Lincoln Park council approves $200,000 roads amendment; approves several contracts and scheduling of study session

Lincoln Park — The Lincoln Park City Council on Oct. 13 approved a series of budget and contract measures, including a $200,000 amendment to increase funding for a citywide skim-coating road treatment, authorized a two-year extension of a residential demolition contract, approved a two-year agreement for the human resources manager, disallowed further use of the city seal by Service Line Warranties of America, and waived bids to purchase a new community center scoreboard using a Sourcewell cooperative purchase. The council also set a study session to prepare ballot language on Nov. 10.

The most consequential item for residents was a budget amendment that moves $200,000 into road repair line items to pilot a skim-coating product intended as an interim fix for heavily damaged streets. The finance adjustment increases the Major Road contractual services line by $75,000 (from $1,333,571 to $1,408,571) and the Local Road contractual services line by $125,000 (from $738,539 to $863,539). Council members said the product performed well during a demonstration and described it as a cost-effective short-term solution while the city continues to plan longer-term repaving.

Council member comments noted the city’s broad need for road repairs and urged monitoring results from the trial sections. "This is something that is going to make a huge difference in various parts of the city," Mayor Tobin said during the vote tally and thanked staff involved in the demonstration. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with unanimous support from Councilpersons Nichols, Ross, Baer, DuPree, Salcedo, Zohr and Mayor Tobin.

Votes at a glance

- Budget amendment — roads (skim coating): Amend Major Road contractual services (account 202-408-818000) from $1,333,571 to $1,408,571; amend Local Road contractual services (account 203-480-818000) from $738,539 to $863,539. Vote: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved.

- HR manager employment agreement: Approval of a two-year contract with HR manager Jennifer Richardson that includes Juneteenth as a holiday and a 4% annual wage increase; estimated net impact approximately $5,400 over two years. Vote: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved.

- Termination of Service Line Warranties of America participation: Council resolved not to renew the city’s participation when the vendor agreement ends Jan. 18, 2026, and to prohibit use of the city seal in future vendor marketing. Vote: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved.

- Demolition contract extension: Two-year extension of the dangerous residential structure demolition contract with Pizzo Development Group LLC at prior contract rates (10/14/2025–10/13/2027). Vote: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved.

- Waive bid / scoreboard purchase: Waive formal bidding and use Sourcewell to purchase and install a NEVCO scoreboard for the community center; estimated cost reported as $23,009.46 (one figure cited) and later summarized as not to exceed $23,946.23; funding will come from Wayne County parks funds and will be reimbursed by the county upon completion. Vote: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved.

- Study session to prepare ballot language: Motion to hold a study session on Nov. 10, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. in council chambers to review ballot language and options; motion passed. Outcome: approved (study session scheduled).

Council members repeatedly emphasized the limited, interim nature of the skim-coating approach. City Manager Lisa (first name used in the meeting) and staff said the product is intended to be an improvement over cold patching and to cover larger areas while the city continues to budget for full road replacement over time. The city has an existing contract with Hutch (the vendor demonstrating the product), which the council said it will use for the immediate work; councilmembers left open the option to switch products or vendors if a better alternative appears in the future.

Public comment and context

Residents and visitors spoke during the meeting’s citizen communication period. Wayne County Commissioner Cara Clemente thanked the council and noted recent county work on roads and other services, and provided county contact numbers for reporting county-road issues. Resident Richard Kudrick supported the council’s decision to end the Service Line Warranties of America program and said the company’s mailings, embossed with the city seal, could be confused with a municipal endorsement: "I very much disagree with the for-profit company's literature being mailed, embossed with the city seal. It would seem as though the city is endorsing the specific company," Kudrick said.

Business owner Redwan Ali and others raised service and property concerns in public comment (facade grant follow-ups, trash collection at a newly renovated building at 1336 Southfield), and the mayor requested that they contact his office so staff could follow up.

Staff reports and next steps

City Manager Lisa also provided project updates in a separate report: lead service line grants near exhaustion (one grant for 300 replacements complete; the 600-replacement program nearly finished), ongoing sewer lining and camera work that has revealed additional collapsed lines, progress on Lincoln and Emmons pump stations (about 70% complete), and a new water main replacement on Fort Street. A contractor has begun city tree trimming and removals associated with roadway projects. The council asked that staff continue to monitor the skim-coating pilot and report results.

What the council approved tonight are budget adjustments, contract extensions, and procurement actions; none of the approvals create new ordinances. For items requiring outside funding or reimbursements (for example, the scoreboard), staff said final installation timing will depend on receiving county paperwork. The Service Line Warranties of America termination means the company will stop using the city seal and the city will not renew the cooperative arrangement when it expires on Jan. 18, 2026.

The council is next scheduled to meet in two weeks; staff were directed to prepare materials for the Nov. 10 study session and to follow up with residents who raised grant and property-service concerns.