Taylor City Council Meeting Summary - November 5, 2025

The Taylor City Council met at 6:30 p.m. on November 5, 2025, and adjourned at 7:48 p.m. The agenda and approved minutes were not available for this summary. The council approved multiple routine purchases, received reports, heard farewell remarks from outgoing officials, and adopted a resolution opposing removal of the SMART bus stop at Southland Mall.

Consent Calendar and Routine Approvals

• Approved the meeting agenda and accepted the minutes of the October 21, 2025 meeting without oral reading.
• Approved Synergy Products as a sole source to purchase and install Cradlepoint 5G modems, hardware, and Panasonic Toughbooks for all Taylor Fire Department fleets, not to exceed $50,000, funded through the General Fund fire department equipment account.
• Approved CivicPlus for a one-year renewal term and website services, not to exceed $16,626, funded through the General Fund administration account.
• Received and filed Case No. 25-32 ZTA Automobile Storage Facilities Amendment, amending Article 13, Section 13.05; Article 28, Section 28.08; and Table 8.02, with renumbering as attached.
• Approved Apex Sketch Software as a sole-source renewal, not to exceed $4,550, funded through General Fund IT contractual services.
• Approved PowerDMS cloud-based software renewal through PowerDMS Inc. in the amount of $7,222, funded through General Fund police contractual services.
• Approved Wolverine Rental and Supply as the sole-source vendor to repair the Kubota Mini Plow unit, not to exceed $4,889, funded through the parks repair and maintenance account.
• Approved HESCO as the current vendor for a three-year bid extension of the 2022 pump maintenance inspection contract covering fiscal years 2025-2028, funded through the Major Street Fund and Lakes of Taylor Golf Course Fund.
• Approved purchase agreements for the City Clerk's Office for fiscal year 2025-2026, not to exceed $25,000.
• Received and filed the annual report of the Board of Ethics. Board Chairman Hargraves said one hearing is still pending a state decision with a settlement date of November 28, and that the board would submit recommendations to the code of ethics after meeting eight times this year.
• Accepted the Taylor Police Department homeless outreach and referral program grant in the amount of $174,970. Police Chief Blair and Lieutenant Alex Stellini said the grant has no matching requirement, no requirement to hire additional officers, and no cost to taxpayers. Two officer teams will work four hours per day, four days per week for two years to connect homeless, substance-abuse, and mental-health crisis individuals with treatment and assistance. Lieutenant Stellini said the Guidance Center is providing tablets at no cost to the city.

Mayor's Communication and Recognition

• Mayor Woolley congratulated Clerk Bauer and her staff for their work on election day.
• Taylor Historical Society President Caroline Patz recognized Taylor High School drama and band students for their cemetery walk reenactments at West Mound Cemetery. The society presented a check for $300 to the Taylor High School Drama Club, and students performed a short reenactment honoring a fallen soldier, Erwin H. Canop.

Public Comments and Testimony

• John Waterman, executive director and founder of PEAK, said Southland Mall requested that SMART remove the bus stop by November 10, which he called an ADA violation. Three PEAK participants, Kenneth, Kamisha, and Karen, described depending on the 125 bus to reach the mall for independence, employment, and community outings. Waterman stated that SMART offered to repair the stop, pay a fee, and relocate it, but the mall refused. He requested a stay, a site plan, and a public hearing.
• Petra Mahalco, communications manager for Transportation Riders United, thanked the council for supporting the bus stop and said more than 450 people signed a petition supporting it.
• Robert Pelowski, a SMART Advisory Council at-large member and long-time transit rider, thanked the council, said 453 people signed the petition, and urged continued partnerships among Taylor Police, Southland security, and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office to balance safety and accessibility.
• Rich Pratt announced upcoming community events: Stuff the Bus on November 15-16 at Home Depot on Telegraph Road; a Foundation for Excellence dueling pianos fundraiser on November 15 at 6 p.m. at the VFW/Democratic Club on Wick Road with $35 tickets; and a Taylor Police fundraiser at the Masonic Temple for American House fire victims.

Discussion Items

• The Mayor and Corporation Counsel explained that state law now allows overseas absentee ballots to be counted up to six days after the election, so Wayne County will not certify the November 4, 2025 election by next Monday as the city charter contemplates. Corporation Counsel cited Charter Section 4.8(B), meaning current officials will continue to serve until their successors are elected and qualified. The status of the scheduled November 18 meeting was described as uncertain.
• Outgoing council members gave farewell remarks. Councilwoman Witten praised Clerk Bauer, congratulated newly elected officials, and said voters had held city officials accountable for inaction. She listed unfinished issues including firework-stand enforcement, short-term rentals, rezoning vacant parcels, expanding the donation policy to include sponsorships, filling the council vacancy, and towing vendor complaints, including a constituent receiving an $8,000 cleanup bill. Councilwoman Brandana defended council decisions, said she had nominated six people for the vacancy, and said absences should not be judged without knowing the reasons. Chairman Geis recognized family support, noted nearly 40 years of combined family public service, and said the next council should maintain a healthy fund balance while continuing work on lead service lines.
• During discussion of the Southland Mall bus stop resolution, Councilwoman Witten said she supported accessibility but lacked data on the mall's reasoning and preferred to request discussions among the parties. Corporation Counsel confirmed the resolution would only be suggestive and suggested that a temporary restraining order could give more time. The motion was not amended.

Key Outcomes

• All consent-calendar and routine motions, including the police homeless outreach grant and the Board of Ethics report, were approved by voice vote with no audible opposition.
• The council approved, by voice vote, a resolution opposing the removal of the SMART bus stop from Southland Mall. The motion was made by Councilman Johnson and supported by Councilwoman Daniels.
• The Board of Ethics annual report was received and filed, and board recommendations will be submitted to council through the administration.
• Because of election certification timing, outgoing officials will remain in office until newly elected officials are sworn in. Clerk Bauer said two overseas ballots remain outstanding, several signature cures are being processed, and election results are not official until certified.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.