Commissioners direct assessor to prepare special assessment roll after downtown maintenance hearing

The Mount Clemens City Commission on Oct. 3 held a public hearing on a proposed downtown maintenance assessment and instructed staff and the assessor to return with firm cost figures and a prepared special assessment roll for a second public hearing.

City Manager Barret Shipman presented a map of primary and secondary downtown streets and said the draft assessment was based on a projected downtown maintenance expense “of $70,000.” He told commissioners he had discovered an error in the earlier calculation and said staff will provide corrected, firm numbers before the commission votes. Shipman also flagged uncertainty about how the ongoing Cherry Street Mall construction could reduce the number of sweeping days and affect the final cost.

Commissioners discussed whether to adopt the staff-recommended rate increase now (staff referenced a proposed 22% increase) or to implement a smaller increase this year and delay additional increases until next year. Commissioners raised concern about the optics of a large percentage increase for downtown business owners who are already facing construction in the district. Several commissioners said they preferred to see exact figures before approving a final roll.

After discussion the commission voted to close the public hearing and instructed staff to have the assessor prepare the special assessment roll and return the item at the next meeting for final consideration; the commission set a second public hearing date to allow public review and comment. The motions to open and to close the hearing and to direct staff to prepare the roll carried on roll call votes.

Next steps: staff will supply corrected, itemized cost figures and the assessor’s proposed roll in advance of the second hearing; the commission will consider final adoption at that subsequent meeting.