Wayne County committee forwards sewage-rate adjustment and files two emergency procurements after debate over ordinance use

The Wayne County Committee on Public Services on a motion approved forwarding seven agenda items to the full Wayne County Commission, including a revised set of sewage disposal rates for the Rouge Valley Sewage Disposal System and two emergency procurement reports that drew extended legal and policy debate.

Committee Chair Marecki presided as the committee discussed the proposed 2023–24 Rouge Valley rates that county staff said include a roughly "monthly fixed charge of about 4,800,000.0," and that the package would produce one-time credits to member communities because the new rates represent a decrease. "Once this goes to full board and it's approved, we will go back and issue a credit," said Jessica Kenyon, M and B DPS Finance, giving examples such as Dearborn Heights ($56,000), Garden City ($30,000) and Inkster ($33,000).

The Rouge Valley item drew questions about timing and outreach. Elmika Steele, deputy director of Wayne County Public Services, said staff met with the 13 member communities in early April and planned follow-up meetings. "We met with the communities in early April, and I'll be meeting with them actually next week," Steele said. Kenyon said the 2023–24 rates will be in effect through fiscal year 2025, with new rates to take effect in fiscal year 2026.

The committee also received and debated two emergency procurement reports. The first, for Brunoco Plumbing LLC, covered an urgent repair of heat cable and insulation on piping in the autopsy room at the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office. Gregory Hurst, director of facilities management and planning, described the work as a necessary step to avoid a potential winter shutdown of autopsy operations. "This is actually, we consider kind of a gateway project to allow us to do some of the much needed renovations at the medical examiner's office," Hurst said. Freddie Williams, senior capital projects executive for facilities, said the chosen contractor completed a phased repair across eight stations without shutting down operations and that the phased work took "5, 6 weeks to complete."

That procurement was presented as an emergency, but commission counsel — addressing the committee during the item — questioned whether it met the procurement-ordinance definition of an emergency. Commission counsel said, in part, "the anticipation of something could happen was not a qualification for an emergency procurement in this instance," and suggested other expedited procurement paths such as immediate consideration or exigent approval. The committee's discussion included similar concerns from Commissioner Clemente, who noted timing inconsistencies: "The PO was dated January 22. We didn't get it until April, and now it's June," she said.

A second emergency procurement concerned a three-year contract with WillScot for delivery, installation and rental of three mobile trailers for public works yards (Wyoming, Goddard and New Boston). County staff told the committee that asbestos was found at the Wyoming Yard building and that the Goddard and New Boston sites had heating and roof issues making the existing workspace unsafe for employees. The DPS roads maintenance division director described asbestos and other hazards as the driver for the rental trailers. Committee counsel and other members questioned the use of emergency authority for a multi-year contract and for issues that were identified months earlier: procurement staff confirmed purchase orders were not issued until early 2025 even though the conditions were reported in 2024.

Arthur Walker, procurement director, acknowledged the length of time but said, "I will acknowledge that that's a, a long time for the, for the rental of the trailers. I will say in terms of the asbestos, at the time that the emergency was presented to procurement ... the situation was that there was asbestos there." Nellie Lee of Corporation Counsel said her office and commission counsel were working with departments to clarify the strict parameters for emergency procurements and to ensure future actions fit within those parameters: "We are working ... to fully understand the strict parameters of an emergency contract and to explore ... other avenues," Lee said.

Committee members ultimately voted to move items 1 through 7 on to the full board. During debate members pressed staff on communication, timing and whether alternative procurement avenues should have been used for the two emergency contracts. No formal reversal of the emergency procurements occurred at the committee level; both reports were forwarded per the committee motion.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved a single motion to forward items 1–7 to the full Wayne County Commission. Recorded roll-call votes included Commissioner Clemente (yes), Commissioner Beydoun (yes), Commissioner Palomira (yes) and Chair Marecki (yes); the motion carried.

What happens next: The forwarded items will be considered by the full Wayne County Commission; the sewage-rate package — if adopted by the full board — will prompt the county to issue credits to member municipalities for the period covered by the rate decrease. County counsel said staff and counsel will continue internal review of emergency procurement practice and possible ordinance or process clarifications.

Less prominent items: The committee also reviewed a Michigan Department of Transportation contract for road improvements along Middlebell Road from Joy Road to Plymouth Road in Livonia, a three-year purchase order (with renewal options) for truck and trailer parts funded by Act 51 monies, and a contract amendment to continue concrete cutting services. Those items were included in the package the committee forwarded to the full board.