Page 3 - eagle081122

August 11, 2022 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 3

NORTHVILLE
NORTHVILLE

New recreation department director named

Debra Bilbrey-Honsowetz has ” approximately 42 percent of the
been appointed as the interim operating budget. The city por-
director of the Northville Parks We look forward to seeing how tion comes from the general fund
and Recreation Department. Deb's strengths positively impact of the budget supplies about 8
Bilbrey-Honsowetz has more percent of the operating budget,
than 33 years of experience in Northville Parks and Recreation. according to officials.
the parks and recreation field. Northville Parks and
Most recently, she led the Canton Recreation Department provides
Township Leisure Services nity center manager, responsible who held the position for nearly parks, facilities, programs and
Department for five years before for daily operations of Summit six years. His last day was July 27 services through three divisions.
retiring in 2016. on the Park Community Center. and she began her new interim The Recreation Division hosts
She is known as a leader She was promoted and served as position July 29. programming in special events,
whose strengths include foster- recreation and facilities manager Northville Parks and youth recreation, camps, teen
ing development of innovative from 2000-2009 and worked as Recreation is a shared service enrichment, adult recreation,
recreation programs, while man- the economic development man- provided through an agreement athletics and more. The Senior
aging a $10 million operating ager from 2009-2011 before mov- between the Charter Township of Services Division provides pro-
budget and capital improvement ing to director of leisure services. Northville and the City of gramming in health and well-
projects, along with 56 full-time “I'm excited to come to Northville to jointly operate ness, social, educational, enrich-
and 300 part-time employees, Northville,” Bilbrey-Honsowetz parks and recreation, senior ment and events. In addition,
officials said. said. “It's such a great community services and Northville Youth staff members provide a daily
“I used to work with Deb,” with so many wonderful ameni- Network. curb-to-curb transportation pro-
said Northville Township ties and I am excited to be a part About 50 percent of funding gram for adults ages 60+ and
Manager Todd L. Mutchler. “Her of that. I look forward to deliver- for the department is self-gener- people with disabilities. The Debra Bilbrey-Honsowetz
expertise in the parks and recre- ing services that the residents ated revenue through rental and Parks and Facilities Division is
ation arena will impact the desire.” program fees, grants, donations responsible for a variety of neigh- ways/trails, boardwalks and
future of our program. She is Bilbrey-Honsowetz will help and scholarships. The other half borhood and community parks nature areas.
approachable, solutions oriented search for the next permanent comes from both the city and and pathways. The parks boast a “We look forward to seeing
and has a deep network.” Northville Township Parks and township. The township portion variety of amenities, such as ath- how Deb's strengths positively
She began working in Canton Recreation director. is funded through the shared letic fields, playgrounds, tennis impact Northville Parks and
Township in 1994 as the commu- She replaces Mark Gasche, services millage and amounts for courts, pavilions, dog parks, path- Recreation,” Mutchler said.
Volunteers are sought for new Citizens District Council

Applications from qualified site is being reviewed by the City of Northville and is required
volunteers interested in serving Northville Planning Commission ” to have a minimum of nine mem-
on the Citizen's District Council members and will then go to the Members must be at least 18 years of age bers and be representative of the
(CDC) are being accepted by the city council members for review. and reside within the DDA boundaries. DDA district.
Northville City Council. A CDC is The project may or may not Members must be at least 18
required when a community require changes to the DDA years of age and reside within
plans to modify the boundaries of boundaries or a text amendment the DDA boundaries.
the Downtown Development to the DDA development plan, on the issue. In order to not delay three times to provide input. If it For more information on the
Authority (DDA) and there are officials said. the project further, the CDC is is determined that no changes to CDC, contact Lori Ward, DDA
100 or residents within the dis- By state statute, Public Act 57 being established now to be pre- the DDA boundaries or the director, at (248) 349-0345 or by
trict. of 2018 requires that the CDC be pared, should the need arise, development are required, the email.
A proposal for the redevelop- established for at least 90 days officials said. The CDC members CDC may be dissolved. The application is also avail-
ment of the Northville Downs prior to scheduling any hearings will meet approximately two to The CDC is established by the able on the city website.

To subscribe to The Eagle visit www.associatednewspapers.net.