Taylor City Council Meeting – October 20, 2026

The Taylor City Council met on October 20, 2026, and approved appointments, contracts, purchases, and one contested ordinance amendment. All votes were unanimous except the roll call on the 23rd District Court judges' benefit plan amendment, which passed 5–2. The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:26 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the October 6, 2026 meeting and dispensed with the oral reading.
• Approved the two-item consent agenda by unanimous voice vote.

Mayor's Communications

• Approved the reappointment of Staff Sergeant Andrew Hood to the Board of Ethics for a five-year term expiring October 20, 2031.
• Approved the reappointment of Michael Tinney to the Board of Ethics for a five-year term expiring October 20, 2031.
• Approved the personal service contract for the Chief Financial Officer.
• Swore in new firefighters Grant Sullivan, Aiden Hop, and Daniel Longman (also transcribed as "Daniel Langman" during the oath).

Public Comments & Testimony

• An online comment from Charles Blackwell was read into the record; a council member described him as a non-resident political activist and said the comment contained false accusations against public figures.
• A resident asked about lawn mowing and snow removal obligations on the Ashley Capital property across from her, reporting that the berm had not been mowed for months. Council members confirmed the property owner is responsible and said they would follow up on enforcement.
• Mike Wager, Taylor School District Superintendent, explained the upcoming non-homestead operating millage renewal on the November ballot. He said it funds school operations, applies only to businesses and second residences, and does not apply to primary residences. The district is currently levying about 17.5 of the 18 mills allowed by the state due to Headlee rollbacks; the renewal includes a two-mill buffer and is intended to avoid another renewal until about 2035.
• Resident James Michigan asked whether the millage applies to everyone in the school district; Superintendent Wager confirmed it applies across the entire Taylor School District, including parts of Westland and Brownstown.

Regular Agenda Approvals

The council approved the following items by unanimous voice vote:

• Motorola sole-source purchase of 24 lithium-ion batteries and six multi-unit desktop chargers for police mobile radios, not to exceed $12,141, funded through the DMA DCC Bryan Grant.
• Two officers' attendance at the 2026 International Association of Chiefs of Police Training Conference in Orlando, Florida, not to exceed $3,947 plus out-of-pocket expenses, funded through the CPE training fund. A council member explained that purchases are reviewed in advance, discussed at a prior study session, and constrained by the annual budget.
• Graphic Wear Branding sole-source purchase of fire department uniform shirts, not to exceed $3,097.
• ESO Solutions annual medical and fire service reporting maintenance, not to exceed $30,310.
• Amendment to CCR 4-15-26 for American Generator Sales and Service, generator replacement at Taylor Animal Shelter, not to exceed $66,471.
• Amendment to CCR 8.392-26, Heritage Park Church Lease Agreement, to add language and items in the attached documents.
• Sole-source purchase of 150 water meter heads for the water department, not to exceed $159,750.
• Purchase of one 2007 F-350 from Lunghammer Ford, not to exceed $51,998.
• Purchase of two Boss plows from Wolverine Rental Supply, not to exceed $20,805, with staff confirming the plows are for two new F-350s approved at the previous meeting.
• Priority Waste dumpster service for Lane Park, not to exceed $6,000, funded through the ARPA grant.
• Amendment to CCR 3.137-24 for CNS Construction Management, not to exceed $65,000.
• Amendment to CCR 8-382-26 for Downriver Body Works additional repairs to the building department Ford F-150 Super Crew, not to exceed $11,462.
• Change order number one for Dominic Gagilow Construction on the 2026 CDBG road construction project, not to exceed $44,400.
• Payment of $16,199 to National Faith Home Buyers for down payment assistance program project 2026-006; a council member noted this was the sixth such payment and funding was a little over $200,000, with a seventh expected at the next meeting.

Discussion Items

23rd District Court Judges' Benefits Plan (7.15)

• The council considered the second reading of an ordinance amendment to allow 23rd District Court judges to participate in the city benefit plan.
• Councilman Thomas spoke against the amendment. He said he respects the judges but cannot support changing the 2008 ordinance without documentation of an error, noted judges have access to state health care, and warned that expanding benefits could encourage bargaining units to seek restored pensions or health benefits through "me too" clauses.
• A council member who said he drafted the amendment spoke in favor. He argued most other cities with district judges allow judges to buy city insurance, that it improves recruitment and competitiveness, and that the initial cost would be about $11,000 depending on the plan, with roughly $48,000 if both judges selected the maximum plan. He also said the court brings in about $7 million a year while the city spends about $4 million on it.
• Another council member said the 2008 ordinance was originally aimed at one council member's insurance, not at denying current judges benefits, and noted the prior judge had received insurance. Another disagreed, saying the written ordinance rather than legislative intent should govern.
• The roll call vote was 5–2 in favor: Mr. Tady, Mr. Patz, Mr. Clark, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Johnson voted yes; Mr. Thomas and Mr. Armstrong voted no.

Open Business and Announcements

• Approved Advanced Construction Incorporated, the low qualified bidder, to install a new roof on the Heritage Park Open Air Pavilion for $255,571 plus a 7% contingency, for a total not to exceed $273,461, funded through the TBA capital outlay account. A council member noted that bringing the item forward quickly saved about $20,000.
• Chief Blair said police would address increased semi-truck traffic on Wick Road, which he attributed partly to construction and I-94 projects.
• A council member praised first responders after riding with police on a night shift.
• Library updates were announced: water coolers have been installed, and new doors, weather stripping, and push bars are coming. A letter from Carolyn Bullock was read praising library employee Haley Boyer.
• The clerk announced early voting beginning Saturday, October 24, with hours of 8 a.m.–4 p.m. on weekends, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on Monday, November 2; absentee ballot returns were about 35% of roughly 10,000 ballots. Precinct changes were emphasized.
• Community events were announced, including Goodfellows drives, a November 7 comedy show, the Hot Cocoa 5K on December 5, and a Thanksgiving food box giveaway on November 21.
• The next council meeting was set for Wednesday, November 4, with a study session at 5:30 p.m. and the council meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• All appointments, contracts, purchases, and change orders on the regular and open business agendas were approved.
• The judges' benefits ordinance passed on a 5–2 roll call vote.
• The city swore in three new firefighters.
• Staff were directed to follow up on resident concerns about property maintenance and semi-truck enforcement.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:26 p.m.