Residents raise Camp Dearborn dispute and decades-long property neglect; council refers issues to administration and legal

During public comment on June 9, two residents urged the council to investigate separate neighborhood concerns: a Camp Dearborn incident that a longtime camper said led to her immediate removal and a separate complaint about a neglected property at 2975 that has drawn repeated neighbor complaints.

Tiffany Sadell, who identified herself and gave her address, described a Memorial Day–weekend encounter at Camp Dearborn in which she said a camp manager (identified as John) ordered her to leave immediately and that Milford police officers told her she could be arrested for trespassing if she did not depart. Sadell said staff would not let her secure her trailer or propane and that she later was told she was suspended from camping through Sept. 11. She said she submitted emails and documents to city staff but had not received a response. Council members acknowledged receipt of her materials and said they would refer the matter to Camp Dearborn administration and the city for a response.

In a separate comment, resident Robert Curtain described property conditions at a neighboring house (2975), including broken windows, a broken door, gutters falling off and tall grass; he said the condition has persisted for years and worried about pests and safety. Council members and staff (including the deputy director of economic development and a community-relations staff member) reviewed abatement options: the city can issue violation notices, contract for cleanup and roll costs to taxes; in some cases temporary boarding and abatement can be performed with costs added to the tax roll. Staff explained that Wayne County’s tax-foreclosure timetable can affect the process because property foreclosure typically involves multi-year tax delinquency and that the county becomes the primary authority on foreclosure outcomes. City legal staff said they would review whether an active foreclosure or litigation precludes abatement and promised a memo to council by the end of the week outlining options and the legal status.

Council members instructed staff to scan and circulate the documents the residents provided, refer the Camp Dearborn complaint to the administration and the camp for a response, and provide a status memo on the abatement and foreclosure status for the property at 2975.