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Residents praise fast EMS response and press council to address rental-property maintenance
Summary
During audience participation, a resident credited St. Clair Shores firefighters and paramedics with saving her husband's life after a heart attack; another speaker urged stronger enforcement and landlord accountability for rental properties and suggested incentives to attract public-safety employees to live in the city.
Residents used the audience-participation period at the May 18 council meeting to both thank first responders and press officials on neighborhood maintenance and rental-property concerns.
Linda Swack said she called 911 on April 29 when her husband suffered a heart attack. She described rapid dispatch and emergency care, saying crews arrived quickly, transported him, and that he was in a catheterization lab within about 45 minutes. Swack told the council her husband survived a so-called "widow-maker" heart attack and publicly thanked the fire department and paramedics for their lifesaving response.
Later, Mark Greger, a lifelong city resident, described what he called growing problems with rental properties — tall grass, abandoned cars and poorly maintained yards — and urged the city to hold property managers and owners accountable. He suggested incentives for police and fire personnel to live in the city, arguing more local residency among public-safety staff could improve community ties. Richard Bennett, another resident, recounted repeated damage to his fence by a neighboring business and asked the council to enforce screening requirements and provide clarity on when businesses must install a required screen wall.
Council members and staff acknowledged the concerns: city staff said code enforcement has issued violations where appropriate and is arranging cleanups and follow-ups, and staff committed to targeted enforcement for right-of-way sign removal and site-plan compliance at problem properties. The city also noted ongoing efforts on EV-charger accounts, development follow-ups and upcoming public outreach tied to new ordinances and projects.
The council did not take immediate policy action on rentals during the meeting but recorded the residents’ requests for follow-up from code enforcement and community development staff.
