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No. 29
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
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July 17 – 23, 2014
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
David James, a Realtor, is
the newest member of the
Wayne City Council, appoint-
ed to fill the vacancy created
when James Henley
resigned lastmonth.
See page 2.
Macee Logerstedt a 2013
Romulus High School gradu-
ate, inspired by her brother
Warren, organized a special
prom at her brother's school
inWayne
See page 7.
The former Pursell
StationPost Office located at
885 Penniman Ave. has
moved a few doors away to
the corner of Harvey and
Penniman to a remodeled
building.
See page 4.
Former Canton resident
M.D. Taverner is launching
her novel, Willow Bend: A
Mara Hiddenbridge Mystery
with a book signing at The
Next Chapter bookstore in
Northville.
See page 7.
The Belleville Area
Council for the Arts will host
the Fourth Annual ArtAffair
on Main, Saturday, July 26
andSunday, July 27.
See page 6.
Vol. 129, No. 29
Vol. 67, No. 29
Vol. 67, No. 29
Vol. 14, No. 29
Vol. 129, No. 29
Vol. 67, No. 29
Vol. 67, No. 29
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
The City of Westland
swore in two new police offi-
cers and promoted six veter-
an officers at a regular city
council meeting earlier this
month.
See page 3.
Canton Leisure Services
and the National Recreation
and Park Association are
challenging residents to get
outdoors this summer.
See page 5.
Vol. 14, No. 29
Representatives from the
Senior Brigade will discuss
online safety at a meeting
July 21 at the Inkster Public
Library.
See page 6.
Following months of contro-
versy, Inkster Police Chief
Hilton Napoleon submitted his
resignation to City Manager
RichardMarsh last Thursday.
In the written resignation,
Napoleon cited “extreme work-
ing conditions” and went on to
say, “The lack of resources and
adverse working conditions has
(sic) taken its toll onme.”
Napoleon's resignation, effec-
tive last Friday, July 11, followed
an extensive audit of the police
department
by
Risk
Management Associates which
strongly suggested his replace-
ment. In a detailed, 44-page
analysis submitted to the city
last month, Napoleon's leader-
ship was questioned along with
the appearance of “cronyism”
between he and Mayor Hilliard
Hampton. Hampton personally
recruited and hired Napoleon,
a formerDetroit officer.
In that detailed audit of the
department, Napoleon's leader-
ship is characterized as ineffec-
tive and nonexistent and the
department described as “lead-
erless.”
Napoleon's 3 ½ years as chief
have been marked with contro-
versy. Twice members of both
unions which represent the offi-
cers in the city have taken votes
of “no confidence” in his leader-
ship and management style. His
handling of arrests and a
hostage situation, along with
Judge Brian Sullivan of the
Wayne County Circuit Court
cautioned attorneys from
Plymouth Township last week
that the municipality must
comply with the stipulations of
a consent judgment allowing
the construction of LA Fitness
onAnnArborRoad.
The judge granted the
request of attorney Timothy S.
Wilhelm for a 21-day period to
obtain the necessary permits
and agreements to allow the
construction.
Sullivan made it clear dur-
ing the hearing that the con-
sent agreement between
Plymouth/Haggerty Associates,
LLC, the owner of Plymouth
Towne Center on Ann Arbor
Road west of Haggerty Road
and the township is “operable”
and the objections and argu-
ments against the construction
of an LA Fitness were without
merit.
The only objection to the
plan Wilhelm could offer was
that the LA Fitness is now on
the corner of the complex
rather than in the center.
Sullivan said the agree-
ment, originally signed 11
years ago and revised repeat-
edly to meet ongoing demands
of the township, required the
plan for the fitness facility be
“consistent” not “identical.”
The developer is also asking
the court for $107,000 in pro-
fessional fees and $14,000 paid
to the township for “profes-
sional review and copying
charges.”
Voters in the City of Wayne
will face two millage questions
on theNovember ballot.
Members of the city council
approved the ballot language
earlier this month asking vot-
ers for a 1-mill tax for five years
dedicated to funding public
safety services in the city.
The millage will be request-
ed as a renewal of an existing
tax on the ballotNov. 4.
The language will now go to
the Michigan Attorney General
for approval as required by the
city charter. The dedicated
millagewas approved by voters
in 2010, however, the funding
was not added to the police
and fire budget in the city but
used to keep the budgets for
the two departments at exist-
ing levels.
City Manager Joseph
Merucci said that the ballot
language for the millage could
only be considered a renewal
by amending the city charter to
allow for a 10-year levy.
Councilwoman Susan Rowe
was adamant that the millage
be dedicated to police and fire
budgets.
“I want to make sure this
millage is used for police and
fire plus what is already allo-
cated in the general fund,” she
said at themeeting.
In addition to the 1-mill
renewal for an additional five
years, voters will again be
asked to approve 5-mills for
five years to pay police and fire
retirement costs, which are
now a liability of the general
fund in the city.
The city budget, adopted
with a projected $1.48 million
deficit, is still facing reductions
in spending by council mem-
bers.
Voters rejected the police
and fire retirement millage
request inNovember of 2013.
”
The City of Inkster does not
have the ability to adequately
protect its citizens
from crime and violence.
The reconstruction of Goddard Road
from Wayne Road to the CSX Railroad
tracks east of Shook is off to a fast start.
Romulus officials saidmotorists are com-
plying with a one-way travel detour on east-
bound Goddard - and that it's business as
usual in the downtown section of the city.
This is “phase two” of the construction on
Goddard, which will continue through Nov.
15. Phase one in 2012 saw the reconstruction
from Huron River Drive at Five Points to
Romaine. In 2015, the Goddard reconstruc-
tion is scheduled for completion from
Romaine to the railroad tracks, including
the downtown area.
“Our goal is to repair the roadwhile caus-
ing the least disruption to residents and
businesses in the area,” said Mayor LeRoy
D. Burcroff. “This year's project is off to a
great start.”
The Goddard reconstruction is a $5 mil-
lion project, with federal aid picking up 80
percent of the cost. Pamar Enterprises is the
contractor on the project. OHM Advisors is
the project engineer.
Construction on phase two began July 8
with the removal of 10 to 14 inches of pave-
ment on the eastern half of Goddard. New
road cross section will include an all-new
aggregate base and eight inches of asphalt
pavement.
While the eastbound lane is closed, the
westbound lane remains open to traffic.
When the eastbound lane work is complete,
construction on the westbound lane will
begin. At that point, westbound traffic will
switch to the eastbound lane, keeping a lane
open to westbound traffic throughout the
entire project. Traffic-control signs are post-
ed throughout the construction zone.
“The contractor mobilized on site and
began the removal of pavement in an expe-
ditious fashion,” said Department of Public
Works Director Roberto Scappaticci.
“Motorists have acclimated to the construc-
tion barrels and the detour and traffic is
moving smoothly.”
Key to the project's success is communi-
cation with the public. Even before work
began, Burcroff, Public Services Director
Robert McCraight and Scappaticci went
door to door to explain the project to resi-
dents and business people along Goddard
Road and to discuss their concerns.
A public information meeting took place
July 10 for business owners and residents in
the district, where project details, traffic
detours and plan specifications were com-
municated. A website - www.romuluspro-
jects.com - has been set up to provide week-
ly updates on the project status. Information
also is shared on the city website
www.romulusgov.com and Facebook page
www.facebook.com/cityofromulus.
“A high priority of my administration is to
communicate effectively with those affected
throughout the project,” Burcroff said. “We
started early and intend to provide informa-
tion on the website, through notification let-
Construction along Goddard Road in Romulus is already under way and will continue
through the summer. City officials said the $5 million project is proceeding smoothly.
See
Audit,
page 6
See
Road,
page 7
Hilton Napoleon
Audit may have prompted chief ’s resignation
Road work under way in Romulus
Township has 21 days to comply with order
Wayne to ask voters to OK 2 millage requests
See
Millage,
page 2
Artist rendering of the new LA Fitness proposed in Plymouth.