Mayor Kuspa’s State of the City praises Southgate as ‘a city that works’

 

By SUE SUCHYTA

Sunday Times Newspapers

SOUTHGATE – Mayor Joseph Kuspa kicked off his 17th year as mayor with a State of the City address Jan. 28 at Crystal Gardens, praising the community as “a city that works.”

City Attorney Ed Zelenak served as master of ceremonies, with the Rev. Bob McCabe of Divine Child Catholic Church delivering the invocation and the benediction.

The Southgate Anderson High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps presented the colors while vocalist Christine Steves sang the national anthem.

City Council President Zoey Kuspa presented the annual business awards, which included Roma’s Pizzeria for longevity, Le Gallery for community engagement, Hop Cat for best new business, Noemi Studios as the people’s choice recipient and the Southgate Figure Skater Booster Club for best non-profit.

Mayor Kuspa followed with the State of the City address, reflecting on the community’s past, present and where it is headed in the future.

He quoted President Calvin Coolidge, who said a century ago, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence,” which Kuspa said holds true for cities.

“Through consistent effort, a sense of shared responsibility and a willingness to collaborate to solve problems, Southgate has become ‘a city that works,’” Kuspa said. “That spirit has long defined our community.”

He said he is deeply impressed by the people who serve Southgate, including its employees, commissioners and board members, volunteers, vendors and elected officials.

“Together, we continue to focus on our core responsibilities: maintaining strong financial integrity, supporting public safety, strengthening our neighborhoods, fostering a welcoming business climate and investing in our infrastructure and public spaces that will serve Southgate residents today and for generations to come,” Kuspa said.

He said sound financial management is the foundation that allows everything else to succeed, and praised the city’s discipline and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

 

Kuspa said when he took office in 2009, the city had $14 million in outstanding general fund debt, and eliminating the debt has been a priority of his administration, and on April 1 the city will have completely eliminated its outstanding general fund debt.

“It is proof that long-term goals can be achieved when leadership remains focused,” he said. “Eliminating our debt puts Southgate in a stronger position to respond to future challenges, reinvest in our infrastructure and protect essential services for residents.”

Kuspa also stressed the importance of a responsive and effective public safety department.

“Our police department assisted our public and private schools to prepare for emergencies,” he said. “Our officers provided comprehensive support and guidance to ensure that our students, faculty and first responders are ready for any situation.”

Kuspa said they have integrated with multiple agencies for drills and have positioned Southgate as a regional leader in school preparedness and public safety, and by investing in training the city is helping to ensure that the community is ready, resilient and capable of responding effectively to any emergency.

He said that last year the city invested more than $300,000 in new radios, body cams and dash cams to enhance officer safety, transparency and accountability.

Kuspa said community engagement remains a cornerstone of the city’s public safety departments as well, including the city’s first Public Safety Academy.

“Having attended the first academy, I can say that it was engaging, eye-opening and I highly recommend it,” he said. “It’s also one of the few ways you’ll be able to experience the booking process and our city jail entirely by choice.”

Kuspa said in 2023 the Police Department became a State of Michigan accredited police agency, which he said was an “incredible accomplishment,” and the assessors are recommending it be re-accredited for another three years.

He said re-accreditation is more difficult because the Police Department must demonstrate that they have actually adhered to its new policies.

Kuspa said this places the Police Department in the top 16 percent of law enforcement agencies in Michigan.

He said the Fire Department responded to emergencies with a response time well below the national average.

 

Kuspa said in the past year they responded to a residential gas explosion, an attack on law enforcement by an armed gunman, and the American House Senior Apartment fire, to which 14 communities responded.

“While we hope 2026 will be a much quieter year, we have seen that our first responders are prepared to handle even the most challenging scenarios,” he said.

Kuspa said the city was safer in the cybersecurity realm, with no critical vulnerabilities, cyber incidents, hacked accounts or data breaches.

He said the Department of Public Services added a sewer system supervisor position to better manage the aging infrastructure.

Kuspa said last year’s investments include: $300,000 for lead water service replacements, $1.2 million in catch basin and pavement repairs and $1.7 million in road reconstruction.

He said the city received its largest grant award ever, $22 million, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that will substantially fund the Barberry Relief Sewer project, a $33 million infrastructure investment designed to address basement flooding.

Kuspa said a $500,000 grant from Wayne County was used to make the municipal building more accessible.

He said $1.5 million was invested to revitalize the city’s tennis courts, creating tennis, pickleball and padel courts.

Kuspa said community park upgrades continue, and work will begin in Kennebec Park in the spring.

He said ground will soon be broken for a $800,000 Miracle Field, a universally accessible soft sports surface designed to provide athletes of all ages with cognitive or physical disabilities a safe and welcoming place to play. 

Kuspa said the Veterans Memorial Library received upgraded shelving, new furniture and a renovated main circulation desk, with the creation of a teen space for students to read, study and connect.

He said the library has also worked to make the library more accessible to people with sensory needs.

Kuspa said the city remains committed to supporting economic growth, with 2025 welcoming 32 new businesses.

“Each of these establishments brings new energy, expertise and jobs to the community, demonstrating that Southgate remains a place where entrepreneurs and residents alike can thrive,” he said.

Kuspa said the $50 million Bank Tower Apartments, on the former Security Bank site, represents the city’s largest single development in its 68-year history.

He said the first residents may move into the building in the spring.

Nearby, Kuspa said a $5 million public park and pedestrian bridge will also open in the spring, funded through a Wayne County American Rescue Plan Act grant.

He said the park will include tennis and pickleball courts, exercise stations, a pavilion and a lighted walking path.

Kuspa said elsewhere in the city the Downtown Development Authority has approved $57,000 in grants for local business façade improvements, including the Southgate Shopping Center, which will update its aging red and white awnings in the spring.

The mayor said that throughout 2025, the city planners worked with the planning commission to update the city’s strategic master plan, with a public hearing and adoption expected to take place in June.

Kuspa said the plan supports expanding city-wide non-motorized paths, creating new corridor improvement authorities, and encouraging mixed use development projects.

“With the completion of the master plan, Southgate will be one very big step closer to becoming a Certified Redevelopment Ready Community,” he said.

Kuspa said he is proud of what has been accomplished and is excited for what lies ahead in the coming year.

“Southgate is a premier community to live, work and raise a family,” he said. “We will continue to move forward because of our collective efforts, shared values and our unwavering spirit of cooperation.”