Auburn Hills confirms three special‑assessment districts and awards $8.28M road contract

Auburn Hills — The City Council on April 7 confirmed three special‑assessment districts (SADs) to fund reconstruction work on Executive Hills Boulevard, Center Road and Innovation Drive and approved the construction contract and consultant scopes for the larger TIFB road improvement program.

Director of Public Works Steve Baldante summarized revisions to bid amounts and resulting assessment calculations. For Executive Hills Boulevard (SAD No. 10), the revised project estimate is $4,151,275; 50% assessed to property owners equals $2,075,637.50, or $172,969.79 for each of the 12 parcels. For Center Road (SAD No. 11), the revised estimate is $2,524,319.62; 50% assessed equals $1,262,159.81, or $50,486.39 per parcel for 25 parcels. For Innovation Drive (SAD No. 12), the revised estimate is $1,154,571.50; 50% assessed equals $577,285.75, or $288,642.87 per parcel for two parcels. Baldante noted these rolls can be contested in the Michigan Tax Tribunal under the timelines and processes specified by city ordinance and state law.

Council adopted Resolution No. 5 confirming each assessment roll after public hearings. Two written objections to the Executive Hills assessment were read into the record; some Center Road property owners voiced surprise and concern at the amount and said the assessment could materially affect investment returns. City staff told council those assessments may be paid in installments over 10 years.

Separately, Baldante presented bids for the combined 2025–26 TIFB road improvements. Federal Paving Inc. was the low bidder at $7,480,583.77. With OHM Advisors’ construction engineering and observation scope of services ($665,320) and G2 Consulting’s materials testing estimate ($130,000), the project total is $8,275,903.77. Council approved offsetting budget amendments (including a $220,000 transfer from the road portion to pathway funding) and awarded the construction and consultant contracts. Baldante said the Local Streets Fund will be reimbursed for the pathway and 50% of the three road projects from TIFA B through fund transfers; the remaining 50% will be collected through the confirmed special assessments.

Bruce Trevorrow, president of a property owners association on Updike and Center Road, told council some owners were caught off guard by the special assessment and questioned why taxpayers’ general tax dollars do not cover the full cost. Another owner, Dmitri Brodsky, said the Center Road pavement did not appear to be in so poor condition as to justify the assessment. Council members and staff discussed the rationale for a 50/50 split between city and benefiting property owners for these types of restricted business‑oriented streets and noted installment payment options.

Council votes on the three SAD confirmations and the contract award were unanimous.

Next steps: The assessment rolls become final unless successfully contested in the Michigan Tax Tribunal; contract administration and construction scheduling will be managed by OHM Advisors and city staff, with construction expected in 2025–26 per the capital improvement schedule.