Wixom Council tables downtown billboard, approves auditors, vehicles, ambulance, assessing and city signage contracts

The Wixom City Council on the evening of the meeting tabled a proposed 12‑month Lamar billboard campaign for downtown Wixom and approved several procurement items including the retention of audit firm Plante Moran, the purchase of two police department vehicles, a replacement ambulance and a new three‑year property assessing contract and city signage program.

Council tabled the billboard recommendation after several council members questioned the traffic impressions and swap‑out costs for a single tri‑vision board on the north side of I‑96 near the Wixom Road exit. "The billboard is located on the North side of I‑96, between Beck and Wixom Road. . . . it faces east so if you are traveling westbound it faces east," the presenter, Miss Cloutier, said while describing placement and vendor pricing. Council member Sharp said he supported the idea but wanted clearer traffic data and told colleagues, "I'm gonna vote no tonight, but I like the idea of doing a billboard." A motion to table, moved from the dais by Councilman Gautam, passed on a roll call vote and the matter will return to council after staff and the Downtown Development Authority provide clarified pricing and impressions data.

The council approved a one‑year contract to retain Plante Moran PLLC of Detroit to perform the fiscal 2024–25 audit at a cost not to exceed $77,080. Marilyn, presenting the finance item, said the increase from the prior year was $1,325 (1.75…