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Saginaw council moves to reopen Ojiway Island, approves emergency towers and trail work
Summary
After weeks of debate and repeated public comment urging open access, Saginaw City Council approved emergency towers and a trail extension at Ojiway Island and directed staff to proceed with a hybrid opening plan that will be monitored and adjusted based on safety outcomes.
Saginaw City Council voted June 22 to advance measures aimed at reopening Ojiway Island while addressing safety concerns, approving emergency “tower” call boxes and cameras funded through ARPA and awarding a contract to extend the island’s north trail.
The action follows several public speakers who urged full vehicular access to Ojiway. Jeff BS, representing a neighborhood group and community survey effort, told the council, “The community wants the Ojiway Park open totally… default open. You can close it when you have events.” Longtime resident Katoya Richmond described family outings and asked the council not to pre-emptively limit access.
Council approved a $31,229 purchase from Advanced Business Communications for emergency towers and cameras to be placed in Ojiway Island Park. The motion passed on roll call, seven in favor and one opposed. Council also approved a $144,468 contract with Fiser Contracting Company to extend the island’s north trail and discussed remaining ARPA and general-fund allocations to complete upper-park improvements.
Mayor Pro Tem Tim Garcia said the city is trying a cautious approach: “Try it out, see how it is; if we don’t like it, go back to the drawing board.” Several council members stressed the need for a trial period and clear metrics, with one member suggesting a roughly 60-day trial to test safety and use before making permanent changes.
Public-safety concerns were a central thread. Denita Dorsy urged the council to take enforcement action against liquor stores and other properties she described as recurring nuisance locations; several council members noted those code-enforcement concerns are part of a broader discussion about neighborhood safety and nuisance ordinances currently in draft form.
City staff said the emergency towers are funded through ARPA money allocated to Ojiway Island improvements and that those ARPA funds expire at year-end; operating costs for facilities and staffing are separate and require different budget plans. The council directed staff to post the draft nuisance/gathering ordinance for public review and to return with the ordinance for introduction at the July 27 meeting.
What’s next: Staff will install the emergency towers and cameras, oversee construction of the north-trail extension, implement the hybrid opening plan described by council, and return to the council with monitoring results and any recommended adjustments.
