Harper Woods council approves multiple payments, permits and contract extensions; adopts public-participation guide

The Harper Woods City Council on a series of roll-call votes on items brought forward by the acting city manager approved progress payments to contractors, authorized two Wayne County stormwater maintenance permits, extended two existing municipal contracts, approved a $1,058,535.12 bond payment for the Milk River drain, and adopted an amended guide to public participation at council meetings.

Council members approved progress payment No. 2 to L.J. Rolls Mechanical for $46,084.55 for the city hall generator project (project no. 180-291); progress payment No. 2 to Super Construction for $11,070 for the DWSRF lead water service replacement program (project no. 180-331); and progress payment No. 4 (final) to Duke's Root Control for $8,400 for 2024 sanitary sewer cleaning and CCTV investigation (project no. 180-340). Each of those payments was adopted by resolution and approved by roll call with the members recorded as voting in favor.

The council also authorized Wayne County stormwater maintenance permits that the county required for new underground detention and storm sewer work: permit M25-0021 for the Harper Woods High School field house project and permit M25-0026 for the commercial gas station at 17700 Vernier Road. Both resolutions authorized the acting city manager to sign the county permits on behalf of the city.

Two contract extensions were approved. The council approved a contract modification with Michigan Joint Sealing not to exceed $80,000 for the 2025 miscellaneous concrete pavement repair program (project no. 180-366). Council members later approved a contract modification with Duke's Root Control for sewer cleaning and CCTV services at the documented price of $85,325 for the 2025 miscellaneous concrete pavement repair program (project no. 180-365); members discussed and rejected higher contingency amounts before adopting the $85,325 figure.

On bond payments, the council approved payment in the total amount of $1,058,535.12 to Wayne County for Milk River drain principal and interest, covering two SRF bond accounts referenced in meeting documents. The city’s staff and councilors discussed the distinction between annual operation-and-maintenance payments (quarterly) and the principal-and-interest bond payments, which staff said reflect large principal amounts due in the near term.

The council adopted an amended "Guide to Public Participation at Council Meetings," a revision staff described as intended to ensure the city’s rules comply with the First Amendment and not impose content-based restraints on speakers. The motion passed with one member recorded as opposed and the remainder in favor.

Other routine items on the consent agenda (minutes, appointments, and the listed consent items 1–11) were approved earlier in the meeting. Near the end of the meeting the council moved to a closed session for privileged attorney-client discussion relevant to a civil action and adjourned.

Votes at a glance (selected items recorded in the meeting minutes): - Approve minutes and receive/file Beautification Commission minutes (voice vote) — outcome: adopted. - Approve consent agenda items 1–11 (roll-call) — outcome: adopted. - Approve payment $46,084.55 to L.J. Rolls Mechanical (progress payment No. 2; project 180-291) — outcome: adopted. - Approve payment $11,070 to Super Construction (progress payment No. 2; project 180-331) — outcome: adopted. - Approve payment $8,400 to Duke's Root Control (progress payment No. 4 final; project 180-340) — outcome: adopted. - Approve Wayne County stormwater maintenance permit M25-0021 (Harper Woods High School field house) — outcome: adopted; acting city manager authorized to sign. - Approve Wayne County stormwater maintenance permit M25-0026 (commercial gas station, 17700 Vernier Rd) — outcome: adopted; acting city manager authorized to sign. - Approve contract modification not to exceed $80,000 with Michigan Joint Sealing (pavement repair program 180-366) — outcome: adopted. - Approve contract modification with Duke's Root Control in the amount of $85,325 (sewer cleaning/CCTV program 180-365) — outcome: adopted. - Approve payment $1,058,535.12 to Wayne County for Milk River drain principal and interest (SRF bond accounts listed in staff materials) — outcome: adopted. - Adopt amended Guide to Public Participation at Council Meetings — outcome: adopted (one recorded no vote). - Motion to go into closed session for attorney–client privileged discussion related to civil action — outcome: adopted; meeting adjourned after the motion.

The council’s roll-call procedure recorded individual yes votes for the mayor and councilmembers on most resolutions; the meeting minutes list each member’s yes vote on the recorded roll calls. Where members raised procedural or budgetary questions (contract contingency levels, bond accounting), staff responded on the record and the council proceeded to vote on the staff recommendations or amended dollar amounts.

The meeting packet and the city engineer’s correspondence attached to the agenda were the basis for the progress payments and contract modifications. For the Wayne County stormwater permits, staff said the county requires the city to monitor and maintain the installed underground detention and storm sewer features and to prepare any agreements necessary if the property owner defaults on maintenance obligations.