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PAGE 2 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN August 10, 2023

ROMULUS - SUMPTER
ROMULUS - SUMPTER

Pond closure is topic of public hearing tonight

Members of the Sumpter Township the swim buoys should be removed “so
Board of Trustees have scheduled a pub- that we're not encouraging it.”
lic hearing tonight in an effort to deter- Trustee Matt Oddy explained that his
mine whether swimming at Sherwood concern in suggesting the pond be closed
Pond at Banotai Park will be prohibited. was the increase in reported drownings
Following an extensive discussion of in municipal recreational facilities near
the proposed ban on swimming at the the township. “My concern is for us to
pond during the July 25 meeting, trustees learn from what's happening around us,”
said they wanted to hear the opinions Oddy said. He reminded the board mem-
and ideas of township residents regard- bers that the pond is not engineered as is
ing the pond. Signage at the pond cur- required for any new pond installation to
rently warns residents that they are ensure that depths and slopes allow
swimming at their own risk and there is swimmers a means of leaving the water
no lifeguard on duty. in case of an emergency. Oddy suggested
Treasurer Bart Patterson opened the the township pond was not in compli-
discussion of the issue during the study ance with the current pond ordinance in
session prior to the meeting. He said he the township.
had discussions with several people Following a comment by Trustee
about prohibiting swimming at the pond. Peggy Morgan that closing the pond Sherwood Pond
He told the board members he has a con- would be “a tragedy,” and that there had
cern about going immediately from been no incidents during her time on the and build a splash pad right off Sumpter bility for public safety and financial dam-
allowing swimming to prohibiting it. board, Trustee Don LaPorte explained Road at Graham Park,” he said. age to the township, Morgan responded
“My concern is if we say it is prohibit- that he has seen tragedy at the pond first- LaPorte said he had called Van Buren that “lawsuits should have no bearing on
ed now, then we have to enforce that. I'm hand during his 17 years with the fire Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara opening or closing the pond.”
envisioning people getting police called department, several times while Morgan in an effort to determine the cost of a Oddy corrected what he said was
on them and handing out citations for was on the board. splash pad. He said he was informed the Morgan's inference that the board mem-
swimming in a pond that there has “Some of the worst calls I've been on Van Buren amenity cost $1.5 million. “It bers were “doing something wrong.”
always been swimming at,” he said. have been at that park with little chil- is always packed,” LaPorte added. “It is “We are trying to protect the public
Patterson said he understood that the dren near drowning. I've driven ambu- very heavily used.” and the township,” he said. “I brought
water was not being tested for bacteria lances to the hospital with police escorts “I don't know why you are going to the this up because we had three people
and contamination and might pose a trying to save their lives,” he said. “There extreme of closing the pond and not drown within 20 miles of our borders.
health hazard, but an alternative to ban- have been some really serious accidents allowing people to swim. They know they That's my concern. We're seeing the
ning swimming might be increased sig- out there that I'm sure nobody ever swim at their own risk and people with recipe for disaster,” Oddy said.
nage including a notification that the intended to happen. I personally would little children should be responsible for The board members scheduled the
water was not being tested for safety. He like to see us take some of that ARPA them,” she said. In response to board public hearing on the issue for tonight at
added that if swimming is to be banned, (American Recovery Plan Act) money members' expressed concerns about lia- township hall.
Suspects in airport hotel shooting sought by police

Romulus police continue to investigate hotel to purchase a large number of cell hotel lobby where the injured man col- black tennis shoes, witnesses told officers
a shooting at the Marriott Hotel July 29 phones. The potential buyers arranged to lapsed. The two attackers fled the scene, and a second black man, also with short
which left one man in critical condition. meet the sellers in a room at the hotel and witnesses said. Hotel staff members black hair and in his early 20s. He was last
According to police reports, officers once inside the room, the two "sellers" pro- attempted to provide medical aid to the seen wearing a blue, long-sleeved sweat-
were called to the Metro Airport hotel in duced handguns in what the witness told injured man until police arrived. shirt, jeans with two small tears in the
the 30500 block of Flynn Street at 3:47 p.m. police was an apparent robbery attempt. The victim was transported to a right knee and a large tear in the left knee
following multiple 911 calls reporting a Both the Delaware men claimed they Dearborn hospital where his condition area. He wore black and white tennis
shooting. When officers arrived at the attempted to disarm the assailants. remained critical. shoes, a purple/blue baseball hat and was
scene, they found the wounded man and During the struggle, one man suffered a The suspects are described as a black carrying a black backpack, witnesses said.
called for emergency medical response. severe gunshot wound while the other was man with short black hair in his early 20s. Anyone with any information about the
According to reports, two men from successful in disarming his attacker. The He was wearing a black Adidas zip-up incident is asked to call the Romulus
Delaware had arranged to meet at the Delaware men made their way to the hoodie, blue/purple Nike sweatpants and Police Department at (734) 941-8400.
Cemetery committee is named

Members of the Sumpter Township Jared Belingham, a township resident.
Board of Trustees unanimously Armatis also presented a report to the
approved four new members of the board on recent progress at the cemetery
cemetery commission during the July 25 including the purchase of flag holders for
meeting. the graves of veterans for flags the town-
Named to the commission charged ship had already purchased. She said the
with overseeing the repairs and renova- township had recently sent in an applica-
tion of the historic Martinsville Cemetery tion to the state to have a historic marker
in the township were Township Manager installed at the cemetery but that
Anthony Burdick, Finance Director Scott approval process would take 10 to 12
Holtz, Deputy Clerk Karen Armatis and months.

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