Detroit residents reject pollution, waste during public meetings

City Council is back from August recess, and we’re back from a Labor Day break with two weeks of reporting on public meetings.

Of course it wouldn’t be August without power outages for DTE Energy customers. And it seems like the summer storms left a foul stench in the air. The air may start to smell better for Detroiters seeking a solution to concerns about pollution, but there may be a price to pay.

Finance

Both the City of Detroit and its public school district are in good financial standing, according to the Detroit Financial Review Commission. The city took advantage of its improved credit rating to refinance about $100 million in bonds, which will ultimately save about $4 million to $5 million. And Detroit Public Schools had a budget surplus for the ninth year in a row. The school district’s Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Vidito noted one-time federal funding for school nutrition reversed a projected deficit in that program. But because of the increasing cost of food, Vidito projects a deficit for the program next year if the government doesn’t raise the reimbursement rate.

Public commenters wanted to know how Detroit has a budget surplus when it still owes retirees whose pensions were cut during the 2013 bankruptcy. Increased funding and an accelerated plan for pension payouts is part of the 2025 budget the City Council approved in April.

8/26/2024 Detroit Financial Review Commission, documented by Paige Rollins

8/27/2024 Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System — Investment Committee: Lorenzo Newsome Jr., the newly appointed pension investment officer for the retirement system’s $2.7 billion fund, laid out his goals and vision during his first meeting with the Investment Committee. Separately, members briefly discussed the arrest of an unnamed former staff member being investigated by the Michigan State Police for defrauding the fund.

Documented by A J Johnson, Caitlin Santer and Perry Sylvester

Environment

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) held a hearing as part of its consideration of a permit modification for Stellantis’ Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack to approve air scrubbing equipment — installed to decrease odors — and increase allowed particulate emissions by the plant. In spite of how efficiently EGLE officials ran the public hearing, there were serious, legitimate concerns expressed by residents and elected representatives in public comment.

The permit Stellantis is seeking would certify equipment that was installed last year to address odor complaints, and allow for higher releases of particulate matter into the air. Early in the meeting, EGLE officials admitted that the permit’s approval would be based on whether the automaker’s request meets air quality regulations, not residents’ wishes or concerns. Since the equipment is already running but at lower limits, the only change would be that Stellantis will be allowed to pump out more particulate matter associated with health problems such as asthma.

Residents rejected having to choose between oppressive odors or increased particulate emissions. State Sen. Stephanie Chang pointed out that Detroit received an F from the American Lung Association for its air quality, and she implored EGLE to find solutions to increase emissions, not increase them.

9/5/2024 EGLE — Informational Session and Public Hearing for FCA Mack Plant, documented by Anna Harris and Elise Koelsch

Development

8/26/2024 Detroit Board of Zoning Appeals: Officials from the city’s Law Department presented proposed changes to the rules that dictate how meetings are run. The modifications stem from the board’s recent expansion from seven to nine members.

Documented by Gina McPherson and Meghan Rutigliano

9/5/2024 Detroit City Planning Commission: Amid complaints of pollution issues, commissioners approved the downzoning of an industrial area in the Schoolcraft neighborhood near Greenfield Road. Some worry it won’t be enough to fix the problem, since the rezoning will not require existing industrial businesses to close.

Documented by Alex Klaus and October (Meg) Krausch

Tourism

8/26/2024 Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority — Board of Directors: Board members awarded a more than $43 million contract to general contractor Dan’s Excavating Inc. of Shelby Township to construct the Second Avenue north approach to Huntington Place. It’s part of an expansion which will connect car, pedestrian and bike traffic generated from the convention center to downtown.

Documented by Heather Alder

Utilities

8/28/2024 Great Lakes Water Authority — Board of Directors: The board approved the Oakwood Combined Sewer Overflow Sewer Construction Project in Detroit. The project is designed to help manage surcharges and provide emergency backup by building a tunnel from the authority’s Water Resource Recovery Facility in Southwest Detroit to a major sewer system in northwest Detroit.

Documented by Alisa Lomax and Heather Alder

9/4/2024 Detroit Board of Water Commissioners — September committee meetings: Capital improvements of Detroit’s aging water system remain constant, with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department reporting $79 million in active sewer contracts and $132 million in active water contracts.

Documented by Nathaniel Eichenhorn and Sandi Nelson

Policing

8/29/2024 Detroit Board of Police Commissioners: Commissioners welcomed new Board Secretary Lydia Garnier and a new attorney, Dante Goss. Goss was provided by the city’s Law Department and will work with the board on an interim basis, replacing the last interim attorney provided by the city. Commissioners Willie Burton and Cedric Banks suggested that the board should hire its own attorney to avoid conflicts of interest in overseeing a city department.

Documented by Alex Klaus and Betsy Spratt

9/5/2024 Detroit Board of Police Commissioners: During a presentation on the Detroit Police Department’s budget, commissioners questioned an increase in overtime payments from $37 million budgeted to roughly $60 million spent to date in fiscal year 2024. The department’s chief financial officer, Nevrus Nezarko, was unable to provide an answer.

Documented by Colleen Cirocco and Laila Hamdan

For more on the Board of Police Commissioners, check out the latest BOPC Watch.

Politics

9/3/2024 Detroit City Council — Formal Session: In a short meeting after returning from August recess, councilmembers received and filed reports, including a few contracts that were approved during the recess.

Documented by Amber Umscheid and Robert D’Andrea

For more on City Council, check out Malachi Barrett’s City Council Notebook at BridgeDetroit.

9/3/2024 Highland Park City Council: A motion to reappoint Lisa Stolarski as treasurer failed, with three out of five commissioners voting no. The council approved a moratorium on water shutoffs without being sure of its legal authority to do so.

Documented by Sherrie Smith and Yasmin Siddiqui

9/5/2024 Wayne County Commission — Full Commission: Commissioners approved a resolution opposing the transportation or disposal of hazardous waste in Wayne County, approved a resolution recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and an up to $9 million contract with ATC Healthcare to provide staffing at the juvenile detention facility if needed.

Documented by Heather Alder and Patricia Quaglia

This story was written by Outlier Media’s Lynelle Herndon and Noah Kincade, with Detroit Documenters Alex Klaus, Meghan Rutigliano, Perry Sylvester and Sherrie Smith.