Wayne County approves vehicle purchases and contract adjustments for juvenile services; officials cite bed shortages and transitions statewide

Wayne County commissioners approved multiple items related to juvenile detention and youth services, and department leaders described ongoing placement shortages and efforts to expand mental‑health placement capacity across the state.

Vehicle purchase: Mac McGee, division director for the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, and Rachand Smith, deputy director, requested approval to purchase two transport vans and one SUV through a cooperative agreement with Gorno Ford for the juvenile detention facility. McGee said existing vehicles are aged (one about 15 years and near 70,000 miles, another about 12 years and near 60,000 miles) and that the purchase is intended to meet transport and emergency needs for another 10–12 years. The total cost presented was $152,139. Commissioners asked why the vans were described as “black transport vans”; staff said the vehicles are county vehicles, will carry Wayne County seals/markings, and are outfitted with security features. The SUV is intended as an emergency pool vehicle for high‑profile or sworn‑officer transports and for winter weather operations.

Spectrum Juvenile Justice Services amendment: Melissa Fernandez, director of Juvenile and Youth Services, asked the commission to approve Amendment 4 to a multi‑year contract with Spectrum Juvenile Justice Services to raise the per‑diem rate for secure residential beds from $6.38 to $9.10 and to add an incentive fee of $101 to encourage Spectrum to accept placements that might otherwise be rejected. Fernandez said Spectrum has 166 beds and was operating at 104 on the day of the meeting; the county currently has 51 young people at Spectrum and 71 young people in the juvenile detention facility. Fernandez said 30 youth at JDF were awaiting secure placement. She told commissioners the state is relocating an existing secure center (Shawano) to Macomb County and increasing that facility’s capacity from 40 to 60 beds; counties will compete for those beds. Commissioners asked about state funding and capacity planning; Fernandez said counties and the state are engaged in analysis and advocacy for more beds and that county officials have been active in Lansing on the issue.

Other juvenile items: The committee also approved Amendment 11 (a three‑month extension) to the contract with Shared Family Services to allow more time to finalize services after the new fiscal year and to complete coordination with the Third Circuit Court and DWIN. The committee approved Amendment 4 to the Capstone Academy classroom‑use and service provider agreements (one‑year option) to continue providing education programming in the juvenile detention facility through Detroit Public Schools; commissioners said staff will issue an RFP/RFI ahead of the next expiration.

Votes and approvals: Commissioners approved items 4–9 (the Kellogg fund revision and the juvenile items listed above, among others) in a single group motion. Commissioner Killeen moved the grouped approval; Commissioner Anderson supported. The chair called for aye votes, heard none opposed and declared the motion approved.

What commissioners asked for: several asked about placement decisions and whether youth are placed near family; Fernandez said placements are usually driven by bed availability rather than proximity. Commissioners also asked about clinician staffing shortages at Spectrum and the potential effect of competing for state beds when the Shawano center increases capacity.