Residents raise police response and sewage complaints during Garden City council public comments

During public comment at Monday’s council meeting, two residents described ongoing personal grievances with city services and requested additional action.

Danielle Valdez, identifying herself as a resident and law student and a parent of twin daughters, urged the council to address what she described as repeated failures by Garden City police to investigate allegations she characterized as parental alienation affecting her children. Valdez named officers she said were involved and said she has referred matters to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and is working with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office and state lawmakers. "The Garden City Police has failed me for the past 3 years," Valdez said during her remarks, and she said she is pursuing training and legislative remedies to improve responses to the issue.

Later in the public-comment period, a resident identified as Magdalena raised a sewer complaint she said had produced an "indirect discharge" caused by tree roots in a main line; she said she submitted video evidence and had been billed roughly $21,000. City Attorney Tim Gibbons responded to the item during the staff remarks portion of the meeting, saying the city and its insurer review such claims and that the city was continuing to assess abatement and public-health issues, but Gibbons said determinations about coverage and liability are largely matters for the insurer.

Gibbons also said the city has continued to evaluate the property for public-nuisance or health-and-safety abatement actions and that staff would follow up with the resident. Council members acknowledged both speakers and asked staff for follow-up where appropriate; the meeting record shows no formal council action on either matter during the Sept. 22 meeting.