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Residents raise animal‑control, trash, library and school concerns at Harper Woods public comment period
Summary
Multiple residents addressed the council about loose dogs and the absence of animal‑control enforcement by GPAS, trash along Kelly Road and business responsibility, library services and school district programs including a CoreWell Health clinic under construction at the high school.
Several Harper Woods residents used the public‑comment period at the March 3 council meeting to press officials about animal control, trash and neighborhood safety, library services, and school‑district programs.
Janetta Tabron, vice president of the Harper Woods Board of Education and a Rose Court resident, updated the council on district activities. She said the district will hold professional development on artificial intelligence training and least‑restrictive‑environment instruction, that Beacon elementary will host a junior chef program, and that “construction has begun in the high school with the partnership with CoreWell Health” to create a clinic to serve school‑aged children and special‑education students up to age 26. (Janetta Tabron identified herself and her role publicly during remarks.)
Several residents raised concerns about animal control. Kristen Olin Sullivan asked for the promised GPAS (GPAS) report; city staff said the mayor and Chief Hammerly met with GPAS leadership and that GPAS would take the meeting details to its board and return with correspondence. The city described the talks as constructive but said nothing has been agreed to yet. Residents reported seeing stray dogs and said callers were being directed to the Humane Society, which they said does not respond locally.
Reginald Tabron and other residents complained about trash on Kelly Road and questioned business responsibilities for keeping curbs and medians clean; the mayor and council urged enforcement of existing business‑trash rules and said staff would continue to pursue compliance. Several residents also sought improved library hours and technology; one new resident suggested the library’s printing and fax capabilities lag regional peers.
Public commenters also raised speeding on residential streets and urged stepped‑up enforcement. City leaders acknowledged the complaints, encouraged community involvement in cleanup efforts, and said enforcement and staffing limitations constrain what the city can do immediately. The mayor said she will travel to Washington to seek additional funds for the planned community center, and councilmembers thanked volunteers and school officials for their service.
