Agendas and minutes are available by clicking here  

Sustainability Committee - Monday, July 25, 5:30 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall

Parks & Recreation Commission - Wednesday, July 27, 6:30 p.m. - Township Hall

Brownfield Redevelopment Authority - Wednesday, July 27, 7 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall

Anyone needing assistance should contact the City Manager's office at 248-449-9905. More information about online meetings and a user guide are available here.

This Just In   

Police Accreditation  

City Council recap of July 18 meeting

The City of Northville Police Department was awarded accreditation from the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) with a formal yet celebratory presentation at the City Council meeting.  This pursuit of excellence was a team effort that was led by Accreditation Manager Sgt. Ken DeLano and Officer Melissa Ambrosius.

Accreditation is an intensive process that includes standardizing and optimizing dozens of operations and getting public comment about how the department is meeting the needs of citizens. It is a progressive process of helping law enforcement agencies calculate and improve their overall performance. At its core is the adoption of standards that define a professional objective while ensuring transparency and accountability. MACP’s Robert Stevenson, executive director; Neal Rossow, head of accreditation, and Larry Weeks, president; congratulated the chief and police team on their accreditation and presented a framed certificate of the achievement to be displayed in the department. 

Old park may be restored to new park – The Northville Community Support Fund (NCSF) presented a plan to restore the city-owned South Main Park on E. Main St. between the water wheel and the former spring/well next to the Chamber of Commerce building. The nearly two-acre parcel was initially cleaned up by the Northville Jaycees in 1961 and called Jaycee Park. The area offered an excellent view of the Valve Plant spillway, included a stone path, benches, plantings, and a bridge connecting the park with the former artisan spring. The park had been neglected for decades and weeds and invasive plants took over. The NCSF Restoration Project proposes to clean up the park and hold a fundraiser there to launch the fund. This was an informational presentation. A nonprofit, the NCSF’s mission is to support the Northville community (city and township) with projects/initiatives that enhance the quality of life.

Stormwater ordinance changes – Council held the first reading of a city ordinance that will be amended to include the Wayne County Stormwater Engineering Design Standards. The ordinance will provide the enforcement process to implement the county standards on construction projects being performed in city. City Attorney Robert Marzano, of Plunkett & Cooney, has reviewed and approved this ordinance amendment. The changes are to become an amendment to Chapter 86 Utilities, Article III stormwater of the City of Northville Code. The second reading and expected approval is slated for the Aug. 1 meeting.

Email security tightened – In 2020, the city converted its email platform to Microsoft Exchange Online, in part to improve security. The city’s vendor, IT Right, has recommended adding a two-factor authentication to the email accounts as an additional layer of security. Council agreed to waive the bidding process and award the project to IT Right for a labor cost not to exceed $3,840 and software at $36 per license annually.

Crack sealing for pavement – As part of the city’s capital improvement plan for streets, drainage, and sidewalks, joint and crack sealing is performed annually to help extend the life of streets.  This project includes locating and cleaning cracks and open joints in the roadway, which are then sealed with a hot mastic sealant. For 2022, the selected locations include approximately 7.2 linear miles of local and major streets and the parking lot of Allen Terrace. The contract was awarded to Michigan Joint Sealing, Inc., of Farmington Hills, the low bidder at $34,832.

Pavement marking project awarded – Council approved a contract for the 2022 Pavement Marking Program in the amount of $14,544.23 to JV Contracting, Inc. of Goodrich, Michigan.

City to apply for grant that extends pathway from Hines Park to city – City Manager Pat Sullivan presented a plan to pursue a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant to install 2,000 feet of a 10-foot wide pathway along the Seven Mile Road and Edward Hines Drive corridors. The path would start at the southeast corner of Center/Sheldon and 7 Mile (Bennett Arboretum Pathway) and extend along the south side of 7 Mile to River St. This approach would connect with a path along 7 Mile from Legacy Park to Hines Park that Northville Township is pursuing. The township has already applied for a TAP grant to help fund the project. Council agreed to pursue the TAP grant and pay $35,000 to OHM Advisors to cover preliminary engineering and right-of-way consultations with Wayne County for the pathway and to prepare the grant application. TAP matches are a minimum of 20% of the cost of the project, which is anticipated to be in the $1 million range.

Council Member John Carter noted the grant applications will require coordination since there are many projects the city is seeking funding for (now and in the future). He said finding ways to get the match for a grant is a good problem to have.

Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne called upon Nancy Darga, in attendance, to share her task forces view of this project.

Nancy Darga, 516 N. Center, spoke on behalf of the River Restoration Task Force and Mobility Network. She said the TAP grant may be better used for a different route. If  it proceeds in its current form, she requested that OHM makes sure all stakeholders in the project are involved, that the city/task forces find a way to leverage matching funds for the TAP grant, and stressed the need for public involvement in the non-vehicular update to the master plan.

City Hall renovation plan presented to Council – Robert Miller, of M Architects, presented renovation plans for City Hall that were drawn in 2017 with the intention of relocating offices for the Fire Department, improving energy efficiency, reconfiguring some office space, and replacing aging structures, including the roof. After the presentation, council members were led on a tour of City Hall to see how the plan would change current space usage. No request was made of council. The five-year-old renovation plans will need to be updated prior to a formal request for approval. The city has budgeted $1.2 million for the renovation.

Bob Sochacki, 223 Linden, asked whether the fire department and police department need to be in the same building. He asked whether the Fire Dept. could be moved.  

Dave Gutman, 903 Spring Dr., said energy efficiency and innovation at City Hall are among the goals of the Sustainability Team. He is pleased that the city is including sustainability in the renovation plans based on Miller’s presentation and discussions he has had with the city manager. He is renovating his house using a sustainable method and noted it tends to be more expensive but not for every element.

There was no public comment aside from comments made on specific items in the agenda.

Council comments

Mayor Brian Turnbull mentioned the passing of Betty Allen, the wife of the city’s second mayor A. Malcolm Allen. The  funeral will be Friday, July 22, at noon with visitation from 11 a.m. to noon at the First Presbyterian Church in Northville.  

Council Member John Carter said the City Clerk and he will hold a public accuracy test of the voting system at City Hall on Wednesday, July 20, and the public is welcome to attend. He also announced meetings of the Sustainability Commission on July 25 and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority on July 27, and encouraged citizen participation. (Locations and times are on the city website.)

After council comments, council members and the city manager went into a closed session with city attorney Greg Need.

View the video here.

Photo: From left, Sgt. Thomas Barber, Cpt. Greg Hannewald, Chief Alan Maciag, Sgt. Ken Delano, Officer Melissa Ambrosius, and Officer Frank Cerulla. (in back: Council Member John Carter)

Prepare now for Aug. 2 Election

On Aug. 2, Northville voters will vote to nominate candidates for governor, U.S. Congress, state senator, state representative, various county offices, and on ballot proposals. 

Absentee ballots

All registered voters have the right to vote by mail without providing a reason. To obtain an absentee ballot for the Aug. 2 election, you can complete and submit your application online. The application is emailed directly to the clerk. Applications are also available in the City Hall 24 hour vestibule.

If you signed up to receive automatic absentee ballot applications, you must sign and return the application to have a ballot mailed to you. In person absentee ballots are available at the Clerk’s office. The photo ID requirement is in effect for in person ballots.

The deadline to have a ballot mailed is 5 p.m., July 29. You can also pick up your own ballot in person at the City Clerk’s Office through 4 p.m. on Aug 1. The photo ID requirement is in effect.

Return your voted absentee ballot early

The Clerk’s office is encouraging all voters that are voting by absentee ballot to submit their ballot early. This helps the Clerk’s office prepare your ballot for counting on Election Day. You can return your absentee ballot in person at the Clerk’s office or by using one of two drop boxes at City Hall (in the vestibule and in the circular drive). While you can still mail your ballot, when possible, voters who already have their absentee ballot should hand-deliver their ballot to the Clerk’s office or use the drop box to avoid a postal delay. Only the absentee ballots received by 8 p.m. on Aug. 2 can be counted and postmarks are not accepted. Use this link to track your absentee ballot. 

Voter Registration

Now to 8 p.m. Election Day, Aug. 2 – Register in person at the Northville City Clerk’s Office, 215 W. Main Street. Residency verification is required. You may vote by absentee ballot or at your polling place on Election Day. Residency verification must have your name and current Northville address. Digital copies are acceptable.

Saturday hours

On July 30, the City Clerk’s office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for in person voter registration and in person absentee ballots.

Am I registered to vote? Where can I view the ballot? Do I need photo ID?

To learn the answers to these questions and more, visit the Elections and Voting section of the City website. In additional to checking your voter information, you can also view and print a sample ballot.

Downtown residents needed to serve on Citizen’s District Council

Northville City Council is accepting applications from qualified volunteers interested in serving on the Citizen’s District Council (CDC). A CDC is required when a community has 100 or more residents living within its DDA boundaries and the community wants to modify its DDA boundaries or make a text amendment to its Development Plan. 

A proposal for the redevelopment of the Northville Downs site is being reviewed by the Northville Planning Commission and will then go to the City Council for review. The project may or may not require changes to the DDA boundaries or a text amendment to the DDA’s Development Plan. 

By state statute, Public Act 57 of 2018 requires that the CDC be established for at least 90 days prior to holding any hearings on the issue. In order to not delay the project further, the CDC is being established now to be ready, should the need arise. The CDC will meet approximately two to three times to provide input. If it is determined that no changes to the DDA boundaries or the Development are required, the CDC may be dissolved. 

The CDC is established by the city of Northville and is required to have a minimum of nine members and be representative of the DDA district. Members must be at least 18 years of age and reside within the DDA boundaries. 

For more information on the CDC, contact Lori Ward, DDA director, at 248-349-0345 or by email. The application is available on the City website. View it here. 

To be considered, applications must be submitted by July 25 and will be interviewed at a later date by the selection committee. 

File photo by CV Media.

Beautification Commission designates town beauties

By mid-summer, gardens are glowing in the bright sun while hostas, coleus and other flora are in their glory under trees and nestled in shady areas. The Northville District Library has a magnificent shade garden along the east side of the building and a sun garden in front, facing west. In the downtown business district, storefronts feature signature displays – from dainty petunias to masses of flowers and exotic grasses. Around town, there’s even more beauty.

The best of these displays is awarded recognition by the Beautification Commission with a sign and an invitation to the BC’s annual fall luncheon held during the Rotary Club meeting. This week, Mayor Brian Turnbull presented the signs to winners around town, accompanied by BC Chair Diane Pittaway and BC Member Kyle Moilanen. Since this is the last year for Angela Carson's business location, a perennial award winner, the BC will present her with the Pride of Northville Award. Here are a sampling of the people who work hard to beautify their workplaces.

Photos by Kyle Moilanen, of the Beautification Commission.

Top: Joe Corriveau (left), Mayor Turnbull, and Richard Corriveau, of Corriveau Law.
Middle: Linsey and Courtney of Casterline Funeral Home accept an award from the mayor.
Lower right: Mayor Turnbull presents an award to Mary Foley at Allen Terrace as resident Rita Solack stands near the sign.
Below: at the Northville District Library, from left: Caryn Bartone, Cynthia Ashby, Cathrine Trautman, Mayor Turnbull, Laura Mancini, Lindsay Murphy and Maria Williams.

Northvillians and friends,

This week I want to touch on one of the families who have been a cornerstone to our community. Their legacy has been brought to light with the passing of a matriarch Betty Allen, wife of former mayor Mike Allen. The family name is on our senior living center – Allen Terrace – and they’re recognized on one of our streets named Allen. With the passing of Betty Allen, it’s appropriate to reflect on her legacy as well as that of her family. 

Civic Initiatives

But first, I’d like to thank the tireless work by our Task Forces, City Administration and City Council members in preparing grants for our community in our “Way Forward.” I would like to especially call out the work of our River Restoration Task Force fundraising team and dedicated donors to the Northville Community Support Fund. We have been awarded close to a $1 million and more than $5 million is in process because of the hard-working citizens who worked on Ford Field, River Walk and Farmer’s Market initiatives.

View the entire letter here or on the city website.

Brian Turnbull

Mayor, Northville

Visit the Farmers’ Market for fresh produce, flowers

The Farmers' Market is held Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 7 Mile and Sheldon.

Whether you come to the Northville Farmers’ Market to buy farm-grown produce, flowers for your garden, items that add beauty to your home and yard, or personal items such as specialty soaps, purses or jewelry, you’ll find unique items and fresh goods here. There's a food court section tucked in the market’s southwest corner with picnic tables, food trucks, and food vendors serving from tented tables. There are plenty of baked goods throughout the market to eat on the spot or take home for dessert.

Gardeners relish getting advice from the master gardeners’ booth, manned by experts from the MSU Extension. They are there to answer questions and provide information about growing plants, trees and flowers.

There are 50 vendors – full-season and weeklies – that are well spread out to allow plenty of room to circulate. The CDC states that being outdoors and having fresh air helps reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 but people still need to be careful.

For those who want a nice memento of their visit, step inside the butterfly wings painted on the back of the storage building.

Photo: Cheri Bogetta, left, and Julie Johnson, of Mark Prielipp Greenhouse, load flowers into Cheri's vehicle. Photo by Liz Cezat. 

Dispose of hazardous waste year-round

City residents can dispose of hazardous waste at no cost by dropping it off weekdays at Environmental Recycling Group (ERG) at 13040 Merriman, Ste. 200, in Livonia. Visit the website to see the company’s COVID-19 safety instructions and find out what waste items are accepted. To help the city contain costs for this program, consider taking a neighbor’s hazardous waste as well as your own to reach the 100 lb. limit. Any amount over 100 lbs. will be charged to the customer at 75¢ per pound. For more information, please visit ERG’s website or call 734.437.9650.

Maximize water use on lawns and gardens

To keep the cost of water as low as possible, remember to follow the City’s odd/even watering system regulations. Homes with addresses that end in odd numbers can only water on odd days: 21th, 23rd, etc., while addresses that end in an even number can only water on even days: 22nd, 24th, etc. Automatic sprinkler systems may only be used between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., following the odd/even rules. Manual watering with a hose (not attached to a timer), is permitted between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., also adhering to the odd/even rules. Notices will be posted on the homes of residents who are watering outside their required times/days, and civil infraction violations may be issued. (See the Code of Ordinances, Sec. 86-48.)

Tree permits required

Prior to cutting down any tree with a diameter of more than six inches, you must make an application with the city, which will then determine whether a permit is required. Contact the Building Dept. by phone: 248-449-9902 or email. This ordinance is strongly enforced and there are associated fines. Learn more on the city website. 

Help stop illegal use of fire hydrants

The city’s fire hydrants can be accessed by the Fire Dept., the Police Dept., and the Dept. of Public Works (DPW). Any other use of the fire hydrant, without a permit, is illegal per city ordinance.
Fire hydrants used illegally could become damaged or freeze, causing the fire hydrant to be inoperable during an emergency. Water theft and fire hydrant repairs due to misuse are an added expense to the city’s water system and could increase water rates to all customers.

If you witness illegal fire hydrant use or any questionable water use, please call Police/Fire at 248-349-1234 or DPW at 248-449-9930. When calling, please provide any available information such as: vehicle make/model, license plate number, and/or company name.

Construction companies or contractors that need a high volume of water for their work may obtain a permit to use a fire hydrant, from April 1 through June 1, and from Sept. 1 through Nov. 1. If there is a special need to connect to a fire hydrant, please contact the DPW at 248-449-9930.