Politics & Government
Utica City Council Briefs
Patch put together a summary of Utica City Council's meeting Tuesday.
Praise for Chief Reaves
The Utica City Council accepted the resignation letter of , who has accepted a position as police chief of Port Huron.
“We’re very happy for Chief Michael Reaves," Mayor Jacqueline Noonan said. “We have nothing but good wishes and major league thank yous for your time spent here–32 years total.
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“He may not be the most loved chief in the sense that usually if you’re doing a good job, you’re not everybody’s saint, or favorite, but by the same token, from this council’s perspective, Mike has done wonders in a very small department.”
“I think the best thing I can say is you’re well respected," Councilman Kenneth Sikora said. "You earned everybody’s respect, and you did it on your own.”
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Noonan said the process of finding a new police chief is similar to that of filling other administrative openings. Search criteria will be set. There will be an open advertisement for both internal and outside candidates.
The process could take 4-10 weeks. Until a replacement is found, the police department’s three sergeants will share the police chief’s duties.
MACRO Resolution Approved
The council approved a resolution confirming Utica’s participation in the Macomb Area Communities for Regional Opportunities Task force as a founding member. Mayor Jacqueline Noonan said that while the idea behind MACRO is “communities getting together to better serve our public” it is not a plan of action.
Warning Siren Maintenance Contract Approved
The council approved a maintenance contract with West Shore Services, Inc. of Allendale, for the city’s two outdoor warning sirens. No agreement existed previously. The sirens were maintained in house with grant funds that are no longer available. Cost of the maintenance contract will be $850 annually.
Upgrade of Police-Fire Direct Connect Goes Forward
The council approved the replacement of a direct connect phone line between the police department and the fire departments. Police Chief Michael Reaves asked for a cap of $4,000 for the project based on estimates.
