Plans to expand city hall and build a new DPW facility were on hold at Monday’s City Council meeting, but it was still a contentious topic.
During public comment at the Oct. 26 council meeting, city resident Chet Pardee said he met with state Rep. Jim Tedder and Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle during one of their office-hour meetings with the public.
They are willing to explore options with the city, though they want city officials to initiate contact, Pardee said.
“I believe the council is doing a disservice to the City of Clarkston” by not exploring all options for cooperation, Pardee said. “The current consideration is to spend significant money on DPW storage without any acknowledgement of significant expenses which should be expected over the 20-year loan period. Is additional DPW storage space really our top priority for the next 20 years?”
Council member Mike Sabol asked if Pardee read the minutes in the agenda packet, which included a “chronology regarding replacement of 3 E. Church as DPW building.”
“It mentions discussions going back to July 2014,” Sabol said. “Where were you during all these discussions?”
The council member said Pardee, who only recently moved to the area, has no authority to negotiate or collaborate with Kittle or Tedder.
“We’ve been doing this for a year ? it continues to be dragged out,” Sabol said. “Here we are today with more people piling on and piling on, saying we’re doing a disservice ? it’s just the usual suspects with one added person coming and saying we’re not doing this the right way.”
Tedder, who attended the council meeting, said it was not his intention to step on anyone’s toes.
“I’m here to assist and serve, never to impose my will or opinion on the city,” Tedder said. “My efforts at the state are focused on statewide issues, but you are always free to call on me to help with anything you might need. I’m happy to stay out of your way as well.”
City resident Sue Wylie, who said she was among the “usual suspects,” said Pardee is a new resident and should not be subjected to Sabol’s comments.
“He’s looking at new directions,” she said.
Kathy Sabol, Mike Sabol’s wife, said moving DPW equipment to the township “hands ammunition” to those who want to dissolve the city.
“There is a group of people wishing to dissolve the city,” she said. “If we start moving everything to the township, why have a city ? it’s important to keep the city, the city.”
Resident Steve Wylie, Sue’s husband, said nobody was planning to dissolve the city, and state law doesn’t allow it.
“It’s just stupid to talk about it,” Steve said.
Mike Sabol said state law would allow it under certain circumstances, and he was offended at the comment. “You called my wife stupid and she is not,” he shouted.
Both men raised their voices and Mayor Joe Luginski intervened. “I’m ending this discussion,” Luginski said.
The Facilities Committee met on Oct. 19 and was not ready to recommend action at the council meeting, reported City Manager Carol Eberhardt.
The former DPW storage building at 3 E. Church, which was sold to Union Joints to be redeveloped into a restaurant, will be vacated by next week, Nov. 1.
DPW equipment and city files will be stored at a Maxx Self Storage unit, Brady Lodge in Independence Township, a Clarkston school bus garage bay, and possible a private citizen’s pole barn for the winter, Eberhardt said.
The committee plans to present options, including renting instead of building, at the next meeting, the city manager said.
“We want to be very specific,” she said. “We want the council to understand all costs involved if we have to rent other areas to store our stuff.”