Wixom council tables decision on SEMCOG Safe Streets grant for downtown pedestrian refuges

Wixom City Council on an evening meeting voted to table action on a Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) Safe Streets Now grant worth $190,400 for two pedestrian refuges in downtown Wixom, citing concerns about the chosen locations, long-term maintenance and additional federal review requirements attached to the funding.

Assistant City Manager Benson, who presented the item, told council the grant targets two pedestrian refuges — one at the east edge of downtown in front of the post office and another at the western edge near the Gibson House crossing — and asked the council to accept the award and authorize a design engineering contract with Hubble, Roth and Clark not to exceed $41,950 from the DDA special studies account. Benson said the project follows a 2024 road-safety audit and that staff views the two crossings as a single, grant-eligible package; she described a likely schedule of finishing design this year, bidding in late 2026 and potential construction in spring 2027.

"We are not seeking authorization for the installation of this project. We are merely seeking authorization from city council to take the DDA's recommendation to accept the award and authorize the expenditure from the DDA to begin the formal design engineering process," Benson said.

Several council members and members of the public questioned the choice of locations and whether maintenance funding had been set aside. Council member Kennedy asked whether day-to-day maintenance was funded; staff said DPW could handle routine upkeep and the DDA contributes toward DPW costs but there was no separate dedicated maintenance line identified.

Council member Berman pressed why the HRC scope included 360 consultant hours for two crossings; staff replied roughly 120 hours (about $13,000) are tied to required federal reviews and state historic-preservation coordination for federally funded projects and that MDOT submittal processes drive extra consultant time and cost. Mike Darger of HRC confirmed much of the additional cost stems from environmental and MDOT submittal work and that prior work has been conceptual, with field surveys and grading remaining.

Tom Resnik, a downtown business owner who circulated photos of three crashes between Aug. 2019 and June 2024, urged a different product and different locations, arguing flexible polyurethane bollards proposed elsewhere would not stop a vehicle and that refuges should be placed where actual crashes occurred. "A 90‑degree flex decorative bollard made out of polyurethane is not going to prevent what could be pedestrian death as a result of a crash," Resnik said.

After discussion, Council member Kennedy moved to table acceptance of the grant to allow staff time to gather more information and explore alternatives; the motion carried on a council roll call with the mayor recorded as opposing and several council members in favor. Council member ODay was listed as excused earlier in the meeting.

The tabling preserves the grant award while staff and the DDA revisit siting, material choices and maintenance planning. Benson said staff will continue design-level work if council ultimately approves acceptance but that final installation authorization would return to the council for approval.

Next steps: tabling means the council will revisit acceptance and design authorization after staff provides additional information; no installation contract was authorized at this meeting.