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January 26, 2012
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Council OKs changes
to city voting precincts
Voters in Romulus will see changes to
their precincts, but not until January of next
year.
Romulus City Council members approved
changes to precinct boundaries Monday
night that will reduce the number of
precincts from 18 to 12, representing a 31
percent cost savings on the price of elections.
“When it takes effect it'll be a significant
cost savings to the city,” said Council
President Leroy Burcroff. “We'll be working
withnew technology and fewer people.”
The changes came after an extended
study session while concerned residents
spoke about the plan. Some worried about
long lines at the polling places, others were
angry that they hadn't received much notice
that the planwas in theworks.
Resident Chris Dunn said it wasn't all that
complicated, though.
“It's about cost savings,” he said. “There
are other municipalities that are looking at
the same thing. It's not brain surgery; we can
make these simple changes. We just need to
think about howwe do it.”
He said that a 31 percent savings is some-
thing the city should consider sooner, rather
than later, and advocated for the change for
this election cycle.
“We're going to have long lines at the pres-
idential election, no matter what,” he said.
“But some counties, people stand in line all
day to vote.We're talking about fiveminutes.
“We have a unique opportunity now to
save some money and do what other munici-
palities are going to do,” he added.
Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg said the change
should happen in 2013 in part because of the
busy election season this year. She said she
also wanted to ensure that city voters had
enough information about the changes and
time to avoid any confusion theymay cause.
Under the plan, precinct 17 would be
eliminated and consolidation with precinct
10; voters would cast their ballots at
Romulus Middle School. Precinct 18 would
be eliminated and consolidated with
Precinct 5 or Precinct 1, with voters that live
south of I-94 reporting to city hall and those
living north would vote at Romulus Middle
School.
Precinct 15 would be eliminated and con-
solidated with Precincts eight, 10 or four.
Residents who live north of Ecorse and west
of Middlebelt will vote in Precinct 8, while
those south of Ecorse and west of Merriman
would vote in Precinct 10. Voters east of
Middlebelt, west of Harrison and south of I-
94will vote inPrecinct 4.
Another reason to make the change now
is that it coincides with the redistricting plan
approved by the state Legislature, according
to Craig-Bragg. When the city notifies resi-
dents of the new state house, state senate
and county commission districts, it can also
inform them of their new precinct location,
whichwill also savemoney.
Romulus is now in the 12th State House
District, the sixth State Senate District, the
11th County Commission District and the
13thU.S. CongressDistrict.
Romulus Resident Evelyn Parker said
she agreed with the plan and hoped the city
would take steps to make sure everyone is
notified. She advocated having fliers distrib-
uted to the schools and churches as well as
at city hall, in addition to messages that
wouldbe posted on the city cable channel.
“I realize change is needed-we all do,”
she said. “We just have to get the word out.
Technology is fine, but not everybody has it.”
Councilman William Wadsworth said the
city would take the appropriate steps in
advance of the changes, which will take
place on Jan. 1, 2013.
“The public will be well-informed by the
time it takes place,” he said. “There will be
no confusion.”
School board names officers
Martha Toth has been re-elected as the
president of the Van Buren Public
Schools Board of Education by a unani-
mous vote of themembers.
Brenda McClanahan was elected as
vice-president, Kevin English was chosen
to serve as secretary board, and Toni
Hunt elected treasurer during the organi-
zationalmeeting of the board.
Prior to the first meeting of the new
year, 34th District Court Judge David
Parrott swore Toth and Brent Mikulski
into office.
Among the organizational decisions
made at the meeting was the establish-
ment of regular meeting dates which will
take place at 7 p.m. the second and fourth
Mondays of the month at Rawsonville
Elementary School. The board will not
meet April 9 during spring break or May
28which isMemorial Day.
The board also chosePNCBank for the
use of school funds and investments.
During the regular meeting immedi-
ately following the organizational meet-
ing, the board approved work/study ses-
sion for 7 p.m. the third Monday of each
monthat the administrationbuilding.
Safety first
Romulus awarded federal grant
No decision on library site
The City of Romulus will get a little bit of
extra money to help out in the public safety
department.
The city received a grant through the U.S.
Department of Justice for nearly $10,000 that
can be used for a variety of expenditures
within the police department, said Police
Chief Robert Dickerson.
Romulus was one of only 15 municipali-
ties throughout Wayne County that was eligi-
ble for the JusticeAssistanceGrant, he said.
“There is not asmuchmoney to go around
this year, but every bit helps,” said
Dickerson, who helped coordinate the pro-
gram when he worked for the Wayne County
Sheriff'sDepartment.
The funds can be used for law enforce-
ment programs, court programs, prevention
and education programs, planning, technolo-
gy improvements, anything other than luxury
items, construction or the purchase of real
estate. The grant does not require a local
match and is distributed to the eligible com-
munities based on several factors.
Members of the Belleville Area District
Library Board of Directors agreed to fund
the appraisals of four more properties as the
selection process of a site for the new facility
continues.
The board already approved a payment of
$3,100 for a report of the market value of a
church at 189 High St. and residential prop-
erties at 227 High St. in the city and 11933
Belleville Road in Van Buren Township. The
latest appraisals will be of 397 Main, 369
Main, 381 Main and 360 Charles St. No price
for the serviceswas cited.
One of the properties, 397 Main St. report-
edly now houses a tenant with a long-term
lease, which will impact the property value.
All the sites are under consideration for the
new library construction.