No. 29
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
July 19 – 25, 2018
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
A 25-year-old man from
Canton has been charged
with two felonies as a result
of a car in Wayne earlier this
month that killed another
driver.
See page 4.
A 37-year-old man sus-
pected of committing home
invasions in Northville
Township and other areas of
Western Wayne County has
been arrested and charged.
See page 5.
Vol. 133, No. 29
Vol. 71, No. 29
Vol. 71, No. 29
Vol. 18, No. 29
A 48-year-old Romulus
man was the victim of
repeated abuse while a
patient at the Community
Outreach for Psychiatric
Emergencies (COPE) in
Livonia.
See page 3.
Vol. 133, No. 29
Vol. 71, No. 29
Vol. 71, No. 29
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Officers for the 2018-2019
year were sworn into office
recently at the regular meet-
ing of the Westland Rotary
Club when annual service
awardswere also presented.
See page 4.
The fifth Annual Rally on
Ridge is planned for 5:30-9
p.m. Saturday, July 21 as a
benefit for the Canton
FarmersMarket.
See page 2.
Vol. 18, No. 16
Nothing says summer in
Inkster like the Summer
Music Festival which cele-
brated 20 years in the com-
munity July 7 and 8.
See page 3.
A public information-
gathering session regarding
Hilltop Golf Course in
Plymouth Township has
been set for 7 p.m. next
Thursday, July 26.
See page 5.
The nearly $3 million cost
for a pedestrian walkway
across I-94 at Belleville Road
will be funded with state
grants and the sale of munic-
ipal bonds.
See page 3.
Plymouth Township officials
approved a combined ballot
proposal for a public safety
millage during a special meet-
ing last Tuesday. If approved by
voters Nov. 6, the proposal will
impose a 1.2 mill tax levy for a
period of 18 years to fund the
police and fire departments in
the township. The millage
request is intended to cover
unfunded legacy payments and
aid critical public safety fund-
ing, officials said
Agreement to place the
question on the ballot prompt-
ed prolonged discussion
among board members, which
at times became heated. The
ballot initiative was approved
by a 5-2 vote, with Trustees
Jack Dempsey and Chuck
Curmi casting the dissenting
votes.
According to Township
Treasurer Mark Clinton, the
proposal was sparked by the
critical need to address the
rapidly aging fleet of fire trucks
and ambulance vehicles still in
use by the township fire
department. He noted that
recent changes in state law
mandate higher levels of fund-
ing and greater oversight on
municipal unfunded pension,
retirement and healthcare
obligations for police and fire
personnel, referred to as OPEB
(Other Post Employment
Benefits.)
Clinton said that after an in-
depth investigation, he deter-
mined that the new state legis-
lation leaves the township in a
perilous position. The treasur-
er told board members last
week that unless action is
taken, the general fund will be
unable to handle the legacy
costs and OPEB obligations
and will be exhausted in just
five years. He said that of the
current $14 million general
fund budget, $5 million is dedi-
cated for public safety salaries.
“We haven't prepared for
the future, that's why we're
here today,” Clinton said.
The township unfunded
pension liability stands at $9.5
million and the unfunded
OPEB liability at $16.3 million,
and is now classified as under-
funded according to state law.
If approved by voters Nov. 6, the proposal will
impose a 1.2 mill tax levy for a period of 18 years to
fund the police and fire departments in the township.
”
Plymouth Township to vote on millage
A 51-year-old man from
Monroe has been charged with
multiple felonies including
assault with intent to murder
after the stabbing of a 44-year-
old Northville Township
woman.
Christian Andrew Gardner
was arrested at about 3 a.m. July
13 following a nearly 5-hour
standoff with police officers
called to a condominium in the
19500 block of Northridge Drive
in Northville Township. Officers
were called to the home of the
victim at about 9:50 p.m. July 12
in response to a domestic inci-
dent. When officers arrived at
the scene they encountered a
woman outside the home bleed-
ing copiously from apparent
stab wounds and a man on the
balcony of the residence.
Officers said the woman had
visible stab wounds to her
abdomen and cuts to her hands
and fingers and as they
approached, the man shouted
obscenities at them and then
retreated inside the residence
and refused to come out.
According to police reports,
the responding officers had rea-
son to believe the suspect was
armed. Initial attempts to get the
suspect to come out of the resi-
dence were unsuccessful, police
said, and aid from the Michigan
State Police Emergency
Services Unit was requested.
The state unit responded to the
scene with additional personnel
including crisis negotiators.
The woman was taken to St.
MaryMercyHospital for surgery
as part of the treatment of her
injuries which were determined
to be non-life threatening. It is
alleged that Gardner stabbed
the victimmultiple times.
Just after 3 a.m. Gardner sur-
rendered to police officers with-
out further incident, according
to police reports. No shots were
firedduring the event.
According to reports from the
office of Wayne County
Prosecutor Kym Worthy,
Gardner and the woman were
acquainted.
Reportedly, the woman had a
personal protection order
See
Millage,
page 5
See
Standoff,
page 5
Kids’ Day
Farmers market
celebrates youth
Police
upgrades
in budget
Kid's Day at the Westland
Farmers and Artisans Market
July 12 was a hit with the
young - and the young at
heart.
“We've got books on this
side and that side,” called out
Irene Seguin, a Westland resi-
dent and Friends of the
Library trustee. She gave an
armload of free books to
Westland resident Folake,
who was out shopping with
her kids at the book tent.
“You've got beautiful kids,”
Seguin told Folake, as their
group moved away to explore
the market, which runs 3-7
p.m. each Thursday through
mid-October at the buildings
on Carlson south of Ford
Road, next toTattanPark.
Brookellen Swope, presi-
dent of theWestlandChamber
of Commerce, was happy to
talk about the volunteer-driv-
enWestlandBlues, Brews and
Barbeque festival, which will
take place Friday and
Saturday, Aug. 3-4, at Central
CityPark, 36601FordRoad.
“It's a great community
event and the residents like
it,” Swope said of Westland
Blues, Brews and Barbeque.
“It's an event wherewe're able
to give back.”
That's because groups like
the Jaycees, Rotary and oth-
ers who put in volunteer
hours working at the myriad
of jobs that need done to
ensure the smooth operation
in of the festival, like parking
help to event cleanup, get
checks back in return based
on volunteer hours put in.
Originally, Westland Blues,
Brews and Barbeque took
place in September. “Once
September hit, the kids were
back in school and families
got busier,” said Swope of the
switch to anAugust festival.
Back at the market's
Friends of the Library tent
July 12, several volunteers
from the William P. Faust
Public Library of Westland
group were making sure
youngminds stay engaged this
summer.
“Community outreach,”
said Lynne Hagmann of
Westland, Friends secretary.
Added Seguin, “We do want to
promote literacy. And kids
love it. This is time to read
and enjoy books. This is not
school.”
They were joined by Betty
Bennett of Westland, Friends
treasurer, and several other
library volunteers.
Jan DeWulf sells fresh produce during the July 12 Westland All-
American Farmers & Artisans Market.
Don Howard
Staff Writer
Julie Brown
Staff Writer
Standoff ends in suspect surrender
Christian Andrew Gardner
The recent budget approved
by members of the Westland
City Council included major
investments in the public safety
department.
Included in the budget was
funding for four police officers
previously funded through a
federal grant. Those salaries
will nowbe fully paid by the city.
The budget also allows for the
hiring of four new emergency
dispatchers. The cost for the
four employees will be shared
between the four communities
the dispatch center serves. The
additional positions will be
filled once background investi-
gations are completed, officials
said.
Westland will also purchase
three new police patrol vehicles
from North Brothers Ford as
replacements for existing, out-
dated patrol vehicles being used
by the department. The total
cost of the purchase is $97,166.
Also budgeted is the pur-
chase of 35 bullet proof vests
from On Duty Gear, LLC. The
city is committed to ensuring
every officer has new, depend-
able equipment, noted Mayor
William R. Wild.. These vests
are replaced every 5 years to
ensure the safety of officers.
The total cost of the purchase is
$27,650.
Purchase of radio equipment
from Motorola Solutions is also
included in the public safety cat-
egory of the city budget. New
portable radios will be carried
by officers. With this $54,043
purchase all officers will be pro-
vided with new radios, Wild
said.
In addition, body cameras
will be purchased for police offi-
cers, which the department
does not currently have. This
will enhance the safety of
Westland Police Officers as well
as Westland residents. The cost
for one year leasing agreement
is $99,418.32, according to infor-
mationprovidedbyWild's office.
“The City of Westland
remains committed to providing
our police with the tools and
resources they need to keep our
residents safe,” commented
Wild. “I thank theWestland City
Council for their support and for
their shared vision in the impor-
tance of funding for public safe-
ty personnel and equipment.”
