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A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
April 26, 2012
C
ANTON
- N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
Water rates are reduced
Postal carriers will collect food
Marching Band seeking musicians
Canton Township residents will soon
see a slight bit of relief at the pump.
Thewater pump, that is.
Residents will see a slight reduction in
the cost of water and sewer in the town-
ship, reflecting a 'true cost of service'
model enactedby the township in 2006.
"It's pretty much the same as we always
do it," said Township Supervisor Phil
LaJoy.
The new water rates, which go into
effect on May 1, will be $3.90 per thousand
gallons, a decrease of about 2.3 percent;
the new sewer rates will be about $6.23 per
thousand gallons, a 2.7 percent reduction.
The fixed cost will increase by 1.5 percent,
but residents will still see an overall reduc-
tion in their rates, saidLaJoy.
"It will result in a net decrease in the
average customer charges of about 2.3 per-
cent," he said.
Township residents are billed quarterly
for water and sewer; the changes could
save residents more than $5 per cycle,
depending onhowmuchwater they use.
The new rates reflect a reverse in a
trend that residents have seen since 2006.
The township put a hold on water and
sewer rates from 2003-2005 while a com-
prehensive study was completed to devel-
op the true cost of service model.
Beginning in 2006, residents saw a signifi-
cant increase in water rates in part to
make up the deficit incurred during that
time.
The new rates were introduced at a
forum in the beginning of March and com-
ments from residents provided to the
board at a subsequent study session. They
also include recommendations to provide
an auto-debit option for residents to pay
their bills, implement a more aggressive
voluntary irrigation restriction program in
2012 through increased communication
with residents-inwhich residents would be
encouraged to only water their lawn on
even or odd numbered days, depending on
which side of the street they lived on-and
consider making that restriction mandato-
ry next year. They will also engage a con-
sultant to performa cost benefit analysis of
storage reservoirs this year.
Mail carriers in Northville hope to pick
up a lot more than the usual letters and
cards along their routes nextmonth.
Abenefit organized by the post office car-
riers to aid Northville Civic Concern, a
group that provides food to the needy in the
community, has been planned for 10 a.m.
until 4 p.m. May 12 throughoutNorthville.
Residents are asked to leave a donation
of food or personal grooming products on
the porch or at their mailbox for the postal
carriers to pick up. Items can also be deliv-
ered to Northville Civic Concern in the
Highland Lakes Shopping Center, 43261
SevenMileRoad. The office is open from10
a.m. until 1 p.m. onMonday, Wednesday and
Friday.
Items most needed include canned meat
and tuna or stew, canned fruit, pork and
beans and chili, canned vegetables and
soups andpasta andpasta sauce.
There is also a need for rice, macaroni
and cheese, HamburgerHelper, peanut but-
ter and jelly, cereal condiments, coffee and
tea, cookies and crackers and lunch snacks.
Cleaning products, laundry detergent
and dish soap, diapers, especially sizes 3
and 4, paper products, women's personal
products, toothpaste and brushes, shampoo
and conditioner and deodorant are also
needed.
Food past the expiration dates cannot be
accepted or distributed to the less fortu-
nate.
For more information, call Northville
CivicConcern at (248) 344-1033.
The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band
(PCMB) is accepting new members to join
the ranks of marchers, color guard and per-
cussionists for the upcoming season.
Throughout the 2012 season, the high
school students will perform and compete
in various venues, including two trips to
Indianapolis, IN at Lucas Oil Stadium,
home of 2012 SuperBowl.
Current band members and staff will be
hosting informational meetings in the
upcoming months for students and parents
interested in finding out more about the
band program. The band meetings will take
place at 7 p.m. May 15 and June 5 in the
Plymouth High School band room (near the
big yellow semi-trailer). Interested students
only need to attend one of the remaining
meetings.
Current eighth graders and other incom-
ing student musicians interested in joining
the marching band are encouraged to
attend one of these informational meetings.
With a total school population of more than
6,000 students at the Plymouth-Canton
Educational Park, joining an activity or
sport like the Marching Band is highly
encouraged, a spokesperson said. The new
2012 Marching Band begins practicing in
May and continues through the summer
with camps and rehearsals. Incoming
freshmen who are band members start
their first day of school at the Park with
over 200 new friends, she added.
The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band is
recognized as one of the premier high
school bands in the country and the only
band in the entire nation comprised of stu-
dents from three separate high schools. All
participating members earn a varsity letter
at the conclusion of their first season. No
auditions; all students are accepted.
For
more
information,
visit
www.pcmb.net.
Batterrrrrrr up
It was a special opening day
for Canton Little League play-
ers last Saturday at Canton
Sports Center. Mother Nature
provided sunshine, but some
pretty chilling temperatures for
the aspiring athletes. Their
enthusiasm didn't seem dimin-
ished by the cold, however,
and every crack of the bat was
met with a smile.
Photos by Ken
Garner