Wayne County updates dozens of commission-funded projects; township paving allocated $14 million
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Summary
Management & Budget briefed the committee on the status of FY24'FY26 commission initiatives: 43 economic-development projects (many in contract review), multiple DPS roads and parks projects, and a $14 million township paving program with $7.7 million already obligated and construction set for spring 2026.
Wayne County Management and Budget staff delivered a project-by-project status update to the Ways and Means committee on Jan. 8, reporting activity or next steps for dozens of commission-funded initiatives.
Staff said the nonprofit and small-business economic-development pot ($3,000,000) has 43 projects identified: 19 are in the county's contract-management system (TCM), 11 are pending contract signatures, nine need additional details, and four remain to be submitted. Several high-profile allocations were noted: Davis Aerospace High School ($500,000), Samaritan's Family Independence Center ($1,000,000, of which $400,650 has been spent), and Renaissance of Hope (a $3,000,000 contract submitted to commission and currently under internal review, TCM 2026-96-015).
Road and public-service projects were discussed in detail. Staff said an ASR road-construction initiative is proceeding with an intergovernmental agreement planned with Canton Township. A pedestrian bridge on Palmer Road over I-275 has a separate $3.2 million MDOT appropriation that must be transferred to Canton Township and is currently in the transfer process. The township paving program was allocated $14,000,000, with $7,700,000 of the original funds already obligated; staff told commissioners construction will begin in spring 2026 and a round-2 application process is underway to distribute remaining funds.
Commissioners pressed staff on delivery and oversight for non-departmental allocations, asking whether funds had been disbursed or were still pending. Chief assistant Dursale Brown and Chief Fiscal Adviser Terrence Adams said they would verify approvals and the administrative owner for non-departmental items so the commission can track implementation. Several commissioners asked staff to bring department directors for follow-up when projects appear stalled.
Chair Kenlock asked staff to prepare follow-up responses for items raised in the meeting and said the committee intends to review initiative status periodically (about once a quarter) with follow-up items on the agenda.
The committee approved routine agenda motions at the end of the meeting but did not adopt additional substantive project approvals at this session.