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April 18 – 24, 2019 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 16 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Romulus responds to ‘dangerous’ court allegations
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Vol. 134, No. 16 Scott Spielman ” done my best to keep harmony
Special Writer with the court for quite a while.
A new, $1 million splash I believe that our community I believe my whole team has
pad in Van Buren Township Romulus Mayor LeRoy and our employees have been worked hard and bent over
is closer to operation follow- Burcroff said he will meet with backward to make sure the
ing approval of an amended leaders from the City of damaged by these false allegations. project is moving forward. I
site plan by the planning Belleville, Van Buren believe that our community
commission. Township, Huron Township and our employees have been
See page 4. and Sumpter Township this that stipulates Romulus is sole- when court employees accused damaged by these false allega-
week to clear up what he ly responsible for the cost of the city of misappropriating tions. A lot of damage has been
called dangerous misinforma- operation, financing, mainte- funds set aside for constructing done.
THE CANTON tion and allegations of finan- nance salaries and fringe bene- the court building currently “We didn't steal a dime from
EAGLE cial impropriety involving the fits that are not covered by tick- under construction and using anybody,” he added.
EAGLE
The allegations surfaced
Vol. 72, No. 16 city and the 34th District Court. et or court revenue. The court revenues to cover city when court employees spoke at
remaining four communities
costs.
The court serves all five
Plans for a Canton Artist communities and is located in receive 30 percent of the rev- “It's a shame that the rela- a March 25 city council meet-
Laureate program were pre- Romulus. The funding dis- enue from tickets and fees gen- tionship with the court is at ing, where there were a num-
sented to the members of the persed to the communities erated by their respective this level. I feel horrible about ber of actions related to
Canton Board of Trustees from court revenues is spelled municipalities. That funding it. I lose sleep over it; it bothers
during the April 9 meeting. out in a 1998 host agreement came into question recently, me,” said Burcroff. “I feel I've See Response, page 3
See page 2.

THE INKSTER Service
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR
Vol. 72, No. 16 Project
The Michigan State Police
are continuing the search for is May 11
20 recruits from Inkster to
participate in the Michigan
State Police Youth The fourth annual Greater
Leadership Academy. Plymouth/Canton Service
See page 4. Project to benefit the Kids
Coalition Against Hunger and
local food pantries is set for 8
THE NORTHVILLE a.m. until 3 p.m. May 11.
EAGLE will gather to pack dried food
EAGLE
As in past years, volunteers
Vol. 19, No. 16 packages at the Plymouth Arts
The largest Arts and Acts and Recreation Complex, 650
Festival in the 10 year histo- Church St. in downtown
ry of the event will return to Plymouth.
historic downtown Kids Coalition Against
Northville June 21, 22, and Hunger is a humanitarian food
23. relief organization with a mis-
See page 4. sion to significantly reduce the Complex are putting their full throughout the world,” said stay in local communities and
number of hungry children in support and resources behind Harrison. “We accomplish this be distributed to various food
the U.S. and worldwide. this humanitarian relief proj- by delivering a highly nutri- pantries (i.e. food banks, soup
THE PLYMOUTH The food packages offer ect. tious meal developed by food kitchens and backpack pro-
EAGLE complete, balanced nutrition “Many hands make for light scientists. It provides a rich grams at the schools, etc.). One-
EAGLE

Vol. 19, No. 16 requiring only boiling water to work as 1,500 community vol- source of easily digestible pro- third goes to 18 different coun-
unteers are needed to package
tries that Kids Coalition
tein, carbohydrates, and vita-
serve.
The Plymouth Township The group organizers hope the 250,000 meals for hungry, mins needed by an undernour- Against Hunger supports on an
Board of Trustees honored to package 250,000 meals that needy children,” said Lee ished child's body and mind.” ongoing basis. The final third
two Plymouth Police day and have raised $70,000 in Harrison, chairman of the The food is also acceptable is stored in the KCAH
Department dispatchers and charitable contributions from event. “Encourage your family, to the broad diversity of ethnic Michigan warehouse for U.S.
a proclamation during local service clubs in including friends, and co-workers to join tastes and religious differences disaster relief support.
National Public Safety. Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions us on May 11. We need your around the world. The food “The goal is to recruit 1,500
See page 2. clubs, businesses and private help.” offers all nine of the essential volunteers,” said Meade, who
donors to fund the project. A Sign up at www.cantonfoun- amino acids required for com- is president of the Canton
donation of $250, organizers dation.org/community-founda- plete nutrition (something that Community Foundation. “All
THE ROMULUS said, pays for 839 meals. tion-of-plymouth or for infor- can't be said of other typical ages are welcome. Please join
ROMAN
ROMAN On May 11, volunteers will mation on volunteer signup, food relief sources such as rice us!”

Vol. 134, No. 16 choose a shift: 8:30-11 a.m., contact Beth Meade at or beans alone). It is also very Donations for the Greater
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or 12:30 to 3 bmeade@cantonfoundation.or simple to prepare, requiring Plymouth/Canton Service
Four young fire cadets are p.m. g or via phone, (734) 495-1200. only six cups of boiling water to Project can be made payable
taking firefighter training The Canton Community “Our mission is to signifi- make a complete meal, he and mailed to: Canton
courses at Schoolcraft Foundation/Community cantly reduce the number of explained. Community Foundation, 50430
College while receiving Foundation of Plymouth and hungry children in the U.S. One-third of the 250,000 School House Road - Suite 200,
training at the Romulus Fire Plymouth Arts & Recreation and feed starving children meals that are packaged will Canton MI 48187.
Department.
See page 3.
Developer fells 2,000 trees for new plant construction
”
THE WAYNE Don Howard to build a building, it to cut
EAGLE
EAGLE Staff Writer There was a tree survey trees,” he said.
Township planning and zon-
Vol. 72, No. 16 Plymouth Township building done and there was ing ordinances control tree
More than 200 volunteers officials forced an abrupt halt removal by property owners with
are expected to fill the last week to work at an 18-acre a value based on those trees. a payment-in-lieu process and a
streets of Wayne April 27 site where an overzealous land price schedule for replacement
armed with brooms and developer clear-cut 2,000 trees costs. As an example a 3-inch
dustpans during the 4th without the required building of land. The subject property is Lewis to demand the developer caliper deciduous tree is priced
Annual Spring Clean-Up and environmental permits. currently zone as TAR for and project agent, Hillside at $375, a 6-foot evergreen $350,
Day. Benzing Properties LLC, research and development, Investments, stop work immedi- etcetera.
See page 5. 29233 Haas Road, owns the two according to township records. ately. They said Lewis told con- Records show the required
parcels of land where the viola- Officials said the new district tractor representatives they had building permit application was
tions occurred. Township (IDD) would help to “enhance” but 30-minutes to file an applica- filed on April 5, and payment was
THE WESTLAND Building Department the development of the vacant tion for a building permit and made for a $46,875 bond. The
EAGLE
EAGLE Coordinator Cheri Palmarchuk property and provide the possi- post bond before disciplinary application filed later that day

Vol. 72, No. 16 said the clear-cutting occurred bility of a tax incentive for a man- legal action commenced. requested tree clearing and mass
ufacturer to build new facilities
on 16 acres of one 18.8-acre par-
grading.
Lewis said he was doing his
Members of the Westland cel, located at Haggerty and under a state Industrial Facilities best to bring Hillside into compli- “They don't need a soil ero-
City Council approved two Schoolcraft Road. In March, the Exemption (IFE). ance. sion permit to cut down trees, but
contracts for infrastructure township board of trustees desig- Informed sources say numer- “I'm doing my job to get the you can't move a stump. As for
repairs totaling more than nated the entire 35-acre site as ous phone calls from concerned paperwork in order. I'm not sure the rest, they do need that stuff,”
$1.2 million during a meeting the Schoolcraft Business Park-- residents about the removal of about getting a signed lease. This Lewis explained.
last month. Industrial Development District the trees prompted township puts all of us on the spot. The
See page 5. (IDD) for three connected parcels Chief Building Official Mark building permit application is not See Trees, page 2

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