Mayor Ashford opened the meeting with a recognition of his one-year anniversary as mayor, receiving a congressional certificate from Representative Lisa C. McLean. The minutes from January 26, 2026, were approved unanimously. A public hearing on liquor license delinquencies closed with no speakers.
The following items were approved unanimously (with Resolution 26004 removed for discussion):
of America and the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. You may be seated. Let's see where is it. Before we get started here, on last uh at our last meeting, uh I wasn't aware we had uh Lisa McLean's um aide here and apparently he had a recognition that he wanted to present to me and I told him we need to wait till after the meeting and what it was is it's a congressional uh sort of like a congressional certificate and it was made to me but even though it was made to me it belongs to you so with your uh indulgence here I want to read that it says uh dear mayor I have it I left it on the table at home so it says dear mayor ashford I want to extend my sincere congratulations to you on the occasion of your one year anniversary as mayor of the city of Port Huron this milestone offers an opportunity to recognize not only your first year as mayor but also your many years of dedicated service to the Port Huron community serving as mayor is both an honor and a significant responsibility prior to being elected mayor you uh spent years serving uh on the Port Hearing City Council building a strong understanding of the city and its residents and the values held by the community your continued service reflects a deep commitment to Port Hearing and a willingness to step forward when called to serve your historic your historic election marked an important moment for the city for the city and stands as a testament to the trust placed in you by its residents the milestone also reflects the continued growth of our city and the shared value of those who I'm sorry of those who call Port Hearn home please accept this letter as recognition of your first year of service as well as appreciation for your many years of service to the city of Port Huron I extend my best wishes for the work ahead and for your continued service to our community sincerely Lisa C. McLean member of Congress and so it's just a regular folder you get in a you know a certificate you can clap because that is an honor and that's for you so it's not for me it's for you and so it it certainly is a humble um a humble thing that uh that she that she you know she gave me here so you know you don't look for anything or any pats on the back anything it's just all done in love and it's just the thing to do and what I love doing and you have made that a lot more richer by your receptivity and how you reach out and continue to reach out and come here and be a part of our city and making sure that we are you know all together up here as one so thank you City of Port Huron now we will call road police councilmember Archibald Councilmember Haremza here councilmember Lamb here. Councilmember Mojrac Councilmember Peyton here councilmember Pemberton here Mayor Ashford present council members you have before you the meeting from January the 26th is there a motion so move support moved by councilmember lamb and supported by councilmember Pemberton is there any discussion hearing none roll call please councilmember haremza yes councilmember lamb yes councilmember patent yes councilmember Pemberton yes mayor ashford yes our next item here to hear comments concerning liquor licensees delinquent and payment of taxes and or income tax reporting and payments public hearing is now open is there anyone in the audience wishing to address the public hearing this evening once going twice seeing none public hearing closed item E and now is the time for public comment speakers may address the city council on any agenda item or any matter under the city's jurisdiction speakers are allotted one four minute opportunity to make their comments and the clerk will proceed to call Going once. Going twice. Seeing none. Public hearing close. Item E. And now is the time for public comment. Speakers may address the city council on any agenda item or any matter under the city's jurisdiction. Speakers are allotted one four-minute opportunity to make their comments. And the clerk will proceed to call those names, please. Our first speaker will be Crystal Mink. And my heart is there. Yes, yes. Let's talk about police misconduct. I have addressed you guys at previous meetings about Officer Tristan Shouty badge number 45 and the incident he and I had on March 18, 2025. Eileen Tesh aired a special report on Officer Shouty on November 7, 2025, in regards to Tristan's police misconduct with Charles Reed, which is a resident, and with me. According to our report, Tristan got a substantial raise of approximately 12,000 as she got from the budget. The raise came from our city manager, James Freed, as he is responsible for hiring and firing the Port Heron police officers. When it came to the audit done on the city of Port Huron, the lady came and showed all the little numbers on the slides and showed all the funding that has ran through our city. The funding for our law enforcement should have been elaborated on, as we the people in our city hall meetings have asked for it. We want to know. The residents should have to be should be able to ask auditor questions. We are forced to pay taxes here. We should be able to ask questions as we live here and get the truth about our funding. Officer Tristan Shouty has shown his police misconduct on more than one occasion, hence the body cam footage that was leaked to the news. Tristan Shouty is an officer of the law here in Port Huron, but keeps breaking the law himself, along with breaking his oath. Tristan Shouty's fellow officers just sit by, watch, and allow Tristan Shouty to perform acts of police misconduct as seen on body camp. They are just as guilty as he is. As this is going on in our city to our residents by our police, our city manager James Freed is also sitting by allowing this to happen to our taxpaying residents. Instead, he gives substantial raises and no severe consequences. Officer Shouty keeps costing our city money. When does it end? When do we, the taxpayer, taxpaying residents have to pay for his misconduct? We the people demand an audit of Tristan Shouty in all acts of police misconduct of all officers and be investigated. I and my entire family have been targeted and harassed by law enforcement here in Port Hero, Michigan. First Amendment audits is my way of speaking for the people and my posterity. Look at BW Rock. Hosting events at bars and host members got arrested after event for DUI. This is a nonprofit organization for rehabilitation for addicts. They get funding from our city. I would really like to hear from Todd Shouty, our city attorney, as to what he thinks of his son Tristan's behavior in his duties as an officer of the law, who took an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution. Or does he cover it up for them? Is there really any accountability or consequences for Tristan? Maybe Tristan does what he wants because he has no proper training to enforce to enter the force or just lack of consequence, period.