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SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
January 17, 2013
C
ANTON
- P
LYMOUTH
Student’s Eagle Scout project is
‘overwhelming’ success in Plymouth
Board candidates sought
Ben Henderson is learning what
success looks like.
In his case, it looks like a garage
crammed full of huge bags of men's
winter clothing donated by the com-
munity to help with his Eagle Scout
project.
Ben's mother, Melissa, said the
contributions have reached the
point where they should be sent
directly to the Open Door Shelter at
the Fort Street Presbyterian Church
rather than the Henderson's
Plymouth garage.
Ben, however, isn't so sure. He
said that his family formerly attend-
ed theFort Street church and that is
where he became aware of the
Open Door organization that helps
Detroit homeless. When he was
deciding on a project for his Eagle
Scout badge, he thought collecting
warm winter clothing for the group
would be a worthy cause. Evidently,
the Plymouth community agreed
with him and the city agreed to
install a temporary donation box in
the lobby of city hall where dona-
tions were being accepted 24-hours
a day.
Henderson, 15, is a member of
Troop 1537 which meets at First
United Methodist Church in
Plymouth. Now a freshman at
Plymouth High School, he's been in
scouting, he said, since he was in
second grade and enjoys the activity.
The Eagle Scout collection process
has been ongoing for several
months, he said, and the results
have been a bit overwhelming.
"We're going to have to rent a U-
Haul," he said of the collected item
in the family garage.
Melissa Henderson suggested
that anyone wishing to contribute to
the cause, call theOpenDoor organ-
izationdirectly at (734) 455-4227.
Ben Henderson and his family were nearly overwhelmed with the gen-
erosity of Plymouth residents in donations for his Eagle Scout project.
A last-minute agreement between city
officials and the owner of the Rock Bar and
Grill requires evidence of new ownership of
the popular nightspot beforeFeb. 1.
Kevin Montagano, owner of the Rock,
agreed to find a buyer or close the bar by the
specified date. The city, in turn, agreed to
hold off for 90 days sending a recommenda-
tion to the state Liquor Control Commission
requesting that the permit to sell alcohol by
the glass at theRock be revoked.
Terms of the agreement, negotiated in
part by Montagano's attorney Keith Kecskes
in the days prior to the hearing last Monday
evening, require that Montagano produce a
signed purchase agreement for the Rock
along with earnest money against the sale
price. The agreement also stipulates that
the salemust be to anunrelatedparty.
Montagano also agreed not to contest the
complaints and alleged violations which
have been under discussion by the city com-
mission for months. Repeated complaints
over the past year from neighbors and
police reports of incidents of drunk and or
disorderly conduct of intoxicated patrons,
noise, littering and other issues prompted
city officials to schedule public hearings on
the revocation of the liquor license at the
Rock.
The vote on the revocation of the permit
was unanimous and officials can send the
recommendation to the state at any time
should there be other violations reported
while Montagano attempts to negotiate a
sale of the business.
The Plymouth-Canton Board of
Education is seeking a new board member
after the surprise resignation last week of
former treasurer Barry Simescu.
Simescu, first elected to the board in
2004, announced his resignation last week,
citing additional responsibilities at work.
"I have newresponsibilities at work, and I
was just not able to balance them both,"
Simescu said. Simescu works as a manufac-
turer's representative selling municipal
water andwastewater equipment.
Board members are expected to accept
applications in the next 30 days and begin
an interview process to select a new board
member. Those interested in serving on the
board beginning in February until
November, 2014 can send a letter of interest
detailing their qualifications to Board
President John Barrett, E.J. McClendon
Educational Center, 454 S. Harvey St.,
Plymouth, MI 48170 or email the letter to
john.barrett@pccsmail.net. Letters will be
accepteduntil 4 p.m. Jan. 22.
Board interviews of candidates will take
placeFeb. 4.
Plymouth Rock agrees
to sell or close business
Canton board OKs study
Canton Township officials are hoping
to repeat the success they had in luring
IKEA to the community.
The board of trustees approved a mar-
ket study of the area to show potential
developers and businesses the opportuni-
ties and customer base the township can
support.
Township representatives will take the
completed report to the annual
International Council of Shopping
Centers convention inLas Vegas inMay.
Trustee Pat Williams said the IKEA
store on Ford Road began with represen-
tatives at the same convention several
years ago.
The contract for the study was
approved with OHM Advisors in the
amount of $54,500.
Township Treasurer Melissa
McLaughlin was in support of the
expense, noting, “We haven't had a good
market study inCanton ever I think.”
Originally, the market study was
planned for the Ford Road area, but
Kristen Thomas, the township economic
development and marketing analyst, said
the plan was later expanded to include
MichiganAvenue andCherryHill Village.
“The development scenario of Ford
Road is exceptionally different from
Michigan Avenue and Cherry Hill
Village,”McLaughlin said.
“There's a lot of opportunity for devel-
opment in the township, not just on Ford
Road,” Thomas said. “This study will
show developers what our market can
support.”
The convention has more than 30,000
attendees and 1,000 exhibitors and is the
largest industry convention. Attendees
meet with retailers and developers to dis-
cuss new or existing leases and business-
es.