Museum event, probate-judge candidate and resident alleges lawsuit and FOIA dispute during public comment

Public comment at the Jan. 6 Wayne City Council meeting included brief community announcements and two lengthy items of note.

First, a representative of the Wayne Historical Society (Mr. Mills) invited residents to a museum presentation featuring Todd Bridges and a personal collection of artifacts.

Second, Suzanne Fanning introduced herself to council members and the audience as a candidate for Wayne County probate judge. Fanning said she has practiced as a probate attorney for 30 years in western Wayne County, identified two priorities if elected (greater outreach and user-friendly probate court services, and attention to mental-health-related caseloads), and offered to meet or speak further with council members. "I would love to perhaps introduce myself and have a short phone call or meeting with you," she said.

Third and most contentiously, resident DaVincent McFarland used public comment to allege several grievances involving the city and its departments. McFarland stated he has filed a federal civil action ("civil action number 526-cv-10011") and alleged the fire department entered his home on March 28, 2024, without a warrant. He also claimed the city's tax successor sought to remove his MCL 211.7(b) disabled-veteran tax exemption and that he was assessed about $15,000 in back taxes; he said he now has a Michigan Tax Tribunal case. McFarland criticized the city's FOIA response as improper, asserting his request sought existing records and not the creation of any list or spreadsheet.

The council curtailed further remarks when the public-comment time expired; there was no substantive council response on the record to McFarland's allegations during the allotted public-comment period. Recorded exchanges indicate the mayor and clerk enforced the three-minute limit and declined to extend time.