Taylor City Council Meeting - May 6, 2025: Towing Contract, Paving Bid, and ICE Agreement Debated
Taylor City Council Meeting - May 6, 2025
The Taylor City Council convened on May 6, 2025, at 6:30 PM, with a quorum of six members present. The meeting included a lengthy debate on rescinding a 2016 towing contract resolution, approval of a paving contract, adoption of an election non-interference policy, and discussion of the police chief's recent signing of a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Several public comments were heard on these topics.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda with amendments (adding items 7.13 and 7.14).
- Approved the minutes of April 15, 2025 (passed 5-1).
- Approved the minutes of the special meeting April 29, 2025 (passed 5-1).
- Approved proclamations for Professional Municipal Clerks Week (May 4-10, 2025) and honoring Robert Swed for 45 years of service.
- Approved personal service contract for assistant general manager at Taylor Sports Plus.
- Approved various routine items: pressure vessel testing ($15,000), additional funds for construction ($5,750), police software ($7,800), opening CDBG public hearing, and closing it with no comments.
- Approved picnic tables for petting farm ($12,650), windrow tuner repair ($2,456), and MPSI training ($1,700).
- Approved metal roofs and siding for city structures ($172,358).
- Approved Skynet Innovations for Microsoft 365 licenses ($459,225 with 10% contingency) and conversion tools ($53,949).
- Approved printing of ballots for 2025 city elections ($13,000).
- Approved Taylor High School Music Program solicitation request on June 28, 2025.
- Approved a resolution honoring Bob Seeger on his 80th birthday.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Andrew Heiko (county road commissioner): Expressed support for Area Towing, stating they have complied with contract terms and that court rulings favored the company.
- Dan Wallace (resident): Urged council to rescind the 2016 resolution and requested that current towing rates be published for citizens.
- Martin Juilliard (resident): Alleged he received death threats after providing information about the towing company; claimed the mayor was not CJ-certified when he did background checks.
- Renee Stallions (Allen Park resident): Detailed complaints about Area Towing's billing practices, lack of posted rates, and failure to comply with contract terms.
- Chris (resident): Supported the JT Towing bid and questioned why council did not provide explanations for their votes.
- Chris Fernandez (resident): Urged council to go back to the drawing board and explore other options for towing.
- Eric Hall (resident): Stated that the vote on the towing resolution would reveal where each council member stands.
- Mike Gluba (resident): Described poor road conditions on Murray Street and argued that the lowest bidder does not always produce quality work.
- Samara Wolf (resident): Expressed confusion about the paving bid process and hoped for road improvements.
- Gerald Thomas (resident): Criticized the election non-interference policy as overly restrictive and unnecessary.
- Kathy Fields (written public comment): Raised questions about the ICE agreement, including cost, impact on community relations, and lack of council knowledge.
- Caroline Pat (resident): Thanked the police chief for explaining the ICE agreement and provided updates on the Historical Society's school visits.
- Philip Peters (representing State Representatives DeSanta and Thompson): Voiced strong support for the 287(g) agreement, citing federal and state funding implications.
- Chris (resident): Supported the ICE agreement, arguing it protects taxpayer dollars and public safety.
- Gary Blum (resident): Defended the police chief's decision as a routine act of leadership.
- Corey Morris (resident): Expressed moral concerns about the ICE agreement and questioned the lack of council involvement.
Discussion Items
- Rescinding 2016 Towing Resolution (Item 6.4): Council debated for over an hour. Councilwoman Winton argued the resolution was not intended to bind future councils and that the current vendor (Area Towing) violated contract terms. Councilman Johnson and others opposed rescinding without a replacement, fearing a gap in coverage. Mayor Woolley defended the process of issuing an RFQ and noted that two vendors were brought forward but both failed to gain approval. The motion to rescind failed 3-3.
- Paving Contract (Item 7.12): Originally a motion to approve Ajax Paving (second lowest bidder), but after discussion, the motion was withdrawn. A new motion to approve L's Asphalt (lowest bidder) was made and passed 4-2. The city engineer recommended the lowest bid to maximize road repairs. Councilwoman Brandana noted concerns about the other bidder's past bid-rigging conviction.
- Election Non-Interference Policy (Item 7.15): The policy would restrict elected officials and candidates from using city resources for campaigning. Corporation counsel opined it was likely preempted by state law and unnecessary. The policy passed 4-2.
- ICE 287(g) Agreement (Open Business): The police chief explained that the agreement formalizes existing practices of notifying ICE when illegal immigrants are arrested. He emphasized no cost to the city, free training, and civil liability protection. Council members expressed frustration at not being informed beforehand, but many supported the chief's explanation. The agreement was not subject to a vote.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes of April 29 special meeting: Approved 5-1.
- Motion to rescind 2016 towing resolution: Failed 3-3 (Daniels, Rose, Brandana opposed; Winton, Johnson, Geis in favor).
- Motion to approve L's Asphalt for paving: Passed 4-2 (Daniels, Rose opposed; Brandana, Winton, Johnson, Geis in favor).
- Motion to approve election non-interference policy: Passed 4-2 (Winton, Johnson opposed; Daniels, Rose, Brandana, Geis in favor).
- Meeting adjourned at 9:41 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting to order at 6:30. Uh, before we get into uh the agenda, uh, do want to make a public announcement that uh there is a black truck uh that is parked out front, and the tail uh uh trailer hitch is extending over the sidewalk, and so there is uh concern raised by our fire chief uh that uh somebody may not be able to get uh into the meeting and/or uh bump into that trailer hitch. So if that is your truck, we ask you to please uh move it forward so that the trailer hitch is not obstructing the uh the sidewalk. All right, that brings us then to the invocation. Do we have anybody here this evening to give the invocation? Um we did not have a name, so we can go past that, and that'll bring us to the uh pledge of allegiance and like to ask the mayor to lead us in the pledge to the United States of America stands under individual with liberty and justice for all you all did that almost as well as uh Boy Scouts. Uh there was uh I was asked to speak to a uh troop of Boy Scouts uh just before this meeting. Um and I got to tell you uh seeing our young citizens here in the city of Taylor uh doing good things. They were asking uh what it things that they could get involved with, and so I mentioned uh the um cemetery cleanup with the clerk's office, uh volunteering at Fish and Loaves, but uh it's always good to see uh young individuals in our community uh looking to uh to get involved. So that brings us to the roll call. Um just a note again to the public. We've got a couple announcements. We have new microphones. Uh so hopefully that assists in everybody hearing us. Uh do you know uh you know to the members? If you're not speaking, you can turn the mic off. Uh certainly I can still hear when you want to be uh recognized, but we have two spots where the microphones uh require some additional work, uh including our council secretary and the first council position. So when you see her using the microphone, uh that is why. So with that, we'll go to the roll call. Ms. Daniels here, Miss Rose, here Mr. Johnson, here Mrs. Brandana here, Miss Winton. Here, Mr. Geis, here Mayor Woolley, here Mrs. Bauer, here and Mrs. Topo. All right, we have six members present. We have a quorum. Um next we go to uh the agenda in minutes. Uh first item is a motion to approve uh the agenda. Chairman Councilwoman. I make a motion to approve the agenda with the following amendments. Item 7.13, motion to approve Skynet Innovations for 390 Microsoft 365 G3 licenses for a term of three years for an amount of four four hundred and fifty-nine thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars with a ten percent contingency for growth funded through the general fund IT contractual services, and item 7.14, motion to approve Skynet Innovation Sole Source for Microsoft 365 conversion tools, one year backup, and one year mail protector for an amount not to exceed $53,949 funded through general fund IT contractual services. Support motion by councilwoman Brandana supported by Councilwoman uh Winton to approve the agenda uh with amendments. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say yes, yes, all is opposed say no. The yes is have it motion carried. Item 5.2 is a motion to approve the acceptance of the minutes of the meeting held April 15th, 2025 and dispense with oral reading. Motion support, motion by councilwoman witten supported by councilwoman Brandana. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all is in favor say yes, yes, yes. All is opposed, say no. Yes, is have it motion carried. Item 5.3 is a motion to approve the acceptance of the minutes of the special meeting held April 29, 2025 and dispense with oral reading. Motion. Support. Motion by Councilwoman Whitten supported by Councilman Johnson. Is there any discussion? Chairman.
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