Page 1 - eagle042723

April 27 – May 3, 2023 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 17 www .associatednewspapers.net

Local psychiatric hospitals to be replaced by state

A new $325 million state MDHHS to continue providing
Vol. 138, No. 17 inpatient psychiatric hospital quality, compassionate care to
The Belleville will be constructed at the cur- both children and adults. The
Community Chorus will rent site of the Hawthorn Center consolidation of two of our cur-
present the 16th annual on Haggerty Road in Northville. rent hospitals will also allow for
spring concert Life's Musical Funding for the new behav- efficiencies in administrative
Sound Stage: Melodies, ioral health building was and support services while
Meanderings, Memories on approved in the fiscal year 2023 maintaining separate living and
Sunday, May 7. state budget, according to treatment facilities for adults
See page 5. Elizabeth Hertel, Michigan and children.”
Department of Health and “Mental health, especially for
Human Services (MDHHS) children, is an urgent need in
director. The facility will provide our region,” said Mark Abbo,
care for patients currently being Northville Township supervisor.
served at both Hawthorn Center “We are pleased to have the
Vol. 76, No. 17 and Walter P. Reuther opportunity to work with the
There is a special birth- Psychiatric Hospital in State of Michigan to develop a
day celebration taking place Westland. state-of-the-art facility to help Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the planned construction of a
in Canton Township as the The two facilities serve near- those in our region in need get $325 million psychiatric hospital to replace the Hawthorn Center in
Michigan Shakespeare ly 200 patients and are among the highest possible mental Northville and Walter P. Reuther Hospital in Westland.
Festival honors the 459th the five state inpatient psychi- health care.” eager to exercise their skills to for long-term strategic invest-
anniversary of the bard him- atric hospitals for individuals During construction of the ensure that the new psychiatric ments,” said State Budget
self. who have severe mental illness new facility in Northville, staff facility is completed on time and Director Christopher Harkins.
See page 2.
or intellectual and developmen- and patients currently being on budget and is a top-notch “We are thoughtfully and delib-
tal disabilities. Hawthorn cared for at Hawthorn Center facility that meets the needs of erately building the new facility
Center opened in 1956, while will be moved to a separate unit both the patients and staff.” on the current Hawthorn Center
Walter Reuther began opera- at Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric While the new psychiatric site, which is a convenient loca-
tions in 1979, and both have Hospital to allow for the demoli- complex will serve all ages, the tion for staff and patient fami-
aging infrastructure which tion of the current Hawthorn hospitals will be distinct facili- lies, and sustains a relationship
Vol. 76, No. 17
needs replacement, officials facility. ties with separate living and pro- with the community of
Inkster police are still said. “DTMB is proud to be a part grammatic spaces for children Northville, which has long been
seeking a man with a leg cast “We are excited to be able to of this effort to improve the lives and adults. The complex, how- a partner to the State of
who limped away from a provide Michigan families in of Michiganders most in need of ever, will include shared admin- Michigan. This project will pro-
road rage infused shooting need of inpatient, behavioral care,” said Michelle Lange, istration and food service, offi- vide benefits for years into the
last week in Inkster. health care a new state-of-the- director of the Michigan cials said. future.”
See page 6. art hospital in southeastern Technology, Management and “The new facility is a perfect Construction is expected to
Michigan,” said Hertel. “The Budget department. “Our team example of how the state is begin this fall and anticipated
modern facility will allow of construction experts are leveraging one-time resources completion is in 2026.

Vol. 23, No. 17
Efforts to improve street
and sidewalk safety for
pedestrians, bicyclists and
vehicles in downtown
Northville may include
adjustments to traffic rules.
See page 5.

Vol. 23, No. 17
The prestigious financial
agency Moody's Investors Safety lessons
Service recently awarded
Plymouth- Canton Firefighters from the Northville and
Community Schools one of Plymouth Fire Department along with
the highest ratings available. Plymouth Township Professional
See page 3. Firefighters and crews from Salem,
Novi, Metro Airport and Van Buren
Township came together to put on a
display of skills last week as they sim-
ulated real-life fire emergencies. The
former office building at Maybury State
Vol. 138, No. 17 Park which was scheduled for razing,
was donated to the local fire depart-
The deputy city clerk in ments for use in the mock burn. The
Romulus, was recently departments worked in tangent to put
awarded the Michigan out the fires and rescue the "victims."
Professional Municipal The event was also a training opportu-
Clerk designation by the nity to learn about fire safety and pre-
Michigan Association of vention, organizers said.
Municipal Clerks. Photos by Terry Jacoby
See page 6.
Increase in local property values reported by Wayne County

Equalized property tax val- ” owner pays in taxes.
Vol. 76, No. 17 ues in Wayne County are contin- The report indicated that Taxable value of county
Emily Lemus, a Wayne uing to rise, with values up 9.85 property is now at roughly 98
Memorial High School sen- percent over 2022, according to increases were unevenly distributed. percent of the historic level
ior, has been named as a win- a study performed for county recorded in 2007, the last year
ner of a $40,000 Amazon officials said. Communities before the Great Recession,
Future Engineer including Northville, Plymouth by the Department of on July property tax bills, based according to the report.
Scholarship recipient. and Plymouth Township have Management and Budget and is on taxable value of their homes. Assessed value of county prop-
See page 6. experienced sizable gains considered the first post-COVID The increase is the maxi- erty is now at 109 percent of the
according to the report. county equalization report. mum allowed under Proposal 2007 level.
Equalized values represent “There was a feeling that A, which sets Michigan property The report indicated that
those submitted by all 43 county there would be a deep dive in tax policy. Without the cap pro- increases were unevenly dis-
communities. values as a result of COVID, but vided by Proposal A, the tributed throughout county
Vol. 76, No. 17 The equalized value in that didn't happen,” commission increase would have been 7.9 communities.
Earth Day was celebrated Wayne County is now $72.3 tril- Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) percent based on the inflation The report noted that while
in Westland with awards and lion, an increase of just under said. “This report is good news, rate, officials said. some area communities saw
recognition of earth-friendly $6.5 trillion, officials said but it also indicates that there Taxable value represents increases, inner-ring communi-
projects and initiatives dur- County commissioners are issues that remain.” one-half of the assessed value of ties such as Ecorse, Harper
ing a program at Wildwood received the report last week, The report indicated that the property and is multiplied Woods, Highland Park and
Elementary School. during their annual equaliza- average county homeowners against millage rates to deter- River Rouge are listed among
See page 6. tion meeting. It was presented will see an increase of 5 percent mine how much a property those with declining values.

To receive The Eagle in your mailbox email circulation@journalgroup.com.