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Taylor council approves multiple routine contracts and adopts resolution opposing further school bond issuance without state review
Summary
At the June 27 meeting the council approved several consent-agenda contracts and grant acceptances (including a $92,490 EGLE grant and water system design contract) and adopted a resolution urging state oversight and opposing further Taylor School District bond issuances tied to the 2021 ballot language.
Taylor City Council on June 27 approved a slate of routine purchases, grants and contractual items on the consent agenda and took a formal position on a disputed school bond question.
By voice vote the council approved a Community Energy Management Grant agreement with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy for $92,490 to benefit the Taylor Police Department. The council also approved a preventative maintenance contract for hose testing not to exceed $13,477, annual dues for the Western Wayne County Fire Department not to exceed $19,313, and a design contract for the 2025 water distribution system project not to exceed $695,000 funded by the Water Supply System Fund.
Other approvals included the purchase of a 2025 sign truck (not to exceed $197,495) and a DPW easement machine (not to exceed $65,000). The council also approved acceptance of MCOLES Public Safety Academy assistance to cover tuition and salary reimbursements for three sponsored police officer candidates and issued a two-week solicitor permit to Shield Company Marketing LLC for door-to-door pest-control sales through July 16, 2025.
Separately, the council reviewed and then adopted a resolution expressing disappointment with the Taylor School District’s handling of the $130 million bond the district placed on the Nov. 2, 2021 ballot. The resolution, read into the record by the council, says the school board has stated it will not build a new high school as promised to voters; it notes approximately $30 million of the approved $130 million has already been bonded and spent and it opposes further bond issuances tied to the original ballot language. The resolution requests a State of Michigan audit to ensure expenditures comply with ballot covenants and directs that the city forward a copy of the resolution to the Taylor School District and the Michigan Department of Education.
Council members asked for clarification from corporation counsel about the legal weight of the resolution and the sequence of reviews; several members said the resolution is intended as a formal expression of disagreement rather than an order that would block the school district from exercising its authority. The motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Witten and supported by Councilwoman Rose and carried by voice vote.
Votes at a glance
- Accept EGLE Community Energy Management Grant: $92,490 — Approved - National Hose Testing preventative maintenance contract: not to exceed $13,477 — Approved - Western Wayne County Fire Department dues: not to exceed $19,313 — Approved - Water distribution system project design (design portion): not to exceed $695,000 — Approved - 2025 sign truck (Gorno Ford): not to exceed $197,495 — Approved - DPW easement machine (Jack Doney): not to exceed $65,000 — Approved - MCOLES Public Safety Academy assistance (3 sponsored candidates): Approved - Solicitor permit, Shield Company Marketing LLC (door-to-door pest control, 2 weeks through 07/16/2025): Approved - Taylor School Board bond resolution (expressing opposition to further bond issuances without audit): Approved
What’s next: The council directed staff and corporation counsel to follow up with any procedural or legal questions about the resolution, and to ensure information packets about the grants and contracts are available in the public record.
