Office furniture: The board approved purchases of office furniture from Kentwood Office Furniture for the police department ($50,486.51) and the fire department ($42,897.57), using forfeiture or department-designated funds where noted; motions by Clerk Seager (support varied); outcomes: approved.

- Labor agreement resolution: The board approved a letter of agreement with the Technical Professional Office Workers Association of Michigan (TPOAM) resolving outstanding grievances and splitting arbitration cancellation fees; motion by Clerk Seager; outcome: approved.

- Appointments: The board reappointed David Curtis, Karen Kreps and Kathy Martin to the Historic District Commission for three-year terms to end 04/30/2028; motion by Clerk Seager; outcome: approved.

- Consent calendar and other routine items: The board approved the consent calendar (including equipment purchase orders, fire suppression sprinkler head replacement, ammunition purchase, CPE training funds acceptance and a tree planting contract) and motions to pay bills and approve minutes.

Procedural notes: Many motions were passed by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript. Several items were introduced as first readings (where required) and will return to the board (for example, the rezoning at 6200 North Ridge Road requires a second reading).","Summary of motions, resolutions and approvals at the Canton Township Board meeting on March 25, 2025, including proclamations, contract approvals, zoning first reading, planning services agreements, Tree City USA direction, public safety architectural study and personnel/administrative items.","actionData","errors"]

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Canton Township opens public hearing on 2025 sidewalk repair program after residents raise cost, notification and county-responsibility concerns

Votes at a glance: Canton Township Board of Trustees actions, March 25, 2025