Business owner urges Mount Clemens to revisit Cherry Street dumpster enclosure plan

Mike Malone, a downtown property owner, urged the Mount Clemens City Commission to reconsider an April 6 decision to allow a dumpster enclosure on Cherry Street, calling the proposal a “band aid” that creates safety and access problems for pedestrians and vehicles.

Malone, who identified himself at the microphone as a resident at 65 Market Street, said his written letter asked the city to pause construction and instead devise a clear, citywide approach to how downtown businesses manage trash. “I just hate to see the city making a decision that maybe you'll regret in the future,” Malone told the commission.

He said the Cherry Street layout lacks sufficient clearances, can block sidewalks and power lines during collection and impairs maneuvering near neighboring properties. Malone repeated a prior recommendation to reconfigure or rebuild the Roskopf lot enclosure and mentioned Market Street as another longer-term option.

Mayor Cropp and staff acknowledged Malone’s concerns and accepted handouts for follow-up. Malone said he had reviewed the March 16 work session video and felt the approved layout had not been fully vetted for operational challenges.

The commission did not take a new vote on the enclosure at this meeting. Malone asked the body to prioritize a comprehensive strategy for downtown trash management before completing construction at Cherry Street; staff accepted his materials for review and said questions raised would be addressed as part of ongoing oversight.

The next procedural step is staff review of the written materials Malone provided and any follow-up at a future work session or commission meeting.