Wayne County approves mobile command vehicle purchase and a package of public-safety grants and contracts

Wayne County commissioners approved the county’s purchase of a mobile command post vehicle and voted to accept or authorize a series of public-safety grants and contract actions during a committee meeting.

The most discussed item was the county’s mobile command vehicle being procured through the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Director Jaffer (Wayne County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management) told commissioners the vehicle is still in the process of manufacturing and is scheduled for delivery in June. Ahmad Nasser, finance manager at Homeland Security, said the county budgeted $1.2 million for a command post and that the manufacturer’s modifications increased the final price above that budgeted amount; the department is proposing a budget adjustment and intends to use general fund dollars to complete payment. The vehicle will be housed in a climate-controlled county warehouse on Northland Road in Southgate.

Commissioner Garza moved the item for approval; Commissioner Allen Wilson seconded it. The motion passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: the mobile command post is intended to support multiagency responses to large incidents and countywide emergency operations. Commissioners asked about storage, training, and funding; Homeland Security staff said director- and deputy-director-level staff traveled to the manufacturer to identify needed modifications and will provide training before local deployment.

Beyond the vehicle, the commission approved a package of grants, agreements and contract renewals affecting sheriff’s office operations, prosecutor programs and municipal policing. Key approved items included a $238,977 subrecipient agreement with the Detroit Crime Commission to support the prosecutor’s assault-kit task force (a 7.5% administrative fee will be paid to the fiscal agent); a retroactive memorandum of understanding with Fair Michigan to fund one assistant prosecutor, one investigator and one victim advocate (the county increased the award from $80,000 to $150,000 in prior steps and will cover payment from general funds); a Michigan State Police highway safety grant of $64,915.25 to cover overtime for traffic enforcement; and federal grants including $76,953 under the U.S. Department of Justice State Criminal Alien Assistance Program and $1,282,833 under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to be administered to 15 municipal police departments. The commission also approved a one-year intergovernmental agreement with Schoolcraft College to provide police recruit academy training for five sheriff’s office recruits, exercised a final option to renew a purchase order for jail cleaning supplies with Ally Eagle Supply, and received and filed notification of an emergency procurement with Allied Waste Systems (doing business as Republic Services) to pay invoices for trash removal services used by the sheriff’s mounted unit.

On the discussion around the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, Commissioner(s) asked how the federal term “alien” is used. Director Banksall (Wayne County Sheriff’s Office) said the term is the federal label for undocumented inmates used for reimbursement purposes and that the sheriff’s office does not check or provide visa status to federal authorities as a condition of receiving the reimbursement; the sheriff’s office representative stated the county has not detained people at the request of ICE or participated in federal immigration enforcement.

Votes at a glance: - Item 1 — Mobile command post vehicle: motion to approve acquisition and associated budget adjustment — moved by Commissioner Garza; seconded by Commissioner Allen Wilson; approved by voice vote. - Item 2 — Subrecipient agreement with Detroit Crime Commission ($238,977): approved; 7.5% administrative fee to fiscal agent; funds into account 22908. - Item 3 — Retroactive MOU with Fair Michigan (to fund one assistant prosecutor, one investigator and one victim advocate; county funds): approved; funds from non-departmental account 92501 (general funds); county staff said Fair Michigan bore costs while agreement was delayed. - Item 4 — Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning grant ($64,915.25): approved; will fund overtime for traffic enforcement (seat belts, distracted driving and related enforcement) for Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025. - Item 5 — DOJ State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ($76,953): approved; described as federal reimbursement for housing undocumented inmates who meet program criteria. - Item 6 — Edward Byrne Memorial JAG ($1,282,833): approved; county will act as administrative pass-through to 15 municipal police departments for training, equipment, outreach and administration. - Item 7 — Intergovernmental agreement with Schoolcraft College (training for five sheriff recruits): approved; staff said the county will try to move to annual contracts so training agreements are not retroactive in future cycles; recruits will become MCOLES-certified upon graduation. - Item 8 — Emergency procurement notification with Allied Waste/Republic Services (mounted unit trash removal): received and filed; no commission action required beyond filing. - Item 9 — Amendment 2 / final option to renew purchase order with Ally Eagle Supply for jail cleaning supplies and consumables: approved.

What remains: staff said a formal budget-adjustment item will follow to cover the final vehicle payment; Homeland Security staff said they will provide training and finalize the modifications with the manufacturer before acceptance. Commissioners asked that the Schoolcraft College training agreements be presented earlier in future fiscal cycles to avoid retroactive approvals.

Public comment: no speakers provided public comment during the meeting.

Ending: Commissioners completed the agenda and adjourned following the votes.