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Romulus council approves engineering, road and budget measures, awards $1.35 million road contract
Summary
At its Feb. 24 meeting the Romulus City Council approved a series of contracts and budget actions including a hot‑mix asphalt road contract with Al's Asphalt, a Schoolcraft College EMS clinical affiliation agreement, a four‑year alternate engineering services agreement, a SQL Server licensing purchase and a $150,000 budget amendment.
Romulus City Council on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, approved a package of contracts and budget measures that city officials said will support public safety training, maintain engineering capacity and fund the 2025 hot‑mix asphalt (HMA) road program.
The council awarded ITB 24‑25‑08 for the 2025 HMA road program to Al's Asphalt Paving as the lowest, responsive and responsible bidder for $1,230,334.50 and approved a 10 percent contingency of $123,033.45, bringing the project authorization to $1,353,367.95. Council members also approved a master educational affiliation agreement with Schoolcraft College to provide clinical training experience for EMS students; a four‑year professional services agreement naming Rowe Engineering as an alternate engineering firm; a piggyback purchase under Omnia Partners for SQL Server software and licensing from Zones LLC; and a $150,000 budget amendment to recognize reimbursable engineering fee revenue and expenditures.
The council scheduled two budget study sessions — April 14 and April 28, 2025 — and set a public hearing on the proposed 2025–26 city budget for May 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The council also approved a 30‑minute public hearing for the March 10, 2025 meeting to consider Demolition List 24‑01. Finally, the council approved warrant 25‑04 for $587,727.16 to pay city obligations.
Why it matters: the road award represents the largest single contract the council enacted at the meeting and will affect multiple local streets this construction season; the Schoolcraft affiliation maintains clinical training for future EMS personnel; the budget amendment and schedule advance the annual budget process.
Details and discussion
Roberto Scapatici, director of the Department of Public Works, explained the HMA award and the range of pavement treatments covered by the contract. "So that is asphalt pavement, full depth, you know, fixing it. Right — pulverization, reclaiming the existing, and putting down brand new road pavement," Scapatici said during council discussion. He added that some subdivisions on the list will receive full‑depth HMA while others will receive a preventive maintenance treatment.
Ken Chapman, fire chief, described the Schoolcraft College clinical affiliation as an established, annual agreement that gives EMT and paramedic students third‑ride experience with a busy department. "We run somewhere between 5,155 runs a year," Chapman said, noting the volume makes Romulus a useful training site.
City finance staff confirmed funds for the HMA award are available in the Local Street Fund and that the $150,000 budget amendment recognizes reimbursable engineering fee revenue.
Votes at a glance (actions taken)
- Master educational affiliation agreement — Schoolcraft College: motion to authorize the mayor and clerk to enter the agreement (motion presented by Councilwoman Talley; supported by Councilwoman Abdo). Approved by roll call among council members present.
- Professional services agreement — Rowe Engineering (alternate engineer, four years): motion to authorize the mayor and clerk to enter agreement (motion presented by Councilwoman Talley; supported by Councilman Jones). Approved by roll call among council members present.
- ITB 24‑25‑08 — 2025 Hot‑Mix Asphalt Road Program: award to Al's Asphalt Paving for $1,230,334.50; contingency $123,033.45; total authorization $1,353,367.95 (motion presented by Councilwoman Abdo; supported by Councilmember listed on the record). Approved by roll call among council members present.
- Piggyback purchase (Omnia Partners contract 01‑152) — Zones LLC: SQL Server software and licensing, $37,783.35 (motion presented by Councilwoman Talley; supported by Councilwoman Abdo). Approved by roll call among council members present.
- Budget amendment 24/25‑14 — $150,000 to recognize reimbursable engineering fee revenue/expenditures: second reading and final adoption (motion presented by Councilwoman Talley; supported by Councilman Kraut). Approved by roll call among council members present.
- Budget study sessions: two study sessions (Mon. April 14 and Mon. April 28, 2025) scheduled for 1 hour, 15 minutes each (motion presented by Councilwoman Talley; supported by Councilwoman Abdo). Approved.
- Public hearing on the proposed 2025–26 city budget: scheduled for Mon. May 12, 2025, 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers (motion presented by Councilwoman Talley; supported by Councilman Jones). Approved.
- Public hearing for Demolition List 24‑01: scheduled for Mon. March 10, 2025, 6:00 p.m. (motion presented by Councilwoman Talley; supported by Councilwoman Abdo). Approved.
- Warrant 25‑04: authorization to pay a set of city funds totaling $587,727.16 (motion recorded on the minutes). Approved by roll call among council members present.
What the council did not decide: the meeting recorded no changes to tax rates, no adoption of new ordinances and no land‑use approvals; the demolition list will be considered at the March 10 public hearing.
Next steps: contractors will coordinate scheduling with DPW; the HMA contractor will provide a work schedule and has a defined number of days to complete the awarded segments. The budget process continues with the scheduled study sessions and the May 12 public hearing.
Sources and provenance: excerpts of the council discussion and votes appear in council minutes and the Feb. 24, 2025 meeting transcript (see provenance entries below).
