Mayor’s Accomplishments

Accomplishments of Warren Mayor James R. Fouts

As Warren Mayor, Fouts has initiated a number of programs to help improve Warren as well as some other notable achievements:

1. Work 24/7 – No vacation days
2. Has morning sweeps at city hall
3. Takes/returns constituent calls at home and on weekends
4. Mayor communicates with constituents through all mediums during the day, night and weekends.
5. Changed city persona to an ‘inclusive’ city, not ‘exclusive’
6. Returned city-operated EMS transport resulting in $29 million in new revenues
7. Cost-savings programs in Sanitation, Building Maintenance and DPW departments
8. Eliminated city paid cell phones and car allowances for all mayoral appointees
9. Open door policy for the public in the Mayor’s Office
10. Annual Outstanding Volunteer Recognition Ceremony
11. Created Student Advisory Committee to get the youth of the city more involved in their community
12. Diversity in City Departments and Boards/Commissions – African Americans, Muslims, Arabs, Women, etc.
13. MLK Ceremony
14. 4.0 Students Ceremony
15. 10 successful college fairs
16. Mayoral Portrait Dedication Ceremony
17. Neighborhood cleanup sweeps – street by street, house by house, by city inspectors, including mobile home parks-received Livability Award from U.S. Conference of Mayors
18. Consolidated several city departments
19. Demolition of dilapidated buildings (nuisance abatements)
20. Dismissal of employees who were accused of possession or illegal drug dealing
21. Random alcohol and drug-testing for all mayoral appointees
22. New innovative crime-fighting programs including a police academy
23. Special ceremonies to honor World War II, Korean War & Vietnam veterans and 70th Anniversary of the End of World War II, Silver Star Families
24. Saved thousands on Christmas tree lighting and fireworks
25. Crackdown on prostitution and drug dealing in Warren
26. A “Buy American Products” campaign
27. Saved the city $30,000 by not using a personal driver and eliminating leased vehicle for Mayor, and city issued cell phone
28. Defense of Nativity Scene at Warren City Hall, Defense of Prayer Station at city hall, Defense of National Day of Prayer
29. “Buy Warren” initiatives
30. Urban gardening in Warren and conservation of monarch waystations
31. Reduced maximum heights for uncut grass from 9” to 6”
32. First Church-Police-City Partnership
33. New restrictive used car lot ordinance
34. Began “Annual Tribute to Frank Sinatra” concerts
35. Created Code of Ethics for all appointees
36. New snow alert policy
37. Demolition of an adult bookstore
38. New Parks and Recreation programs
39. Prayer Station at city hall
40. Job Fair
41. Bricks at Veterans’ Park commemorating veterans
42. Crackdown on heroin users and dealers
43. Reduced number of city employees by 27% without layoffs
44. Neighborhood Watch Program
45. Terminated 4 city employees for embezzlement
46. New Global Positioning System (GPS) on city vehicles, including snow plows
47. Efficient Complaint Tracking System
48. “Welcome to Warren” signs
49. Senior citizens anti-scam police program
50. Hazardous Waste Drop-Off day
51. New automated water meter program
52. Relay for Life Cancer Fundraiser
53. LiveStrong Fundraiser
54. Breast Cancer Fundraiser
55. Domestic/Sexual Violence Purple/Teal Ribbon Fundraiser
56. March of Dimes Fundraiser
57. American Red Cross Blood Drives
58. Property transfers and ownership changes recorded immediately
59. New TV Warren programs
60. Collection of donations for the needy and American troops overseas – Food Drives, Toy Drives, Warm Winter Clothing Drives, Military Care Package Drive, “Love Package” Drive for the needy, Annual School Supply Collection Drive, Several Book Drives, Jason Dunn (Dystonia Fundraiser), Jason Dunn $5 For the Cure, Flint Water Crisis, Puerto Rico, Angel Tree, Giving Tree (mittens, hats & scarfs), Red Ribbon for care, July 4 Explosion, Kentucky Tornado, Ukraine
61. Computerization of Purchasing Department’s System (now receive monthly budget update reports and regular overtime reports).
62. Street sweeping four times a year instead of one
63. Appointment of Skip McAdams, first African American Department Head since then he has appointed Ethan Vinson as City Attorney, Clarissa Cayton Communications Director and Vicki Brooks as Diversity/ADA Coordinator
64. Appointment of women and minorities to city positions
65. Farmers’ Market
66. Re-opened and renovated Fitzgerald Senior Recreation Center (campaign promise)
67. Arbor Day Foundation – Tree City, USA Community
68. Purple Heart City
69. Saved over $5 million over 15 years by converting all city streetlights to LED streetlights
70. After School Anti-Violence Program – Van Dyke Schools Initiative/corridor
71. School Safety Program implemented after the Sandy Hook tragedy
72. Adopted budget with no tax increases
73. Initiate pet store restrictions
74. Rental Inspection Program is self-sustaining
75. Mosquito Elimination Program
76. Fireworks Initiative and Patrol
77. MDOT Freeway Service Drive Overgrowth Issue
78. AA Bond Rating for Warren
79. Implemented rules regarding appointees and inspectors owning rental properties in Warren
80. Warren received the highest award in financial reporting
81. Honored one 10 year old and one 7 year old for honesty in church donation box return, honored hero’s – GM stabbing, etc., honored local high school sports teams
82. Led Anti-Right to Work fight
83. Established Pothole Hotline/Program
84. Established emergency hotline during flood disaster – Mayor’s Office was epicenter for all aid effort
85. Provided “No Solicitors, No Salesperson, No Peddlers” stickers to residents for their homes, Pet Stickers, Right to Work
86. Speaks to local high school government classes throughout the year
87. Conducts marriages free of charge for Warren residents
88. Partnered with Macomb Community College Intern Program
89. Partnered with various boards/commissions for PSA’s/outreach events
90. Hosted lead testing event safety for children
91. Held Support American-Made Auto Rally
92. Partnered with Macomb Community College for Job Fair every year
93. Established green dot program for local stores
94. Established anti-K2 spice initiative at local stores
95. Helped build Habitat for Humanity home in Warren for Jason Dunn
96. Help secure grants for city
97. Attracted new business and expansions in Warren (business friendly)
98. Partnered with Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD)
99. Established drug tip hotline
100. Established neighborhood blight hotline
101. Partners with the Warren Center Line Prevention Coalition (WCPC) every year for alcohol retailers project
102. Strong fund balance
103. City-wide Street/Road Improvement Program
104. Declared Warren a Purple Heart City (First in Michigan)
105. Major Business Expansions of Walmart, Menards, GM, Chrysler, New Universal City Mall, Tech Plaza, etc.
106. Hired more police and fire personnel
107. Library millage – helping build new Busch branch
108. Planning a new Library-City Hall-Police and Fire Station in 9 Mile – Van Dyke area
109. Healthcare reform
110. Fewer water main breaks
111. Collaboration with other cities-i.e. fire, etc.
112. Move to Warren Campaign
113. Historical photos refurbished and hung up around city hall
114. Mayor donated $1,000 out of his own pocket for Flint Water Crisis and asked for matching donations–raised a total of $6,000
115. Fouts Forum Shows:
Sinatra
Heroin
Elections in general
Election results
Mosquitoes
JFK assassination with Dr. Spitz
Denny McLain
Tribute to citizens who passed away
Road Improvements
Property Maintenance
Coach Al Fracassa
FEMA
Senior scams
Planner Robert Gibbs-Planning City of Warren Downtown
116. Encouraged new city-sponsored programs for special needs persons
117. Initiated a review of city hall to be certain if it is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant and local businesses including creating a ADA Advisor
118. Began a program to encourage businesses to hire persons with disabilities and make their buildings more accessible for the handicapped
119. Saved Warren taxpayers $1.5 million in Mayor’s office expenditures since his election as mayor in 2007
120. Maintained and improved city services in spite of losses of millions in state revenue allocations
121. Led Warren to become the Metro Area’s largest industrial assessment city even surpassing Detroit according to Crain’s Detroit
122. Opened the first new modern movie theater in 40 years
123. Annually, increased city expenditures in capital equipment including new vehicles for public service, new fire and police vehicles
124. Sponsored Caregiver Recognition Ceremony
125. Sponsored Disability Resources Fair
126. Supplied police with NARCAN to save opioid-overdosed victims
127. Encouraged formation of Warren Area Chamber of Commerce
128. Sewer jetting to clean sewer lines
129. Initiated special needs program in recreation
130. Praised by Crossroads for employing special needs individuals
131. Initiated pawnbroker regulations
132. Implemented new rubbish carts citywide
133. City has highest number of emergency services personnel (per capita) in the U.S.
134. $4 million in building inspection fees
135. Mobile home inspection program
136. $6 million annually in neighborhood road improvements
137. Fire Dept. EMS received gold award (highest) from American Heart Association (7 consecutive years and silver the year before that)
138. Formed Police Canine Unit
139. Initiated bullet-proof vests for police officers
140. Joined lawsuit against big pharma for excessive opioid prescription rates
141. TV Warren earned international competition awards
142. Pool at Community Center voted best by WDIV-TV viewers (2 consecutive years)
143. $10 million in overtime savings
144. 21-million-gallon detention basin to reduce street and basement flooding (under construction)
145. Provide storage building for Veterans Returning Home for $1 a year lease
146. Lighting up the front of City Hall to bring public attention to various causes
147. $1,093,036 annually in rental inspection fees
148. Stronger penalties for negligent landlords, including jail time
149. Sponsored Trunk or Treat in Parking Garage
150. Reads to Students at different elementary schools during Reading Month
151. Honors 100 year olds and older to luncheon
152. Recycling coloring books to elementary schools to give info on recycling
153. Sponsored Shredding Day
154. Pet Care Fair
155. Earth Day Event
156. Warming Center Fundraiser
157. In God We Trust Posters given out at National Day of Prayer
158. Brought the Vietnam Traveling Wall to Warren City Hall
159. Adopted a family at Christmas time
160. Operation Kid equipment (backpacks for students)
161. Black History Month Events
162. Fundraiser for Special Olympics
163. Fundraiser for Rain Bow Connection
164. Fundraiser for Families in Need
165. Fundraiser for MDA
166. Fundraiser for Turning Pointe (Domestic Shelter)
167. Turned Annual State of the City into Fundraisers for Charity
168. LED Streetlights
169. 31 Parks/Green Space
170. Cold Rush
171. Over 80 Luncheon
172. Skilled Trades Fair
173. Food Truck Rally
174. Warren’s Birthday Bash
175. Beer Fest/Tailgate Party
176. Health Fair
177. 50th Anniversary Party
178. Park Clean-Up Day
179. Asian Rice Festival
180. Community Pride Award
181. Congenital Heart Defects Fundraiser
182. COVID (vaccines in person, testing, free masks, free hand sanitizers, food hot line, Forgotten Harvest food hand out, home bound vaccines on vaccines and boosters)
183. Free Turkey Drive (Thanksgiving)
184. Fundraiser for Christine Wright Family
185. Fundraiser for Rhonda Hartlieb
186. Fundraiser for the Brown Family
187. My Warren Campaign
188. My Warren/Buy Warren Campaign
189. Maintained the 3rd largest city on Michigan from 2020 Censes
190. Re-Opened the Loan Closet
191. Initiated the Citizen of the Month recognition Program
192. Named street after Preston Singleton
193. Sign put up at Shaw Park in Honor of Isabelle Bachtel
194. International Women’s Day and Diversity
195. Filipino Unity Day
196. Raised the Filipino Flag
197. Collection Drive for Dylan Soucy
198. Raised the Ukraine Flag
199. Implemented WarrenCan-Community Alert Network