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April 8, 2021 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

ROMULUS - BELLEVILLE
ROMULUS - BELLEVILLE

Romulus city council extends state of emergency

”
Members of the Romulus City check and observe the precau-
Council voted unanimously in a No, we are not letting up on tions,” he told the council mem-
special meeting last week to bers.
extend the state of emergency in the daily health protocols. During the discussion, council
the city and continue the COVID- We still self-check members inquired if the contin-
19 health precautions currently ued state of emergency would
in place. and observe the precautions. impact the current moratorium
Mayor LeRoy Burcroff said on water shut-offs in the city.
that the meeting was recom- Burcroff said the moratorium
mended by city attorney Steve “Well obviously, we can't have the meeting. would continue and explained in
Hitchcock to allow the city to a public meeting limited to 25 Councilman William response to a question from
conduct meetings electronically people. We have no idea how Wadsworth questioned the Councilwoman Celeste Roscoe
through June 30. Hitchcock many people might want to impact on the operation of the that the city would be seeking
explained that Elizabeth Hertel, attend,” Hitchcock said. city while Burcroff explained whatever grant funds available to
director of the state department He also reminded the council that the city was certainly “open fund that expense.
of Health and Human Services members that Wayne County offi- for business” with the current He stressed that while the
recently suggested that due to the cials had declared an extended precautions remaining in place. shut offs have been suspended, Mayor LeRoy Burcroff
increase in the number of daily state of emergency last week “No, we are not letting up on residents are still responsible for
cases of COVID-19 in the state, based on the number of infec- the daily health protocols,” the payment of the bills, which billings and other expenses due
health precautions be continued tions occurring. Burcroff said. He explained that continue to accrue. He said that to the pandemic by contacting
through April 29. Hitchcock said “This will allow you to contin- the city had meetings with currently 402 city residents were the MetroWayne Agency. She
that Hertel had also cited the ue electronic meetings. The only department heads, but limited beyond the shut off limit in the said the agency had been very
number of hospitalizations that change will be you will have to, them to small groups and contin- city and that there was a total of helpful to residents throughout
were increasing throughout the during roll call, identify your ued the recommended health about $38,000 due in delinquent Wayne County facing financial
state and that she had recom- location,” he said. He clarified precautions. water billings. hardships due to the pandemic.
mended keeping the 25-person that the location needed only to “Last week, we had a meeting Councilwoman Virginia She said the agency could be
limit on public gatherings in be the city in which the respon- with a developer with a small Williams suggested that residents contacted at (313)388-9799 or at
place. dent was located at the time of number of people. We still self- could seek help with the water waynemetro.org.
School district will not request millage on upcoming ballot

Members of the Van Buren enue annually which can only be added that there is currently no when they may need replace- the seven year promise made to
Public Schools Board of used for site improvements and funding balance for any emer- ment or repair. He said the goal voters.
Education have decided against building renovations. It will gency repairs included in those of the Sinking Fund is to manage An additional concern
placing a Sinking Fund millage expire in 2022. plans. The board has approved a the repairs and replacements in expressed by board President
on the Nov. 2 ballot. Despite a While the district currently plan which included projects school buildings without taking Ann Pearce was the cost to the
previous request from has building repair and improve- costing $356,000 this year, money from classrooms. At the district of the election since
Superintendent of Schools Pete ment plans for the next three $1,321,500 in 2022, and $2,020,000 March 22 meeting, he told the there is nothing else yet on that
Kudlack, the issue did not come years, the anticipated Sinking in 2023. board members that he had per- ballot. She also urged the board
to a vote of board members fol- Fund millage revenue will fall At an earlier March meeting, haps been "a little over eager" in to abide by the seven year term
lowing a discussion of the pro- short of the funding needed for Kudlak told the board members proposing placing a new Sinking of the current Sinking Fund
posal. the third year, explained Rob that Belleville High School is 11 Fund on the November ballot promised to voters.
The current Sinking Fund Kakoczki of Plante Moran years old and that the "mechani- and explained that waiting for Kudlak agreed and noted that
millage, set at .4917 of a mill, gen- CRESA during the meeting of the cals" in buildings throughout the another year to request the fund- the board members did not need
erates about $873,000 in tax rev- board members last month. He district are also reaching a time ing would allow the district keep a vote on his earlier proposal.