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January 23 – 29, 2020 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 04 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Romulus receives ‘tremendous’ financial audit
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Vol. 135, No. 04 City of Romulus officials the city would take 25 years to city attorney the Plante Moran
received some good news and return to the pre-downturn people,” he said. “We have a
Members of the Van high praise with the annual level. score card and we look at met-
Buren Township Planning financial audit report last week. Mayor LeRoy Burcroff said rics to be sure we can lessen any
Commission postponed any Stacy Reeves of Plante in a later interview that the cur- surprises by looking at the criti-
decision on a special land Moran explained the details of rent financial stability in the cal spending data,” he added.
use request for a proposed the audit findings to the mem- city is the result of a team effort According to Reeves, the
senior living project. bers of the city council during a and an approach of “must approach has worked remark-
See page 4. special session just prior to the haves” rather than “want to ably well for the community.
regular meeting last week. haves.” “The economic environment
During the regular meeting, “We are facing the same chal- is challenging,” she said but
Reeves told the assembled audi- lenges as every other communi- Romulus managed to increase
THE CANTON ence that the city had a ty and we still face the issue of the fund balance to the recom-
EAGLE “tremendous result” on the legacy costs for health care and mended levels. She also men-
EAGLE

Vol. 73, No. 03 audit “as a result of several pensions,” Burcroff said. “We tioned the current $5.7 million
years of sustained efforts to
remaining pension and retiree
offered buyouts and shaved $25
Canton Township will rebuild the fund balance lost million off that balance, but we health care deficit, and said the
present Live Well Canton during the economic down- still have a huge obligation to state is requiring communities Mayor LeRoy Burcroff
2020, a year-long fitness pro- turn.” fund funding for. I doubt many to submit plans for funding little more for it. The millage
gram to help area residents Reeves said that the pro- other communities reduced that those obligations. certainly doesn't fund all the
live longer, more active lives. active approach that Romulus obligation by $25 million,” he Burcroff said that one of the public safety costs, it is more a
See page 3. officials took to find new said. major factors in improving the sustainability plan although we
sources of revenue without sac- Burcroff admitted that the city financial position was the were able to open a small sta-
rificing city services had legacy costs were the “keep me approval by voters of the public tion in the Northeast corner of
THE INKSTER increased the fund balance in up at night” financial issue in safety millage last year. the city,” he said.
LEDGER STAR the city to $4.9 million, the state the city, but he said he was very financial picture,” he said. “To the same (economic) problems,”
LEDGER STAR
“That is a crucial piece of the
“Everybody is dealing with
financial model of 25 percent.
gratified by the audit results.
Vol. 73, No. 04 Reeves also said that the “We have regular meetings to me, that amounted to trust, the Burcroff said, “We're just ahead
impact of the economic down- find opportunities for revenue people trust us, like what we are of the curve on dealing with
Members of Eta Iota turn on property tax revenue on enhancements, we bring in the doing and are willing to pay a these issues.”
Omega Chapter from Inkster
hosted the Second annual
Pink Carpet Affair Aug. 26 at Savings in store
Daly Elementary School.
See page 2.
Presbyterian Thrift Shop

THE NORTHVILLE funds Christian missions
EAGLE
EAGLE
Vol. 20, No. 04 Julie Brown Linda Luke and others.
Property owners in the Staff Writer Volunteers don't come
Northville Public Schools exclusively from that church,
district will be asked to Items from the Presbyterian noted Lynne Porter, although
approve a new Sinking Fund Thrift Shop of Plymouth have church members make many
millage on the March 10 bal- been known to travel a bit. donations. The shop, which is
lot. “Our suits found their way turning 70 this year, boasts
See page 5. to the White House” 10,000 square feet.
explained volunteer Ted It's open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Porter who, along with his Monday, Tuesday and
wife, Lynne, manages the shop Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at 331 North Main St. Saturday, and from March
THE PLYMOUTH The two suits were pur- through December 6-8 p.m.
EAGLE chased by a visitor to the shop Wednesday.
EAGLE
Vol. 20, No. 04 who bought them for his son On the main floor, glass-
explaining the young man got ware, jewelry, decorative
The Michigan Philhar- an internship. He wore the plates and more are shown. Husband and wife Ted and Lynne Porter of Plymouth Township
monic has received a grant suits to his new job in the The front of that floor houses a enjoy overseeing the Presbyterian Thrift Shop. The shop is mark-
ing its 70th anniversary and supports a plethora of missions.
of $65,000 from the Margaret White House, Porter said. lot of clothing on racks, the
Dunning Foundation to sup- “We got in a handmade quality of which Lynne Porter Rising profits from sales, some have varied backgrounds, and
port technology and data sys- Elvis quilt,” recalled Porter. A displayed. A Coach scarf had 17 percent a year recently, include National Honor
tem upgrades. raffle of the “King's” quilt was just come in, and some dona- cover rent and utilities, mean- Society students seeking serv-
See page 5. arranged as a fundraiser for tions still carry their original ing missions work gets more ice hours as well as court-man-
the American Cancer Society tags. help. dated volunteers.
through the owner of Richard's Clothing and knickknacks Ted Porter worked in pur- “They're very dedicated and
THE ROMULUS restaurant, located a few miles sell well, Ted Porter said, and chasing at Ford Motor Co. hardworking, and they care
ROMAN
ROMAN down Plymouth Road. the upstairs Game Room while his wife was employed at about their customers,” Porter
The couple, Plymouth
shelves with board games draw
the TRW automotive supplier,
said of the volunteers.
Vol. 135, No. 04 Township residents, have man- children in as parents shop. and Linda Luke worked in “This is our entrance into
Despite the strong objec- aged the shop, run via the First Proceeds support missions, food service at the former Holiday Heaven,” said Porter
tions of the longest serving Presbyterian Church of overseas as well as closer to Northville Regional of holiday collectibles and
city council member, elected Plymouth, since 2007, helped home, including First Step and Psychiatric Hospital.
officials in Romulus will by fellow church member Northville Civic Concern. The 75 some volunteers See Shop, page 6
receive a 2-percent pay raise.
See page 4.
Canton Township honors college shooting heroine

THE WAYNE Julie Brown police responded to the scene.
EAGLE Staff Writer Joshua Meier praised her conduct
EAGLE
Canton Public Safety Director
Vol. 73, No. 04 Canton Township officials and actions in the situation.
Donations to the planned lauded a real hero during the Jan. “Her actions that day were
Wayne Veterans Memorial to 14 board of trustees meeting. heroic,” Meier said.
be located near Wayne City Officials praised the actions of Meier praised Hardy's where-
Hall are still being accepted. Tabitha Hardy who was honored withal, which included the 9-1-1
See page 2. with special recognition from the response.
Canton Township Department of Canton Trustee John Anthony,
Public Safety.. who previously worked for the
Hardy, who was in class at a FBI, read the formal recognition
THE WESTLAND technical college in Canton in of Hardy. He said he was also
EAGLE January of 2019, heard a class- impressed with her conduct.
EAGLE

Vol. 73, No. 04 mate threaten actions that could “Your actions resulted in saving
some lives,” he told her.
have caused great harm or death
Wayne County Prosecutor to himself and other students and The Jan. 22, 2019, response by
Kym Worthy has charged instructors. Hardy spoke to her police was followed by referral to
Anthony Kesteloot, 25, with classmate urging him to return the Wayne County prosecutor.
murder in the death of Olivia Tabitha Hardy receives Canton Department of Public Safety home and collect his thoughts and Hardy also received a round of
Rossi, 23, of Westland. recognition at the Jan. 14 Board of Trustees meeting. Praising calming him. She also called 9-1-1 applause from the audience
See page 2. her heroism is township Trustee John Anthony. to report the threat and Canton attending the meeting.

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