Agendas and minutes are available by clicking here

City Council - Monday, March 6, 7 p.m. - Council Chambers, City Hall or via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81357794736 Or Telephone: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 309 205 3325 

Webinar ID: 813 5779 4736

Planning Commission - Cancelled - Tuesday, March 7, 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

New city manager takes helm on March 6

George Lahanas begins his new job as city manager for Northville on March 6. He will be sworn in by City Clerk Mike Smith at the City Council meeting on March 6, at 7 p.m. at City Hall (also on Zoom). The city has a Council/Manager form of government; he serves at the pleasure of City Council.

The City Manager’s Office provides general administrative services for the management of the city to ensure that all City Council policies and directives are implemented. Lahanas will coordinate the work of all city departments and employees. He is responsible for the enforcement of all ordinances and expenditure of funds in accordance with the budget and the City Charter.

Lahanas was the former city manager of East Lansing for 11 years, and served that city for a total of 24 years. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Northern Michigan University, with a concentration in Personnel and Labor Relations, and a Bachelor of Science degree, *** laude, from Northern Michigan University, with a major in Criminal Justice.

Lahanas lives in East Lansing with his wife, Shelley, and two teenaged daughters, Eleni and Marina. Please welcome George and his family to Northville!

Photo by Liz Cezat.

City responds to ice storm

The ice storm that swept across southern Michigan on the afternoon of Feb. 22 and into the early morning hours of Feb. 23 was a doozy, with high winds, and precipitation that ranged from sleet to pounding, cold rain. With schools closed in anticipation of the storm and many people working from home, the streets were fairly clear. Yet, the aftermath brought trees laden with ice, downed power lines across the region, snapped branches – large and small, and felled many trees.

Despite the cold, icy landscape, the city’s emergency services, including first responders, the Fire Department, Police Department and Dept. of Public Works (DPW), sprung into action. 

The morning of the ice storm, before rain fell, DPW crews pre-treated all parking lots and primary roadways to help prevent ice and snow bonding to the roadway. After the storm passed through, DPW cleared fallen trees and branches from streets. GFL sent out trucks to pick up branches and brush from neighborhoods but did not complete the pick-up since many homeowners didn’t meet the requirements for branches being no more than four feet long and six inches in diameter. All brush and loose twigs need to be set by the curb, with no containers. After reminding residents of the requirements, DPW asked GFL to go out again on Thursday, March 2, to collect twigs and branches. Their truck will be followed by the DPW chipper. The job could be completed on Thursday or may go into Friday.  

Fortunately, the Police Department had no reported vehicle accidents on either day. This is likely attributed to people staying off the roads unless it was absolutely necessary to be driving. While on routine patrol, officers encountered several downed tree limbs in the roadway. Officers were able to move some of the limbs and the fire department took care of the larger ones. There was a partially downed utility pole on Orchard Drive near Our Lady of Victory Church and the wires were hanging lower than usual, resulting in a potential hazard. The Fire Dept and DPW worked to secure that area so neither vehicles or pedestrians could get close to the potential hazard. DTE took over from there.  

At the height of the storm and in the days after, DTE and Consumers Power crews were repairing downed power lines and restoring power to 700,000 customers across the region. Unfortunately, several hundred thousand customers remained without power for several days. 

Mayor Brian Turnbull and the city-township team provided a place to warm-up on Feb. 23 and 24 at the Northville Community Center with hours extended to 10 p.m. each day. People of all ages, including those without electricity, came there for warmth, companionship, coffee, free Wi-Fi, and a place to recharge their cell phones and tablets. The Northville District Library also welcomed people adversely impacted by the storm, and all patrons, to have a safe place to go during their regular hours. 

Photo by Pexels.

CITY OF NORTHVILLE

2023 BOARD OF REVIEW

WAYNE AND OAKLAND COUNTIES

Please take notice that the Board of Review of the City of Northville, Wayne, and Oakland Counties, will meet for the purpose of reviewing and adjusting the 2023 Assessment Rolls of the City of Northville on the following dates: 

Tuesday, March 7                                    4 p.m. Organizational Meeting (No Appeals)

Tuesday, March 14                                  1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday, March 16                                 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Pursuant to Act 165 of 1971 and based on the proposed changes to assessed values for 2023, the Wayne and Oakland County Equalization Departments have set the following tentative equalization factors relative to the 2023 Real and Personal Property Assessments: Wayne County - Commercial Real 1.00; Industrial Real 1.00; Residential Real 1.00; All Personal Property 1.00. Oakland County - Commercial Real 1.00; Industrial Real 1.00; Residential Real 1.00; All Personal Property 1.00.

Mail-in petitions must be received by March 16 before 4 p.m.  All taxpayers wishing to petition their property’s taxable value or assessment in person with the Board of Review will be seen by appointment only.  To ensure every appeal is heard it is requested that appointments be scheduled prior to Tuesday, March 14. Please contact the City of Northville Tax Department at 248-449-9901 for an appointment or with any questions you may have regarding your 2023 taxable or assessed value.

BOARD OF REVIEW   

Property assessments are in the works

It’s the time of year when property assessments are calculated by the City’s Tax and Assessing Department. Owners of homes, rental properties, buildings and land should have received a notice of assessment in the mail.

The City Assessor’s Office visits properties (buildings and land) to verify factors such as size and condition, and take note of new structures such as homes, decks, patios and garages.

A property’s status is determined as of Dec. 31 (Tax Day). The assessor determines the State Equalized Value (SEV), which is 50% of true cash value, for every property based on sales data from real estate transactions within the City. Additionally, each property has a Capped Value (CV), which is calculated by multiplying the prior year’s Taxable Value (TV), with adjustments for additions and losses, by the CPI (1.05% for 2023).

Taxable Value is defined as the lower of either the SEV or CV. The amount of property tax cannot increase by more than 5%, due to Proposal A (Headlee Amendment). However, a transfer of ownership allows for a larger increase in the property tax assessment.

The city uses data from Oakland County and Wayne County when calculating assessments. Market conditions are based on the 24-month sales period from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022. 

The city of Northville has a local Board of Review that reviews the assessment roll and hears appeals. If you plan to challenge the assessment, you will need to file an appeal with the Board of Review. Information about how to conduct an appeal will be on the assessment notice.

If you have any questions, email Mitchell Elrod or call 248-305-2704.

Photo: by Pexels.

Historic District Guidelines kick-off meeting in March

The Kraemer Design Group will kick-off the Historic District Design Guidelines Update Project at the Historic District Commission’s March 15 meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall (Council Chambers). There will be  no Zoom option. The public is invited to attend, as is the case with all HDC meetings, and comment on the project.  

The HDC agenda currently has two cases. Prior to those cases, a Kraemer project consultant will discuss the purpose and goals of the project, and will ask the attending public for their comments and input. After the cases, Kraemer Group consultants will discuss the Guidelines Update Project with the commissioners and answer their questions.  

Kraemer Design Group has set up an email address at [email protected] for people who want to send written comments and attachments relating to their input. The city is creating a web page for this project in the Historic District section.

Past owners, history and lore of today’s historic homes

Historic District Homes Series

Just as families have ancestors, historic homes are the roof over the heads and the walls that enclosed the living space of previous generations, as well as the grounds they walked on and tended to. For the nine homeowners/couples interviewed for this series, several had stories about those who lived in the house before they did and hearsay or actual evidence about how certain parts of the house were used or altered. 

The farmhouse style home at 239 High St., where Marianne and Thom Barry now reside, was built by William and Sarah Dunlap in 1840. Seven years later, they transferred the deed to the house and the three-quarter acre property to Charles Hoyt. Two more owners held the deed until it was sold to Marietta Baker in 1854. 

Up until 1985, six generations of the Baker family lived there. The History of Northville book dubbed it the Latham House. The family farmed the land in addition to holding other jobs – and have a plaque that designates the property as a centennial farm.   

By the early 1900s, the front porch had been expanded from a small farmhouse-style platform to a large, raised porch with columns that simulate a Greek Revival style and wide stairs that lead to the front door. Those elements continue to provide a welcoming entrance to the house today. The back kitchen was actually a keeper kitchen, where food was kept, but no cooking was done. A separate kitchen had been built on the north side as a one-half story, in a separate addition from the house. It was configured that way so that if a fire erupted in the kitchen, it wouldn’t spread through the entire house. In the early 1900s, that separate kitchen was removed from the house and placed on the back of the lot for use as a garage. (That garage still stands today.) The keeper kitchen was updated to serve as a cooking kitchen.

At that time, a two-story addition was added to the north side of the home in place of the former kitchen. The addition included a small kitchen and living area with a back staircase that led to a second-story bedroom and full (but small) bathroom.  

Heirs of Marietta Baker were Ed Baker, Henry Baker, Sophia Lapham and Belle Porter. In 1931, the house was passed down to Sophia’s son Edward Lapham and his wife, Ethelwyn. Edward planted swaths of bearded irises In the garden that are still blooming in their octogenarian years. In 1943, the addition was offered as living quarters to the Lapham’s daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Erwin (E.A.) Chapman. She is the granddaughter of James Dubuar and Camilla Swift Dubuar. Her uncle is the late Dr. Swift, a notable physician in Northville.

In 1951, after Edward’s death, the Chapmans lived in the entire house, not just the north addition. They purchased it in 1972. The Barrys bought the home from the Chapmans in 1985.

According to the Historic District Survey, the house and out-building are contributing structures to the Historic District, noting “it retains the integrity of location, setting, feeling and association,” and also “conveys its historic associations with a specific time period.” 

The Barrys take a philosophical view of their historic home in terms of how it is maintained, changed, and evolves as new generations live in it. Thom said, “We’re all just moving through.” Marianne added, “We are caretakers of this wonderful place we call home but only for a moment in time. We know that at some point another family will move in and make it their own.”

The home of Gail and Gerald LeVan at 132 Randolph was initially owned by Jenny White, the daughter of William Dunlap, a Northville pioneer whose family farm occupied much of the west side of the city. By 1931, three families lived in the house: Frederick and Celia McKeldey, Mrs. Jennie White, and Everett L. and Leona McRoe. By 1943, the house resumed being a single-family residence with new owners William C. and Elsie Bailey. The house is significant for its role in Northville’s community development and its architecture. It is a contributing resource to the Northville Historic District. (Much of this section is derived from the Historic District Survey.)

Gail’s late father, Bud Hartner, was head of DPW and the fire chief. He was good friends with the Casterlines. While he never lived in the house, it’s relevant to Gail’s family history.

Gail recalled that an elderly gentleman came to her home a couple years ago and said he was born in that house in one of the upstairs bedrooms. 

Article continues on city website.

Photo: Bill Bayley paid a visit to 132 Randolph, the house where he once lived. Photo supplied by Gail LeVan.

Volunteer needed to fill role on Housing Commission 

The city of Northville is accepting applications for qualified volunteers interested in serving on the Housing Commission.   

The application is available on the city website. To be considered, applications must be submitted by March 10. After that deadline, the city clerk will contact applicants to schedule interviews with the Board and Commission Selection Committee, comprised of Mayor Brian Turnbull and Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne. All applications will be kept on file for future consideration. 

The Housing Commission sets policy and provides guidance for the management of Allen Terrace, an apartment community for independent senior citizens 62 years and older. Applicants must be a city resident (at least two years) and registered to vote in the city of Northville. The Commission meets at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at Allen Terrace. For more information about the Housing Commission, view the city website or contact Jolyn Gismonde, housing director.

Northvillians and friends

This year’s Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday was truly a wild and exciting one, with 60-degree days that transitioned to the worst ice storm we’ve seen in 50 years (as more than 700,000 in Michigan lost power). Trees were encased by ice, with branches breaking off throughout town. DTE stated that the weight on each power line entombed by ice was the equivalent of a grand piano pulling on each wire between the poles.

Our Fire Department had more than 100 calls the first night, ranging from downed trees and loose wires to smoking transformers. Our DPW workers along with our first responders worked tirelessly to assist our citizens and ensure all Northvillians were safe. I thank them all!

The Chili’ in the Ville cook-off this past weekend took our minds off the storm with thousands converging on the town. FOX News captured those enjoying the chili samplings from the restaurants and from our community fire fighters. View the Facebook post here. 

Read the full letter here. It appears weekly on the city website.

Keep that Northville Faith!

Brian Turnbull

Mayor, Northville

AARP income tax preparation assistance

AARP tax-aide provides free tax assistance to taxpayers with low and middle income, with special attention to those who are 60 and older as well as the disabled. Appointments are required. One-on-one sessions will be conducted at the Northville Community Center on Thursdays, February through March 30. To register, please call 248-305-2851 or visit the Senior Services desk at the Community Center, 303 W. Main Street. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels.

National Weather Service program trains storm watchers

Oakland County Emergency Management will host the National Weather Service (NWS) Detroit/Pontiac for three sessions of SKYWARN Spotter Training March through May. Attendees should have an interest in public service or have a job or responsibility to protect others. 

The events will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the following dates/locations:

-March 8, Novi Civic Center, 45175 10 Mile Road, Novi

-April 13, Waterford Oaks Conference Center, 2800 Watkins Lake Rd, Waterford

-May 11, same location as above.

SKYWARN trains storm spotters to know what to look for in severe weather, and how to report their observations back to the NWS. They play a vital role in verifying with their observations what the NWS is seeing on radar and satellite during stormy weather and help to keep their local community safe during severe weather.

Participants will learn:

-Basics of thunderstorm development

-Fundamentals of storm structure

-Identifying potential severe weather features

-Information to report

-How to report information

-Basic severe weather safety.

"Having spotters in the field who can verify what we and the National Weather Service are seeing with our weather instruments can be extremely important," said Thom Hardesty, director of Oakland County Emergency Management and Homeland Security. "It can have the potential to make the difference when we alert the public about an incoming weather event."

Pre-registration is not required. All classes last about 90 minutes, are free and open to the public, ages 13 years and older. Children 10-12 years of age may attend for educational value but can’t become spotters. For more information, visit this link.

Doing Business

Are you missing money and don’t know where to look?

Sometimes you dig into your couch cushions to find loose change but there could be even bigger cash being held in your name by the State Treasury Department, which is the custodian of millions of dollars in lost or forgotten assets. Dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, valuables left in safe deposit boxes and stock certificates are among the funds that are turned over to the state until the owner claims them. A State of Michigan website lists all the unclaimed property for both businesses and individuals. It only takes a minute to check the website and see if some misplaced funds are legally yours. View the website here. 

Parking overnight on City streets requires a permit

It is illegal to park on City streets overnight without a permit. If you are having visitors or work done on your driveway and must park in the street overnight, call the Overnight Parking hotline at 248-305-2790 before 10 p.m. the evening you are parking on the street. You will be asked for your vehicle’s license plate number and the street name so you won’t be issued a ticket.  

Around Town

DPW clears snow from streets 

When it snows, you’ll find the City of Northville snow plows and trucks out to clear local streets. Typically, the plows begin removing snow on major streets such as Center, Main and Taft. The plows then move on to streets with steep hills and sharp curves, before tending to neighborhoods, parking lots, alleys and cemetery roads.

Wayne County plows snow from the streets of Griswold, 7 Mile, Northville Road, and 8 Mile, east of Taft. Oakland County is responsible for clearing snow on 8 Mile, west of Taft, and Novi Road. Salt is used sparingly to avoid damage to roads and run-off into the Rouge River, but may be applied when conditions warrant it, especially at intersections. 

Report a burned-out streetlight

Streetlight out? Businesses and residents can report streetlight outages online at the DTE streetlight outage reporting tool. Businesses and residents who have a DTE wooden power pole on or adjacent to their property are eligible to have outdoor protective lighting installed on the pole to illuminate their private property. Residents may even qualify for no up-front cost installation. Please call 866-503-0627 and leave a message with your contact information for a response from a DTE representative within three business days.

Keep your dog on a leash in public parks

Ford Field is a popular place to take dogs for a walk or a run. Police monitor this park regularly to ensure that dog owners are following the ordinance for keeping dogs on leash. When dogs run off leash, it may cause dogs on leashes to react aggressively toward them; in addition, some adults and children are fearful of dogs running off leash.

Any person violating Section 10-2 of the ordinance shall be responsible for a municipal civil infraction punishable by a civil fine of not more than $500 and the cost of prosecution

At Home

Extra brush collection begins March 2

The DPW will work with GFL on Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3, if needed, to pick up brush and branches from homeowners. Please make sure the brush and branches you set at curbside is no more than four feet long and less than six inches in diameter. You should have these branches and twigs stacked in neat piles. The DPW brush chipper will also go through neighborhoods. If you miss this extra pick-up, you can still set out branches and brush on your next regularly scheduled pick-up.  

Fire Dept. service helps adults install and use child safety seats

New parents may find child safety seats daunting to install and use. They can get assistance from the Northville Fire Department, which has several members trained as nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST). These members help parents (or babysitters and grandparents) by reviewing their use of the seat in their car, truck or SUV to ensure they are installing it correctly. They also instruct individuals about how to position the seat, check for damage and be aware of product recalls. Check out the website for what you need to know prior to the appointment. This one-on-one education typically takes 20-30 minutes, depending on your car seat and vehicle. To schedule an appointment at either the Northville or Plymouth fire station, call 248-449-9902.