11A: Flower season approaching as weather improves
Cloud Opportunity was approved in 2019 for a marijuana site at a Wendy's at Telegraph and 12 Mile roads, but it did not move forward due to legal issues. If approved, this site at 28610 Northwestern Highway will be the third and possibly final marijuana retail site in Southfield.
SOUTHFIELD — At its April 1 meeting, the Southfield City Council discussed Cloud Opportunity’s request to build and operate a one-story recreational marijuana retailer at 28610 Northwestern Highway.
Terry Croad, Southfield’s director of planning, explained that Cloud Opportunity was approved
for a marijuana site at the Wendy’s at Telegraph and 12 Mile roads in 2019, but it did not move forward due to legal issues with the franchisee and the company.
“So we had a total of three provisioning centers that were approved. This would be a net of three, because they’re relocating from the Wendy’s site to here. So they were originally approved at Wendy’s — that’s not moving forward for litigation purposes. And
this is a secondary site that they have found that they can build new as opposed to rehabbing,” Croad stated.
The proposed hours of operation are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Sundays, with around 25 employees, 27 security cameras inside and outside, and security guards on-site to escort employees in and out and to patrol the business after-hours.
The marijuana provisioning
center would rest on 1 acre of the 5.65-acre lot. The main entrance and parking lot would be located on the north side of the building.
John McLeod, the owner of Cloud Opportunity, clarified that the original parcel of land was 6.2 acres, and since the parcel was split, he owns 1 acre.
“This is the first development on that 6.2 acres, which will be followed by two other
See MARIJUANA on page 4A
The defending Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state champions will have a Super Bowl champion leading the sidelines this year.
Following the departure of former head coach Aaron Mar-
See COACH on page 5A
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‘Proving once again that in Oakland County, working across the aisle is how we do business’BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com
FARMINGTON HILLS — At his State of the County address at The Hawk Community Center in Farmington Hills April 4, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter painted an optimistic picture of where things stand in the county.
Coulter took the stage following remarks by Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich.
During his speech, Coulter highlighted what he considers some of the county’s successes, including affordable housing, transit, small business coaching and mental health care.
He said that one of the county’s greatest strengths is fiscal responsibility, as, from his perspective, taxpayer dollars have been handled responsibly.
“Every year I’ve presented three-year balanced budgets with healthy reserves that help provide essential services that reflect our shared priorities and values,” Coulter said to those in attendance, including residents, and city,
See ADDRESS on page 4A
Southfield Human Services offers other services for struggling residents
BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com
The Legal Aid and Defender
See COUNSEL on page 12A
SOUTHFIELD — The Southfield Human Services Department has joined forces with the Legal Aid and Defender Association to provide free legal services for veterans 9 a.m.noon every second Monday of the month until September, as well as on Dec. 9, at the Southfield Human Services Department, 26000 Evergreen Road.
county and state officials. “That careful and far-sighted fiscal planning has once again allowed us to earn our AAA bond rating. … It’s the foundation that allows us to execute our strategic plan – an intentional and thoughtful roadmap to deliver initiatives and services to improve the lives of our people.”
Coulter shared what he thinks has gone well for the county over the past 12 months or so.
“We’ve had remarkable success on a number of fronts this past year, from transit to mental health care, affordable housing to sustainability, small business coaching to education (and) training,” he said. “We were able to provide these innovative programs with the support of our Board of Commissioners. They passed a budget in a bi-partisan manner, proving once again that in Oakland County, working across the aisle is how we do business. These programs have touched hundreds of thousands of people.”
Coulter cited Oakland SAVES, which he said was opened on a Monday morning in January and is designed to provide grants to people with an interest in energy-efficient improvements in their homes.
“The interest and need were so high that by Friday of that same week, the entire $5 million in funding was spoken for,” Coulter said. “We’re helping to keep people safer and more comfortable in their homes, providing more energy efficiency and keeping more money in their pockets as they save on their monthly utility bills.”
Coulter said that affordable housing is important for attracting and retaining individuals to help grow the population.
“So, working with the Board of Commissioners and using federal American Rescue Plan (Act) dollars, we established a $20 million housing trust fund – this fund is working with developers to provide more affordable housing options in the county through incentives and gap finding,” he said. “Projects have already been approved for these funds in Southfield, Royal Oak Township, Pontiac and Rochester Hills, filled with both market-rate and affordable homes that will create inclusive communities for the hard-working Michiganians who are looking for attractive and safe places to raise their families. And we just closed last month on a project in Rochester Hills to provide desperately needed housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It’s only the second such development in all of Michigan.”
With the help of multiple Oakland County Michigan Works offices, Coulter said that more than 8,500 people have entered the workplace over the last two years.
He said that due to services that have been offered, interns and apprentices have been matched with thousands of businesses.
Coulter touted the county’s Oakland 80 initiative, which aims to have 80% of the adult population attain a college degree or certified training by 2030.
He said the county is currently at 69%.
Coulter also highlighted Oakland Thrive, a nonprofit that was launched to provide coaching and consulting resources for small businesses in the county.
Oakland Thrive can assist entrepreneurs with things such as a business plan, social media, financial workshops, and assistance with applications for business grants and loans.
Coulter also cited efforts to help small and midsize manufacturers.
“Our economic development department has helped 20 companies either locate or expand in Oakland County during 2023,” he said. “Their presence represents $387 million in new investment, and more than 3,300 new and retained jobs.”
In 2022, voters approved the Oakland County Public Transportation Millage. With that approval, the county is now authorized to levy a millage for the purpose of funding transportation services throughout Oakland County. Prior to that, individual communities could opt out.
Residents in communities that opted in prior to the countywide millage paid 1 mill in taxes for public transportation services. Residents in all Oakland County communities will now pay 0.95 mill for 10 years, which is 95 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value of a home.
“We’re building on the strength of voters, who, like us, were committed to creating a countywide public transportation system,” Coulter said. “We’re expanding into the jobrich centers of Novi, Wixom, Bloomfield Hills and Rochester Hills, which is happening with the help of the SMART bus system. Transit is on the move for the folks who live in the outer reaches of Oakland County, who may not have been sure they would ever benefit from a public transportation system.”
Opponents of the millage, however, said that residents in communities where there is not a high demand for public transportation should not have to pay taxes for it.
Mental health care has been a popular topic in the country, and it is one that Coulter touched on during his speech.
“Another significant initiative we’ve adopted … is our investment in expanding access to mental health care in Oakland County,” he said. “Through our partnership with the United Way of Southeastern Michigan we’ve provided millions in grants to dozens of nonprofits that have the expertise to positively impact, and in some cases save, the lives of tens of thousands of people across our country.”
Coulter’s speech also included a “sad note,” as he discussed the deaths of three individuals who helped serve Oakland County.
“Oakland County Sheriff Deputy Nicho-
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developments, one which I believe is a 12 Mile development and one which is the Northwestern Highway development. I can’t speak to those. They’re not my developments, not my property. But I know that they’re happening, and they’re going to be good ancillary uses for us,” McLeod explained. “This is actually proposed to be our third Bloomery location, which is a new brand name that we’ve had previously when we got approval in Southfield at the Wendy’s; we were Cloud Cannabis. I’ve now sold that company and started a new company with a new brand, which is Bloomery.”
The other Bloomery locations are in Mount Clemens and New Buffalo.
McLeod added that his investment in the property would be around $1 million and that he is hopeful that this development will inspire more development at that site as he believes it is the single largest vacant Southfield property still undeveloped.
“We’ve been very cautious as any B-3 (general business) zoning considerations, which is the first thing that you need in order to have a provisioning center, to make sure that we’re vetting those for potential use. So as of tonight, this is the third or only eligible site that’s available,” Croad said.
A 500-foot setback buffer is in place for residential districts, residential use, drug-free school zones, adult-regulated uses (sexually oriented businesses), schools, religious institutions, child care facilities and parks. There is a 1,500-foot setback buffer for medical marijuana provisioning centers and marijuana retailers.
Councilwoman Coretta Houge stated
that she doesn’t want any more cannabis shops after this.
“After this, I don’t want any more in the city for what my vote could carry, because we’re not that large of a city. I’ve driven around the existing two that we have. It’s not that it’s overpopulated, overcrowded. So, I don’t see a need to go with a fourth one or fifth one. I would hope that we could do whatever we can to put a serious hold on these three, if this passes, and not worry about the buffer to save us — that we just limit it at three. I think we have enough.”
Council members Daniel Brightwell and Yolanda C. Haynes echoed Houge’s sentiment.
Croad explained that per recreational marijuana state law, the city is allowed to limit the number of marijuana businesses. He expressed that when Southfield opted into marijuana retailers, it limited the total number of retail centers to a maximum of five licenses. He added that the actual number may be smaller due to zoning ordinance distancing requirements. There are also limits on other types of marijuana establishments, such as testing, secure transport, and growing and processing.
If this site is approved, then a cash advance business located on 12 Mile, located within the 1,500-foot exclusion buffer, must cease operations prior to approval of any permits for the marijuana facility. According to the April 1 meeting, they’ve already agreed to relocate.
If approved, Bloomery will be the third and possibly final marijuana retail establishment in Southfield, joining Lume Cannabis at 26760 Lahser Road and Dreams Canna at 28930 Telegraph Road. The matter was slated to go before council again April 15, after press time.
To learn more about Bloomery, visit bloomerycannabis.com.
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SOUTHFIELD — Around 11:36 p.m. March 27, officers were dispatched to a business in the 26000 block of West 12 Mile Road for an alarm. Upon arrival, officers noticed that there was a fresh glass break within the business and that the business appeared to have been rummaged through.
SOUTHFIELD — At 12:20 a.m. March 29, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle between Eight Mile Road and Southfield Road for a traffic infraction. The vehicle disregarded officers’
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shall, now at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, Southfield A&T High School announced Keith McKenzie as its new head football coach for the 2024-2025 campaign.
McKenzie, who played eight seasons in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears, the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns, which included winning a Super Bowl championship with the Packers in 1996, has coached throughout the Division I and II college ranks for 15 years. McKenzie was drafted in the seventh round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Packers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Keith McKenzie to our Southfield family,” Jennifer Green, the superintendent of Southfield Public Schools, said. “His impressive background as a player, coach, and educator aligns perfectly with our commitment to
lights and sirens and fled. A short time later, the same vehicle re-entered the city, and officers blocked it in.
The driver was arrested for fleeing and eluding, and multiple illegal drugs were found inside the vehicle.
SOUTHFIELD — A resident told police that an acquaintance forced his way into his home in the 27000 block of Franklin Road and stole his ID and a bank card at 12:33 a.m. March 26. The resident chased his acquaintance out of the home.
SOUTHFIELD — Between 4 and 5 p.m. on March 27, a woman in the 23000 block of Southfield Road had her medications picked up by someone else. She did not authorize anyone to pick them up for her.
student-athlete development and fostering a culture of excellence.”
McKenzie, a Detroit native, previously served as the defensive line coach at his alma mater, Ball State University, where he set the career sacks record (25) and was inducted into the university’s hall of fame in 2006.
While also serving at the helm of the football program, McKenzie will be appointed the student support network coordinator, with the primary job of providing resources and support to students to aid in their development both academically and personally.
McKenzie will be accompanied by his wife, Tamkio McKenzie, and their three sons as they join the Warriors family.
“I am honored and excited to join Southfield Public Schools,” Keith McKenzie said. “I look forward to working with the talented athletes, dedicated coaches, and passionate staff to continue the tradition of excellence and to empower our students to reach their full potential.”
SOUTHFIELD — The Southfield Parks and Recreation, Police, Fire and Public Works departments will present Touch-a-Truck 1-4 p.m. April 21 at the Southfield municipal campus, 26000 Evergreen Road.
The free event allows residents to get up close and personal with the city’s vehicles. The first hour will be sensory-sensitive, with no flashing lights or loud noises, and there will be quiet zones away from the action. Police will offer demonstrations of their drones and the K-9 Division. The Fire Department will have a ladder truck, EMS/ambulance and smoke house on display, as well their technical rescue and hazmat operations. The DPW will show off a road grader, a bucket truck and a street sweeper. Allied Construction, Old Dominion Freight Line, Quality Towing Service and The Michigan Property Network will also display their work vehicles. Food and refreshments from the Mean Weenie and Egg Roll Diva will be available for purchase. For more information, call (248) 796-4620 or visit www.cityofsouthfield.com.
MDOT open houses to focus on Restore the Reuther: Lahser to Dequindre
SOUTHFIELD — The Michigan Department of Transportation will host two open houses regarding the last phase of the I-696
Restore the Reuther project, the proposed rebuilding between Lahser and Dequindre roads. MDOT will provide information such as the schedule and traffic impacts. People are encouraged to attend and ask questions.
The first open house will be held 4:30-6:30 p.m. April 23 in the Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Road. The second will be 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 15 at the Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights.
The project will include rebuilding the Church Street Plaza bridge over I-696 in
SOUTHFIELD — The city of Southfield is seeking entries for the eighth annual Southfield Photo Prize competition and public art exhibition. The competition runs June 17-Aug. 31, and the Total Living Commission will select the top 25 finalists, who will have their entries enlarged and displayed on the Parks and Recreation Department building for public viewing and voting.
People can vote on the city’s website. The photo with the most overall votes will be in the city’s 2025 calendar with a photo credit. Other finalists may also be featured in the calendar and other city marketing materials.
All finalists will receive their enlarged photographs from the exhibition, as well as additional prizes for the top three winners. To qualify for entry, the photographer must live, work, worship or attend school in Southfield. Photographs must be digital and shot of a Southfield landmark or other subject matter within city boundaries. Visit www.cityofsouthfield.com and search ‘8th annual Photo Prize.’ The results will be announced at an awards ceremony in September. Submissions must be emailed as an attachment to PhotoContest@cityofsouthfield.com or mailed on a CD or USB flash drive to Southfield Community Relations Department, 26000 Evergreen Road, P.O. Box 2055, Southfield, MI 48037-2055 by May 31. For more information, call (248) 796-5130.
Oak Park. This $290 million price tag will include 8 miles of new concrete pavement; 1.5 miles of concrete patching; drainage improvements; and sign, traffic signal and pavement marking upgrades. There will also be improvements and preventive maintenance to 60 bridges within the project limits. For more information, visit www.michi-
gan.gov/mdot and click on “News.” Attendees who require accessibility assistance may contact Orlando Curry at CurryO@Michigan. gov or (517) 241-7462. For those unable to attend the open houses, comments and input can be submitted to Monica Monsma at MonsmaM@Michigan.gov or at (517) 335-4381.
SOUTHFIELD — Just a stone’s throw away from the Southfield Police Department, an angry customer reportedly pulled a gun on a Chipotle employee at 6:52 p.m. April 5 in the 26000 block of Evergreen Road.
“When this incident happened at the Chipotle restaurant, it became national attention, primarily because Chipotle is a well-recognized establishment and even very popular here in the city of Southfield. A lot of questions emerge as to, how did this happen? What was the reason for this happening?” Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren stated. “But what I will suggest to you, the reason it has happened is because of poor decisions, inability to control emotions, and that’s what led to the shooting.”
from the kitchen to the counter, where he observed Brown serving himself. He reportedly proceeded to knock the guacamole out of Brown’s hand, police said, and Brown allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck and slammed him into the refrigerator. A fight broke out as the other employees tried to get Brown away from their co-worker.
Brown then pulled out a 9 mm handgun, which had been concealed on his right hip, and fired one round, striking the victim in his right knee, police said. After the shot was fired, the occupants of the restaurant fled for safety.
Surveillance footage shows Brown calmly collecting his food and leaving the establishment. Soon after, Southfield police pulled Brown over at the Arbor Lofts, on Civic Center Drive, and placed him into custody.
See SHOOTING on page 15A
Barren stated that the victim sustained Brown
The victim, a 21-year-old Detroit man, was shot in the leg by a suspect whom police identified as Aaron Michael Brown, a 32-year-old Detroit resident, after a dispute over guacamole.
While at the counter, Brown asked for extra guacamole on the food that he had purchased. Barren explained that a female employee had served Brown what he believed to be too small of a portion of guacamole. Brown called her a derogatory name, upsetting her, and other Chipotle employees escorted her away to avoid further conflict, police said.
While a team of employees were trying to calm her down, the counter was left unattended, and Brown went behind the counter, bagged his purchased items and began to serve himself more guacamole, according to police. The 21-year-old victim walked
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las Dotson from Holly died in December after a battle with cancer,” Coulter said. “Sheriff Mike Bouchard said Nick had a special spark that led him to his job with the county because he wanted to make a real difference, and he did during his 10 years of service with the Sheriff’s Office. At the young age of 32 he leaves behind his wife, Delaney, and son, Sullivan.
“County Commissioner Gary McGillivray lost his battle with cancer late last year,” Coulter said. “He was a devoted public servant during his time as a councilman and mayor of Madison Heights, and during his 15 years on the Board of Commissioners. He was also a champion for the Oakland parks system and as chairman of the Parks and Rec Commission.”
Coulter also recalled someone who he said had a legacy of helping people.
“We tragically lost Dr. Calandra Green, our county health officer, almost a year ago,” he said. “Calandra was a passionate advocate for public health services … especially in communities of color.”
Green’s death last year was ruled a homicide. She was found near her husband in their home in Pontiac. His death was ruled as a suicide.
At the address, Coulter announced that
working with Oakland University, a scholarship fund to help nursing students at the university was created.
Coulter also said that a $20 million investment will help create new public spaces and make improvements to dozens of parks across the county.
He referred to the county’s 14 parks as the “crown jewel of Oakland County.”
Coulter said the county is helping communities with $14 million in grants to upgrade water infrastructure, with a $5 million investment going toward 29 senior centers across the county.
He also touted a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the county’s public radio safety program.
“That allows our police, firefighters and EMTs to seamlessly and in real time connect with hundreds of agencies across the region and the state so we can improve response times (and) better respond to a crisis,” Coulter said.
Oakland County Commissioner Bob Hoffman attended the event.
Although he said that he thinks the county is in good shape and he commended the employees who work for the county, he did share a concern.
“It just seems like we keep building staff and creating programs, and that’s always a concern to me. (It’s) somebody else’s money we’re spending,” Hoffman said.
City and county leaders were among those in attendance at Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter’s State of the County address April 4 at The Hawk Community Center in Farmington Hills.
He also questioned a decision to purchase two office buildings in Pontiac for $19.2 million.
“We have the true market value of those two office buildings,” Hoffman said. “It’s either $10 (million) or $12 million. So we’re going to pay $19.2? Then we’re going to get another
$100 (million) or $150 million (invested) in it, and they talk about we’re getting money from the state, whatever. I don’t care where you get the money: It’s taxpayer money, and how are you creating economic development in Pontiac when you spend $19.2 million for a building and then take them off the tax rolls?”
SOUTHFIELD — The Southfield Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Friends of the Rouge, will host Earth Day Fun 4-6 p.m. April 22 at the picnic shelter in Civic Center Park, 26000 Evergreen Road. The event features education on Earth Day, crafts, games, birdhouse building and a scavenger hunt, with a chance to win a prize.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (248) 796-4620 or visit www.cityofsouthfield.com.
The city, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Oakland Schools are also partnering for an Earth Day drive-thru and donation event 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 20 in the Municipal Campus parking lot, 26000 Evergreen Road.
The collection includes nonperishable food, clean and gently used clothing, prescription drugs, and bikes. The donated bikes will be refurbished by the Sheriff’s ReCYCLE for Kids program and made available to families in need. The event will also include document shredding, walk-up Nar-
can training, free radon test kits, free prescription drug lock boxes and Deterra bags, and recyclable tote bags with earth-friendly resources inside.
For more information, visit www.oakland.k12.mi.us and search ‘Earth Day DriveThru.’
— Sarah Wright
The weather has been slowly getting warmer in Michigan, which means homeowners can start planning their flower beds for their properties.
The first thing people should think about when getting their flower beds ready, said Brad Wethy, manager for the Oakland County Farmers Market, is how to prepare the beds, what needs to be removed, what needs to be deadheaded and cut down, and what can last through the wintertime.
“It’s gonna be cleaning up that flower bed, making sure that when things do want
to actually sprout through the ground, that they’re not having any extra obstacles such as branches, piles of leaves from the previous fall, things of that nature,” he said.
Wethy also recommended adding things to the soil that will help with plant growth, such as compost.
Matt Colonius, co-owner of Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Gate in Oakland Township, said that people moving into newly built homes have to mend the soil.
“You buy a new house and it’s just an empty lot. The foundation that they dig, they bring up the old soil from the job,” he said. “They usually don’t replenish the top-
See FLOWERS on page 13A
Usually, I’m that last $300 that saves people from being evicted or having their lights or gas turned off.
from page 3A
Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1909 and is the state’s oldest provider of free civil legal assistance, serving low-income residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties who can’t afford an attorney.
Rasheed Gilmer, a staff attorney at the association, reached out to Southfield Human Services after securing a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Gilmer explained that the Veterans Affairs grant is congressionally mandated for veterans at risk of homelessness, to ensure that they are provided legal services. The grant is on a year-to-year basis, and currently, Legal Aid is in the process of applying for a renewal.
“I go to different veteran events and interact with different veterans,” Gilmer said. “The goal is to represent or at least advise veterans who are at risk of homelessness or who are homeless. For example, at the Michigan Veterans Foundation, on Grand River in Detroit, a homeless shelter for veterans, the veterans who live there usually come by my office for advice on issues such as child support, arrears, divorce, some probate issues, landlord-tenant and various civil issues that I can advise veterans and possibly represent them in court to protect them from further risk of homelessness.”
Gilmer explained that Legal Aid can help with legal matters such as:
• Homelessness prevention for eviction, repairs, mortgage, tax foreclosure, etc.
• Consumer matters, including debt collection, garnishments, bankruptcy, etc.
• Family Law, including divorce, child support, persona; protection orders, etc.
• Public benefits, such as food assistance/ food stamps.
• Employment/unemployment law matters.
— Rhonda Terry, outreach caseworker for Southfield Human Services
• Criminal record expungement and license restoration.
• Estate planning, powers of attorney and patient advocate designations.
He added that this is not a comprehensive list, and he encouraged veterans facing other legal issues not listed to discuss them with him.
Rhonda Terry, an outreach caseworker for Southfield Human Services, explained that a similar program was held around four years ago for veterans, but the turnout wasn’t big enough to keep it going.
Terry added that in addition to launching this new partnership, for the last few years, Southfield Human Services has worked with Lakeshore Legal Aid to host free legal clinics for low-income residents and senior citizens on select first Fridays of each month. Lakeshore Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm that serves low-income residents and seniors in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb or St. Clair counties who are not currently represented by another attorney on the legal issue of concern. Residents interested in speaking with someone from Lakeshore must arrive between 9 and 10 a.m. on the first Friday of the month at Southfield Human Services, 26000 Evergreen Road, to register for a spot to speak with an attorney.
“If you go to talk to an attorney for a consultation, it could (otherwise) be hundreds of dollars,” Terry said. “And sometimes they just have a simple question. But sometimes they have paperwork that they need drawn up, and Lakeshore would do that and do a follow-up, and it’s all a free service.”
In addition to the free legal clinics, Southfield Human Services also offers referrals, consultations and financial assistance for Southfield residents who are experiencing financial hardships.
Terry has been at her job for almost 28 years.
“I truly do love my job. I get paid to come to work and help people all day long. That’s all I do.
“If a resident comes in and they have a court-ordered eviction or the lights are going to be turned off, they have to have an application they can fill out, and then if they get approved, they can get up to $300 onetime help. The $300 can be used for lights or gas or to stop an eviction,” Terry explained. “Usually, I’m that last $300 that saves people from being evicted or having their lights or gas turned off.”
She added that every person has a different reason for needing assistance, such as their car breaking down, having an adult
child or elderly parent move in, or paying for a prescription medicine because they’re sick or their parents are sick.
“It could be anybody,” Terry said. “I always treat people like I want to be treated. I always tell people this is a nonjudgmental zone, because I work every day like you do and I get a paycheck just like you do.”
For more information on Southfield Human Services, contact Rhonda Terry at (248) 796-4540.
For more information on Legal Aid and Defender Association, visit ladadetroit.org.
Call Staff Writer Kathryn Pentiuk at (586) 498-1070.
CITY OF SOUTHFIELD
Community Development Block Grant Program
Annual Action Plan, Program Year 2024-2025 and Five-Year Consolidated Plan 2021 – 2026
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held on Monday May 20, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Savings Time, in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 26000 Evergreen Road, City of Southfeld, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, at which time and place the Southfeld City Council will conduct a Public Hearing to discuss the Five Year Consolidated Plan 2021/2026 and the proposed use of Community Development Block Grant funds (Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2024/2025).
Background: Each year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates each entitlement community grant funding for the development of programs and activities that will beneft low- and moderate-income people and/or areas. The CDBG planning committee, evaluates the proposals based on HUD criteria and city priorities and provides recommendations to Council.
Fiscal Impact: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has not, as of 4/10/24, informed us of funding levels for the 2024-2025 program year. We anticipate the entitlement grant to be like last year’s $387,080. Funding levels of each activity will be adjusted proportionally to this proposal when the entitlement is awarded. The CDBG regulations allow for up to 20% of the grant to be used for administrative (and fair housing) costs. The CDBG regulations also allow for up to 15% of the grant to fund eligible public services. Last year the public service activities included: Human Services/Emergency Relief Fund, Southfeld Youth Assistance, HAVEN and Lighthouse of Michigan.
The proposed statement of Community Development Objectives projected use of funds for the 2024/2025 CDBG Program Year is as follows:
PROPOSED STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM 2024/2025 City of Southfeld
The City of Southfeld has considered the various eligible projects which may be undertaken with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. After careful evaluation, it has been determined that the highest priority for low and/or moderateincome areas and individuals in the community would be achieved through housing programs, public services, and other activities. The following expenditure of CDBG funds is recommended:
Programs
Home Improvement Program
Program
Together
In accordance with HUD guidelines,
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soil. So you’re stuck with this topsoil. It’s just not got any nutrients or anything in it. So it takes time the first year to establish your plants when you’re buying a new house. You have to add topsoil and nutrients.”
The best way to clean the flower beds, Wethy said, is to use simple gardening tools.
“You don’t need to go too in depth with it,” he said. “You don’t need power tools, nothing of that nature. A simple trowel, a simple … rake and just knowing what to remove and what not to remove can do leaps and bounds for your garden.”
Colonius said that if homeowners are cleaning up the yard, they should do a walkthrough to see if anything was damaged over the winter.
Items for homeowners to search for in-
clude broken branches caused by the weather and rodent damage.
“Be careful, if you have any perennials, not to disturb the perennials. Leave the mulch around them until the danger of frost is over, which is usually the beginning of May, but it can be as late as Memorial Day,” he said.
As for what to plant right now, Colonius said flowers including pansies, daffodils and tulips would grow well.
“You might want to consider whether you have deer in your yard or not,” he said. “When you make the choices, you want some deer-tolerant, cold-tolerant plants. So you know pansies are wonderful. They can take the cold but … there’s a lot of problems with the way the deer have cohabitated with us and it’s causing a lot of issues with landscapes in the area.”
Besides sun and water, Wethy said the best way to keep the flowers healthy is to
See FLOWERS on page 15A
The City of Southfeld will receive proposals for the following item(s) until the time and
Published: Southfeld Sun 04/18/2024
Janet Jackson, City Clerk
The City of Southfeld will receive proposals for the following item(s) until the time and date indicated:
Alpha Elite - Threat Level IIIA Concealable Vest-24-033, April 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM Local Time. Specifcations are available on www.mitn.info . NIGP codes are 68008. Questions contact the Purchasing Department at 248-796-5250.
Janet Jackson, City Clerk Published: Southfeld Sun 04/18/2024
This is a public hearing. If interested, you are encouraged to appear in person. You may have a representative (attorney or agent) appear in your presence to make the Board aware of your opinion. When appearing before the Board, please speak slowly and distinctly so that your testimony may be accurately recorded.
Documents regarding this appeal are available for review prior to the public hearing. Written comments, questions and requests to review these materials must be received prior to 4:00 p.m. on the date of the hearing and should be directed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Department of Building & Safety Engineering, 1st Floor Public Works Building, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfeld, Michigan, Telephone 248-796-4100.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfeld.
City of Southfeld Zoning Board of Appeals
Individuals with special needs who plan to attend this meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Offce at 248-796-5150 (voice) or 354-4831 (TDD) if auxiliary aids or services are needed. Reasonable advance notice is required.
Janet Jackson City Clerk
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD BY AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD, BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PARCELS OF PROPERTY:
THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD ORDAINS:
1. The offcial Zoning Map of the City of Southfeld is hereby amended by changing the zoning classifcation of the following described parcel of property:
Rezone 1.25 acres of land at 23055 Telegraph Road, Southfeld, Michigan (Parcel 24-29-476-024) from I-1, Industrial to B-3, General Business.
2. Should any section, clause or paragraph of the ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the same will not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or part thereof other than the part declared to be invalid.
3. All ordinances in confict with the provisions of this Ordinance are, to the extent of such confict, hereby repealed.
4. This ordinance shall become effective upon passage and publication.
(PZR23-0004 – Art Danou)
KENSON J. SIVER, MayorJANET JACKSON, City Clerk Introduced:
0379-2416
ORDINANCE NO. 1784
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD BY AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD, BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PARCELS OF PROPERTY:
THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD ORDAINS:
1. The of cial Zoning Map of the City of South eld is hereby amended by changing the zoning classi cation of the following described parcel of property: Conditionally rezone the southeastern outlot parcel located at 29201 Telegraph Road, South eld, Michigan (Parcel 2408-451-013) from ERO-M Education Research-Of ce to B-3 General Business.
2. Should any section, clause or paragraph of the ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the same will not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or part thereof other than the part declared to be invalid.
3. All ordinances in con ict with the provisions of this Ordinance are, to the extent of such con ict, hereby repealed.
4. This ordinance shall become effective upon passage and publication.
METRO DETROIT — Donald Payne has seen many white-tailed deer pass through his Farmington Hills yard. The lanky ruminants are a common sight around the region, but one recent visitor stands out from the rest with its stark white fur.
“It’s exciting. … It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Payne said of seeing the deer. “You’ve got to appreciate the time you have when you’re blessed with a rarity like that coming into your yard to say hello.”
Payne is not the only one that’s spotted white-furred white-tails in the region. Sightings of deer with the rare fur date back to at least 2022 in Troy with subsequent sightings in Bloomfield Hills and Farmington Hills. According to Rochester Hills naturalist Lance DeVoe, white fur in deer is a symptom of either albinism or piebaldism, which respectively have about a 1/30,000 and 1/1,000 chance of occurring.
“It’s a recessive genetic trait,” DeVoe said. “It’s a thing where (white fur is) selected against because of the fact they lack the camouflage.”
Sightings of deer are common through-
out southeastern Michigan. What was once a rare glimpse into nature has become a daily occurrence in some areas as white-tailed deer have made their homes between ever-growing housing developments.
“With everything being so developed and big subdivisions bordering each other and a really small of what would be considered suitable deer habitat, they’re forced to be in neighborhoods and commons areas and every little woodlot,” DeVoe said. “You can see a deer any day of the week anywhere in (Rochester Hills) and pretty much all over southeast Michigan.”
The loss of habitat has led to behavioral changes in deer. DeVoe says fawns will be left in yards and common areas since humans keep predators like coyotes at bay. It has allowed the deer population to become a regular part of living in the region. The sight of deer is hardly an issue, but homeowners and drivers can have encounters with deer ranging from the inconveniences — deer tend to eat from gardens and planted fruit trees alongside native plants — to dire road hazards.
While living with deer can be challenging at times, DeVoe says the role of influence the four-legged neighbors have on residents
tends to align with how important the local environment is for deer.
“If you live in an area where you have a big commons area and there’s a lot of natural food, like oak trees, then they’re not as persistent as they are when those things don’t exist,” DeVoe said.
In areas where deer lack natural food, the animals turn to garden plants. Deer can be deterred from dining in gardens through the use of physical barriers like nets and fences, applying repellents to plants or by planting flowers that deer do not like, such as hyacinth, sage or coneflower. Hazing deer by making loud noises or using noise-emitting devices to keep deer away also helps.
But no matter the tactics used to keep deer away from lawns and flowers, De-
Voe says the white-tailed deer are not leaving their homes anytime soon. Humans, it seems, have come to accept this.
“I get fewer complaints (about deer) now than at any time that I’ve had this job, which is over 30 years,” DeVoe said. “I think people have adjusted to living with them and knowing that they’re going to be around and that sometimes there’s going to be a negative impact from them. But at the same time, there’s a lot of people where that’s why they enjoy living here, seeing the wildlife and having those opportunities. It’s a perspective thing, and I think people are becoming more realistic with living with them.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
from page 13A
keep an eye out for pest and fungi issues, and issues with overcrowding.
“I even had issues with overcrowding. … As I removed certain things from the gar-
den or gave them more space, they were actually able to flourish better,” he said.
He said it’s important to know the space and light requirements for plants — what needs more space, what grows in shade and what grows in direct sunlight.
Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.
from page 7A
a non-life-threatening wound and is in stable condition.
“I repeat the fact that he outweighed and had a bigger stature than his 21-year-old victim. But the coward that he is pulls out a handgun and shoots. So it makes no sense, and we will hold him accountable.”
Brown has no previous criminal history and has a valid CPL license, which expires in 2026. He was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, discharging a weapon in or at a building causing injury, and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
An attorney for Brown could not be reached for comment by press time.
APRIL 23
Lunch and learn: Food at 11 a.m., presentation about free services at Southfield Public Library to follow, Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Southfield, 23425 Lahser Road, RSVP to (248) 357-1848 or emmanuelsfld@yahoo.com, donations of nonperishable food appreciated
MAY 5
Teen Mental Wellness Community Forum: Keynote speech by Oakland County Deputy Executive Director Madiah Tariq, also panels, 2 p.m., Metro Detroit Youth Clubs Field Zone on Southfield Municipal Campus, 26000 Evergreen Road, southfield-lathrupvillageoptimists.
Resident reports threat
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 20, a woman in her 70s went to the West Bloomfield Police Department to report an alleged threat.
The resident reported that an unknown male from “Ride Assistant” picked her up from outside of her home to take her to a doctor’s appointment in West Bloomfield.
After the two reportedly got into an argument, the driver had her exit his vehicle before arriving at her appointment, leaving her to walk the rest of the way.
Just before she went into the doctor’s office, the male reportedly showed up in the parking lot and yelled threats at her.
No further information was provided.
Photo leads to alleged extortion attempt
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 18, a resident in their 50s went to the West Bloomfield Police Department to report that an unknown person was trying to extort money, due to the reporting party sending a compromising photo.
No further information was provided.
Pierce Elementary closed for bomb threat
BIRMINGHAM — On March 18 at approximately 7 a.m., the deputy superintendent of Birmingham Public Schools contacted the Birmingham Police Department regarding a threatening voicemail at Pierce Elementary. The suspect left a voicemail that a bomb would explode within 10 minutes of the call on Sunday evening, March 17. School staff received the voicemail the next morning, Monday, March 18, prior to school starting for the day.
A decision was made to close the school for the day. Those who had already arrived for early morning programs were bused to another school. An investigation was immediately initiated and a sweep of the school was conducted, determining there were no credible threats or safety risks to the public. An investigation was ongoing.
Uber driver accused of punching passenger
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 10 a.m. March 15, officers were dispatched to the Birmingham Police Department lobby for an assault report.
A 78-year-old Auburn Hills woman told them that on March 14 she was taking an Uber to her desired location, and shortly into the ride, the driver, a
The passenger asked the driver to let her out of the vehicle.
The passenger said that after she exited the vehicle, the driver punched her in the back of the head. An investigation was ongoing.
Someone uses stolen credit card number to order groceries
NOVI — Novi police were dispatched at 8:06 a.m. March 23 to a residence on Steinbeck Glen, near 13 Mile and Meadowbrook roads, after a woman discovered fraudulent charges had been made on her credit card.
The woman told police that her Capital One Venture account had been used to make unauthorized purchases at Kroger in Lincoln Park in the amount of $418.67 and again for $347. She said another unauthorized purchase was made at Fry’s Food and Drug in Georgia for $487.44.
The Novi resident contacted the credit card company and informed it that the charges were fraudulent. She said she had also contacted the Kroger in Lincoln Park. They told her that it was an online purchase and provided her with the email address to which the order was charged.
The suspect was going to pick up the groceries that morning but canceled the order. Police advised the Novi woman to contact the credit reporting agencies and notify them that her name and credit card account had been used fraudulently. Capital One returned the money to her account, according to the police report. The woman said she wishes to prosecute if police find a suspect.
Window broken at store HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, an unknown suspect used a brick to break the front window of the Boost Mobile store at 22844 John R Road in Hazel Park, sometime around 6 a.m.
25 at Credit Union One, 28845 Woodward Ave. The suspect, a 38-year-old Inkster man, entered the credit union and gave a check to deposit for $7,721.62. He reportedly said it was back pay for work that he had done.
The clerk told the man that credit union policy was that when verifying a check, she only could release $1,000 of the funds, which was done. The man exited the building and left in a small white SUV.
Five days later, the check was alerted as altered or fake, and correspondence was made with the suspect with no resolution. A risk management investigator also spoke with a representative from the business that allegedly sent the check, and the representative reportedly did not know anyone by the name of the suspect.
The case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.
Suspect flees through multiple cities
BERKLEY — A 20-year-old Detroit man was arrested for fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, carrying a concealed weapon and motor vehicle fraud at 8:31 p.m. March 30 at Greenfield and 12 Mile roads. The police report states that while on patrol, an officer pursued a wanted vehicle that ran from Troy, Royal Oak and Beverly Hills police. The jeep was found to be driving erratically at speeds of 80-90 miles per hour.
“Due to the erratic driving of the suspect, fleeing from multiple jurisdictions and the lack of concern for the general public’s safety, (the officer) intentionally collided with the (suspect’s) rear passenger side bumper to end the pursuit as the vehicle slowed to approximately 37MPH,” the report states. “The vehicle spun around and came to a stop at 696 and Greenfield.”
The driver allegedly exited the vehicle and began running on foot. The officer reportedly pulled out a Taser and ordered the suspect to the ground. Simultaneously, the suspect fell to the ground and a handgun fell from his person, according to the report. The officer was able to jump on the suspect and place him under arrest.
Drunk driver hits tree
Police investigate fraudulent withdrawal
— Berkley police were investigating an incident where $1,000 was fraudulently withdrawn from a credit union.
FARMINGTON — On March 15, at approximately 11:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Lakeway and Valleyview for a one-car property damage crash involving a tree. Officers arrived to find that a Ford Mustang had struck a tree on the northwest corner of the intersection. Officers made contact with the driver, who reported no injuries. The officers’ investigation led to
a 56-year-old man, was housed until sober, cited for operating while intoxicated and released.
Microwave stolen at gunpoint
SOUTHFIELD — Around 8:06 p.m. March 17, loss prevention officers saw someone take a microwave from a store in the 28000 block of Telegraph Road. When confronted by loss prevention staff, the suspect walked away and entered a vehicle. The driver reportedly pointed a firearm at loss prevention and fled.
Box cutter pulled on relative
SOUTHFIELD — Officers responded to a fight between family