Taylor City Council Meeting - September 2, 2025
Taylor City Council Meeting - September 2, 2025
The Taylor City Council held its regular meeting on September 2, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. with six members present, achieving a quorum. The meeting opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Former Mayor Dick Marshall's passing was announced. The council approved multiple routine items, held discussions on the 2026 Summer Festival budget, pickleball courts, a rezoning request, and amendments to gas station distancing and fats/oils/grease regulations. Three nominations to fill a vacant council seat all failed. A motion for independent legal representation for deposition was also denied. Public comments addressed a fire department incident and the 287(g) immigration enforcement agreement.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Fire department incident: A resident reported that his 72-year-old father was injured during transport by paramedics on August 28, 2025, alleging lack of accountability and unprofessional conduct by the fire chief. Corporation counsel stated the hospital performed a CT scan and found no injury, and that the incident was properly reported.
- 287(g) agreement: A speaker urged the council to repudiate the city's 287(g) agreement with ICE, arguing it grants officers authority to arrest without warrant and constitutes a segregationist policy. No council action was taken.
- Parks feedback: A resident commented on pickleball courts, lighting, and goose droppings at Heritage Park. Council and staff responded with updates on park improvements, algae bloom treatment, and fencing projects.
Discussion Items
- 2026 Taylor Summer Festival blanket purchase agreements: Approved a not-to-exceed amount of $293,500 for early booking of bands. Discussion centered on early planning to secure talent, competing with casinos, and balancing national acts versus local performers to improve revenue and sponsorship.
- Pickleball courts at Heritage Park: Approved a low bid of $364,931 (including contingency) funded by capital outlay and Wayne County Parks Millage. Discussion included the three-court design, weather-dependent striping, and updates on Lang Park dog park and basketball court repairs.
- Rezoning request (211 Van Born): Motion to deny the rezoning from I1ZC to I1 (light industrial) succeeded. The property owner argued the existing conditional rezoning with Ford Motor Company as tenant will revert to B2/gateway overlay when Ford vacates, which they consider economically unviable. The council upheld the planning consultant's recommendation, noting that a conditional rezoning for a specific project remains possible.
- Gas station distancing amendment: Approved an amendment to increase minimum distance between filling stations from 750 feet to 1,250 feet after discussion. Council members expressed concern about overabundance of gas stations; the change was made as an amendment to the motion on second reading.
- Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) control ordinance: Approved on second reading. Discussion focused on enforcement: new businesses must comply immediately; existing businesses will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, with no immediate cost burden for small businesses.
- Vacant council seat appointment: Three nominations were considered and all failed:
- Keith Lehman: Failed 2-3-1 (Daniels no, Brandana no, Rose no, Winton yes, Johnson yes, Geis abstain).
- Justin Mordowski: Failed 3-3 (Daniels yes, Brandana yes, Rose yes, Winton no, Johnson no, Geis no).
- Jack Hayden: Failed 2-4 (Daniels no, Brandana yes, Rose no, Winton no, Johnson no, Geis yes). Discussion included debate over appointing the next highest vote-getter from the previous election versus selecting a qualified individual.
- Independent legal representation for deposition: A resolution to allow council members to retain separate counsel for depositions in a pending lawsuit (subpoenaed members) failed 3-3. Corporation counsel stated he would represent the council members at the deposition. The motion's supporter argued a conflict of interest exists regarding contract approval authority.
- Other items: Approved without significant discussion: HVAC units at Heritage Hall ($61,244), fire code update to NFPA 2024, CAPER public hearing date, emergency police air containers ($23,026), animal shelter cameras ($127,744), ERP software contract ($380,455 year one), various IT renewals and amendments, audit services, and equipment repairs.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: 2026 Summer Festival blanket purchase agreements ($293,500), pickleball courts ($364,931), HVAC units ($61,244), fire code amendment, CAPER public hearing for Sept 16, 2025, gas station distancing amendment (1,250 ft), FOG control ordinance, IT purchases and renewals, ERP software contract, audit services, and equipment repairs.
- Denied: Rezoning of 211 Van Born from I1ZC to I1 (motion to deny carried).
- Failed: All three nominations to fill the vacant council seat (Lehman, Mordowski, Hayden) and the resolution for independent legal counsel for depositions.
- Adjourned: 8:07 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting to order at 6 30 p.m. according to Apple's time. Um brings us uh to item two, which is the invocation. Please come forward. Most gracious father, we thank you today. We pray for all of the city council's business today that will be taken care of on the behalf of our citizen. We pray for the mayor, we pray for the chairman, the chairman pro Tim, all the council members, and all other governing officials. We pray that your wisdom will provide in every business decision that is made on the behalf of the city. We pray for God's protection for the board for the city of Taylor for every government facility and schools as they begin to open in session today. We pray for a covering of the Almighty under the shadow of his wing, and we thank you and we ask all of these blessings in your son Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Thank you. That brings us to the Pledge of Allegiance, and like to ask Councilwoman Daniels to say the pledge. All right, next is roll call. Roll call, please. Miss Daniels here, Miss Rose here, Mr. Johnson. Here, Mrs. Brandana. Here, Miss Winton. Here, Mr. Geis. Here. Mayor Woolley. Here. Mrs. Bauer is excused. Mrs. Toko. All right. We have six members present. We have a quorum. Um, I just shared a little bit of news with uh the mayor. We'll get some uh greater clarity and probably a resolution. But uh my dad informed me that former mayor uh Dick Marshall passed away overnight. Um so we'll have an appropriate time when we get the the details of that. Um sad news. So with that, that'll bring us to the agenda. Uh item 5.1 is a motion to approve the agenda. Councilwoman. Approve the agenda. Support. Motion by councilwoman Brandana supported by Councilwoman Witten. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all is in favor say yes. Yes. All supposed 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 August 19th, 2025, and dispense with oral reading.
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