Politics & Government

Mack Avenue's Condition Comes Under Scrutiny in Farms

Killeen addresses Grosse Pointe Farms city council about Mack Avenue, which is a multi-jurisdictional road that requires the cooperation and monies from all municipalities.

The potholes motorists are dodging on Mack Avenue between Moross and Cadieux roads are being targeted by city officials as well as business owners. 

Wayne County Commissioner Tim Killeen addressed Grosse Pointe Farms city council Monday about a few items, including redoing Mack Avenue from Moross to Cadieux roads. Killeen said the hurdle before officials is the city of Detroit, which typically doesn't like to devote money to road projects shared by other jurisdictions. 

To further complicate the matter, Mack Avenue is eligible for federal funds but federal officials will not do one direction of travel in road projects and require that the entire portion be done in order to give federal funds, according to councilman Joseph T. Leonard. 

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Dentist Patrick Latcham, who owns and Pointe Orthodontics, told council and Killeen the project needs to be a priority because it's affecting business. He told council members he's heard similar stories from other businesses and knows they are in support of getting it done, too. 

Leonard outlined the contributions as 80 percent coming from federal funds, 10 percent from the county, and five percent each from Detroit and Grosse Pointe Farms. 

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Killeen noted that in better fiscal times the Grosse Pointes would have paid for Detroit's portion, which isn't an option now. Killeen said he knows of a few roads on the city's western edge in which Detroit contributed, so he plans to look into those more to see if those are similar situations. 

He also highlighted how Detroit considers the stability of neighborhoods before contributing to projects, noting the neighborhood that surrounds St. John's and the many businesses that line Mack Avenue are stable. 

Afterward, Latcham said he's received negative feedback from clients and he believes it does not reflect well on the area. He also said one of the car repair businesses in that area addressed 41 blown tires last year due to potholes in that section of Mack Avenue. 

"It's a huge drag on the economy for businesses," he said to the council.

He plans to contact some of the businesses located on the Detroit side in hopes of getting them to petition their city for the contribution. 

Killeen also committed to Latcham and the council to prioritize the project and work to get it done. 


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