McLouth, DTE and Riverside Hospital properties pose challenges
By SUE SUCHYTA
For Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON – As two challengers take on the incumbent in the mayoral race, McLouth, DTE and Riverside figure prominently, as challengers Tom Kinney and Ryan Stewart take on incumbent Kyle Stack in Tuesday’s general election.
Stack has served as mayor for the past eight years, while Kinney has served on the board of education for more than nine years. Stewart, a community advocate, said he is a fifth generation Trenton resident.
Kyle Stack
Stack said voters should bank on her experience. She said she has balanced eight annual budgets, and worked with her staff to make the right connections to move forward on the McLouth property, Riverside Hospital, DTE Energy and many other projects during her tenure, including the timely negotiation of four union contracts for two consecutive contracts.
“I have contracts that I would like to complete that have not been the easiest,” Stack said. “I believe that we have been able to get things moving in our community. Development has been happening, whether it is new build or renovation.”
Stack said the city has been able to retain its current level of services even though the millage has declined.
“I have formed an economic development committee to help with the status of properties up for sale or lease,” she said. “With council approval, we were able to hire a part-time economic development director to help revitalize the community with new business, including $208 million in new development.”
Stack said the city has also moved closer to becoming a trail town community, and have made the right connections at the federal, state, county and community level to do so.
She said in the first six months of a new term as mayor, she would continue to focus on issues which concern her, including the DTE Energy closure in 2022, the direction a court decision will drive the Riverside Hospital site determination, the former McLouth Steel site, and the railroad track blockages.
Stack said she will also keep an eye on recycling, so if and when fees become reasonable, the city could consider curbside recycling, or a 24/7 recycling transfer center.
She also hopes within the next year that Riverside Hospital will be moving toward development.
“We will be moving to make sure we can continue to offer quality services to our residents,” Stack said. “We will keep preparing for the closure of the DTE Energy plant to make sure we can maintain our city services through our budget.”
Stack said the three most important issues impacting Trenton are Riverside Hospital, the McLouth Steel property and DTE Energy.
She said they are working with the courts on the Riverside Hospital issue, and there is not much she can say from a legal standpoint, but she hopes to see a development soon.
Stack said the safety of the McLouth property demolition is a city priority.
“The buildings have a deadline date of December 2020,” she said. “We look forward to working with them with the development of the site in the future.”
Stack said the city has been working with DTE since the announced closure.
“As a city, we have been working on how we can continue our services with the tax issue,” she said.
Ryan Stewart
As a fifth generation Trenton resident, Stewart said he genuinely cares about the well-being and future of the city.
“We are at a significant crossroads for the future of our community, with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to dictate what Trenton will look like and feel like for generations,” he said. “As a long-time community advocate, for the past several years I have advocated for residents’ concerns about its environment and economy.”
Stewart said he has voiced concern at city council meetings focusing on the McLouth site sale, at county commission meetings and at several town halls at which the EPA discussed the cleanup and feasibility standards. He said he also spoke at Trenton Coast Resiliency Master Plan planning meetings and at the Riverview landfill expansion public meeting.
“Trenton is a beautiful city with the strongest sense of hometown pride and community I have ever encountered,” Stewart said. “I hope to earn the vote of Trenton residents with my commitment to being proactive, honest, transparent, accountable and building broad consensus for action, to move beyond status-quo thinking and decision making.”
Stewart said his first and most immediate goal as mayor would be to have the city’s website checked by an independent organization against a 10-point municipal transparency checklist and updated so that relevant information about meetings and decisions are available and accessible to residents.
“In the first six months, I hope to have begun working with our planning commission to begin moving forward with a plan for the DTE property,” he said. “I’ve spoken with a lot of residents, and have already heard wonderful ideas, ranging from a renewable energy facility, to a data center, that would keep the water warm for our walleye industry.”
Stewart said in the first year, he would work with the economic development team to keep a close eye on the former McLouth Steel property’s clean up, and to have already begun engaging in discussion with the current owner about its current mixed use zoning status, and what type of business will be developed at the site in line with its current mixed used zoning and EPA required clean-up standard.
“There are a wide range of viable industries, ranging from corporate offices, to a hotel and conference center, restaurants, and waterfront access for residents and visitors,” Stewart said.
He said the three most important issues facing the city are the DTE closure, the McLouth site clean-up and overall economic revitalization and development.
“I look forward to working with the planning commission, city council and DTE concerning the DTE 2022 power plant closure, to understand the current timeline for decision making, and to develop measurable timelines and action steps in order to make sure the transition doesn’t fall to the wayside, by working on a timeline that benefits our community,” Stewart said. “DTE has been a long-time partner and taxpayer, and my hope is that they will continue to work closely with us on the facilitation of a potential development.”
Stewart said he has already learned of viable plans from the current planning commissioners.
“I am excited to learn more from them, and about the work they’ve been doing on this project,” he said. “I have already reached out to one of the largest solar development partners, who have worked with DTE, to learn more about coal-burning power plant transitions, and will reach out to other communities who have undergone similar development to learn from their experience.”
Stewart said the McLouth site redevelopment is important to understand from the perspective of the current planning commission.
“I look forward to building consensus with our economic development team to come to an understanding about the importance of mixed-use development for our environment and local economy,” he said. “I am grateful that the EPA has been so responsive to this cleanup project, and I believe we can work with the current developer to find a solution that is economically viable and in line with the property’s current mixed-use zoning, while still protecting our community against new pollution, trains and semi-truck traffic.”
Stewart said economic revitalization and development is also a priority.
“I’m excited to work with current and future business owners and the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber to build consensus around the image of Trenton’s economy,” he said. “By focusing on our waterfront, International Wildlife Refuge, trail systems, parks and a walkable downtown, redevelopment projects like the Riverside Hospital property can be geared towards a consistent vision, and towards the highest use of our future development. By promoting fair and consistent rules and assistance for development, our downtown will begin to thrive.”
Tom Kinney
Kinney said he would bring a new yet familiar voice, as well as energy and ideas to the table.
“I bring experience as a two-term member of the Trenton Board of Education,” he said. “I have excellent communication skills, which, during my nine years on the board of education, have come in handy.”
Kinney said he enjoys listening to and talking with people.
“I currently work in continuous improvement, and the skill set that comes with the job will be valuable in helping me lead the city,” he said. “I want people to know I am not a career politician, I am just a man who loves this city, respects the people who live here and who wants to make our great city the best there is Downriver.”
Kinney said in his first 90 days as mayor, he would like to establish an administration “that wants to help move Trenton forward.”
“I would start evaluating areas where we need improvement the most, and continue talks with DTE, the new owners of McLouth and Riverside on development plans,” he said. “Within six months, I would like to revamp our city website and how we communicate with our residents.”
He said he would also like to start working with business owners to help the businesses and the city grow and prosper.
“In my first year, I would like to see development on Riverside, be at an agreeable point with the owners in what the development of the McLouth property will be, and have positive continued talks with DTE on the repurposing of that property,” Kinney said.
Kinney said the three most important issues facing the city are the development of the three major pieces of property – McLouth, Riverside and DTE.
“I would work with the current property owners on a plan of development on these properties,” he said. “I would like those plans to be a benefit to our entire community, not just our administration. We have so much waterfront that is just wasted with stagnant properties. We do not want to be an industrial town. Our residents deserve better than that.”
He said the effect of the 2022 DTE closure on the city budget is also a priority.
“I would work closely with our department heads and city council so we can get creative with our budget to absorb the loss of revenue from the DTE closure,” Kinney said. “We also need to work together on ideas to bring in new business to also help replace lost revenue. This will not be an easy task, but I believe if we work together, we will come up with solutions to recoup the revenue loss.”
Kinney said his third major priority is communication within the community.
“We need a more user-friendly, up-to-date website to help keep residents in the loop of what is happening in our city,” he said. “Use of social media will help with this. Our residents need to be informed, whether it be an upcoming event or that the fire hydrants are being flushed out in their area, causing temporary sediment in the drinking water.”
He said simply posting something on the city public access channel and hoping people will see it is inadequate.
“With all of today’s technology, communication shouldn’t be such a problem,” Kinney said. “We, the city leaders, need to be more accessible and willing to listen to what our residents have to say and more open about what is going on.”