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PAGE 2 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN April 21, 2022

NORTHVILLE
NORTHVILLE

Northville Township to lower water service costs

After holding water and ties are increasing raising water the Northville Chamber of ago, assumptions had to be made full rate study later this year to
sewer rates steady for five con- and sewer rates. Commerce at Schoolcraft about future wholesale water see what other efficiencies the
secutive years, Northville “Northville Township is in an College VisTaTech Center. costs,” said Director of Public community should adopt, Belair
Township will cut water and excellent position right now, so During his speech, he also Services Bob Belair. “Over the said.
sewer rates by 3 percent this we did the exact opposite for our discussed the installation of a past couple years, wholesale During the State of the
summer. residents and will drop the second water tower for the town- water costs were not as much as Community address, Abbo also
The decrease comes at a time rates,” said Northville Township ship which should be opera- anticipated, and this lower cost discussed the potential for a new
when other communities are Supervisor Mark J. Abbo “We tional in late 2023 at Legacy resulted in our ability to lower Public Safety and Public
raising rates, officials said. The are able to offer this savings Park. A second tower helps keep costs to our customers.” Services Headquarters at
Great Lakes Water Authority because of our fiscally prudent the water rates low because the System efficiencies, including Legacy Park to help first respon-
(GLWA) recently approved a 3.7 planning and a series of steps we water is filled during non-peak underground irrigation systems ders reach areas in the northeast
percent wholesale water rate took recently to contain our costs hours, when water is at the low- running only in the midnight-6 section of the township faster.
increase and a 2.4 percent sewer for the long term.” est rate. The water tower then a.m. time period and watering “We are so proud of what
rate increase. That move was, in Abbo shared the news with discharges the water to cus- on odd or even days only we're doing here in Northville
part, to pay for the debt from residents, business owners and tomers during peak demand depending on house number, Township,” Abbo said. “We are
Highland Park, which owes $55 community leaders at the State periods. also helped with demands and providing best-in-class services
million to GLWA. To fund it, of the Community Luncheon “When water and sewer rates rates. without raising taxes and that's
many other affected municipali- Wednesday, April 13, hosted by were calculated several years Northville Township will do a exciting for our residents.”
Leaders say ‘State of Northville’ community is bright

Three local leaders provided board of education, and all who
an upbeat community update worked with her and her team
during the State of the during her tenure.
Community meeting at Northville Mayor Brian
Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Turnbull thanked members of
Center April 13. Doug Wallace, the city council and members of
the new executive director of the the various boards, commissions
Northville Chamber of and volunteer task forces in the
Commerce, served as master of city for all the work done to help
ceremonies during the event. move the city forward on many
Northville School District fronts.
Superintendent Mary Kay He spoke of the new construc-
Gallagher began the meeting by tion coming to town at the
featuring the top 10 highlights of Foundry Flask site, North Center
the school district. Among those and Dunlap and at the Downs,
she mentioned were: being where the preliminary site plan
ranked as one of the best school for commercial and residential is
districts in the state; participa- being reviewed by members of
tion in college-equivalent course- the planning commission.
work that can earn high school Turnbull said much work has
students college course credit; been done and will continue to Northville Superintendent of Schools Mary Kay Gallagher, Mayor Brian Turnbull and Township Supervisor
integrated social, emotional, be done to reconstruct and Mark Abbo speak to the crowd during the State of the Community event. leaders.
health and well-being programs repair the roads, and the water Planned Unit Development by the city bicentennial in 2027. station will be built in the coming
for students; having one of the and sewer system throughout the (PUD). As part of the river Northville Township years, funded by a bond rather
largest vocal and instrumental city. restoration process, he said he Supervisor Mark Abbo said the than taxes. He reported that the
music programs in the state and The mayor extolled the bene- foresees the creation of a river- township is closer to transform- water and sewer rates will
the “top-notch athletic program.” fits of the waterways that flow walk that will run alongside city ing the former Northville decline by 3 percent, while other
As a 38-year veteran of the through the city - from Johnson waterways and serve as the last Psychiatric Hospital site into a communities are increasing
Northville Public Schools Creek at Fish Hatchery Park, connector to the statewide bike “beautiful Legacy Park.” He said rates. He also announced the
District, Gallagher welcomed her where brown trout are plentiful path system. He said the city is the township plans to finish the construction of second water
successor, RJ Webber, who will in the cold water, to the section of staying on the curve of environ- demolition of buildings at the site tower in the township and
start July 1 pending final contract the Middle Rouge River that is mental, social and economic this summer and create new thanked all involved with the
negotiations. The retiring super- slated to be daylighted as a com- issues. Many of the planned proj- pathways throughout the park for township for being part of the
intendent thanked her staff, the munity benefit of the Downs ects, he said, should come to light all to enjoy. A new township fire journey.
Northville Public Schools district names new superintendent

Members of the Northville interviewed for the position. and Associates, provided us with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history support him for the best interests
Board of Education have selected “This board has taken seriously very strong pool and we identified and English with a secondary of all. While we are sad to see Mary
Dr. R.J. (Ronald) Webber as the an intense amount of feedback the top-flight leaders through an teacher certification from Alma Kay Gallagher leave us this sum-
new district superintendent of from students, families, instruc- incredible investment of volunteer College, a master's degree in public mer, we are ecstatic to welcome Dr.
schools. tional and non-instructional staff, board time,” said board of educa- administration from University of Webber to our district,” Prescott
Board members voted unani- building leaders, and central tion President Sarah Prescott. Michigan, and an educational doc- said.
mously to offer an employment office. We are grateful for the many Webber is currently the assis- torate degree from Michigan State Contract negotiations are cur-
contract to Webber following final forms of feedback offered, often tant superintendent of academics University. rently under way and a tentative
candidate interviews April 12. with very detailed and heartfelt for Novi Community School “We believe in Dr. Webber and start date for Webber is July 1, dis-
Four candidates were initially messaging. Our search firm, Ray District in Novi. He holds a know our entire community will trict officials confirmed.