A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
March 1, 2018
N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
School bond sale is ‘well received’
Commission to vote on adding 3 liquor licenses
State grants $650,000 to build technology center
Members of the Northville
Public Schools Board of
Education of Northville are
more than pleased with the sale
of the 2018 building and site
bonds approved by voters last
year.
The 2018 School Building and
Site Bonds, Series I, in the
amount of $11,910,000, represent-
ing the first series of bonds, are
being issued for the purpose of
erecting, furnishing and equip-
ping additions to and remodel-
ing, furnishing and refurnishing,
and equipping and re-equipping
school facilities; acquiring and
installing instructional technolo-
gy in school facilities; purchasing
school buses; erecting, furnish-
ing, equipping, developing and
improving playgrounds, sites,
athletic fields and facilities, and
paying the cost of issuing the
bonds, a district spokesman
explained.
“The positive financial rating
for the district's bond issue con-
tributed to the opportunity to sell
the bonds at a favorable rate,
maximizing the bond dollars tar-
geted directly toward upgrading
school facilities, enhancing exist-
ing school security, and provid-
ing students across the district
with modern learning environ-
ments,” said Northville
Superintendent of Schools Mary
KayGallagher.
“Our primary goal is to sup-
port learning for all students in a
manner that prepares them for
meeting the expectations and
demands of colleges, universities
and employers now, and in the
future. These improvements will
enhance Northville Public
Schools' tradition of excellence,
while honoring our board of edu-
cation's commitment to strong
stewardship of the community's
investment in our schools,” she
added.
The district's financing was
conducted by the Michigan
investment banking office of the
brokerage firm, Stifel, themunic-
ipal advising firm, PFM
Financial Advisors LLC and the
law firmserving as bond counsel,
Thrun LawFirm, P.C. The bonds
were sold at a true interest rate
of 2.23 percent with a final matu-
rity of 2027 (a repayment term of
approximately 9 years).
“Northville Public Schools'
bonds were well received by the
bond market. We were able to
take advantage of current inter-
est rates that met the goals of the
district and resulted in a lower
cost of borrowing than originally
anticipated,” said Brenda
Voutyras, managing director with
Stifel.
Members of the Plymouth
City Commission are expected
to vote for the second and final
time next week to increase the
limit on city liquor licenses to
16 in the downtown area and 12
in other areas of the city.
The commissioners took an
initial vote on the proposal last
week following a report from
the three-member Liquor
License Review Board chaired
by Mayor Pro Tem Colleen
Pobur.
A second and final vote lift-
ing the overall limit from 25 to
28 is expected at the March 5
meeting. In addition, commis-
sioners have amended other
rules and will now allow a pro-
posed brewpub to seek a per-
mit, rather than a liquor license
if it is located in a restaurant
that has a Class C liquor
license.
Two local businesses, Greek
Islands Eatery and Westborn
Market, have been seeking
approval from the city for
liquor licenses and the
increase is expected to favor
the applications they have pre-
viously submitted.
Plymouth Mayor Oliver
Wolcott commented that the
city needs to evolve and change
if it is to compete with cities
like Detroit, were new restau-
rants and bars are attracting
throngs of young people.
“Every community is seeing
the effect of what's happening
in downtown Detroit,” he said.
“It has, obviously, had an
impact on the restaurants and
bars in small suburban towns
like Plymouth. It's time now to
allow a couple of new things to
be downtown,” Wolcott com-
mented at the commission
meeting.
Wolcott added that Police
Chief Al Cox had been consult-
ed regarding the proposed
increase in licenses at the city
level. The mayor said that Cox
assured him that the current
number of officers can handle
any enforcement issues.
Wolcott also addressed the con-
cerns regarding parking in the
city and said that officials are
pursuing ways to create more
downtown parking in an effort
to avoid those problems.
Pobur was also in favor of
the change. She and the other
board members met six times
to discuss the possible increase
in licenses in the city.
“We're seeing a change in
our restaurants in the commu-
nity. That's good because it
keeps things lively, it keeps
things vibrant and it keeps
things fresh,” she said. Pobur
also noted that the current
enforcement by the police
department and the coopera-
tion from businesses that
already have liquor licenses
have “changed the culture in
the community.
If you come to Plymouth,
don't drive drunk or youwill get
caught,” she said.
The only dissenting vote on
the recommendation came
from Commissioner Ed Kroll
who said that he had heard
from some residents who were
opposed to the increase in
liquor licenses.
Currently, two of the existing
liquor licenses in the city are in
escrow and not in use, one at
Panache 447 which is closed
and the other at the former
Plymouth Crossing, which has
been closed for some time.
The Michigan Economic
Development Corporation has
awarded a $650,000 performance-
based grant from the Michigan
Business Development Program
to assist Zhongding U.S.A., Inc. in
constructing their North
American Technology Center in
NorthvilleTownship.
Established in 1980, Zhongding
U.S.A., Inc. has locations in sever-
al states, including Michigan,
Delaware andMassachusetts. The
company produces rubber and
metal parts for original equip-
ment manufacturers and Tier 1
suppliers around theworld.
“It's no surprise that business-
es are investing in unique local
communities like Northville,”
noted State Rep. Jeff Noble.
“Providing this grant brings addi-
tional commerce and job growth
to an already thriving communi-
ty.”
At a projected 30,000 square
feet, the North American
Technology Center will house var-
ious Zhongding divisions, includ-
ing sales, marketing, engineering,
research and development and
testing. The project is expected to
generate a total capital invest-
ment of $6.9 million, creating 80
jobs inNorthvilleTownship.
