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February 13 – 19, 2020 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 07 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Judge criticizes court consolidation effort
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Vol. 135, No. 07 An effort to explore the consol- ” when we haven't done a cost
idation of the local 29th District analysis.”
Judge David Parrott of the Court with another municipality Some were false, some were misleading Mayor John Rhaesa explained
34th District Court has been by members of the Wayne City and others appeared to reveal a that the resolution was an effort
arrested and charged with Council has drawn harsh criti- basic lack of understanding about the Court. to get help from the state regard-
an alleged domestic assault cism from retiring Judge Laura ing the feasibility of a merger and
by the Wayne County prose- Mack. that all information gathered
cutor. A resolution directing the city budget. as directed.” would be provided to the council
See page 3. administration to “engage with The results of the study are to Miller was adamant in his members and the public before
other local communities regard- be reported to the council and the objections to the measure and action was taken. He insisted that
ing the potential for court consoli- public as soon as “practicable.” repeatedly asked that the resolu- “it is time to act” and referred
THE CANTON dation as soon as practicable” Miller repeatedly raised tion not be sent to the state offi- council members to an 2013 study
EAGLE was adopted at the Feb. 4 meeting numerous questions about the cials but that the study include of the court.
EAGLE
the financial impact of any such
Miller pointedly asked if dis-
with Councilman Anthony Miller
proposed consolidation during
Vol. 73, No. 07 casting the only dissenting vote. the extensive discussion. merger on residents and first be cussions with other communities
Former Associated The resolution also directs the City Manager Lisa Nocerini considered by the council. had taken place about the consol-
Newspapers Editor Ray Day administration to determine, with introduced the resolution for con- “You're putting the cart before idation by the city during the past
has been named as vice the assistance of Plante Moran, sideration noting that it had been the horse,” Miller told the council. three months. Rhaesa denied that
chair of the marketing and the fiscal impact of the consolida- prepared at the request of “sever- “We need to do our own explo-
communications agencies of tion on the city general fund al council members, we just did ration. We're sending a resolution See Court, page 6
Stagwell Group.
Westland
See page 3.

THE INKSTER receives
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR
Vol. 73, No. 07 unmodified

Wayne County
Community College District audit report
Chancellor Dr. Curtis L.
Ivery has been appointed Westland city officials
chairperson of the Wayne received the highest available
County Airport Authority “unmodified opinion” of the
Board. annual financial report last
See page 4. week presented by Plante
Moran auditors. The audit states
that the June 30, 2019 financial
THE NORTHVILLE statements are fairly presented
EAGLE An artist's rendering of the planned digital monument signage planned at Romulus High School and accurately reflect the finan-
EAGLE
cial position of the city.
Vol. 20, No. 07 Westland increased the gen-
Fish Hatchery Park in the School renovations are planned eral fund rainy day fund balance
City of Northville will see by approximately $200,000,
construction along the banks Romulus Community School life into our district.” cafeteria flooring, frontage according to the report and the
of Johnson Creek this spring District officials have revealed All the planned renovations improvements and new secured city also complied with the
funded by a state grant. plans for upgrades and repairs and repairs will be funded entries are also planned at Wick requirements issued by the State
See page 2 to four district buildings, funded through the sinking fund mill- Elementary School, Hale Creek of Michigan and received $1.4
by the millage approved by vot- age. and Barth elementary schools. million through the state rev-
ers last August. “We are very excited about A sinking fund is a limited enue sharing program. Cost con-
Renovations will take place some of the projects in the property tax to fund major tainment efforts have continued,
THE PLYMOUTH during the next two years, offi- pipeline,” Jamison said. “These repairs and renovations to with nearly all departments
EAGLE cials said. projects improve the technolo- school buildings and allowed coming in under budget for the
EAGLE
Voters approved a sinking
Vol. 20, No. 07 millage to fund the repairs by gy, accessibility and general the district to levy 3 mills on year, while also showing a
every $1,000 of property value
curb appeal of four of our
decrease in total outstanding
A Double Your Donation 2,525 to 2,074 votes last August. schools.” which is usually at half the mar- bond debt of approximately $2.6
gift matching program is According to Dawn Jamison, Improvements at Romulus ket value of the property. million, according to the audit
under way until the end of the chief communications offi- High School include a new Romulus residents are now pay- figures.
this month at the Plymouth cer for the district, the renova- secured entry and frontage ing about $120 annually on an “The City of Westland contin-
Arts & Recreation Complex. tions and improvements are improvements along with a new average home assessed at about ues to have strong budget
See page 2. necessary to provide adequate student drop off area and $37,508 which will generate process and practices that have
educational experiences for the replacement of the cafeteria about $2.3 million annually for led to positive financial results
students in buildings that are flooring. Also planned are toilet 10 years to fund the needed ren- demonstrated in the current
about 50-years-old. room renovations and monu- ovations and repairs. year,” commented Alisha
THE ROMULUS “We have several renovation ment signing at the school. Money from a sinking fund Watkins, CPA and Partner at
ROMAN
ROMAN projects in store for our At Romulus Middle School, millage can only be used for Plante Moran.
Vol. 135, No. 07 schools,” she said. “We recog- repairs include the flooring in specific improvements and ren- “During the 2018-19 fiscal
nize that our buildings are aging the cafeteria and repairs or ovations and cannot be used for year, the city was able to reinvest
Graduates of Romulus and these slated projects and replacement of the water heater salaries, benefits, pensions or more than $9.6 million on vari-
High School of all decades improvements will breathe new and boiler. Monument signage, any other district expenses. ous capital improvements,
are being invited to partici- including water and sewer line
pate in a newly-organized repairs and upgrades, various
alumni group. road and park improvements,
See page 4. and new public service equip-
ment and vehicles,” commented
Mayor William R. Wild. “We con-
THE WAYNE tinue to look ahead in our finan-
EAGLE
EAGLE cial forecasting and make fiscal-
ly responsible decisions for our
Vol. 73, No. 07 city's residents and businesses.”
In addition, Westland opened
City of Wayne Mayor John A new parking/drop off area at Romulus High A new secured entry is also among renovations
Rhaesa presented the Wayne School is planned. planned for Romulus High School. See Audit, page 5
Goodfellows with a certifi-
cate of thanks for their serv- Northville Downs development plan falters at gate
ice to families in the Wayne
community. Racing will continue at “We're just excited to be stay- delayed indefinitely, according the delay in the initial timeline
Northville Downs through 2024 ing here longer and working to a Randy Wertheimer, presi- was confirmed about six months
See page 5. it was announced last week harder and harder to keep horse dent and EEO of Hunter Pasteur ago. The proposed development
when racetrack Operations racing alive in Michigan,” Carlo Homes. included 525 residential units
THE WESTLAND Manager Mike Carlo confirmed said. Carlo owns the race track “We can't develop without site and 19,000 square feet of com-
EAGLE the signing of a long-term lease. parking lot but the track is plan approval from the City of mercial space. The delay is
EAGLE
Vol. 73, No. 07 Carlo is quoted as saying he had owned by an investment group, Northville - we don't have that apparently due, in part to a new
master plan adopted by the City
signed a long-term land lease
Northville Driving Club Corp.
approval,” Wertheimer said. “I
The Westland Police option with the owners of the A huge mixed-use develop- don't know if the racetrack will of Northville which addresses
Department marked several property to continue races at the ment planned at the race-track be open for three years or four the Northville Downs property.
changes during official cere- downtown Northville site after a site by Farmington Hills based years, but they're definitely open “The move to reopen three
monies last week $200 million development proj- Hunter Pasteur Homes sched- for the foreseeable future.”
See page 5. ect apparently faltered. uled to start this year will be Wertheimer confirmed that See Track, page 2

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