Meetings

Agendas and minutes are available by clicking here

Northville Youth Network – March 14, 8 a.m., Community Center, 303 W. Main

Board of Review – March 14,1 to 9 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers

Historic District Commission, March 15, 7 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers

Board of Review – March 16, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers 

Senior Advisory Commission – March 16, 1 p.m., Community Center, 303 W. Main

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

City Council recap of March 6 meeting 

George Lahanas was sworn in as city manager by City Clerk Mike Smith, as George’s wife, Shelley, and daughters, Eleni and Marina, witnessed the formal yet celebratory event in a packed council chambers. The mayor, council and many in the audience welcomed Lahanas to his new role during the course of the meeting. The mayor and council also thanked Interim Director Mark Wollenweber for serving the city well. 

Mayor Brian Turnbull read a proclamation in support of Civic Concern, naming March 13 as Civic Concern Day in Northville. He recognized Marlene Kunz, who founded the nonprofit 40 years ago and continues to operate it, serving families in need of food and clothing. School officials were also present since the mayor recognized Northville High School student Rishi Narendra Kumar and his sister, Nidhi, who raised $1,000 for Civic Concern through their new nonprofit. 

Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne asked to move the Congressional Directed Funding grant from the consent agenda to become item 9D on the regular agenda. 

Potential land swap at Cabbage Town Park – The property owner of 723 Carpenter, Dejan Mitkovski, came before Council to request a property line adjustment between his shared property line with Cabbage Town park at the corner of Carpenter and Baseline. Mitkovski is requesting a land swap of three feet along the south side of the property to install a driveway that would lead to a detached garage in the rear of the property. He plans to convert the existing attached garage into a first-floor master suite for his parents; his father recently passed away yet he wants to enable his mother to live with his family for years to come. In exchange, he would give the city an equal amount of land that is behind the garage and features two mature trees. 

All council members had questions and concerns. Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne said the city charter states that no park land can be sold unless it’s approved by three-fifths of voters at a general or special election. In that intent and spirit, she believes a land swap is a similar situation and should be taken very seriously. Council Member Andrew Krenz asked what the hardship was. Mitkovski said if a driveway was placed at the north side of his property, he would need to redo his backyard landscaping, and there may not be enough land to install one there. No decision was made on the request at this time. The mayor asked the applicant to return to council with an official survey of his property. When considering the request, Council is asking for public comment, especially by neighbors who live in or near Cabbage Town.  

Four people spoke during the public comment section on this topic. Nancy Darga, 516 N. Center, said she lives by that park and takes her grandkids there. She said all Cabbage Town residents and those who live nearby should be invited to make public comments. Bruce Swanson, of Carpenter St., said the land swap would add no value to the park and the fence enclosing Mitkovski’s yard would be three feet closer to the swingset. Luci Klinkhamer, of Lake St., cited problems that would occur to the mature trees when construction is done near it – for the driveway and potential retaining wall due to the height difference between the homeowner’s land and the park land. Jim Allen, who lives in Cabbage Town, asked if Mitkovski tried to purchase land from his neighbor to the north. 

Fire Dept. Analysis of joint operating agreement – Since 2012, the city of Northville and the city of Plymouth have partnered to share a single fire department that operates under one

command structure, reducing costs for both. Each city maintains fire stations, engines and equipment. Two different dispatch centers field calls for service and dispatch responders. When considering the renewal of their joint operating agreement, each city wanted to conduct a thorough review of their policies and procedures, and apply the newest industry standards. Council approved a proposal by The Center for Public Safety Management to conduct a survey and analysis of how both cities provide emergency services and fire services to their communities. As part of this process, interviews will be conducted with the chief, command staff, line fire fighters and city managers. The proposal amount is $23,760; Northville’s share is $9,029 (38%).Travel costs are additional and will be divided between the cities. 

Trash removal services – Decades of excavation spoils have accumulated at the City Yards in the form of mixed dirt, crushed concrete, asphalt and other materials excavated throughout the city. DPW Director Mike Domine estimates it could take two years or more to have the necessary budget to clear out these items. To get started, City Council approved a contract to one of two bidders, Jackie’s Transport of Northville Township, at a not-to-exceed amount of $85,000. 

Congressional Directed Funding – Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne said there are several infrastructure projects in the city that may be eligible for federal funding. Nancy Darga explained the projects to council as head of the River Restoration Task Force, which has explored funding. Oakland County Water Resources plans to submit a grant application to fund a project that would make improvements to the Randolph Drain. If approved, the city of Northville and the city of Novi would need to pay 20% of the anticipated $120,000 to $150,000 cost, with a 60/40 split, respectively. The water main replacement and culvert at the High Street bridge is another project that may qualify for funding. Park improvements require a 50% federal funding match so the city won’t pursue any parks projects this fiscal year. Council agreed to have the mayor and city manager provide a letter of support to Oakland County to pursue the Randolph Drain grant. Deadlines are fast approaching on this funding. 

Public comment 

Nancy Darga, 516 N. Center, spoke on behalf of the River Restoration Task Force. She welcomed the new city manager and thanked the interim city manager. She told council that “I am hoping to bring you $1 million” through congressional directed study grants that need to be applied for through the offices of Sen. Peters, Sen. Stabenow and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. She said she will be back before Council to request a special approval timeline on projects to be submitted for grants. Three projects being considered are the underground water reservoir, Ford Field (Ft. Griswold play structure), and Ford Field East. 

John Stewart, state representative for Plymouth Township (and former state representative for Northville for six years) said there are good things going on in Northville and called the city a gem. He invited the mayor and council members to a lunch at the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex on May 23, with speeches on economic development. He praised Chamber Director Doug Wallace and mentioned the awards program being put on by the chamber on Thursday (March 9). 

Greg Swanson, 542 Carpenter, said he heard about plans to renovate Ford Field and listened to Nancy Darga’s comments about the park. He is concerned about the hill and vegetation near CVS, which he wants to be preserved. He asked if there was a committee working on the park and said he wants to be involved. The mayor said he will be sent information.  

More than a dozen residents, business owners and others spoke about the closed streets in Downtown Northville. Views expressed were either in favor or opposed to the street closures. Listen to the comments, starting at 10:35 – 13:23 and again at 22:18 in the video. Two online comments can be heard at 1:25:26. (In addition, the mayor said council received 127 letters on the subject.) When people in the audience started to cheer or jeer at comments made at the microphone by supporters and detractors of the street closures, the mayor asked the audience to be respectful and just listen – not react – to comments. The audience heeded his warning. 

Jim Koster, 204 St. Lawrence Blvd., said he is waving a red flag of concern in regard to the Fair Housing Act of 1968. He said a new rule being proposed by President Biden to promote equity would require that any city that receives HUD funds be required to provide low-cost, subsidized housing in the community. He said when this occurs, the crime rate goes up and school quality goes down. He said Northville receives $55,000 in HUD funding for Allen Terrace rental subsidies for low-income residents. 

Nancy Chirri, 661 W. Main, thanked the Police and Fire departments for their work in dealing with the two recent storms. 

Interim City Manager remarks

Mark Wollenweber thanked Council for the opportunity to serve as interim city manager. He said he was so impressed with the quality of elected officials, staff and volunteers from the community. He said the residents have been wonderful. He wants to come back for some of the ribbon-cutting ceremonies on new projects. 

City Manager remarks

George Lahanas thanked Council for choosing him to serve as city manager. He said Northville is a special community and he looks forward to serving Council and the community for years to come. He also thanked staff and Mark for helping with the transition. 

Council comments

Mayor Brian Turnbull welcomed the new city manager and thanked the interim city manager. He said, “We are so enthused about the future.” He noted that taxes have gone up around 5% due to higher assessments. 

Council Member Andrew Krenz said nothing gets done well without a good team. He noted that we are “not aligned as a community” but he wants the best outcome for most people. “We can’t deliver everything.” For the downtown streets being closed or reopened, he said “Safety is critical.” “We (as Council) need to be deliberate and humble.” He said he doesn’t support a cvote (on the streets situation) in four weeks. He is open to meeting with anyone to discuss city matters. 

Council Member John Carter said he wants to ensure the social district is a success and thanked local businesses for their commitment. He noted that participation (by the community) is good.

On the Beck Road widening effort being led by Novi and Wixom, he said he attended two meetings recently. He said currently there are no plans finalized that impact Northville. He said the Beck Road planners will hold a public information meeting in the spring for Northville residents and a public hearing in the summer. He thanked Lauren Romeo for heading up Main Street League, a nonprofit that serves the community and is celebrating a 10-year anniversary. 

Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Moroski-Browne said she is excited about the possibilities for the new pedestrian plaza on the downtown streets and noted the Council is on track from when the project launched in August. She noted that Grissim Metz Andriese (GMA) completed their report and their recommendations can be phased in. She said traffic engineers are looking at ways to improve traffic management and work on speed reduction on streets. She said she would also meet with anybody who wishes to discuss city matters. 

Council Member Marilyn Price thanked Mark Wollenweber for his service. She said Council needs to review the GMA report together and identify major goals, and set up a process for how to do that. 

View the meeting video here.

Storm photos show how city workers keep people safe

With more snow predicted for Friday, it’s good to know that the city has things under control when ice and snow start to make things treacherous for drivers, pedestrians and homeowners. During and after the ice storm of Feb. 22, the city handled 100 calls through dispatch in a 24-hour period – sending either fire or police to various locations around town that needed assistance. Firefighters cleared fallen branches and tree limbs from right-of-ways in an emergency capacity. DPW attended to clearing up tree debris after the storms passed. This year, it took 80 hours of manpower as DPW, aided by vendors, cut and chipped branches and tree limbs. You can bet there will be plenty of free wood chips this year at City Yards! 

“Our response team worked well together to make the streets safe. Police and Fire responded to downed wires and cleared trees from roadways while DPW plowed the streets to make them passable for other public safety personnel and residents,” said Chris Helinski, assistant DPW director. 

Police and Fire are often on the scene of a downed electrical wire to secure the area until DTE or Consumers Powers arrive to clear the downed wires and restore power to affected areas. Some of the downed wires around Northville after the Feb. 22 ice storm show how they spark a fire and can be deadly if touched directly or indirectly. DTE says to always stay at least 20 feet away from a downed wire. 

During clean-up, DPW used a wood chipper to clear up branches that broke during the storm and worked with a vendor to clear downed branches from right-of-ways.

(Group photo below) These firefighters were making streets safe after the Feb. 22 ice storm. From left, Luan Nguyen, Sylvia Stepien, Austin Copeland and Dylan Herrell, along with two high school explorers (wearing green helmets).

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 byappointment 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: (Prior Year Taxable Value – LOSSES) X IRM + ADDITIONS. The 2023 Inflation Rate Multiplier (IRM) is 1.05 (5%). Taxable Value is defined as the lower of either the SEV or CV.

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. 

To learn more about Proposal A and value calculations, please review this flier on the City website. If you have any questions or have not received a notice of assessment, email Mitch Elrod or call 248-305-2704.

Home Owners Associations – Updating the master list

Neighborhoods that have a Home Owners Association are more likely to keep neighbors informed of news and important action items. Many collect dues and use those funds for capital improvements in the neighborhood as well as for maintenance and lighting in common areas, and social gatherings.

To keep neighborhoods informed of the local HOAs in Northville, the City keeps a master list that appears on our website under Community/Neighborhood.  If you are a board member of an HOA in the City of Northville, we encourage you to review the list. If you want your HOA added to it, please send your contact information – name of board member (typically president); neighborhood HOA name; phone number and email – to Liz Cezat. It’s also helpful to know when your board elects new officers. Visit the list here.

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,

In 1898 and 1978, ice and snowstorms similar to this past week swept across Michigan. This week, the DPW team have been working almost every given hour to pick up limbs broken off from the 50-year event, and our Fire and Police first-responders have been ensuring the safety of all Northvillians.

I thank all in the community for reaching out to others this past week in an effort to help your neighbors through these trying times.

Now it’s time to move on, and that includes our clocks! This week, we will look at this time of year through the ages when we go on Daylight Saving Time (DST) and why we do this. 

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

Keep that Northville Faith!

Brian Turnbull

Mayor, Northville

City is hiring crossing guards

The city of Northville is hiring crossing guards. Help our children and parents/guardians cross the streets safely to get to and from school. It’s a huge community service and you’ll also get paid to do it! Learn more here.

File photo by Liz Cezat.

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.

Things to do

Doing Business

Online payments for utility bills, taxes and more                                                 

Citizens can pay online for taxes, utilities, delinquent property taxes and other miscellaneous payments. Go directly to the BS&A website and enter your address. You will be redirected to the Point & Pay website to make a payment, which also includes a convenience fee of 3% for credit cards (minimum $2) and for e-checks a $3 fee for payments up to $10,000 or $10 for any amount over $10,000. 

Save time – schedule inspections online 

The City of Northville offers online inspection scheduling. Contractors and homeowners may schedule inspections using an online portal to request all types of inspections, such as building, electrical, plumbing and heating. Users need an assigned permit number, obtained from the City Building Dept., when using the Inspection portal. If you are requesting an inspection for the following business day, it must be scheduled by 3:30 p.m.

Around Town

Report water main breaks 

Each year the City of Northville has between 10 and 20 water main breaks. If you see water bubbling out of the ground on City property, contact the Public Works Department at 248-449-9930 or 248- 349-1234 after hours and report its location. The sooner the leak is identified and reported, the quicker it can be repaired, and minimizing the cost for lost water.

Plentiful, free downtown parking                                                     

Downtown Northville offers free parking to encourage visitors to shop, dine and be entertained without the hassle of meters or worry about paying a parking ticket.

Parking on downtown streets offers easy in-and-out access for up to two hours. For parking of more than two hours, park in one of several city parking lots – conveniently located adjacent to most destinations. These lots offer three-hour parking and several also have all-day parking. View the online map to see their locations. Park in the designated sections of the parking lots based on the length of your visit. On the parking deck off Mary Alexander Court, the upper level is for parking of three hours or less, the lower level has all-day parking. 

Have Fun in City and Township Parks                                                                        

There are many parks – large and small – available for individuals, families and groups of friends to gather in both the city and township. Some are small pocket parks located within a neighborhood; others are larger spaces with plenty of room for nature hikes, ball playing or frisbee tossing. Some parks have play structures. Check out the variety of parks maintained by Northville Parks and Recreation on the department’s legend/map. All the parks are open to the public. (Membership is required at the dog park.)

At Home

Sewer backs up 

An individual making a claim for property damage or physical injury due to sewerage backup on their property must prove that the public sewer had a defect. Further, they must prove that the City of Northville knew or should have known about the defect, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, and failed to take timely action to repair or remedy the defect. 

These steps are outlined in the State of Michigan’s Public Act 222 of 2001, known as sewer backup legislation. The legislation clarifies when municipalities are liable for sewer backups, sets standards to determine the extent to which a municipality is liable, and provides a process to seek compensation when a backup occurs.

If you experience an overflow or backup of a sewage disposal system or storm water system and seek reimbursement, you must file a written claim with the City of Northville within 45 days after the overflow or backup is discovered. Claim forms may be obtained online, by calling DPW at 248-449-9930 or inquiring at the front desk of City Hall. 

When presenting a written claim, you will be required to provide the following items:

- Copies of receipts for cleaning costs, plumbing bills, or other bills.
- List of the damaged items and receipts to prove the age of your items. Reimbursement for the actual cash value of damaged items is the maximum amount payable.
- If possible, bring pictures of items damaged during the storm water or sewer back-up.

The filing of a claim does not guarantee reimbursement. 

Most homeowner’s insurance does not cover sewage backups but insurance often can be obtained as an added item. Also, consider having a plumber install a check valve - backflow preventer - to reduce the risk of backups and related damage. 

Northville Police Department has free gun safety locks

Don’t take the risk of having an unlocked gun get into the wrong hands - especially if you have young children and teenagers. You can pick up a free gun safety lock at the Northville Police Department lobby.  There are no forms to fill out and no waiting.