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Mount Clemens commission moves to streamline reports, approves lot sale and Cherry Street musical installation
Summary
The commission voted to return most departmental statistics to quarterly reporting (except Community Development blight data), approved sale of a city lot for $300, and authorized a DDA-sponsored installation of three interactive musical instruments funded primarily by the DDA with a $5,000 grant offset.
The Mount Clemens City Commission approved several routine and small-scale city actions and highlighted ongoing concern about blight and the city’s entrances.
Commissioner mener moved to revert most departmental reporting from monthly to quarterly, except for the Community Development blight report; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. Commissioners said monthly reports were becoming redundant and agreed the blight report should remain monthly because it is time-sensitive.
The commission authorized the sale of a vacant city-owned lot at 124 Jones Street to Lenita Andrews for $300. Staff said this is one of the city’s last few vacant lots and that the sale price was consistent with recent lot transactions for smaller, non-buildable parcels.
Separately, the commission approved the DDA’s request to install three interactive musical instruments in the Cherry Street Mall. The DDA reviewed an estimate and authorized an expenditure not to exceed $20,000; total project cost is stated in the record at about $23,000. The Art Center had secured a $5,000 Main Street microgrant (MML Foundation) that will offset part of the cost. Mr Tingley and the DDA confirmed the instruments will be installed in open areas where tables were removed, can be uninstalled if a larger renovation occurs, and that the city will explore using DPS staff to reduce installation costs.
Commissioners and residents repeatedly returned to the subject of visible blight at several city entrances, including overgrown scrub trees and the long-vacant former Mome Daily building on Cass Avenue. Residents described safety incidents and indecent behavior at a heavily overgrown lot near the Clinton River Drive entrance and urged enforcement or remediation; staff said the city has contacted the property owner, is seeking contractor estimates to clean up the site, and intends to bill the owner and pursue the vacant-commercial-building ordinance as needed.
What was approved: reverting reporting cadence (quarterly for most departments), sale of 124 Jones Street to Lenita Andrews for $300, and DDA installation of three musical instruments in Cherry Street Mall (DDA to cover most cost; installation to be coordinated with city staff if possible). Discussion about blight will continue, with staff seeking contractor estimates and the commission requesting a cleaned-up Community Development blight report at the next meeting.
Next steps: Staff will provide an updated capital-improvement needs list with estimated costs and funding sources and return a cleaned-up Community Development blight report for commission review.
