Residents urge more diverse board appointments and action on industrial noise during Mount Clemens public comment

During the public comment period at the May 21 Mount Clemens City Commission meeting, two residents urged the commission to act on community concerns.

Ruthie Stevenson, who identified herself and gave her address, told the commission that board appointments — specifically to the Mount Clemens Housing Commission — "do not reflect the makeup of this city." She said long‑standing vacancies and repeated appointments of the same social and business circles have left residents from the east side and housing projects underrepresented.

"There are people in this community that have college degrees that have worthwhile jobs ... and to say that you don't have the wherewithal to sit on the boards or be appointed to these boards is disrespectful to the community," Stevenson said, urging the commission to diversify its appointments and fill vacancies dating to December.

Andrew Wilson, who identified himself as a property owner on North Wilson Boulevard, raised an ongoing noise and traffic safety complaint about operations at a factory on Lafayette Street. Wilson described continuous noise that wakes neighbors at night and likened it to a "pile driver showing up on your street jamming 24/7," and asked for enforcement action and police presence.

Commissioners responded to both comments during their closing remarks. One commissioner thanked both speakers and said administration would follow up with them; another noted that some commissioners visited the site and that staff had been in contact with business owners. No formal directive or vote was taken at the meeting to change appointments or to initiate enforcement action; commissioners indicated they would look into the matters and report back.