Garden City council adopts health-insurance opt-out and approves interlocal, fire and parks contracts

Garden City’s City Council on June 9 approved a package of routine and operational measures — including an annual health-insurance opt-out resolution, a standing interlocal agreement with Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), payment of mutual-aid fire dues, a repair for a backup fire engine, contractor agreements for Radcliffe Center improvements and cancellation of two dormant special-assessment contracts — all by unanimous votes.

The council’s actions began with a staff presentation of the annual “80/20” public‑funded health insurance opt-out required under Public Act 152 of 2011. Staff described the item as an annual housekeeping resolution. Council member Witt moved to adopt the exemption and Mayor Pro Tem Dold supported the motion; the measure passed 7-0. "This is required every year," staff said when explaining the procedural difference between opt-out options.

Why it matters: adopting the exemption allows the city to comply with state law while maintaining the negotiated employee benefits structure described by staff. The resolution was treated as routine and passed without further amendment.

The council then approved an interlocal agreement with Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) that streamlines how municipal and community credits for transportation are assigned to Nankin Transit (Nankin). City staff said the new agreement removes the need for an annual administrative transfer by designating Nankin as the local provider in perpetuity, while preserving a 90‑day opt-out by the city. Council member Dold moved to approve the attached interlocal agreement; the motion carried 7-0.

Also on the public-safety and operations docket, Fire Chief Brandy Keane described the City’s membership in the Western Wayne County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association and recent consortium grant opportunities, including an AirPACK procurement funded by a grant with roughly a 10% local match. Keane said the association increased annual dues from $3,000 to $3,500 and raised the per‑capita assessment. Council approved payment of annual dues of $10,345 to the mutual‑aid association, motioned by Council member King and approved 7-0.

Chief Keane also presented a repair request for “Engine 10,” a reserve 2013 fire engine that suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure. The council approved repair work with a motion to approve $19,314.99 for repairs and an additional $1,000 contingency for parts that cannot be reused once disassembly begins. Council members discussed lifecycle expectations for front-line and reserve apparatus during the item; staff said front-line engines are typically rotated at roughly 10 years, with secondary units often used for another 10 years. The repair motion passed 7-0.

In community-development business, Community Development Director Matt Miller asked the council to cancel two special assessment contracts tied to façade and parking-lot improvement loans for the property at 6332 Middlebelt. Miller said the DDA-established special-assessment district and loan agreements were entered in 2021, the projects never started, and a three‑year delayed-start window lapsed. Council approved cancellations for both the façade and parking-lot assessments, 7-0.

Parks and Recreation Director Erica Smith presented two contractor agreements for the Radcliffe Center arising from the Radcliffe Committee’s recommendations: (1) cardio-room conversion and art-room completion with contractor All Phases Ceiling & Carpentry of Garden City in the amount of $28,830 plus a $3,000 contingency (total authorization $31,830), and (2) Radcliffe gym ceilings and walls renovations with All Phases for $36,000 plus a $10,000 contingency (total authorization $46,000). Council moved and approved both contracts, each by 7-0; a prior motion to remove the contractor agreement from the table also passed 7-0.

Finally, after returning from a closed session to receive a written legal opinion about a Freedom of Information Act request denial appeal, the council voted (7-0) to issue a written notice upholding the disclosure denial based on findings in the city attorney’s opinion.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions on June 9 passed unanimously (7-0), including: (1) adoption of the opt‑out resolution under Public Act 152 of 2011; (2) approval of the SMART interlocal agreement designating Nankin as local provider with 90‑day opt‑out; (3) payment of Western Wayne County Fire Mutual Aid dues ($10,345); (4) repair authorization for Engine 10 ($19,314.99 + $1,000 contingency); (5) cancellation of two special-assessment contracts for 6332 Middlebelt (facade and parking-lot assessments); (6) Radcliffe contractor agreements (cardio/art rooms: $28,830 + $3,000 contingency; gym renovations: $36,000 + $10,000 contingency); and (7) issuance of written notice upholding a FOIA denial following closed-session legal review.

Council members and staff did not add substantive amendments to the measures; members asked clarifying questions about funding sources and equipment life cycles during the items. The meeting adjourned after the final motions were recorded.