Basic HTML Version
More than 250 Inkster residents have joined
a lawsuit filed last week in Wayne County
Circuit Court seeking relief from current city
water rates and practices of the administration
in enforcing the installation of digital water
meters.
The suit, filed by Inkster attorney Byron
Nolen, also asked the court for an immediate
preliminary injunction to stop the city from
shutting off the water of those who have not
paid their water bills or allowed the installa-
tion of the newmeters in their homes.
Nolen said he has not heard from the court
regarding any scheduled action but that the
city has 21 days from his filing Feb. 5 to
respond. The case has been assigned to Judge
Robert L.Ziolkowski.
Nolen said that the suit asks for relief for
the entrie group of plaintiffs who are repre-
sented by Inkster resident Terrence Trahey
who received a $6,000 bill for three-months of
water service when the new meter was
installed. Inkster water rates are currently set
at $14.68 per thousand gallons.
The lawsuit alleges that the city has includ-
ed other costs in the water rates which are not
directly related to providing water service.
Nolen says the rate is an unconstitutional tax
because it contains these charges and was not
approvedby voters.
Residents have complained for months at
the city council meetings about the newmeters
and the increased rates imposed for water. The
new meters cost the city about $2.5 million for
the approximately 9,000 installations approved
in 2010. Nolen said residents who have
received bills in the thousands of dollars have
complained about the accuracy of the read-
ings. The city administration finally agreed to
have the meters evaluated for accuracy, Nolen
said, but did not check the readings, only that
themeterwas communicating properly.
“They only tested the communication ele-
ment, not if the meter was providing the cor-
rect water flow reading,” Nolen said. “What
good does that do? And, they didn't check the
meters of those with these outrageous bills,
they just randomly sampledmeters.
“I told them it was a waste of time and
money.”
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
February 14, 2013
02-13-0027
Motion Damitio, seconded by Hawley and unanimously carried, it
was resolved to approve the Second Reading and adoption of amendments to Chapter
1610 regarding Non Residential Inspections.
PUBLIC NOTICE
ORDINANCE #2013-01
CITY OF WAYNE
AN ABSTRACT OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF WAYNE, THE CITY OF WAYNE ORDAINS:
SECTION 1
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 1610 OF THE WAYNE CITY CODE TO
ADOPT SECTIONS 1610.13, 1610.14, AND 1610.15 TO REQUIRE ON-LINE
REPORTING FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTING CONCERN-
ING LIFE SAFETY SAFEGUARDS, CERTIFICATION OF PRIVATE INSPECTORS,
REQUIREMENTS FOR ON-SITE FIRE INSPECTIONS AS AUTHORIZED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE, AS AMENDED, AND TO REQUIRE REGISTRA-
TION FEES FOR PRIVATE INSPECTORS, FEES FOR SITE INSPECTIONS, AND
FEES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE.
SECTION 2
That this Ordinance shall be published as required by law.
SECTION 3
That this Ordinance shall become effective ten days after enactment and upon publication
thereof.
Adopted:
February 5, 2013
Published:
February 14, 2013
Matthew K. Miller
Effective:
February 15, 2013
City Clerk
FULL TEXT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
MINUTES OF REGULAR ROMULUS CITY COUNCILMEETING
January 28, 2013
Romulus City Hall Council Chambers, 11111 Wayne Rd. Romulus, MI 48174
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Pro-Tem LeRoy Burcroff.
Present:
LeRoy Burcroff, Linda Choate, Celeste Roscoe, Eva Webb.
Excused:
John Barden, William Crova, William Wadsworth.
Administrative Officials in Attendance:
Betsey Krampitz, Chief-of-Staff
Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, Clerk
Stacy Paige, Treasurer
1.
Moved by Choate, seconded by Roscoe to accept the agenda as presented.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Burcroff,
Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
13-019 2A.
Moved by Webb, seconded by Choate to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Romulus
City Council held January 14, 2013.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Burcroff, Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
4.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Choate to accept the chairperson's report.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Burcroff,
Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
13-020 5A(1).
Moved by Choate, seconded by Webb to award Bid 12/13-18 for acquisition of a 36 PPM color,
copier/fax/network printer for the City of Romulus Assessor's office to the lowest bidder, Applied Imaging, in the
amount of $6,438 for the purchase of one Richo MP4502A full color copier with the optional fax option.
Roll
Call Vote: Ayes
- Burcroff, Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
13-021 5A.(2)
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Webb to authorize the mayor and clerk to enter into a per copy
supply/maintenance agreement to be charged at $.0059 per copy for black and white copies and $.055 per copy
for color copies for the initial 36 month contract term and to extend the contract at an amount not to exceed 11%
annually for the useful life of the machine.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Burcroff, Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
13-022 6A1.
Moved by Choate, seconded by Roscoe to approve second reading and final adoption of Budget
Amendment 12/13-8, General Fund - introduced at the Council meeting of January 14, 2013.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Burcroff, Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
13-023 6A2.
Moved by Webb, seconded by Choate to approve second reading and final adoption of Budget
Amendment 12/13-9, General Fund - introduced at the Council meeting of January 14, 2013.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Burcroff, Crova, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
13-024 6A3.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Webb to concur with the administration and approve the 2013/2014
CDBG allocation and proposed projects.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Burcroff, Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
13-025 11.
Moved by Choate, seconded by Webb to authorize the city treasurer to disburse funds as listed
in Warrant 13-02 in the amount of Seven Hundred Thirteen Thousand, One Hundred Sixty-Seven
Dollars and Fifty-Six Cents. ($713,167.56)
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Burcroff, Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
12.
Moved by Webb, seconded by Roscoe to adjourn the regular meeting of the Romulus City Council.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Burcroff, Choate, Roscoe, Webb.
Nays
- None
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
I, Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, Clerk for the City of Romulus, Michigan do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true
copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Romulus City Council held on January 28, 2013.
Publish: February 14, 2013
02-13-0028
Motion Damitio, seconded by Dobrowolski and unanimously car-
ried, it was resolved to approve the Second Reading and adoption of amendments to
Chapter 1473 regarding the registration, maintenance and inspection of vacant properties.
PUBLIC NOTICE
ORDINANCE #2013-02
CITY OF WAYNE
AN ABSTRACT OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF WAYNE, THE CITY OF WAYNE ORDAINS:
SECTION 1
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 1400 OF THE WAYNE CITY CODE TO
INCLUDE CHAPTER 1473, SECTIONS 1473.01 THROUGH 1473.15, TO PROVIDE
FOR THE REGISTRATION, MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF VACANT
PROPERTIES, TO ADOPT REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION FEES, AND TO PRO-
VIDE PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE.
SECTION 2
That this Ordinance shall be published as required by law.
SECTION 3
That this Ordinance shall become effective ten days after enactment and upon publication
thereof.
Adopted:
February 5, 2013
Published:
February 14, 2013
Matthew K. Miller
Effective:
February 15, 2013
City Clerk
FULL TEXT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
CITY OF ROMULUS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RFP# 12/13-21 Group Medical and Prescription Insurance Plan
RFP# 12/13-22 Medicare Supplement Retiree Medical Insurance Plam
RFP# 12/13-23 Group Vision Insurance Plan
RFP 12/13-24 Group Dental Insurance Plan
(1)
The City of Romulus, Michigan is seeking proposals from qualified vendors for the above item/items.
(2)
Specifications may be obtained from the MITN system @ www.mitn.info.
(3)
Proposals must be submitted in sealed envelopes and returned to the City Clerk's Office no later than 2:00
P.M., Friday, March 8, 2013. At approximately 2:15, local time all timely received bids are to be publicly
opened and read.
RESPONSE ENVELOPES MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED
WITH THE RFP NUMBER AND NAME AND BE ADDRESSED:
RFP #___
CITY OF ROMULUS CLERK'S OFFICE
11111 Wayne Road,
Romulus, Michigan 48174
(4)
The City reserves the right to reject all bids and proposals and to waive technicalities.
(5)
For additional information contact:
Jenelle DesMarais, Plan Analyst
jdesmarais@mcgrawwentworth.com (248) 822-6239
with copy to:
Diane Dignan, Account Director
ddignan@mcgrawwentworth.com (248) 822-6241
Publish:
February 14, 2013
I
NKSTER
- N
ORTHVILLE
Inkster police solve 23-year-old murder
Drug sniffing dogs search Northville High School
250 residents file class action suit against city
Convicted murderer Keith
Lamont Burns who had been
charged with the 1989 murder of
Inkster resident Linette Bolding has
entered a guilty plea inher death.
Bolding was found half naked,
bound with phone cords around her
neck and hands behind her back on
Sept. 27, 1989 behind a house on
Cherry Street in Inkster.
An autopsy by the Wayne County
Medical Examiner determined that
she had been sexually assaulted and
strangled to death.
Inkster Det. Tony Delgreco began
looking into the cold case in 2005. As
part of his investigation, Delgreco
sent evidence collected at the origi-
nal murder scene to the Michigan
State Police crime laboratory in
Northville. More than 40 pieces of
evidence were tested, Delgreco said,
and after three years a DNA match
was discovered with an incarcerat-
ed prisoner, Keith Burns. It took
nearly another three years of DNA
testing and investigation to confirm
the tests and that Burns' was in
Inkster in 1989, Delgreco said.
Delgreco confirmed that his
investigation led him to suspect
Bolding's death could have been the
work of a serial killer. From 1989
through 1991, seven women were
sexually assaulted and murdered in
Inkster. Keith Burns' DNA matched
the murders of both Bolding and
another victim, Glenda Tatum,
Delgreco said.
Burns pleaded guilty to second
degree murder in Wayne County
Circuit Court Feb. 8. He will be sen-
tenced to 23 to 50 years in prison for
the murder of Bolding. His sentence
will run concurrent with the last 10
years of his current prison term for
the murder of a Westland woman in
1995. Assistant Wayne County
ProsecutorMichael Reynolds issued
the warrant and accepted Burns'
plea in front of Judge Michael
Hathaway at Frank Murphy Hall of
Justice.
Delgreco said no charges can be
filed in themurder of Glenda Tatum
because of a Supreme Court ruling
requiring that themedical examiner
who conducts the original autopsy
testify to the cause and manner of
death in amurder charge.
The physician from the Wayne
County Medical Examiner's office
who conducted the autopsy on
Tatum died several years ago,
Delgreco said.
There were some special visi-
tors at Northville High School last
Wednesdaymorning.
Ten drug dogs from police
Canine Units throughout Wayne
County inspected the hallways,
lockers and common areas at the
school for controlled substances,
according to school Principal
RobertWatson.
While the dogs alerted at sever-
al lockers, no controlled sub-
stances were found during the
search,Watson reported.
“At no time did they (the dogs)
interact with students or class-
rooms,”Watson said in a prepared
statement.
Following the alerts by the ani-
mals, administrators searched the
lockers and spoke with the stu-
dents assigned to the specific lock-
er and others assigned to lockers
in close proximity, he said.
Watson said that the school dis-
trict would continue these search-
es throughout the school year in
an effort to “provide a safe learn-
ing environment for our students.”
“We also want to send a strong
message that drugs will not be tol-
erated in our schools,” he said.
Should controlled substances
or drug paraphernalia have been
found, the school would work in
concert with local police to
address the matter and discipline
students within the guidelines of
the Northville Public Schools
Code of Conduct, Watson said. He
added that the school staff also
works with families to properly
address the specific issue though
intervention and monitoring pro-
grams.
Watson said that a district goal
includes actions to prevent drug
use by Northville students. He
said the district is not experienc-
ing any surge in drug use, but
because drug use or possession of
drugs, including prescription
medication, is illegal and unac-
ceptable in the schools.
“Our efforts include specific
lessons in our health classes, pro-
viding materials and workshops
for parents, working closely with
our police liaisons, coordinating
student and family interventions
with agencies such as Northville
Youth Assistance and reaching
out to students demonstrating as-
risk behaviors,” his statement
read.