A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
August 2, 2018
Buy Michigan festival set
Benefit concessions OK’d
N
ORTHVILLE
- P
LYMOUTH
A collaborative effort between
the Northville Downtown
Development Authority, and
Up2Go, is moving downtown
Northville forwardwith the addi-
tion of two electric vehicle charg-
ing stations.
The electric vehicle charging
stations are located behind 120
W. Main (the parking lot behind
Up2Go, next to Starring The
Gallery). The parking spots are
strictly for electric vehicles and
will be limited to three hours per
vehicle. The two, dual electric
vehicle charging stations are
equipped with Clipper Creek
(standard level 2) charging capa-
bilities, which allows any electric
vehicle to charge in downtown
Northville. Up2Go, a company
headquartered in Northville that
provides cloud-based enterprise
applications for global Tier-1
automotive suppliers was
responsible for project manage-
ment, equipment supply, installa-
tion, and will provide initial (18
months) funding of electricity for
the electric vehicle charging sta-
tions.
To help attract electric vehicle
owners to visit downtown
Northville, the stations will be
registered on popular charging
network sites such as
ChargeHub, PlugShare, and Plug
inAmerica.
“As an integral part of the
Up2Go purpose, we intend to
support our communities
through future oriented technol-
ogy,” saidManfred Schon, CEO of
Up2Go. “Working with the city
and the Northville Downtown
Development Authority to bring
electric charging stations to
downtown Northville aligns per-
fectlywith this plan.”
“We are excited to have part-
nered with Up2Go on the
Electric Charging stations in
downtown Northville,” said Lori
Ward, Northville Downtown
Development Authority director.
“Bringing electric vehicle
charging stations to Northville
has been an idea we have want-
ed to bring to fruition for a while
and we know that working with
Up2Go, will prove to be a highly
successful endeavor,” added
Ward.
The 10th Buy Michigan Now Festival
will take place in downtown Northville
Aug 3, 4 and 5.
The Buy Michigan Now Festival is a
weekend celebration of the state annual
Buy Michigan Week. This family-friendly
event includes street vendors, live music,
and children's activities, all highlighting
Michigan-based businesses and Michigan-
made products.
Festival hours are from 4-8 p.m. Friday,
Aug 3, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4,
and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday Aug. 5.
Admission andparking are free.
Main and Center streets are closed in
themiddle of downtown tomake it easy to
shop and dine, while enjoying live enter-
tainment fromMichiganperformers.
his former colleague at the Wayne
County Commission, in 2016. Mitchell
worked as an aide to Price at the county.
Price created the new $63,277 annual
salaried position exclusively for Mitchell
who was purported to have a Ph.D. in
Molecular Cytogenetics and other
impressive educational curriculumvitae.
The relationship between Mitchell
and Price and his immediate employ-
ment after Price took office in 2016 was
publically criticized by employees and
township residents as a patronage job
and political favor for Mitchell who
served as chairman of the 11th District
Republican Party and was a well-known
political party operative.
Mitchell, who is now a resident of
Rockford, Il, abandoned his position and
didnot report forworkwith the township
following the primary election in August
2016 in which Price was soundly defeat-
ed. Official records show Mitchell was
paid $16,476.95 after his departure for
the employment period from July 31
until Nov. 6, the date of his termination
letter. He was finally terminated after his
long absence.
It was reported Mitchell held two jobs
while under the employment of the town-
ship: one as director of parks and grants
and the other with an automotive supply
firm located in Mexico, where his wife
was working for an automotive manufac-
turer. District court officials signed off on
a search warrant for Mitchell after he
abandoned his job claiming probable
cause before searching his Livonia home
armed with affidavits to back their
requests. It was reported property
belonging to the township was seized at
the time of the raid.
Township Supervisor Kurt Heise said
that after the initial discovery of the
missing property in the spring of last
year township officials declined turning
over the investigation to the office of
Michigan State Attorney General Bill
Schuette, because of the state official’s
involvement with Price. Price was a for-
mer employee of the attorney general
and Schuette had conducted fundraisers
and provided political endorsements for
Price. Price worked for Schuette from
2011 until 2015. Price was currently
appointed to the five-member Board of
Directors of the Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority.
“When public officials use their jobs
to steal from taxpayers, their theft isn't
just measured in dollars-it is measured
by the damage caused by robbing the
public of honest government,” comment-
ed United States Attorney Matthew
Schneider .
Mitchell
FROM PAGE 1
The six collective bargaining units
representing employees of Plymouth
Township have agreed to changes in
dental, optical, life insurance, disability,
and other benefits saving the Township
about $59,000 per year, according to a
statement from Township Supervisor
KurtHeise.
“I want to thank our hardworking
public safety, clerical, and public works
staff for agreeing to these changes,” said
Heise.
“The new benefit plan will save tax-
payers thousands of dollars going for-
ward while providing as good or better
benefit packages for our employees.”
“It truly is a win-win for the township,
and underscores the culture change
we've been working to create over the
past year and a half,” Heise added.
“This kind of labor-management harmo-
ny and cooperation would have been
unheard of in the past.”
“Our employees knowwe are in a dif-
ficult financial situation and they are
willing tohelp,” he added.
The benefit changes will also apply to
non-union townshippersonnel.
Earlier this year, the township board
of trustees hired Corporate Benefit
Solutions from Troy to administer the
various benefit packages provided to
employees.
Moving forward, Heise said, the town-
ship and Corporate Benefit Solutions
will be working to improve healthcare
and retirement benefits, where more
savings are anticipated.
We are excited to have partnered
with Up2Go on the Electric Charging
stations in downtown Northville.
”
Northville installs electric vehicle chargers
