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Livonia council hears extended public opposition to proposed police station; chair schedules focused committee meeting
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the council to abandon the proposed police station site on Brookville, citing neighborhood impacts, wetlands, cost and a contested 1% administration fee. Councilwoman Persicone said a Capitol Outlay meeting with subject-matter experts is scheduled to continue the discussion.
Dozens of Livonia residents used audience communication to press the council to reconsider plans for a new police station, singling out the Brookville location, wetlands concerns, and the project’s cost and financing plan.
"Livonians are angry. We want our police and fire staff to be paid well. Why not redesign the existing structure? Why locate the building within a neighborhood?" Rhonda Snyder told the council, adding residents oppose building on wetlands and object to a proposed 1% administration fee tied to the project.
Other speakers amplified similar objections. Michelle Chambers noted voters rejected a prior millage and said the council should respect that result: "This time we don't get a vote. Why would a city want to hide its police station behind a large building within a few feet of residential property?" Jim Bigott and several others urged postponement and asked the city to consider refurbishing an existing building or using Farmington property instead of the Brookville site.
Concerns extended beyond siting and cost. Leslie Resnick described a violent attack in Rotary Park and criticized what she said was a slow police follow-up: "They have not contacted me. It's been a week. So what are the police doing?" Several commenters asked the council to hold the police accountable for investigation practices and transparency.
Councilwoman Persicone, chair of the Capital Outlay & Infrastructure committee, said the administration would present its report and that subject-matter experts will attend a committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday to address resident concerns and technical questions. "We are gathering the information from the administration, and we are reviewing it all and we are asking questions," Persicone said.
The session produced no final action on the police-station proposal that evening; council members moved related study items to upcoming agendas and agreed to additional public meetings. Multiple residents asked for greater transparency on contracts and earlier notice of meetings; several council members said they would press the administration for written answers and potential alternatives before any formal decision.
