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PAGE 4 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN January 7, 2021

INKSTER - ROMULUS - SUMPTER
INKSTER - ROMULUS - SUMPTER

Development on track in city despite pandemic

Tony Antone has a lot of good COVID-19 closed down many get the approvals and start con-
things to say about the city of businesses in the state. ” struction, we weren't going to get
Romulus. Antone said despite his trepi- We weren't afraid of that size development it done and it would've just been
The developer, who works dation regarding the pandemic, but I really call it a mothballed,” Antone said.
with the 50-year-old Kojaian officials in Romulus surprised “In a COVID pandemic, being
Management Development Co., him. Rather than delay the proj- game-changer-type development. able to still have meetings and
credits the ability of Romulus ect or approval studies, the city discussion, having building
officials to work through the kept the project approvals on inspectors available to go out and
worst health crisis to strike the track and on time. He admitted enthusiastic supporter of the regarding the Amazon facility. inspect - that's what some com-
country and keep a major devel- that this was a different approach Amazon facility development, Antone was not hesitant to munities are lacking right now.
opment on track and on sched- than other cities with whom the which prompted concerns from express his gratitude and appre- They get projects in-house, they
ule. developer of industrial sites some others. ciation for the ability of Romulus get stalled either because of lack
Vistar, a provider of cold stor- works. Kojaian was also the “We weren't afraid of that size to move the new Vistar project of resources of labor contractors
age food products, is expected to developer of the Amazon site in development but I really call it a forward, and move it quickly or the local municipality doesn't
be operational in the city this Romulus which opened prior to game-changer-type development. through the necessary studies have the ability to get out and do
spring in a new facility located on the pandemic. That distribution The benefit to the community and permit phases. inspections right away,” Burcroff
Smith Road just east of Vining center, despite the negative also for the residents, we call it “Had the city not acted that said.
Road in the city. Plans to build impact of the virus on many other the citizens' benefit, is that they've quickly, we would've lost the deal. That is obviously not the case
the 165,000 square foot facility in businesses, is thriving, officials got a click away from the services The deal would've died because in Romulus. The Vistar project
the city were under way just said. to their door,” Burcroff said in a these people had to be done by will be done by May or June this
before the health threat of Mayor LeRoy Burcroff was an recent published interview spring of '21. And if we couldn't year, according to Antone.
Sumpter trustees revise deputy supervisor position

”
Members of the Sumpter Trustee Peggy Morgan both cast by the her husband. Morgan cast
Township Board of Trustees no votes on the motion to alter Many of the employment specifics the lone no vote on Clark's job
approved several employment the position to part time, as description and pay rate.
positions and salaries while Bowman had already named were not without controversy or opposition by Bowman and Morgan also
revising another during a recent Bednark to the job and the for- one or more members of the board. cast no votes on the full-time
Zoom meeting Dec. 15. mer treasurer had been sworn in deputy clerk position at 40 hours
Many of the employment as deputy supervisor. at $25.08 hourly with overtime as
specifics were not without con- Morgan called the change approved by the clerk, and full
troversy or opposition by one or from a full-time deputy supervi- Morgan continued to argue was being “short changed” and benefits but without medical
more members of the board. sor to the 20-hour limit “ridicu- that the revisions to the position proposed that Bednark as reimbursement. The board
Ken Bednark, the previous lous.” She claimed the action were based on Bednark's previ- deputy supervisor, should be members then approved another
township treasurer, was named was “about the person and not ous interaction with the board paid at the same rate as newly- motion for a pay increase for
as deputy supervisor, a position the position.” Trustee Don and insisted that the former appointed deputy treasurer Toni deputy clerk Antony Burdick
limited by the board members to LaPorte disputed Morgan's accu- deputy supervisor, Karen Clark, who was named to the job from the approved $25.08 to
less than 20-hours per week at an sation that the action was per- Armatis, was paid $32 per hour. by her husband, James Clark. $27.08 to correct scheduled pay
annual salary of $8,406, without sonal and said he had never Bowman read a statement Later in the meeting, Clark's increases that had been missed
benefits. Bednark, while treasur- been in support of a full-time claiming that because he is new position was approved as full- since his appointment to the job
er, missed more than a year of deputy supervisor. He also noted to the position he needs a full- time or 40 hours per week at a in 2018.
meetings while continuing to col- that the pay rate was commensu- time deputy who receives full- rate of $25.08 per hour, along Bowman and Morgan again
lect his $19,000 annual salary. rate with the amount paid to pay with benefits. with full benefits. She is also eli- cast the only two dissenting
Supervisor Tim Bowman and elected trustees. Morgan insisted that Bowman gible for overtime as approved votes.
Suspect charged in shooting State legislator joins ‘Silent

during attempted break-in Cry’ prison demonstration

Dajon Donte Lewis, 18, of an ensuing struggle, the 22-year- Lewis
Sumpter Township has been old resident of the home was shot w a s State Rep. Jewell Jones (D- proportionately impacted prison
arraigned on multiple charges in through the leg. arraigned Inkster) joined with Silent Cry to populations. As of late
connection with a home invasion Police said the incident was Dec. 25 in host a demonstration at the Gus November, 11,914 Michigan pris-
Dec. 14. not random and that the victim 34th District Court on one count Harrison Correctional Facility in oners and 1,625 staff had con-
According to police accounts, and the alleged perpetrator are of assault with intent to do great Adrian earlier this month to tracted the virus, with those
the charges result from the home acquainted. bodily harm less than murder, advocate for measures that numbers continuing to rise.
invasion which took place on The assailant fled the scene assault with a dangerous weapon would provide adequate med- Seventy-seven people in prison
Edgewood Drive in the and Lewis was later located and (felonious assault) and two counts ical care and protect incarcerat- and three employees had died.
Rawsonville Woods Mobile Home taken into custody in the of felony firearm. ed individuals from COVID-19. At the demonstration, Silent Cry
Community. Police said that dur- Ypsilanti area by members of the At last report, Lewis remained He was joined by fellow state delivered a list of demands to
ing the break-in, the defendant Michigan State Police Fugitive incarcerated. A court hearing on Reps. LaTanya Garrett (D- the correctional facility to pro-
produced a handgun and during Team, according to police reports. the charges was set for yesterday. Highland Park), Sherry Gay- tect the health and safety of the
3 suspects are at large after gunfight Dagnogo (D-Detroit), and incarcerated community.
“The COVID crisis has high-
Tenisha Yancey (D-Harper
Three suspects remain at large scene at about 5:30 p.m. Dec. 27, scene, struck two patrol cars, Woods). lighted the importance of quality
health care more than ever, but
“The people behind bars in
following an exchange of gunfire Inkster officers had confronted troopers said. Police shot at the this state belong to families that the state continues to provide
and a chase by police from sever- three people fleeing from the suspects as they drove away, we represent,” said Jones. “Sure, inadequate care and protective
al departments recently. apartment complex on Hamlin according to authorities. some made mistakes and others measures to incarcerated indi-
According to Michigan State Drive and gunfire had been The suspects were pursued by find themselves incarcerated viduals,” said Shawanna
Police officials, troopers were exchanged. Police recovered a officers from several departments wrongfully, but they are people Vaughn, founder of Silent Cry. “A
asked by the Inkster Police handgun at the scene, according including until police lost sight of too. They are us. We must do society is judged by how it treats
Department to assist with a to reports. the vehicle in Detroit, police said. much better in the areas of care its most vulnerable, and the men
breaking and entering incident No injuries were reported. The abandoned vehicle was dis- and consideration as it relates to and women in prison are com-
with shots fired at a local apart- One of the suspects got into a covered around 6:35 p.m. Sunday our overcrowded populations - pletely at the mercy of the sys-
ment complex. purple Dodge Challenger and, near Seven Mile and Stout in people are dying.” tem to protect their health and
When officers arrived at the while attempting to flee the Detroit, police said. The COVID-19 crisis has dis- well-being. We must do better.”

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