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March 25 – March 31, 2021 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 12 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Communities to share in federal stimulus funding
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Like area taxpayers watching
Vol. 136, No. 12 their bank balances for the
Sumpter Township Police promised $1,400 stimulus
officers received a surprise checks, many local communities
envelope in the mail last are anticipating the arrival of a
week filled with thank you share of the $4.4 billion in feder-
letters from fourth-grade stu- al fiscal recovery aid allocated to
dents. Michigan.
See page 3. Federal reports released last
week listed a total of $130.2 bil-
lion earmarked for distribution
THE CANTON to local municipalities, in addi-
EAGLE tion to the payments to individ-
EAGLE
ual taxpayers. Payments of more
Vol. 74, No. 12 than $1.78 billion will be distrib-
uted to municipalities including
Canton Township officials Wayne County and local cities
took part in a ceremonial rib- and townships directly from the
bon cutting for the new $6.5 U.S. Treasury. The allocations
million Fire Station #2 last were determined by Community
week. Development Block Grant
See page 5. (CBDG) formula and the first
half of the funds are scheduled
to be distributed within 60 days ifying to receive $323,961 and ble for $1,660,188 in federal of the virus. The stimulus fund-
THE INKSTER after the U.S. Treasurer receives $264.323. The federal chart did relief funds while the City of ing is designed, officials said, to
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR the required certification signed not identify which amount was Westland was listed at eligible mitigate the negative economic
Vol. 74, No. 12 by the chief fiscal officer of the for the city and which for for the highest amount among impacts sustained by local gov-
community. The second half of
the local area communities with
ernment units as result of the
Northville Township. The City of
A 50-year-old Inkster man the local funds will be allocated Plymouth was allocated a total of $27,879,708. COVID-19 public health emer-
is facing manslaughter one year later. $903,852, but the federal docu- An additional $686 million gency. Funds can also be used for
charges in the fatal shooting Local communities will ments did not list an amount for will be set aside for all other gen- water, sewer and broadband
of his 57-year-old brother receive a wide-variance in the Plymouth Township. eral-purpose governments that infrastructure but cannot be
during an argument. amounts allocated from the fed- The City of Romulus is eligi- are not counties or metropolitan used to support tax cuts or shore
See page 6. eral relief funds. The City of ble for $2,327,562 in federal cities. up pension deficits. Local gov-
Belleville is scheduled to relief funding while Sumpter Local governments have a ernments will be required to
receive $384,685 while Canton Township is listed as eligible for great deal of latitude in using the provide a detailed accounting of
THE NORTHVILLE Township is listed in federal $924,686 and Van Buren stimulus relief funds including how the funds were used and
EAGLE documents as eligible of Township could receive paying costs like hazard pay or they must be spent by the end of
EAGLE
other wages incurred during the
2024, according to a prepared
$9,119,098. The City of Inkster is
$2,803,777.
Vol. 210, No. 12 slated to receive $2,397,765 39 The City of Wayne is listed in pandemic or to replace revenue statement from the U.S.
while Northville is listed as qual- the federal documents as eligi- lost due to the health restrictions Treasury Department.
Five ordinances were
presented to members of the
city planning commissioners Local arts groups awarded state economic impact grants
Northville City Council by
for the first readings of pro-
posed revisions to the laws. Local arts groups are cele- ” age.
See page 2. brating the announcement last Beth Stewart, president of
week of grants from the People have been extremely generous the Michigan Philharmonic,
Michigan Economic said the grant would allow the
Development Corporation and have stayed with us. orchestra to continue with the
THE PLYMOUTH (MEDC). The fans have supported us small performances musicians
EAGLE was awarded $39,009 while the and we couldn't be here without them. have been able to perform dur-
EAGLE
In Westland, Inspire Theatre
ing the pandemic.
Vol. 21, No. 12 Michigan Philharmonic in “This will help and, of course,
The Plymouth District Plymouth was awarded $14,628 we hope for concerts this sum-
Library and Plymouth com- in funding to help relieve the State officials said 392 appli- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a pre- mer.” Stewart said that the phil-
munity lost a champion with economic impact of the COVID- cations for venue relief were pared statement. “We will con- harmonic has been able to sur-
the death of library board 19 pandemic on the arts groups. received. To qualify, businesses tinue our efforts to eradicate vive, without work for the musi-
member Stephen Harper. Tipping Point Theatre in had to demonstrate revenue this virus and keep rebuilding cians, during the pandemic due
See page 4. Northville was awarded the thresholds based on ticket sales our economy for our small busi- to the support of the public.
highest amount of grant funding and could not have more than 30 nesses and communities.” “People have been extremely
allowed at $40,000, according to employees, along with other cri- Many arts programs are still generous and have stayed with
THE ROMULUS the state. teria. waiting for the grant applica- us. The fans have supported us
ROMAN
ROMAN among 101 independent opera- ment venues across Michigan tions and requirements of the and we couldn't be here without
“These grants help entertain-
The three venues were
them,” she said.
federal Save Our Stages Act
Vol. 136, No. 12 tors receiving $3.4 million from continue playing a critical role which was approved by Officials said the application
After nearly seven years the state as part of the Michigan in creating the vibrant commu- Congress last December as part period for the national funding
of negotiations, the recon- Stages Survival Grant Program. nities we need to thrive,” said of the $900 billion stimulus pack- has not yet begun.
struction of the Northline
and Hannan roads intersec- Northville schools pledge full return to classrooms this fall
tion is set to begin this
month. Northville Public Schools the utilization of available ”
See page 3. will return to full, in-person learning spaces and spacing of
classroom instruction in all pro- students; considering staffing
grams this fall. needs to safely support a full Better things are ahead of us
THE WAYNE Members of the Northville return for all learners; explor- and that work is well under way.
EAGLE district board of education ing options for ongoing COVID- There are and will be questions
EAGLE
Vol. 74, No. 12 unanimously adopted a resolu- 19 testing and vaccination; con- that simply cannot yet be answered...
tion during the March 9 meet-
tingency planning for safety
Wayne Main Street is part- ing to return to the full, in-per- protocols that maximize stu-
nering with members of the son instruction beginning with dent and staff well being; work-
Rotary Club of Wayne and the the first day of school this fall. ing with facility management
Friends of the Rouge to con- “As a district, we want our specialists on HVAC options; sideration of whether some ongoing patience and support
duct a city-wide cleanup of the community to be clear that we additional strategies and families may wish to choose through what continues to be
roads and paths bordering the are actively planning for a full improving access to instruction some level of virtual education an incredibly challenging
Rouge River. return in 2021-22. While no one to support students placed into options should the district be school year,” they added.
See page 6. can accurately forecast precise- quarantine, e.g., by orders of the permitted to provide virtual “Better things are ahead of
ly what the circumstances will health department; planning options. us and that work is well under
be in September, we are com- supports for learners with dif- “With the ongoing research way. There are and will be
THE WESTLAND mitted to getting our students ferent needs, including those into effective mitigation strate- questions that simply cannot
EAGLE back to in-person school 5 days who may need at-home sup- gies, broadening access to yet be answered, but we wanted
EAGLE

Vol. 74, No. 12 per week with the necessary ports, disability accommoda- COVID-19 vaccination, and the to assure you that, like you, we
protocols in place,” noted a pre-
opportunity to build on the les-
look forward to returning to our
tions, etc.; continuing expan-
During Women's History pared statement from the sion of classroom technology sons learned this year, we are most treasured traditions,
Month, Westland paid tribute school district. including training of staff on the confident and optimistic about building on our areas of
to Justine Barns, a trailblaz- To support this plan, district use of technology to support the future that lies ahead as we strength, and moving forward
er who rose from a school administrators have been work- individual learning needs, come back together for the on our journey to open a World
activist to become a State ing across departments on learning within and beyond the 2021-22 school year,” adminis- of Possibilities for and with our
Representative. implementation, including: walls of the classroom, and flex- trators said in the prepared students and families in the
See page 6. planning for contingencies on ible access to learning and con- release. “Thank you for your coming year,” they concluded.

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