Romulus council approves appointments, budget amendment, contracts and land transfers; dozens of routine items passed

The Romulus City Council on Monday, Dec. 23 approved a slate of administrative actions including appointments to the property disposition committee, a $61,500 budget amendment tied to continued professional education funding, several contracts and the transfer of surplus city parcels to the Wayne County Land Bank.

The actions were presented as separate motions and passed by roll call vote. Council also scheduled public hearings and study sessions in January and approved the city warrant for $874,633.61 covering multiple funds.

Why it matters: The measures consolidate administrative operations (appointments and contracts), advance economic development work and clear city-owned parcels for possible redevelopment by the county land bank. The budget amendment and contract approvals set funding and services the city will use in 2025.

Major approvals and outcomes

- Appointment to fill council vacancy: Council voted to appoint Harry Croft to the council seat that Councilman Al Wilson will vacate when he assumes the Wayne County commissioner position effective Jan. 2, 2025. Motion: moved by Councilman Wadsworth, seconded by Councilwoman Talley; outcome: approved by roll call. (See provenance below.)

- Property disposition committee appointments: Gary Harris was appointed to the property disposition committee (term through Jan. 25, 2028) and Tracy Leininger was reappointed (term through Jan. 25, 2028). Motions: moved by Councilwoman Talley and supported by colleagues; outcomes: approved by roll call.

- Budget amendment (24/25-10): Second reading and final adoption of budget amendment 24/25-10 in the amount of $61,500 to recognize continued professional education funding for MCOLES (Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards) and related allowable expenses. Motion: moved by Councilwoman Roscoe, supported by Councilwoman Talley; outcome: approved by roll call.

- Transfer of city parcels to Wayne County Land Bank: Council authorized transfer via quitclaim deed of identified excess city-owned parcels to the Wayne County Land Bank. Administration noted some parcels are non-buildable or require environmental remediation. Motion: moved by Councilwoman Roscoe; outcome: approved by roll call.

- Merriman Road SAD pedestrian lighting: Council authorized the mayor and clerk to execute a master agreement with DTE Electric Company for DTE to assume responsibility for pedestrian street lighting in the Merriman Road Special Assessment District, from Flynn North to the approximate Leonardo's location, at no additional cost to the city. Motion: moved and approved by roll call.

- Lease agreement for storage space: Council authorized the mayor and clerk to execute a five-year lease with Detroit Metro Airport Center LLC for 3,125 square feet of temperature-controlled storage for the city clerk's office and the police department, effective Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2029. Motion: moved by Councilwoman Roscoe; outcome: approved by roll call.

- Professional services agreement (economic gardening): Council authorized a professional services agreement with Best Practices Consulting Services for Phase 3 of an economic gardening program (business development and technical assistance for small businesses) from March 8, 2025 through Dec. 12, 2025 in the amount of $46,500. Assistant finance director Gary Harris verified budgeted funds are available. Motion: moved by Councilwoman Talley; outcome: approved by roll call. Council stated the funding source is a grant but the transcript did not specify the grant name.

- Official newspaper selection: Council selected Associated Newspapers as the city’s official newspaper for 2025 at a rate of $4.75 per column inch; the bidder currently offers virtual publication only. Motion: moved by Councilman Wadsworth; outcome: approved by roll call.

- Public hearing and study-session scheduling: Council set a public hearing for a partial street vacation of Lorman Avenue for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., and scheduled a 45-minute study session for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. for the fiscal year 2024 audit presentation by Plante Moran. A 30-minute special study session was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss a proposed zoning amendment on the storage of recreational vehicles, commercial vehicles and automobiles in residential districts. Motions: moved by council members as recorded; outcomes: approved by roll call.

- Citywide yard sales and 2025 meeting schedule: Council approved spring and fall 2025 citywide yard sale dates and adopted the 2025 regular council meeting schedule. Motions approved by roll call.

- Warrant approval: Council approved warrant 24-24 totaling $874,633.61 covering multiple funds including general fund ($156,759.15), water and sewer fund ($278,134.24) and other special funds. Motion: moved by Councilwoman Abdo; outcome: approved by roll call.

Items noted but not resulting in formal policy changes

- The council approved a resolution authorizing the city’s board of review to use the 2025 poverty exemption criteria recommended by the assessing director; the item was presented as an administrative authorization for the board of review to consider exemptions.

Votes at a glance (selected)

- Appointment of Harry Croft to council seat (fills vacancy Jan. 2, 2025 through Nov. 2025): approved by unanimous roll call (ayes recorded for Talley, Roscoe, Wilson, Wadsworth, Abdo and chair).

- Budget amendment 24/25-10 ($61,500): approved by unanimous roll call.

- Professional services agreement (Best Practices) $46,500: approved by unanimous roll call.

- Lease with Detroit Metro Airport Center LLC (3,125 sq ft, five years): approved by unanimous roll call.

- Merriman Road SAD street lighting (DTE master agreement): approved by unanimous roll call.

What council members said and next steps

Council members generally described the approvals as routine administrative actions and thanked staff for pre-meeting briefings in several cases. Several items (the Lorman Avenue street vacation, the zoning amendment on vehicle storage and the audit presentation) will return for public hearings or study sessions in January 2025.

The city clerk's office will publish formal meeting minutes and posted materials for agenda items, including the list of parcels conveyed to the Wayne County Land Bank and the professional services agreement scope. The board of review will apply the adopted poverty-exemption resolution in its 2025 review process.

Ending note: Council opened a number of procedural items that set the city’s administrative and budgetary operations for the coming year; more substantive deliberation is expected at the scheduled January study sessions and public hearings.