City Council Hits: Four Police Cars, Extra Pamphlets and Too Much Noise

Pamphlets thrown out, Oakland County Road Commission doesn't like bike lanes, and don't put your garbage cans in the street during a snowstorm. These are just a few things that were discussed during Monday night's City Council meeting.

• Oakland County Commissioner Craig Covey announced a program for free healthcare for low-income individuals who don't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, between ages 19-64. Call 248-545-WELL if interested.
• He also discussed the on 1956 Hilton. He said not only do they help nonprofits with their books and record keeping but they also help low income individuals who need help with tax preparations.
• Covey continued his announcements telling Council that the Oakland County Road Commission had drafted an eight-page document that opposes bike lanes. He said the document was still in a draft form. He would provide more information when he had more.
• Covey ended his three minutes at the podium talking about leaving Ferndale for Detroit's Hart Plaza. He said he's consulted residents, some Council members and the community about potentially setting up events in Ferndale that complement Motor City Pride in Hart Plaza. "This will not compete, but complement," he reiterated. "It would be smaller, of course, still fun, maybe a parade or two."
• Derek Delacourt, who sits on Ferndale's Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, was announced as Ferndale's planning and pconomic pevelopment director. He starts March 14. He's coming from Rochester Hills, where he was the deputy planning director. Delacourt has lived in Ferndale for 10 years. "This is our home, neighbors and the staff has been fantastic," he said.
• owner Wyll Lewis presented a box from the that he said he pulled from the trash. It was filled with Ferndale's downtown business and shopping guides from last year. Lewis said he pulled eight of these boxes out of the trash. "This represents thousands of dollars of taxpayer money," he said.
• Class C liquor licenses are up for renewal. Council set a hearing date to renew the liquor licenses March 28. Resident Sherry Wells took umbrage with the renewal process, saying that she felt that some of businesses weren't in compliance of city ordinances and licenses should be revoked. Wells specifically cited and specifically called out . Wells is one of the residents behind the noise petition for downtown businesses. Rosie's had 72 noncriminal calls in 2010. Ferndale Police Chief Tim Collins said the bulk of those calls were due to calls from residents about noise. However, Collins said that Ferndale Police Department is recommending that all the liquor licenses be approved. "The calls are up, but it's typical with a busy place," he said.
• Collins also requested approval to purchase four new police cars. The usually orders eight every other year but have decided to even the flow of expenditures and order four every year. The cars cost about $20,000 a piece, plus the cost to remove and reinstall equipment from the old cars into the new cars. This move saves the city about $20,000, Councilwoman Melania Piana said. She said the money for the cars doesn't come out of the general fund, and that it's already been budgeted for, so it's not a new expenditure. The cars will be purchased by and will go into effect next year. Collins' request was passed unanimously.
• Collins said the Ferndale Police Department would be announcing in April a prescription drug dropoff day to get rid of prescription drugs. Last year, Collins said 20 pounds of prescription drugs were turned in. Once turned in, the drugs are destroyed. Collins said he'd announce a date as soon as he knows.
• Director Byron Photiades asked residents to not put garbage cans or recycling bins in the street during a snowstorm. He suggested if you couldn't put them on the curb, put them in the driveway. Photiades said when the cans are in the street the city can't plow the streets correctly.