Taylor mayor held in contempt of court and fined

TAYLOR, Mich. (WXYZ) - The Mayor of Taylor has been found in contempt of court hearing and ordered to pay a $250 fine and court costs.

This comes in response to his decision to refuse to follow a Wayne County Circuit Court order to accept $8.1 million in federal funding for the city's fire department.

The mayor says he is now ready to accept the grant. 

He issued a press release Thursday night saying he would contact FEMA Friday morning to notify them of his change of heart. 

The mayor explained in the release that he refused to accept it because the grant came with $1.2 million in costs that the city could not afford. 

He says the Taylor Firefighter Union has approved a memorandum of understanding that will address those costs. 

He says the process of bringing 32 firefighters back to work begins today.

In June the city council took Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand to court and asked a judge to force him to accept a federal SAFER grant to save the jobs of 32 firefighters.

The mayor refused to do so even after a judge sided with city council.

"I hold the Wayne County District Court, Judge Edwards, and Judge MacDonald in high regard," Mayor Lamarand stated. " However as the Mayor of the City of Taylor, it is my sworn duty to serve the needs of 63,000 residents and will do what is right for the community."