Woods council committee gets
fiscal forecast for coming year

Grosse Pointe Woods City Council members put their heads together for nearly three hours at the Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night (March 8) to analyze the current city budget and help make determinations for the coming year.

“Consolidation,” “collaboration” and “job cuts” were some of the language tossed around as officials discussed what costs and services could possibly be reduced or eliminated to help the bottom line. read more...

Woods council applauds Waeiss for
award-winning 'lifestyle' video

The Grosse Pointe Woods City Council kicked off its Monday (March 1) meeting by congratulating Sandy Waeiss, communications coordinator for the city, for winning recognition from the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association.

Waeiss, the Woods' communications coordinator for 25 years, won an MRPA marketing award for a 30-second spot about the city featuring the mayor as its spokesman. “Grosse Pointe Woods Lifestyle” can be accessed from the first page of the city website. read more...

Cadieux residents seek parking solution

Cadieux Road residents seeking "wholeness" after losing their right to park on their street have received some encouraging signs, but acknowledge they may never get what they're looking for.

Greg Jakub, who is acting as spokesman for the residents, sent out an e-mail outlining the official response to their complaint. Grosse Pointe Park officials are are sympathetic, he said, and perhaps willing to back them up with a resolution of support. But, he said, "it's out of their hands."  read more...

Shores council opts for tax hike
to bolster road repair, fund balance

Grosse Pointe Shores residents will be paying an additional 1 mill in property taxes in the coming year, and as in the Woods a month earlier, the discussion that preceded the city council's vote was anything but smooth.

Shores residents packed the meeting room at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House for the regularly scheduled city council meeting Tuesday (June 16) to discuss the budget and proposed tax increase, earmarked for road repair and fund equity. Prior to public comment Mayor James M. Cooper warned that no “booing, clapping or heckling” would be tolerated. read more...

Woods police sergeant accused
in Warren incident leaves force

James J. DaDeppo, the Grosse Pointe Woods police sergeant charged with domestic violence last month in Warren, has left the force. Michael Makowski, public-safety director for the Woods, confirmed that DaDeppo opted to retire after 32 years of service. DaDeppo was planning to leave at the end of 2009, and moved his severance date up after the incident in Warren. read more...

Woods stop-sign removal project
nears halfway point with no problems

Grosse Pointe Woods is closing in on the halfway point of its stop-sign removal project, designed to bring the city into compliance with the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. So far, so good, and no accidents.

The city is in the process of taking out 37 signs by the end of summer.

Residents near the targeted signs are notified by letter in advance of each removal. Some residents have complained, said Sally Beghin, the Woods' traffic safety officer.

“Most come from residents who did not know about the sign removal,” she said.  read more...

As summer begins, a look at the Park's parks—and their boss

With Memorial Day weekend the official kickoff of summer, Terry Solomon is ready for action. As Grosse Pointe Park's parks and recreation director, Solomon oversees a system that serves nearly 4,700 people a day during peak summer season at its two lakefront facilities, Windmill Pointe Park and Patterson Park.

Every summer Windmill Pointe offers swim classes that range from toddler age all the way up to lifeguard training. They also have quite a large swim team with about 300 children participating. There are tennis lessons and tournaments, as well as volleyball leagues. read more...

Council approves City budget;
holds line on taxes, services

Grosse Pointe City residents can look forward to continued city services for another year and, in many cases, a reduction in taxes. 

“We are not raising taxes, not dipping into our (general) fund and keeping all our services,” said City Manager Peter Dame at Monday’s city council meeting.

The council unanimously passed the city’s $6.6-million 2009-10 budget, effective July 1. Last year’s budget was $7.2 million. read more...

Crowd condemns Woods tax increase, but the measure passes, 6-1

No one waved a teabag, but that might have been the only dramatic gesture missing at Monday night's packed Grosse Pointe Woods city council meeting. There were tears, displays of anger, testy exchanges and charges of embezzlement. But in the end, the council approved an increase in property taxes, voting along the same 6-1 lines that approved the measure in a budgetary session the previous month.

Council members Arthur Bryant, Allen Dickerson, Vicki Granger, Joseph Sucher, Pete Waldmeir and Mayor Robert Novitke voted for the millage increase. Lisa Pinkos Howle opposed it. read more...

Cadieux Road repairs start May 4

With warm weather comes its biggest mixed blessing: Road-repair season. Residents of Cadieux Road are about to commence two and a half months of inconvenience while their street is resurfaced, but will have new curbs, gutters and smoother driving by mid-July.

The project officially starts Monday, May 4. Here's what you need to know:

What are the affected blocks? Cadieux between Jefferson and Kercheval. read more...