A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
April 12, 2018
Belleville Community Chorus sets spring concert
B
ELLEVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
The highly-anticipated return
of a revered Plymouth landmark
has been delayed indefinitely as
officials determine a way to fund
the cost of renovations and
replacement.
The fountain, which has
graced Kellogg Park in the cen-
ter of the city for nearly a half
century, was removed pending
repairs and replacement last
year. The city icon had experi-
enced numerous mechanical dif-
ficulties, officials said, and a
replacement design with new
mechanics was accepted. Only
one bid on the project was
received by the city last week
which was double the anticipat-
ed expense.
The bid, from FH Martin
Constructors of Warren, totaled
$1.528 million for the work. The
WilcoxFoundation had allocated
$700,000 for the new fountain,
The late Jack Wilcox, for whom
the foundation is named, donat-
ed the new fountain as a legacy
for his parents.
City officials had said they
hoped to have the new fountain
project under way this spring
and complete by no later than
early next year.
While four companies had
originally expressed an interest
in the bid specifications, the city
received only the single bid late
lastmonth.
The design was prepared by
landscape architect Mark
Russell of Northville-based
Russell Design. The design
allows for easier access to the
mechanics of the fountain which
is planned for the same space as
the former one. The new foun-
tain design is 14 feet tall with
water falling into a basin before
flowing down granite steps to a
lower basin. The top of the new
fountain is designed inbronze.
Wayne County Parks abruptly
closed three Hines Parkway
bridges Monday citing safety con-
cerns.
A spokesman for the county
said that serious shear cracks in
the concrete members that sup-
port the middle concrete slab on
the three bridges render them
unsafe for pedestrian and vehicle
traffic. Two of the bridges span
theRougeRiver. The first is locat-
ed just west of Haggerty road and
the second is further west on
Haggerty just pastWoods Drive. A
third bridge is located west of I-
275 where the park drive under-
passes the freeway. The bridges,
built in 1932, are identical and
should be completely replaced
according to Wayne Country
Deputy Director of Roads Mike
Gorman. Gorman said the bridges
are past their design life.
Hines Drive has 232 bridges
that undergo constant rotational
inspection in alternate years,
Gorman said. Until the inspec-
tion process is complete in about
a week they will not know the
total extent of the required
repairs, he added. If the county
budget permits, simultaneous
construction-repairs would take
about a year from the commence-
ment date, he added. The bridges
will remain closed until that work
canbe complete.
Gorman said county officials
are concerned for themost affect-
ed users whowill be the pedestri-
ans and bikers who regularly
travel Hines Drive. Gorman said
he feels motorists will be able to
resolve the closing with alternate
paths.
PlymouthTownshipFireChief
Dan Phillips says the road clo-
sure of Hines Drive for the bridge
repairs will likely have little
effect on the township fire
department and public safety
now that Northville Township
firefighters are sharing the Lake
PointeFire Station.
Protocol for fire department
vehicles stipulate they not use
Haggerty Road when responding
to Lake Pointe area calls from the
Haggerty-Ann Arbor Road station
because of potential train delays
on Haggerty south of Plymouth
Road.
“It all has to do with budget,”
Gorman said regarding any time-
frame for repairs.
The Belleville Community
Chorus will present the 12th
Annual Spring concert, What a
Wonderful World at 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 28.
The performance will fea-
ture a variety of songs withwide
appeal from popular, musical
theater and other sources, a
spokespersonnoted.
“What a Wonderful World”
will be performed at the
Belleville United Methodist
Church, 417 Charles St.,
Belleville. The concert features
the adult chorus plus the
Children's Chorus. The per-
formance is under the direction
of Sue Hiser and Steve Ko, and
accompanist for the evening
will beKevinShay.
The concert is free, though
donations are encouraged, and
sponsors arewelcome.
Anyone interested in know-
ing more about or being part of
the Belleville Community
Chorus can contact Pete Jones
at (734) 731- 0829, email to
or visit the
chorus' website at
-
lechorus.com.
The Belleville Community
Chorus offers opportunities for
performance of mixed voice
choral music in a variety of
styles.
The group strives to improve
musical quality through educa-
tion and commitment to a
rehearsal and performance
schedule.
The generosity of donors and
sponsors supports community
activities including education,
rehearsal, performance and
entertainment.
Belleville
Community
Chorus is a 501(C)3 not-for-profit
organization.
Only one bid on the project
was received by the city last week
which was double
the anticipated expense.
”
Cost for Kellogg Fountain repair is $1.5 million
County closes 3 ‘unsafe’ bridges on Hines Drive
Don Howard
Staff Writer
One of the three Edward Hines roadway bridges closed due to safe-
ty concerns by Wayne County this week.
