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April 25, 2019 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

BELLEVILLE - ROMULUS

Officer of the Year named in Sumpter Township

Sumpter Township named “This year's winner exempli- 'people person' and is an import Service awards were presented to Ofc. Bart Devos and the
Sgt. Beth Egerer as the Police fies what dedication and service contributor to the success of the to Det. Sgt. John Toth, Egerer, Chief's Recognition awards went
Officer of the Year. to the community are all about,” department.” Ofc. Joseph Balowski and to Steffani, Gottschalk, Balowski
The recognition came March Luke said. Egerer received a certificate, Ofc.George Salajan, III; Life and Devos, who was honored
26 when township Director of “She performs her duties in a citation bar for her uniform Saving awards also went to twice.
Public Safety Police Chief Eric a diligent, respectful, and profes- shirt and her name will be Egerer, Steffani, Ofc. Colleen “We thank the above-listed
Luke made the announcement sional manner. Her community engraved on the Officer of the Gottschalk and Metropark Ofc. members, along with each and
prior to a study session of the engagement is second to none. Year plaque in the lobby of the Andy Mendrzycki; an Academic every other member of the
board of trustees. She's always quick with a smile police department. She was also Achievement award also went to department, for a job well done
Luke said Egerer made “sig- and her outgoing personality, presented with a desktop award. Toth; a Day Shift Patrol in 2018,” concluded Luke.
nificant contributions” to the complete with that laugh breaks Awards for Valor were pre- Productivity award also went to “Thank you for your continued
mission of the police depart- down many a barrier to con- sented to: Sgt. Brian Steffani Egerer while the Night Shift dedication and service to the
ment.. structive dialog. She's every bit a and Ofc. Bart Devos; Meritorious Patrol Productivity award went community.”
Eco-Fair is this Saturday

The fifth annual Eco-Fair in Romulus activities and door prizes.
will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Four groups will also host half-hour
this Saturday, April 27 at the Romulus informational presentations and ques-
Athletic Center, 35765 Northline Road. tion and answer sessions. Presentations
The free event - a celebration of are planned for 11 a.m. by the Citizens
Earth Day - is open to the public and Climate Lobby; 11:30 a.m. by Michigan
features exhibits, speakers and take- State University Extension Office; noon
aways for children and visitors of all by Old City Acres local farm and at 12:30
ages. RAC membership is not required p.m. by the Sierra Club. After each
to attend. speaker, door prizes will be awarded to
Eighteen local and regional environ- someone in the audience.
mentally-friendly organizations and ven- For more information about the
Visitors enjoy one of the presentations during the Romulus Eco-Fair last year. dors will participate. There will be free Romulus Eco-Fair, call (734) 634-3812.

Budget Going out and pitching a millage lion from the fund balance. ent portions of the budget before bit and this year we did again,”
took a lot of work. Thank God the
Moreno said, however, that cur-
it is approved next month. On
she said. “We try to keep it in
people came through and sup- rent projections have reduced April 8, talk centered around the line.”
FROM PAGE 1 ported it,” he said. “They really that to $2.4 million for the fiscal general fund, which included the Burcroff pointed out the
came through. But there's more year that ends June 30, 2019. That 34th District Court. Burcroff expense to the council, who will
health care and cause city tough decisions we have to make. means city staff has saved more pointed out that, although the ultimately make the decision on
employees to contribute more The millage wasn't a solve all. than $1 million through the last court projected flat revenues, the budget. The proposed increas-
money toward their own benefits. Public Act 152 was not a solve all. year. they had requested an increase in es-about $150,000 in salary and
Those efforts have already We have to continue to work hard- “Just because it's budgeted both salary and fringe benefit benefits, combined-come at a
helped, Moreno said. She estimat- er and smarter because of the doesn't mean you have to spend expenses for court employee. time when the city is trying to
ed that the general fund balance municipal finance model that's in it,” Burcroff said. “A lot of people Overall, he said. The court budget keep salary and benefits down.
will be at about $2.4 million at the place.” came up with creative ways to has increased by about $1 million He pointed out that there were
end of this year; had the millage He said city department heads still try to get the job done without since 2013, from $3.2 million to people in his office who hadn't
not been approved it would be have done a good job of keeping using those budget dollars. We're about $4.2 million last year. received a raise since he was
closer to $1.2 million. Going for- costs down. Those efforts have not overspending. We're under- Chief Judge Tina Brooks elected in 2013.
ward, those actions will help alle- reduced the impact on the gener- spending what's already budget- Greene said the salary increases “We have people who are not
viate the strain on the budget, but al fund balance already. Had the ed, and we need to continue to do were due to contractual obliga- happy. They've worked hard and
not eliminate it, according to city used all the funds allocated in that.” tions. done a good job and they deserve
Burcroff. the 2018/2019 budget, they would The city council will host a “For years we didn't raise the more money,” he said. “I'm telling
“These are tough decisions. have had to take about $3.5 mil- series of study session on differ- budget. Last year we did a little them no. That's not fun.”