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Residents urge Romulus council to help keep praised preschool in town and fix playground access for a child with disabilities
Summary
Public commenters told the council that Beyond the Bell preschool is being pressured by a housing authority/association and urged intervention; another resident raised ADA accessibility concerns about a newly renovated playground at Romulus Elementary.
Romulus — During public comment at the Romulus City Council meeting on Nov. 25, residents urged the council to look into issues affecting a popular preschool and raised a separate accessibility concern at a local elementary school.
Sam Miller, a resident and firefighter/EMT, said Beyond the Bell preschool — which he described as licensed and previously praised by state officials — has faced opposition from a housing authority or homeowners association and that the pressure is forcing the program to relocate out of the neighborhood. "This business has gotten such a hard time from the housing authority that now they have to move it all the way... deep in Westland," Miller said, asking council members to "hear with an open ear." He emphasized the program's positive reputation and said families rely on it.
Samantha Stewart, who also uses Beyond the Bell for child care, echoed the praise and said it would be "a grave disappointment" for the business to leave Romulus. Stewart asked the council to investigate the reason the program has received complaints despite receiving praise from the governor's team and being licensed.
Stewart also raised an accessibility concern about a playground renovation at Romulus Elementary for her son, a wheelchair user. She said the upgraded playground did not provide routes he can use and asked parks and schools staff to ensure ADA-compliant access so children with disabilities can participate in playground activities.
Mayor McCrae responded that she had questions and invited the commenters to provide more details after the meeting so staff and the mayor's office could follow up; no formal action was taken during the meeting. "I have a lot of questions on all of them... I'd love to talk to you after the meeting," the mayor said.
The council did not take immediate action on either issue at the Nov. 25 meeting; the mayor requested additional information from the commenters and indicated staff follow-up would be required.
The public comments are on the record and the mayor's office indicated it would pursue additional information from the housing authority/association, the school district and relevant city departments.
