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Council confirms single‑lot special assessment roll, agrees to investigate several contested charges
Summary
After a public hearing, the council approved the 2026 single‑lot special assessment roll but directed staff to investigate contested charges raised by property buyers, including a $28,000 demolition charge that a buyer said predated his ownership.
The Southfield City Council held a public hearing April 27 on the 2026 single‑lot special assessment roll and moved to confirm the roll while agreeing to investigate specific contested charges raised by property owners.
Assessor (speaker 17) told the council there are 722 delinquent charges totaling $352,114.29, covering items such as sewer loans, contractor services, tree removal, transfer affidavit fines and code corrective actions. Multiple property owners came to the podium to object to or ask about charges they said they only recently learned affect parcels they purchased.
Anton Daniels, who identified himself as a small developer who purchased land at an Oakland County tax foreclosure, said he received a notice for an assessment tied to a prior owner and that a $28,000 demolition charge is being applied to his parcel. "I'm just highlighting this because I want it removed so that I can continue with pulling a permit," Daniels said. Staff and council agreed that the situation involving tax‑foreclosure purchases needs additional review before finalizing individual charges.
Another new owner, Brad Mesclaire, described receiving a weed‑removal invoice shortly after buying a house and asked the council to consider waiving the charge for a young family; code enforcement and the assessor outlined the standard notice and billing process. Council directed the administrator and code enforcement to follow up with the property owners and recommended deferring action on specific contested items to allow records checks and title review. The council then moved to approve the roll while allowing staff time to resolve the flagged items.
What happens next: staff will contact the owners who spoke, review title and foreclosure records where relevant, and bring recommended edits or confirmations back to council. Councilmembers emphasized due process for owners who bought parcels through tax foreclosure and urged clearer public communication about such assessments.
