Committee approves contracts, retroactive mowing amendments and construction agreements across multiple county projects

The Wayne County Commission Committee on Public Services approved a bundle of routine procurement and intergovernmental items covering professional services, park improvements, road maintenance work and construction oversight.

Among the approvals, the committee authorized a comparable-source professional services contract with Applied Science Inc. for as-needed technical services supporting the Rouge Valley Sewage Disposal System. Patrick Cullen, division director of environmental services, said Applied Science will provide technical memoranda to EGLE and participate in regional technical meetings led by GLWA; the county will only be billed "when we ask them for a service related to this." The Applied Science arrangement was described as as-needed work capped at $300,000.

The committee approved intergovernmental agreements with Canton Township for Heritage Park improvements, with the city of Plymouth for improvements to the Plymouth Cultural Center, and with Brownstown Township for improvements to Label Island Park and Thorn Park. These were presented as standard cooperative agreements aligned with local park-millage funding in the packet.

The committee also approved two retroactive contract amendments for mowing services. Staff explained the amendments were made retroactive because a solicitation error required pulling bids: the original language incorrectly stated that only MDOT-certified mowers could bid. Michelle Yancey, DPS administrator, said the solicitation was pulled and revised because of that discrepancy, and the retroactive amendments were submitted so lawn service could continue while staff reissued corrected solicitations.

A three-year contract amendment with B & B Landscaping continues boulevard mowing and herbicide application on the county's west side; Fontenot Services received a similar retroactive amendment to continue grass-separation mowing on various county roads. Staff said the MDOT certification requirement is not needed for county mowing and that bids will be reissued with corrected language to encourage competitive responses.

Roads maintenance staff described an amendment to Scodilla Construction's contract for hot-mix asphalt crack treatment and joint repair, a preventive maintenance activity intended to extend the life of recently resurfaced pavements. Staff noted common-sense precautions for crews working in hot weather: taking breaks, staying hydrated and supervisors checking on crews.

The committee approved amendment 1 to an addendum extending cooperative construction engineering oversight with Orchard Hills and McLennan Inc. for the Vinoy Dorsey Park Greenway project in the cities of Wayne and Westland; Elizabeth Isler, chief of planning, said construction had not yet started and the extension aligns oversight with the anticipated construction schedule (MDOT letting expected in August or September).

All items (1 through 11 on the agenda) were approved on a single motion moved by Commissioner Beydoun and supported by Commissioner Clemente; the clerk recorded "Motion carried." The transcript did not record individual roll-call tallies for each item.

Clarifying details: Applied Science contract described as as-needed technical support capped at $300,000; retroactive amendments for mowing contracts were prompted by solicitation language errors requiring MDOT certification for mowers; Scodilla contract covers hot-mix asphalt crack sealing and joint repair; Orchard Hills/McLennan oversight extension tied to MDOT schedule for Vinoy Dorsey Greenway construction expected this fall.

The committee moved on to public comment (none received) and adjourned.