Fraser · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Fraser public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Cyril Avenue street and storm sewer condition
A collapsed storm sewer on Cyril has already been excavated by DPW, and a resident warned the council to replace culverts and storm drains during planned street work or risk repeating the damage from heavy garbage trucks.
15 Mile Road lift station repair
The lift station serving three commercial properties has electrical problems that may need about $5,000 in emergency repairs to prevent flooding.
College Avenue pavement failure
A resident reported to Councilmember Perry that newly repaved College Avenue west of Utica is sinking and has cracked driveways residents paid $1,500 each to fix.
Where meeting notices get published
Planning Commission Chairman Randy Warunek blasted the city for publishing hearing notices only in the Macomb Daily instead of the widely read Fraser Chronicle, saying residents are being kept in the dark. Fletcher suggested putting notices back in the Chronicle.
America 250 celebrations and summer events
The Recreation Department is busy this season: joining the Public Safety Open House on October 18, Trunk or Treat on October 24, and putting on Christmas in Fraser December 5 with fire performers, Santa and a tree lighting.
Proposed Pet Sanctuary
A resident proposes a privately funded pet memorial in McKinley Park or Steffen Park where grieving pet owners can reflect and heal. It would cost taxpayers nothing, but the City Council still has to approve it, and Steffen Park's upcoming redesign could complicate that site.
Kratom Sales Ban
Higgins flagged that gas stations and party stores in Fraser sell Kratom and synthetic 7-OH products with no age checks or ID requirement, and suggested the city consider its own rules since state legislation may stall.
Senior Housing Exterior Improvements
Fraser's senior housing is getting all-new siding, fascia and gutters for up to $512,010 — paid from the complex's own enterprise fund, not the general budget. It caps off recent window, parking lot and door upgrades.
Sidewalk Repair Costs and Tree Damage Policy
Councilmember Schornak called out property owners whose untrimmed trees block sidewalks, forcing kids to bike into the street, and asked DPW to help address trees on city property.
Mister Car Wash monument sign variance at 34625 Utica Road
The ZBA will soon consider whether Mister Car Wash can build a 91-square-foot monument sign when city rules only allow 67.89 square feet. The planner's report found no exceptional hardship justifying the 34% oversize, but the ZBA will make the final call.
Senior bus service expansion to Fridays
Senior programming is booming — Easter party sold out at 45, Tigers games sold out for both April and September, and a new 2025 bus allows an extra rider. A spring bingo with household-prize items returns April 24.
Autism awareness window stickers for first responders
A commissioner whose grandson has autism asked whether Fraser Public Safety could offer car window stickers alerting first responders, like Canton does. The coordinator will follow up with the public safety director.
Vendor market struggles with attendance
The last vendor market of the season runs Sept. 12, but foot traffic stays low even though vendors love the free booths. The coordinator is banking on new banners and marketing to decide next year whether the market is worth the city's time and money.
Flock safety cameras contract
A resident asked whether a neighbor's camera aimed at her backyard is legal. The city attorney said there's nothing in local ordinances to stop it — it's a private dispute until state law catches up with automated recording.
Variances for tax-delinquent property owners
Planning Commissioner Frank Farina wants the city to deny variances to applicants who are behind on their property taxes, saying the steering committee already agreed to that principle. Council didn't act on it tonight.
Fees and fines for code violations
The city attorney explained how Fraser uses fees and escalating fines ($150 up to $1,000) to push residents to fix code violations like tall grass and property maintenance issues — and how hard it is to enforce when disputes are between neighbors. Council took no action; this was groundwork for possible future policy changes.
HVAC showroom conversion at 32540 Utica Road
A seven-duplex, 14-unit condo project got a one-year extension because construction costs and trade shortages have stalled it. The developer's five-to-six-month delays on a Warren house project illustrate why he wanted two years, but the commission stuck with one to keep the project in front of it.
Redevelopment of Vacant Utica Road Building
Board members flagged the deteriorating former Dairy Queen. The owner applied for a demolition permit but left without paying for it, and there's talk of gutting the building into a shell for a new tenant; an ongoing court case limits what the city can say.
Planning and building services outsourcing RFP
Council is outsourcing planning and building department services via RFP, with bids due September 21 and final approval expected in November.
GLWA Wholesale Water Contract
Council approved an amendment locking in lower usage factors with the Great Lakes Water Authority — annual volume down from 69,000 to 60,028 million cubic feet — which should temper future wholesale rate increases starting July 2027.
Drinking water protection — cross connection control
Confusing state-required backflow testing letters frustrated residents. The city pushed the deadline to June 30, moved residential irrigation testing to a five-year cycle, and promised plainer language on social media.
Recreation Commission board size and quorum
The commission is down to four or five seated members with three vacancies, and one member can't make next month's meeting — which would drop attendance below quorum and force a reschedule.
Ambulance Transport Fees — Paying Twice?
The city's billing company laid out the numbers: waiving resident co-pays and deductibles would cost the city only about $130,000 a year. Council Member Baranski sees a path to waive resident charges while raising non-resident rates to break even — no decision yet.
Police Shooting Investigation
Fraser police officers have been cleared by the sheriff in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy. It’s a big local story because people were watching whether anyone would be held accountable. The decision closes one review but likely won’t end community questions.
Citywide curb appeal contest and tree planting
Residents can enter the red, white and blue curb appeal contest through July 12, with voting at the city picnic. A community tree planting happens June 6, funded by the Consumers Energy Foundation through Relief Michigan.
Priority Waste Service and Ownership Change
Every council member slammed Priority Waste's service — damaged carts, slow replacements — but the contract forced approval of its new ownership. The message to the new owners: improve dramatically before the next bid or lose Fraser's business.
Downtown Fraser vision — CBD with residential flexibility
Commissioners and former Mayor Lane recalled a walkable downtown plan with fountains and bistros that was shelved years ago. To keep that dream alive while protecting owners who want to sell home sites, the commission added single-family homes as a special land use in the downtown district — meaning any house project still needs commission approval.
Oversized accessory building variance at 33710 Mulvey Road
A homeowner wants to build a 3,120-square-foot, 20-foot-tall pole barn, far exceeding the normal size and height caps for accessory buildings in the residential low-density district. The board found the 1.4-acre, 635-foot-deep lot is unique and approved the variance with conditions, but a neighbor who was denied a similar variance two decades ago questioned the inconsistent treatment.
Police Patrol Vehicle Replacement
Scout car #32 hit 131,000 miles and is at the end of its service life; council replaced it with a new 2026 Ford Police Interceptor capped at $75,000.
Firefighter Air Pack Shortfall
When the city bought new Scott air packs last year, spare cylinders got left out — leaving truck one short on bottles during mutual aid calls. Council approved two more packs and seven cylinders, offset $5,000 by selling the old gear to Livonia.
Collective Bargaining Strategy
Council met privately for half an hour with the city's labor attorney on union negotiations — notably the police union contract that expires at year-end.
Playground Safety Surfacing
All city park playgrounds get fresh engineered wood fiber — the safety surface under the equipment — for about $19,215, on a three-year cycle.
Lot coverage variance for small Venetian Village lots
Many homes in this neighborhood sit on 6,000 sq ft lots that fall short of the RM district's 7,800 sq ft minimum, so additions can trigger variances. The board found that this particular lot — wedged next to a school with utilities running through it — wouldn't set a neighborhood-wide precedent, and approved with a drainage condition.
Macomb County Solid Waste Plan and Pine Tree Acres Expansion
The county needs municipal approvals to expand Pine Tree Acres landfill and add a recycling transfer station — extending landfill life about 25 years. The council split 4-3, with opponents arguing cheaper disposal discourages recycling.
State Zoning Preemption Legislation
The city planner flagged a package of state house bills that would override local zoning — allowing accessory dwelling units, duplexes, and manufactured homes in single-family districts with minimum lot sizes as small as 1,500 square feet. Nothing is imminent, but local officials are being urged to weigh in.
Pavement Marking Program (FY26-28)
City roads will be restriped over three years, including all of Masonic, keeping stop bars and centerlines visible.
Corner Lot Privacy Fence Rules
The city is rewriting fence rules so corner-lot residents can build privacy screens without a variance. Fences can now extend to the home's front building line, with new driveway clear-vision safety rules.
Mulvey Path Debate Continues
Council members reported mixed community reaction from the Mulvey Path open house — roughly a third opposed anything, a third opposed the path, a third favored it. Baranski and Lesich are 'hard no' on a 10-foot asphalt path but open to sidewalks.
Property Maintenance Code Update
Fraser's property maintenance code is from 2000 and lacks modern requirements like carbon monoxide detectors. Council wants an upgrade but needs to pick the right edition to avoid conflicting with state codes.
Free events and registration fees debate
Free events like Family Fun Night sell out in under 24 hours, leaving people scrambling and the city eating costs. Delmele and commissioners keep circling whether to charge nominal fees or use Eventbrite before recreation software arrives — but government payment methods and resident verification complicate it.
Zoning ordinance update timeline
The Planning Commission is finishing a package of zoning ordinance changes it will recommend to City Council — optimistically by March, realistically April — with adoption targeted for June.
Mr. Car Wash lot split and permits
The new car wash near Hockeyland is moving forward — bond for landscaping is coming — but the city won't issue building permits until the lot split/combination is recorded. A final certificate of occupancy was already granted for the original Mr. Car Wash after a process dating to 2019.
2026 CDBG nonprofit funding
Fraser's federal block grant money is going to four nonprofits serving survivors of domestic violence, abused children, low-income seniors, and families facing homelessness. Council debated whether allocations must be in $2,000 increments before landing on $7,750 total.
New industrial building at 18380 Malyn Blvd
A property owner is finally rebuilding on a lot where a 2008 fire destroyed the original building — his first approval lapsed after his financial partner dropped out. The commission approved the plan with conditions but flagged footing inspections given the fire history.
2026 work plan — master plan review and TIF authority
The coming year's goals include reviewing the 2021 master plan, creating a TIF authority (likely a corridor improvement authority), continuing sidewalk plan implementation, and finishing the zoning update by mid-year.
Embezzlement Charges
A former Fraser department head is facing embezzlement charges from Macomb County prosecutors. It matters because it involves an alleged betrayal of public trust—and possibly public money—inside city government. Watch for how much money is at stake and what safeguards failed.
City Manager Hiring
Fraser has hired Elaine Leven, Marine City’s current manager, as its next city manager. She gave 30 days’ notice, so Fraser will soon have a new leader at the helm.