Yale officials argue over blight enforcement 

City pays $16K in state fines over sewer system

YALE — The Yale City Council addressed a packed agenda during its July 13 meeting, highlighted by a sharp debate over blight enforcement, the resolution of an environmental settlement, and key updates on public works and public safety.

Blight issues

Councilperson Shelley O’Brien requested that a blight ordinance review be included on the meeting agenda; she submitted a summary of the ordinance for the council to review and talked about the ticketing process, owner appeals and abatement of blight on properties. 

“We have a law in place and our citizens have been after us,” said O’Brien. “We need to do something about this issue. I have asked why the police department won’t enforce this according to our ordinance.”

Police Chief William Black told council that he felt that some of Yale’s ordinance violated the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, requiring that warrants be issued based on probable cause and specifically describe the space to be searched and the items seized.

O’Brien asked why other cities can enforce their own blight ordinances, but Yale can’t. 

Black said he didn’t know that answer. 

“I took an oath to uphold the law and I will,” he said, “but I will not ever go against our constitution or violate citizens’ rights. I will not break the law for anyone.”

Councilman Anthony Hackett asked if the city lawyer could help on questions over enforcement.

“We need to see what we can or cannot do and have our lawyer speak with us,” Hackett said.

“At the very least, we need to move forward with fines for violations,” said Mayor Pro-tem Tammy Hazel. 

Black also suggested that a blight officer from another city be contacted to see how they handle violations.

“It has been very disheartening for our residents that this is going on,” said Mayor Brenda Krzak.

She said the city would check into other ordinances and have the city attorney discuss moving forward if changes or amendments need to be made.

EGLE enforcement costs

Krzak said the city received a consent order of enforcement costs from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, over the city’s lagoon and sewer system. 

Council voted 6-0 to pay a total of $16,079 in fines to the state. 

“Our DPW did a lot of work at the lagoon and sewer system,” Krzak said. “This could have been a lot worse for us.”

The settlement will be taken out of the sewer fund.

Nancy Roy, owner of C. Roy Inc., asked the city how long it had to be compliant with EGLE. 

Since the Yale City Council approved a new sewer ordinance at a special meeting earlier this month — intended to resolve a dispute with one of the city’s most iconic businesses — there has been little movement toward issuing a permit to meat processing plant C. Roy’s Inc.

She told the council that they had hand delivered their paperwork to City Manager Lorrelei Natke and had not heard back since. 

“We have 150 days to be compliant,” said Roy. 

Krzak thanked her for letting the city know and said she would try and find an answer for Roy.

Police department 

Police Chief Black told council that his department had recently worked diligently to search for a person of interest in the case of the vandalism and missing veteran plaques off of headstones in Elmwood Cemetery. 

“This is still an ongoing investigation and we continue to work on justice,” said Black. 

Hazel thanked the department for its hard work. 

“It made me sick to my stomach when we heard that headstones for veterans had been vandalized and plaques taken,” said Hazel. “It means a lot to our community that you worked so hard on it.”

• Black also asked the council for permission to work with students who would like to pursue law enforcement, saying his department will work out the details of an internship program and that he was looking forward to helping some local students.
• Black said his assistant chief had written a grant and the department received new ballistic shields. Each vehicle and patrol will have the use of the new safety equipment.
• Black reminded citizens that his department will never make calls for arrests or payments and that these were fraudulent calls being made to citizens. He asked if anyone received these calls to contact the Yale Police Department.

Volunteer program

O’Brien asked permission to gather a group of individuals to form a committee for volunteers in the city. 

With the new work mandates for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicare, O’Brien felt that the city could be proactive in helping citizens who need to accrue volunteer service hours. 

O’Brien hopes to get together a database of opportunities for people that may need to do volunteer work.

Other business

Public works

• City council approved Department of Public Works Superintendent Jason Hart to move forward putting a bid packet together and speaking to an engineering firm for road work on Kennefic Street, E. Mechanic Street and Mill Street. Hazel asked that the driveway transitions are also done for residents.
• Hart told the council that Yale will host a lagoon presentation with training. He will also invite other communities and lagoon operators to take part. 
• New Yale Bologna Festival banners have been placed throughout downtown Yale.
• The manhole on M-19 has been fixed.
• Bulk salt for the city will be purchased at a price of $64.09 per ton and stored in the new hoop buildings behind city hall.
• Hart gave kudos to the DPW employees, especially Jaeden Krosnicki, for their outstanding work during his recent vacation. “I am very proud,” said Hart.

Clerk report

• City residents will see their water rates go up on the August bills for July usage. Council approved a cost-of-living increase of 2.8%.
• Anyone interested in running for office must file their paperwork by 4 p.m. July 16. There will be three council positions open as well as mayor, treasurer and city clerk.