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April 11 – 17, 2019 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 15 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Mayor submits $68 million Westland budget
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Vol. 134, No. 15 Westland Mayor William R. ” and investments in both the sen-
Wild presented a balanced $68 ior center and Justine Barnes
Members of the Belleville million budget to members of I’m very proud of the city's Community Center,” Wild said.
Community Chorus will the city council last week. financial situation and how Members of the city council
present their 13th annual The budget includes a very will meet for several study ses-
spring concert, Let's Go To slight reduction in the millage far we have come as a community. sions to discuss the budget
The Movies, Saturday, April rate, going to 18.8787, a slight before a final vote on the fiscal
27. decrease from the 18.8798 plan is adopted by formal reso-
See page 2. adopted last year. funding for recycling services. total $310,000 “hoping to have lution. The meetings will be
The budget, the 13th Wild has Recycling costs have escalated some sort of solution in the near open to the public.
presented, includes the addition rapidly for Westland and other future.” He said the city would “While, like all cities, we still
THE CANTON of $300,000 to the general fund communities during the last attempt to negotiate a lower rate have some challenges, I'm very
EAGLE based on an anticipated year forcing communities, or find an alternative to the cur- proud of the city's financial situ-
EAGLE
Vol. 72, No. 15 increase in revenue due to including Westland, to begin rent recycling service. ation and how far we have come
home value appreciation of
“My proposed $68 million
sending recyclebles to landfills
as a community. If you like road
The Canton Public Safety about 4.5 percent in the city. for disposal. balanced budget heavily priori- repairs and infrastructure
Department will sponsor a Included in the proposed Wild said he budgeted the tizes public safety, road and improvements, and lots of it,
one-week summer program budget is funding for some new $200,000 to cover the additional water and sewer system you're going to love this budget,”
for teens ages 13 to 17 from staff positions and additional costs which are estimated to improvements, customer service Wild said on his Facebook page.
June 24 through, June 28.
Long-time Romulus director announces retirement
See page 3.

Tim Keyes, one of the most He has been part of every main thrust of the study is best
THE INKSTER successful and long-serving eco- major project in the community business practices and innova-
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR nomic development directors in - including the most recent tions implemented by local gov-

Vol. 72, No. 15 local municipal government, has Amazon, Penske and Mopar ernment.
announced his plans to retire developments, which became “Economic development
The cities of Inkster and from his position with the city of major taxpayers in the city helps a city grow,” Keyes said.
Wayne were among those Romulus at the end of June. while creating thousands of new “It's a key function of municipal
awarded grants through the Keyes is credited with guid- jobs. government. Our team has expe-
Financially Distressed ing the development of dozens rience and knowledge of local
Cities, Villages and of residential, commercial and and regional development
Townships Grant Program. industrial projects to Romulus. ” issues. We work smart and hard
See page 5. Before that, he worked success- This town is a family. every day to meet the needs of
fully in economic development They treated us with the business community and our
in the City of Taylor and in the residents.”
THE NORTHVILLE private sector as well. But respect and opened their In the results of the study,
EAGLE Romulus, Keyes admits, has arms as if we were Romulus is recognized for
EAGLE

Vol. 19, No. 15 always been an integral part of part of their family. implementing a policy for culti-
vating relationships with the
his career.
Fighting human traffick- “Working for the City of local business community by
ing is the aim of a “Fashion Romulus and getting to meet the “The City of Romulus recog- providing such activities as busi- Tim Keyes
for Freedom” dinner/dessert residents has been very special nizes the importance of econom- ness-to-business gatherings, job
event set for 6:30-9 p.m. to me,” Keyes said. “This town is ic development - and Tim has fairs and real estate/developer Board and Executive
tomorrow at Ward Church in a family. They treated us with been key to that process in our opportunity events, which show- Committee. He has been
Northville Township. respect and opened their arms community,” said Mayor LeRoy case key buildings and areas to involved with the development
See page 4. as if we were part of their family. D. Burcroff. “We will certainly those connected to potential of the ADC since the early plan-
And I'll never forget that.” miss Tim and his expertise. He new business and develop- ning stages, from the original
As director of the Romulus has consistently come up with ments. concept development of the
THE PLYMOUTH Department of Economic new ideas. It seemed like we'd Burcroff said that under Ring Road Corridor through the
EAGLE Development since 2001, Keyes have him forever. We certainly Keyes' guidance, the city has signing of the intergovernmental
EAGLE

Vol. 19, No. 15 has been responsible for and wish him all the best going for- focused on business retention agreements creating the ADC.
Prior to joining Romulus,
overseeing the economic devel-
ward.”
and attraction, using a proven
An exotic cruise close to opment, planning and communi- Keyes' skills have been recog- system that guides owners, Keyes served as the Vice
home awaits the winner of ty development activities for the nized multiple times with five- CEOs and managers through the President for Development for
the Michigan Philharmonic city, including Tax Increment star ratings during the annual best process of locating a suc- Horizon Properties, LLC, a
cruise raffle this year for a Finance Authority, the eCities study conducted by cessful business in the city. Taylor commercial property
10-day, all-inclusive, Downtown Development researchers at iLabs, University Keyes is immediate past development corporation. In
Riverboat trip. Authority and the Brownfield of Michigan Dearborn Center chairman of the Aerotropolis
See page 3. Development Authority boards. for Innovation Research. The Development Corp. (ADC) See Keyes, page 2
Weather watchers
THE ROMULUS
ROMAN
ROMAN
Vol. 134, No. 15 SKYWARN group volunteers keep their eyes on the skies
The Romulus Public
Library is among only 15 Julie Brown Arnold noted ham radio oper-
elite facilities in the state to Staff Writer ators have long been active in
be rated “enhanced” by the SKYWARN, saying, “That's
Library of Michigan. Those folks often observed another way that information
See page 2. sitting outside in the wind and gets to us.”
sometimes rain watching the sky, Jack Stange of Westland is a
are believe it or not, doing it to member of the Garden City
THE WAYNE help their neighbors. Amateur Radio Club and is also
EAGLE
EAGLE of Plymouth Township, are grad- a weather spotter. Stange, who
Volunteers, like Cheryl Rotole
was also at the Livonia training
Vol. 72, No. 15 uates of SKYWARN storm spot- is comparatively new to the
Wayne Main Street, in ter training. effort.
“Last year was the first time I
“I work from home,” said
conjunction with several Rotole, who lives in western took this course. I was out of
community partners, will Plymouth Township where she radio a long time and came
host the 4th Annual Spring often sees storms coming in from back,” he said.
Clean-Up Day in downtown Washtenaw County. “I'm very He was first licensed at age 14
Wayne on April 27. interested in weather and I like and left radio in 1972, serving in
See page 5.
being helpful, almost to my detri- the military.
ment. I'm in a good position and “It gives me the opportunity
if I can do that I want to.” to be one of the first ones in
THE WESTLAND The National Weather Westland,” to see weather com-
EAGLE
EAGLE Service began the training for ing from Canton to the nearby

Vol. 72, No. 15 weather spotters in the 1970s, west, Stange said.
and they're required to undergo
Stange, also the chaplain for
Gene McKinney, one of periodic training to remain American Legion Post 251 of
the founding fathers of active. National Weather Service Westland, sits out in wind but is
Westland, was recently hon- meteorologist Andrew Arnold sheltered from rain by an over-
ored for his more than half a led a recent training session pass near railroad tracks in
century of dedication to his Jack Stange of Westland enjoys being a SKYWARN storm spotter. under the auspices of the Westland. He hasn't reported a
city. He is a ham radio operator and Garden City Amateur Radio Club Livonia Amateur Radio Club
See page 4. member. and Livonia Police Department. See SKYWARN, page 3

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