[{"_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",6610775,"mediaKeyId","2901487-8ece465a2104aa850cafd37f694696a8","parentId",2901487,"title","Council extends assessing services contract with WCA Assessing at $552,591 for first year","audioSeconds",233,"startMs",2299000,"endMs",2532000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901487-8ece465a2104aa850cafd37f694696a8&start=2299&end=2532","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901487-8ece465a2104aa850cafd37f694696a8/thumbnail_2299000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6610775/Westland-City/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-extends-assessing-services-contract-with-WCA-Assessing-at-552591-for-first-year","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610775-5be7909167cfa8c47355fb98328a53e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204812&Signature=l~ojdOKLkS1Mt4uxC0BMZ1LxLuouWjSJEairpMiMOYwnCsERuFXC6CkNEU-o3Z~PdOA08yiet4WxAbY4xYCrakhZoAiF-Jv4j0HG~vLXWsh10MPauLc0tWqXRkBKdejBHOU3HcHxzQfP5LoACLsW8Krs2BOzv9PyBQGU84fM0lBrFG3hSOMpLJNfuVyqB7YkH6pN-7gbfRnfJBkD0dKIiuAi-SdyTwYhKWHGZ4ZK~1KsqJLjvZZOVgIBjVBhWG-iUYwqrNfX7VBAUrhg4JEz8PBa~Wln1qckmzhQM8d8Ilx3~cTiRyGYgJjGUPyeW6OdNGt8tfBCvN-OAwC3thjU3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Westland","date","2025-04-08T22:46:37.22Z","article","The Westland City Council voted to approve a three-year extension of a professional services agreement with WCA Assessing to provide full operation of the city’s assessing department.

The contract covers services for the period starting July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2028. The first-year amount was listed as not to exceed $552,591, with 5% increases planned for years two and three.

Councilman Doug Hart, who moved the contract, noted questions raised about whether assessing should be returned to in-house city staff. “Why don’t we bring assessing back in house as it used to be here in the city of Westland?” Hart asked during discussion, then explained the practical challenges: an ongoing shortage of certified Level 4 assessors across Michigan and the related administrative staffing requirements.

Hart said Jennifer Stamper, the city’s current assessor provided through the vendor, does excellent work and that the administration’s explanation about limited in-house capacity supported continuing the WCA contract. A separate council member cautioned against disparaging remarks about vendor staff.

The motion carried with no dissent recorded.

What the council approved: a three-year professional services extension with WCA Assessing, amount not to exceed $552,591 for the first year with 5% increases in subsequent years, covering July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028.

Why it matters: Assessing services affect property valuations, tax rolls and appeals; the contract determines who performs technical and clerical assessing tasks for the city.

Next steps: Administration and WCA Assessing will implement the contract to continue assessing operations on the stated schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Westland City Council Meeting - April 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Westland approved a three-year professional services agreement with WCA Assessing to operate the assessing department beginning July 1, 2025; Councilman Doug Hart explained challenges of returning assessing in-house.","taxTitle","Westland City, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",4547,"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},6610780,"Council approves $100,000 in ARPA funds for Westland Youth Athletic Association to support programs",398,2638000,3036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901487-8ece465a2104aa850cafd37f694696a8&start=2638&end=3036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901487-8ece465a2104aa850cafd37f694696a8/thumbnail_2638000.jpg","/articles/6610780/Westland-City/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-approves-100000-in-ARPA-funds-for-Westland-Youth-Athletic-Association-to-support-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610780-08509fc4e86a1ff276cf6170ffa9e4c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204812&Signature=CpJuxygOVuUgdplT8RH9EkuBXIDx83PMBBy1HKXQp8cOlTNS1uX~n0WAbGMf8rGk8tqq6S60HPw8M-dKTcE0f8wofBwkIWvRsymLG9UXQWItZnWJyFDG5XbY2XJVvMad4t9mDK8mD~myq~62MDrVv0M~lQ7KNgcU9nDUaLZg8tZtERdhHO2-Kmy3h3~~B0W0TqduBRaQ92cz8ZjxtpXWcniqfN3shwjyLyVSzxhSSpRKQR0sHrv961mJssEmwHFRuasZRNrAhfBb6w4CQnMz9E79-sHdf9o1yUpZWcT2em7lCZ9WgYsl2C8c39e2tsxQsgpIz5M1SaxVQp5Z9gnUVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Westland City Council approved a resolution allocating up to $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Westland Youth Athletic Association (WYAA) to support local youth sports programming.

Councilwoman Melandy Rakowski, who moved the resolution, said the allocation is intended to support five youth-sport entities in the city — the two football teams, cheer, soccer and baseball — and to keep organized recreation accessible. “This allocation is to support all five of the entities that drive the youth sports in our community,” Rakowski said.

Council members described the funding as a way to address program shortfalls and reduce fees for families. Councilman Romano and others praised the effort for helping children participate in team sports rather than staying indoors.

Pro Tem Melissa Sampey, a member of the ARPA subcommittee that drafted the recommendation, described the planned oversight for disbursement. “We’re gonna authorize this a hundred thousand. We’re gonna work with Director Adams to take the invoices as they come in,” Sampey said, adding that the administration and WYAA leadership will provide line-item invoices so the city can track expenditures.

Sampey also provided specific figures the WYAA leadership shared with the council to illustrate need: “Baseball’s running…about $18,000 in the red. Comet’s football and cheer is $71,000 in the red. Meteors is $71,000,” she said, summarizing budget shortfalls the organizations reported.

Council members said the funding was intended to supplement, not replace, the groups’ fundraising. The motion passed with no dissent recorded.

What the council approved: a resolution authorizing the allocation of ARPA funds to WYAA, up to $100,000, with invoice-based disbursement and administrative oversight.

Why it matters: The funding aims to preserve access to youth sports programming and to cover operating shortfalls for local leagues and teams that serve hundreds of children in Westland.

Next steps: Administration will coordinate with WYAA on invoice submission and tracking; council members said they expect continued reporting on expenditures and program outcomes.","The council adopted a resolution to allocate up to $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Westland Youth Athletic Association to support programming and reduce participation barriers; councilmembers emphasized oversight and invoice-based disbursement.",{"_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},6610785,"Westland council renews three-year sheltering contract with Michigan Humane after debate; study session requested",1069,1007000,2076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901487-8ece465a2104aa850cafd37f694696a8&start=1007&end=2076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901487-8ece465a2104aa850cafd37f694696a8/thumbnail_1007000.jpg","/articles/6610785/Westland-City/Wayne-County/Michigan/Westland-council-renews-three-year-sheltering-contract-with-Michigan-Humane-after-debate-study-session-requested","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610785-29ed8f9bd064e7fbaab8808d5fbdb1f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204812&Signature=KmmiaMpjrx5OjdLuOhErBM-n0mwc-njetzMG9BaNPAmncfFcVv-c-UbP8TvXOS7XcI-Gui65KgGcc0A73kTxPvJEGZPLZzFFlcDzVCoCYex7VQNVRQHN-pTd3nwYDma~o2t5mrRbUa1RJQpEl8pzZERMUmDFLlDtDQ-SLOlrj9DcxP2M~jTSUvswJZ1ReDJCgpaN-XQmGpQePgRGN73cLYwxELBdWauFVsjfMzruDrpyt1lUGHIgiiLKXWglY1QVVAZxmS5KcXfkavV0GbrWHz9~ClY84oGmLjWbj~s3-156yHf~Op-CyKzKOmbHbt~syeaVGTbqtE19DIlJQFyW-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Westland City Council voted to approve a three-year renewal of the city’s animal sheltering agreement with the Michigan Humane Society after public comment and council discussion.

Resident Derek Bruckheis urged the council to keep Michigan Humane as Westland’s partner, saying the city has “no one else” and that the nonprofit can help with rehoming, vetting and community programs. “The need for a competent partner shelter is paramount for the health and safety of animals here in Westland,” Bruckheis said.

Councilwoman Melandy Rakowski, who moved the contract renewal, said the humane society handles a wide variety of animals and that city reporting now provides clearer counts of animals rehomed and those euthanized. Rakowski said the contract is needed because “there not being any other entities that really can house the animals.”

Pro Tem Melissa Sampey said she supports Michigan Humane but raised concerns about cost. “My concern really…stems around the amount proposed,” Sampey said, noting the contract language and pricing needed closer review. Sampey said a one-year price in the packet showed $36,345 a month, that an initial offer had been as high as $60,000 a month, and she asked the council to schedule a study session with Michigan Humane to review contract language and service details.

Council members and administration said they would accommodate a study session if council requested it; the motion to approve the three-year renewal carried with no dissent recorded.

What the council approved: a three-year renewal of the city’s animal sheltering agreement with Michigan Humane Society. Specific line-item pricing was discussed in the meeting but final contract language and year-by-year payment schedule were not read into the record during the vote.

Why it matters: Westland does not operate its own full-service shelter; the city relies on a contracted partner for impound, care and rehoming of animals. The contract sets terms for an essential public-service function that affects residents, animal welfare outcomes and city expenditures.

Next steps: Council discussion indicated a study session with Michigan Humane would be scheduled to review contract language, monthly rates and reporting details so council can examine community services, program metrics and fiscal impacts in more depth.","The Westland City Council approved a three-year animal sheltering agreement with Michigan Humane Society after residents and council members discussed costs and service scope. Pro Tem Melissa Sampey asked for a study session to review contract language and costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council extends assessing services contract with WCA Assessing at $552,591 for first year

Council approves $100,000 in ARPA funds for Westland Youth Athletic Association to support programs

Westland council renews three-year sheltering contract with Michigan Humane after debate; study session requested