Hills Council Wrap-Up: Water and Sewer Rates, Sidewalk Improvements

Farmington Hills residents opposed to a sidewalk extension that will complete a path along Halsted south of 10 Mile Road almost missed their chance to speak out.

After a brief presentation by city engineer Skip Otwell, City Council members quickly approved the extension, which connects sections of existing sidewalk. Then residents who sat through other presentations spoke up from the audience.

City Manager Steve Brock said he had told residents they needed to turn in a blue comment card, and he received none prior to the meeting. Resident Natalie Lowenfeld said she was not able to find the cards. Nevertheless, Mayor Jerry Ellis allowed residents to speak.

Their primary concern was safety, because the sidewalk feeds into what has been a neighborhood path. The connection, said resident Natalie Lowenfeld, would allow public access to residents' backyards and encourage children who ride bikes on the existing path, which ends, to ride farther than they should.

Paul George, who said he spent 20 years in law enforcement, had concerns over a berm that would limit visibility, making the area difficult to police.

Brock said walkers already use the area, as evidenced by a path worn between the curb and guard rail on Halsted Road. Council member Cheryl Oliverio, who works in the area, said she often sees people using that path.

"I think it's an important gap to close," Brock said. "It's not safe, and we can make it safer."

Council members asked Brock to bring back an alternate sidewalk design that addresses residents' concerns to their June 13 meeting.

Water and sewer rates

Council members also reluctantly approved increases in water and sewer rates for 2011-2012 on Monday night.

The new water base rate is $33.62 per thousand cubic feet, a 7.1 percent increase; and the new sewer base rate is $23.93 per thousand cubic feet, a .8 percent increase.

Jean Barrett, assistant to the director of public services, said bills will be prorated, with water and sewer use after July 1 billed at the new rates. The average water bill will go up $3.58 per quarter, and the average sewer bill will go up 31 cents per quarter, she said.

Brock said the city is considering construction of water storage and encourages residents to water their lawns and gardens between midnight and 6 a.m. to push more water use into off-peak hours.

But Brickner pointed out that Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and the city have fixed costs for maintaining the system. "We use less water, we have to raise the rates" to cover those costs, he said. "It costs us more for being good people. It makes no sense."

Liquor licenses on hold

The absence of council member Randy Bruce led officials to move consideration of issuing a liquor license to the council's next meeting.

The city has just one license, but two businesses—LeChef Restaurant and Mykonos Taverna, both on Northwestern Highway—have applied. Ellis said it takes a "supermajority" or five members of the council to approve a license, and it was unlikely to happen without a full board.

The applicants agreed to carry the matter to the council's next meeting, but asked, because they sat through three hours of other business, that they be moved to the front of the agenda.

Historic district addition

Officials approved introduction of an ordinance that would create a historic district that includes a barn at 29980 W. 10 Mile Rd., owned by Joe and Judy Derek. Rather than a contiguous historic district, the city establishes historic properties as individual districts. Final approval of the ordinance is expected to be taken up at the council's next meeting.