By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
Re-elected Trenton Mayor Kyle Stack has numerous projects on deck, while newly elected Mayors Gail McLeod of Allen Park and Wheeler Marsee of Melvindale have new city councils to get up to speed.
Stack said she is pleased she will be able to continue to serve the residents of Trenton.
“I love this community, and look forward to working with the council to keep Trenton the community people want to live in,” she said.
Stack said she and the city council will continue to focus on the McLouth site cleanup, the former Riverside Hospital site, the upcoming DTE closure and the train crossing challenges.
“These issues are complicated, and the council and I will work to resolve these issues,” Stack said.
McLeod said she is pleased to be Allen Park’s first female mayor.
“I fully understand my role as a leader and the responsibility this council now has for the well-being of our city,” she said. “During my campaign, I emphasized the need for teamwork and collaboration, and will foster that concept with the council and city and civic leaders.”
McLeod said she has scheduled a work session for the all-new city council Nov. 19 to review budgets, the city’s master plan, and its organization and reporting relationships with the City Administrator Mark Kibby and Finance Director Robert Cady.
She said she will provide the meeting dates and encourage the council members to attend Michigan Municipal League classes for newly elected officials.
“The training is invaluable and covers a broad range of subjects, such as roles and responsibilities, finance and the Open Meetings Act,” McLeod said. “I will meet with council members to share some of the things I learned during the past four years, and discuss goals and objectives.”
She also emphasized the importance of staffing council sub-committees with city council members who have an interest or background in serving on specific committees.
“I will reactivate and staff resident commissions prescribed by charter, as they are an integral part of helping our city function and move forward, and I will establish regular office hours so residents and others are aware of my availability to meet with them,” McLeod said.
Marsee said he is humbled to be Melvindale’s mayor.
“I hope we can bring pride back to our fine city,” he said. “The council and I have many challenges, and are up to the job.”
Marsee said his first order of business is to repair and clean up some of the blight in the city.
“My concerns will be addressed first in the DDA area, then carry into the parks,” he said. “Our main streets and sidewalks — Oakwood and Allen — are covered in debris. This needs to be immediately addressed.”
Marsee said that prior to the new city council taking office on Nov. 20, meetings will be held to bring the new council up to speed on pressing issues.
“Corporate counsel will have a session on Nov. 18 to issue copies of the charter and give insight,” he said. “I thank Mayor (Stacy) Bazman for the smooth transition and helping in these discussions.”
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