A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
July 19, 2018
Fore?
Fate of Hilltop Golf Course to be discussed
N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
A 37-year-old man from Lima,
Ohio was arrested on Saturday,
July 7 in Farmington Hills by a
multijurisdictional team of
police officers.
The man is suspected of com-
mitting home invasions in
Northville Township and other
areas of Western Wayne County,
South Oakland County and
WashtenawCounty.
Northville Township Police
initiated a comprehensive inves-
tigation involving this suspect on
June 15, when exterior home sur-
veillance video captured a male
figure wearing dark clothing, a
ski mask and gloves trying to gain
entry into homes in the overnight
hours, usually between midnight
and 5 a.m.
The Northville Township
Crime Data Analyst reviewed the
incidents and together with
police officers executed an
actionplan including time specif-
ic increased patrols in targeted
neighborhoods with high-visibili-
ty. During this time, officers dis-
covered unlocked cars and open
garage doors. Officers were able
to speak with residents and see
that their homes and vehicles
were secured.
The
Western
Wayne
Community Response Team, a
multijurisdictional group of
police officers from area depart-
ments including Northville
Township, assisted in the devel-
opment of a suspect and his
arrest when members of the
team observed the suspect
attempting to enter homes.
Police officers from the South
Oakland Narcotics Intelligence
Consortium, Farmington Hills
Police, MichiganStatePolice and
a West Bloomfield Police
Department K9 team assisted in
the apprehension of the suspect
and the followup investigation.
The suspect is currently in
custody at the Oakland County
Jail charged with home invasion-
stemming from the Farmington
Hills incidents.
Detectives from Northville
Township interviewed the sus-
pect while he was in custody at
FarmingtonHills Police.
The evidence and circum-
stances of the Northville
Township investigation have
been submitted to the office of
the Wayne County Prosecutor
where a determination of
charges will be made on the
NorthvilleTownship crimes.
The suspect is currently in custody at the Oakland
County Jail charged with home invasionstemming
from the Farmington Hills incidents.
”
Suspect arrested in attempted home invasions
Clinton estimated replacement of town-
ship fire apparatus could cost $4.8 mil-
lion in the next 18 years.
Last year a state authorized task
force found a collective $7.46 billion in
unfunded pension liabilities and $10.13
billion in unfunded health care liabili-
ties hidden in local governmental
finances according to an official report
published July 2017.
Clinton told board members last
week, “We're not (currently) addressing
the unfunded liability issues for OPEB,
we're simply paying the bills as we
receive them…This (millage) will give us
enough opening capital to pay those
bills.”
Clinton said the millage, “as a bare
minimum” would provide the funds nec-
essary to make the required annual pay-
ments. He reported that $17 million
would be required during the next 18
years to adjust the public-safety staffing
levels at an anticipated 2-percent annual
rate of inflation. He told board members
if the township were to pay off the entire
OPEB obligation, the millage would
have to be close to 3 mills for 9 years.
The millage will yield $2.1 million annu-
ally at the current taxable value of prop-
erty in the township.
Dempsey said he supports the meas-
ures to pay pension and healthcare obli-
gations along with the procurement and
maintenance of police and fire equip-
ment but objected to the verbiage deal-
ing with salary adjustments for public
safety services.
Curmi adamantly opposed moving
forward on the entire proposal while
pushing for further study and discussion
claiming it wasn't “well planned and
worked out.”
“You guys love to make it look like
we're going broke,” he said during the
discussion.
“We need to have some agreement
with all employees-we have other
employees we have OPEB for…this per-
meates the 125-year-old fire model
which is obsolete today-it's 75 percent
medical-it doesn't address what to do
withHVA (HuronValleyAmbulance)”
Curmi's comment referred to the
recent approval of a board resolution
seeking bids for contract ambulance
services and the consideration of in-
house fire department hospital trans-
port. HVA, a huge enterprise, has oper-
ated in the township for decades without
any contractual performance obligation
and has been the frequent subject of crit-
icism for long response times and
unavailability of ambulances. The town-
ship has allowed HVA, a non-profit cor-
poration, to invoice residents and
patients for EMS transport services and
retain the revenue since 1991 when the
deal was approved by former Township
SupervisorMauriceBreen.
Township officials plan to file the fol-
lowing language for a ballot referendum
with Wayne County by the July 31 dead-
line.
“Shall the Charter Township of
Plymouth impose an increase of 1.2mills
($1.20 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the
charter township tax levy limitation
imposed underMCL 42.27 for a period of
18 years, 2018 through 2035 inclusive,
with the revenues to be used only for: 1)
paying pension, retirement, and health-
care obligations for public safety person-
nel; 2) obtaining, maintaining, and
improving fire and police equipment
and facilities; and 3) providing police,
fire, and dispatch public safety services,
thereby raising in the fire year
$2,100,000.”
against Gardner and had moved to
Northville following the breakup of their
relationship.
Gardner has been charged with three
counts of assault with intent to murder,
felonious assault, resisting and obstructing
the police, and domestic violence second
offense and as ahabitual offender.
Gardner was arraigned on the felony
charges by Judge James Plakas at the 35th
District Court on July 13. His bond was set
at $1 million/no 10 percent and should he
be released on bail, he must wear an alco-
hol tether. Gardner's next court appear-
ance is scheduled for July 27, at the 35th
District Court for a probable cause confer-
ence.
Gardner was unable to pay the bond
and is currently lodged at the Wayne
County Jail.
In a prepared statement, representa-
tives from the Northville Township Police
Department thanked local and state part-
ners from the Michigan State Police, City
of Northville PoliceDepartment as well as
the City of Plymouth and Plymouth
Township Police departments for their
assistance in the resolution of this inci-
dent.
Millage
FROM PAGE 1
Standoff
FROM PAGE 1
A public information-gathering session
regarding Hilltop Golf Course in
Plymouth Township has been set for 7
p.m. next Thursday, July 26 at the Four-
Seasons Pavilion at TownshipPark.
The session will be moderated by Paul
Albanese, a partner at Albanese &Lutzke,
a Plymouth-based golf course design and
planning company acting as the planning
consultants for the township regarding the
golf course.
Albanese and township officials are
encouraging residents and users of
Hilltop Golf Course to share their
thoughts on the design, use, and potential
integration of other non-golf features at
Hilltop. Various ideas and concepts on the
future design and appearance of Hilltop
Golf Course will be reviewed and dis-
cussed, according to Plymouth Township
SupervisorKurtHeise.
“Paul (Albanese) is a great resource for
Plymouth Township and brings a lifetime
of experience in designing golf courses
that are challenging and profitable,”
Heise said. “Hiring Paul's firmwas one of
the recommendations of our all-volunteer
Golf Course Study Committee which the
township formed earlier this year.”
“An added benefit to retaining Paul's
firm is that he and his staff, in addition to
golf design experience, have experience
in the design of non-golf landscapes as
well, Heise added.
Albanese's firm was hired by the town-
ship board of trustees on June 12 under a
$14,000 professional consulting contract.
He is expected to present a master plan
for the course to the board members in
September.
Residents with questions, comments,
or suggestions on the future of HilltopGolf
Course can call Heise at (734) 354-3201 or
email him at supervisor@plymouth
twp.org.
The session
will be moderated by
Paul Albanese, a partner
at Albanese & Lutzke...
”
