Residents press Highland Park council on unsecured HUD property, street safety and water bills

Several Highland Park residents used the public-comment portion of the council meeting to press city leaders for action on neighborhood safety, housing blight and water-billing concerns.

Shannon Bryce said a house at 319 Highland Street—reported in some public data as under HUD or housing-commission control—remains unsecured and has been occupied by squatters. "It's not secured," Bryce said, describing late-night activity and recent violent incidents on nearby blocks; she asked the city to contact the owner or responsible agency to board up the property.

Renata Reed of the Highland Park American Job Center described training and paid work-experience opportunities for young adults ages 16–24 and asked the council to help place residents for experiential learning.

Resident Enel Littles asked about speed bumps on Ferris Street after both of his vehicles were struck by reckless drivers; council and the mayor said traffic patterns, emergency-vehicle access and funding must be reviewed before installing speed humps and offered to have the traffic commission review the location and look for grant funding.

Garden volunteer Dora told the council she pays water bills for a garden plot at 357 Puritan that has no private water connection and said she is receiving charges she believes represent stormwater or runoff fees. The mayor offered to follow up and provided a city contact number so staff can investigate whether Wayne County Land Bank or another agency owns the lot and whether billing errors exist.

Homeowner Sarah Grieve asked the council to host a tax-and-deed-protection workshop with the assessor, treasurer and Wayne County register of deeds to help residents spot deed scams and apply for exemptions. The council thanked speakers and directed city staff and the mayor’s office to follow up where appropriate.