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Residents press Inkster officials on roaming dogs, vacant lots and homicide follow-up during public comment
Summary
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press the city on public-safety and neighborhood-maintenance issues, including roaming pit bulls that killed neighborhood pets, a long-unmaintained vacant lot, recurring street flooding, and requests for better homicide-case communication.
Several Inkster residents used the public-comment period at the joint meeting to press city leaders for action on neighborhood safety and property maintenance.
A resident who identified himself as Mr. Tim described two large pit bulls that had been “roaming” the neighborhood for several weeks and said the dogs killed two cats and frightened postal workers. He said he filed a complaint with the city but had not received a follow-up. Police Chief Tamika Jenkins asked for his contact information and said she would ensure staff follow up the next day.
Other commenters raised related quality-of-life concerns. Maureen Monahan told the council there is persistent standing water at the corner of Amherst and John Daly and reported apparent leaks from a fire hydrant at Monticello and John Daly and a curb leak at Sunningdale and John Daly; she said she had notified the Department of Public Works with no lasting fix. A different resident described an ongoing, multi-year dispute involving an adjacent vacant lot — alleging irregular maintenance, trash and a confusing title history — and asked the city to investigate and intervene.
In a separate, emotional public comment, Lawanda Thomas said it had been 99 days since her brother was killed on Middlebelt and that the family had not received regular, proactive communication from authorities; she said Police Chief Jenkins had been in contact but asked the city for more sustained outreach and empathy as the investigation continues.
Chief Jenkins responded to multiple speakers during the public-comment period by asking for contact details and promising follow-up; for the roaming-dog complaint she specifically said she would make sure staff followed up the next day.
Speakers also used the podium to promote community events (a peace walk, Summerfest and a farmers market) and to request recognition for graduating students; those announcements were separate from the safety and maintenance concerns.
