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Southfield council approves multiple routine contracts, appoints new Board of Review member; consent items pass
Summary
The City Council approved consent agenda items, awarded a pump-station maintenance contract and authorized MDOT bridge maintenance agreements. The council also swore in Marcene Turner to the Board of Review; one high-profile rezoning was voted down separately.
The Southfield City Council on Jan. 21 approved a set of routine consent items and a pair of infrastructure contracts and swore in a new Board of Review member during the meeting.
Appointments and consent items - Marcene (Marcene/Marcy) Turner was appointed and sworn in to the Board of Review following a motion and voice vote; council offered congratulations at the dais. (Appointee corrected an interviewer’s earlier remark that she had served on Detroit’s board review; she said she was a manager in the Detroit assessor’s office and worked with the board of review there.) - The council approved routine consent-agenda items including amendments, licenses, professional services contracts for promotional examinations, and authorization for several park and library capital repairs and upgrades. The consent agenda included acceptance of the Fire and Police Retirement System 2024 summary annual report (presentation summarized in a separate item).
Contracts and capital projects - Pump station maintenance: Council authorized the Water & Sewer Division to enter a contract with J K of Michigan (Jackson, Mich.) for inspection, emergency response and preventive maintenance of 17 city pump stations through June 30, 2026 with options for two one-year renewals. The contract award followed review of multiple bids and reference checks; staff reported that the selected firm’s pricing was in line with the prior incumbent’s earlier rates and that references were positive. Council discussion covered monitoring vendor performance and standard contract termination/cure provisions.
- Bridge preventive maintenance: Council authorized the mayor and clerk to sign a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) contract for preventive maintenance on two bridges (southbound Bridge Street bridge over the Rouge River and Tamarack Trail bridge) with estimated construction cost $565,350. The project will be largely funded by federal and state bridge funds; Southfield’s estimated cost share is about $113,071 (5% construction share plus estimated construction engineering). Construction was expected to start in April and finish by the end of May 2025, per staff presentation.
Votes summary (at meeting) - Consent agenda (items A, B, C, D, F, G, H, I): approved by voice vote. - Appointment: Marcene Turner to Board of Review — motion passed by voice vote and oath administered. - Pump station maintenance contract (JK of Michigan): motion to approve carried (one recorded no vote but motion passed). - MDOT bridge maintenance agreement (Bridge Street & Tamarack Trail): motion to authorize signing the contract carried unanimously. - Rezoning PZR24-0008 (24412 Southfield Road OS to B-3): motion failed (see separate article for details).
What comes next: Staff said they will present additional water and sewer project information at a Feb. 3 Committee of the Whole meeting. Staff will also follow up with the resident who raised specific police-department concerns and with neighborhoods where sewer investigations continue.
