Troy Council Approves Transit Center Subcontract, 'No Parking' Signs on Boyd Street

Traffic on Boyd Street near Baker Middle School and International Academy East during school pick-up and drop-off times is dismal at best – and downright hostile at its worst – according to students, residents and officials who attended Monday night's Troy City Council meeting.

In an effort to alleviate the congestion, at least temporarily, council voted unanimously to install No Parking signs on the north side of Boyd Street. The signs will prohibit parking from 7:15 a.m.-8:15 a.m. and 2 p.m.-2:45 p.m.

Capt. Gerry Scherlinck of the Troy Police Department said the extreme congestion on Boyd east of Rochester Road has been a problem since IA opened in 2008. The congestion has resulted in multiple police calls to the department already this year, he said.

"We've been there almost constantly since the beginning of the school year," Scherlinck said, adding that some people appear to park on the street deliberately to cause conflict in the mornings and afternoon.

"We’re looking basically at what we think is a temporary solution to get us to the end of the school year and give us some ability to have enforcement action."

One International Academy student said during public comment that he had been the subject of derogatory hand gestures from residents along Boyd Street as he drove to school. Another IA student reading a letter to council from her mother said some students on their way to school have also been called racist and derogatory names by residents.

"It’s not the people coming into school," International Academy PTIA President George Collins said. "It’s the people living there."

Traffic on Boyd will be re-evaluated in the fall, at which time some school traffic may be rerouted to other side streets. Representatives from International Academy and Baker Middle School also indicated they would change school start and dismissal times to be 30 minutes apart to help alleviate traffic in the area.

Council appoints new Planning Commissioners

Council voted 4-3 Monday night to reappoint Thomas Strat and Robert Schultz and appoint Gordon Schepke to the Troy Planning Commission.

Mayor Pro Tem Maureen McGinnis, Councilman Jim Campbell and Councilman Dane Slater voted against the appointments while Councilmen Doug Tietz, Wade Fleming and Dave Henderson and Mayor Janice Daniels voted yes. Council's vote came after a failed motion by Slater to break up the appointment into three separate resolutions failed.

"I believe Lon Ullmann deserved to be reappointed," Slater said. "I wish I would have had an opportunity to vote just on that."

McGinnis agreed, saying, "I felt like there were some other applicants that had experience and backgrounds that would be more suited to that position."

Fleming and Tietz agreed that while Ullmann was qualified to be on the commission, the commission also needs diversity.

"Certainly Mr. Ullmann is qualified," Fleming said, "but we're looking for different professions and qualifications."

"I believe diversity of opinion and background are as important as diversity of degree," Tietz added.

Council awards Transit Center subcontract

In a 6-1 vote, council approved a resolution approving an MDOT subcontract with Tooles/Clark for Construction Manager at Risk services for the Troy Multi-Modal Transit Facility. Mayor Daniels was the only "no" vote.

The vote came after some discussion to affirm any construction costs that may rise above the project cap of $6.27 million would be the responsibility of the Construction Manager at Risk.

"If we were to exceed for some reason, they are liable," Fleming clarified.

"I'll be supporting this," said Tietz, who has consistently voted against the project since taking office in November. He joked, "People's hair will fall out."

He added, "God willing, it all pans out just fine."

Other agenda items

During Monday's meeting, Troy City Council also:

• Voted 5-2 to approve a tax exemption of just less than $2.5 million for Michigan NextEnergy in Troy; Tietz and Daniels voted "no"
• Unanimously voted to approve a Class C liquor license for El Charro restaurant
• Unanimously appointed Frank Strahl to the Board of Review, Gary Abitheira to the Building Code Board of Appeals and Max Ehlert, David Ogg and Timothy Payne to the Liquor Advisory Committee
• Voted 4-3 to deny a new liquor license to Troy Smokers
• Unanimously voted to adopt amended City Council Rules of Procedure
• Issued a proclamation declaring February "Heart Healthy Month" in Troy
• Issued a proclamation of appreciation for the Troy Family Daze Festival
• Discussed Troy's Casual for a Cause program