A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
August 13, 2015
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
School district to ask voters for .5 mill
New DTE solar panel project now under way
Utility company warns of scam
Polish Muslims play tonight
Voters in the Van Buren
Public Schools will be asked to
approve a sinking fund millage
of one-half a mill on the Nov. 3
ballot.
The half mill is a reduction
from the1.13 mills currently
being paid by property owners
in the district. A renewal of that
sinking fund amount was reject-
ed by voters in a May election. If
approved, the one-half mill
would be in effect for seven
years, ending in 2022.
Members of the board of edu-
cation unanimously approved
the newrequest amount at a reg-
ular meeting earlier this month.
A survey of voters indicated that
voters rejected the May request
as they felt taxes are too high,
regardless of the purpose, and
that members of the community
believe school facilities are in
good condition and themoney is
not needed.
Superintendent of Schools
Michael Van Tassel compiled a
54-page report regarding the
survey which he sharedwith the
boardmembers.
Van Tassel recommended
putting the half mill on the bal-
lot or not to go for a ballot ques-
tion at all.
Without a millage from vot-
ers, the district would be forced
to use $500,000 a year for three
to five years for maintenance of
district buildings. With a half
mill, as proposed, the district
would realize about $753,255
annually in sinking fund tax rev-
enue.
Van Tassel said that with the
proposed 6.5 public safety mill-
age question on the ballot from
Van Buren Township would
drawnegative voters to the polls.
The district will now form a
committee to help provide infor-
mation to the public regarding
the new millage request that
will be on the ballot, according
toVanTassel.
It will take until the end of the
year to complete the installation
of 2,700 solar panels at a new
DTE project on Citrin Drive in
Romulus.
The new project, near Metro
Airport, is on a parcel of land
owned by Morton Terminal Land
Holdings near I-94 and
Middlebelt Road. The solar pan-
els, when installed, will generate
enough energy, about 750 kilo-
watts, to power 125 homes,
according to a prepared state-
ment from DTE. The solar proj-
ect will be maintained and oper-
ated by DTE for 20 years accord-
ing to the statement.
“DTE Energy continues to
explore large-scale solar energy
projects as a cost-effective way to
add solar energy to Michigan's
generation mix,” said Irene
Dimitry, vice-president of busi-
ness and development at DTE.
She added that the solar power
will help the company provide;
cleaner, affordable energy to the
customerswe serve.”
Currently, less than 1 percent
of renewable energy fromDTE is
produced by solar panels, but
Dimitry said the company hopes
to increase that amount. About 95
percent of the renewable energy
DTE produces comes from wind
turbines. The company is
required by a 2008 state law to
generate 10 percent of all power
fromrenewable sources.
In Michigan, half the power
produced comes from coal, a sta-
tistic state officials are attempt-
ing to reduce due to the signifi-
cant greenhouse gas emissions
fromcoal-fueledpower plants.
DTE has announced planes to
retire a third of its coal produced
energy by 2025. The company did
not reveal the cost of the new
Romulus solar project. DTE has
installed solar energy at 22 sites
including projects at Ford Motor
Co. headquarters in Dearborn
andMonroeCommunityCollege.
The Belleville Area Chamber of
Commerce joined DTE in issuing a warn-
ing about a phone scam attempt in the
area.
A chamber spokesperson noted that a
local business owner nearly fell prey to
the new telephone scam and wanted to
warn others in the community. According
to DTE, imposters are phoning utility cus-
tomers, usually small to medium-sized
businesses, and threatening to shut off the
power unless the business owner obtains
and immediately pays the service bill.
The callers demand to be paid using a
GreenDot or other prepaiddebit card.
DTE said a number of their customers
have been victimized by the scam which
has often targeted restaurants. Once the
business owner provides the number on
the debit card to the caller, the electronic
funds are transferred to other debit cards,
all of which are untraceable. The
spokesperson said that all customers
should be aware that DTE does not:
endorse or require a prepaid debit card
for payment; impose unrealistic dead-
lines for payment nor threaten to shut-off
power within a period of hours; collect
payment at customers' homes or business-
es or ask for Social Security numbers,
bank account or credit card information
by phone
Customers uncertain about a person
calling claiming to be from DTE should
call (800) 477-4747 to confirm the status of
their account. Anyone suspecting fraud
should contact your local police immedi-
ately.
The Polish Muslims will bring their
talent to the Belleville Area Council for
the Arts Music Lakeside's second to last
concert at 7 tonight.
The Polish Muslims play a combina-
tion of favorite styles of music; alterna-
tive, garage rock, polka, 60s pop, all with
a tongue in cheek sense of humor.
Their original release "That's Why
God Invented the Polka" launched the
band into national cult stardom as they
played to sold out concerts and outdoor
shows, as well as live television and
radio broadcasts. The Polish Muslims
have been widely recognized by fans
and critics alike and have been award-
ed the Detroit Music Award distin-
guishedLifetimeAchievement Award.
Audiences need to bring a lawn chair
or blanket to Horizon Park in Belleville
for the concert tonight. Organizers sug-
gest arriving early to find a good spot.
The Twisted Rooster will be on hand
with dinner choices and Time 2 Chill
will have gelato for sale.
All concerts take place rain or shine.
In case of rain, concerts are moved to
The Belleville United Methodist
Church across from the park on Roys
Street at Charles.
For more information about the
Music Lakeside series or any of the
other Belleville Area Council for the
Arts upcoming events, visit bacaart.org.
