Auburn Hills council approves special assessments to fund three road repair projects

The Auburn Hills City Council voted Monday to create three special assessment districts to fund repairs on Executive Hills Boulevard, Center Road and Innovation Drive.

Manager of Roads and Fleet Jason Heffner told the council the Executive Hills Boulevard project is estimated at $5,380,000; the city will pay 50% ($2,690,000) and the remaining $2,690,000 would be divided evenly among 12 properties at $224,166.67 per property. Heffner presented the plans and said firm contractor bids will be requested and presented with a later resolution.

Heffner described the Center Road project as part of the broader Executive Hills work but scheduled for 2026. He said the Center Road estimate is $3,071,000, with the city paying $1,535,500 and the remaining $1,535,500 split across 25 properties at $61,420 each. He noted the city uses a PASER road-condition rating and that Center Road currently rates a 3 on a 1–10 scale, which prompted the repair recommendation. Heffner also said property owners were offered a choice to pay assessments up front or amortize over 10 years at an interest rate the city has typically set at about 5%.

At the public hearing for Center Road, property owner Tom Worthman said he had "just found out about this about 20 minutes ago" and asked why the documentation had not reached him; Heffner responded that the Department of Public Works mailed certified notices for both the informational meeting in December and for the hearing and offered to provide Worthman the informational packet. Business owner John Broderick, representing Magna International, confirmed the $61,420 figure and that the city allows payments in full or over 10 years. Heffner said Executive Hills work will be constructed in 2025 and Center Road and Innovation Drive in 2026, with the assessments for Center and Innovation due in November 2026.

For Innovation Drive Heffner gave an estimate of $1,487,000, with the city paying $743,500 and two benefiting properties each assessed $371,751. The council opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers on Innovation Drive.

Councilmembers moved each resolution in turn and approved them on roll-call votes. Councilmember Ferguson moved to adopt the Executive Hills and Innovation Drive resolutions and Doctor Fletcher moved the Center Road resolution; each motion received a second and carried unanimously by the members present. There was no recorded opposition or abstention on the three votes.

The council also approved routine consent items, introduced new recreation program coordinator Ally May (listed in the agenda as "Ally May Bloom" and introduced at the meeting as "Ally May McBroom"), and scheduled two closed sessions under the Michigan Open Meetings Act to discuss a possible real property purchase and an attorney opinion letter.

Votes at a glance: - Executive Hills Boulevard (SAD No. 10): total estimate $5,380,000; city share $2,690,000; 12 properties at $224,166.67 each; outcome: adopted. - Center Road (SAD No. 11): total estimate $3,071,000; city share $1,535,500; 25 properties at $61,420 each; outcome: adopted. - Innovation Drive (SAD No. 12): total estimate $1,487,000; city share $743,500; 2 properties at $371,751 each; outcome: adopted.

The council adjourned the open meeting after approving the items and later reconvened in closed session as authorized under the Open Meetings Act. The city manager said staff will obtain firm bids and present contract recommendations to the council at a later meeting.