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August 18 – 24, 2022 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 32 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE City of Wayne to request 8-mill tax hike
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE

Vol. 137, No. 32 Perhaps the third time will no votes on placing the millage
The man accused of a be a charm for City of Wayne ” question on the ballot again.
quadruple homicide in officials who approved a Voters have twice rejected the request Wagner said he understood the
Sumpter Township has been request for an additional 8-mill to approve an additional 5-year, 8-mill levy. necessity for the ballot ques-
found dead in his cell at the levy on the upcoming tion, but that he had "a prob-
Wayne County Jail. November ballot. lem with voting for any new
See page 6. Voters have twice rejected taxes." Skiff also voted against
the request to approve an city was ordered to collect the floundering city budget the ballot question when it was
additional 5-year, 8-mill levy, those funds as a settlement of a was approved by a 5-2 vote of previously proposed.
THE CANTON which would increase tax rates lawsuit filed by the Municipal the councilmembers during Several residents in the
EAGLE on property in the city by $1 for Employees Retirement System their regular meeting July 12. audience at the meeting
EAGLE
Vol. 75, No. 32 every $1,000 of assessed prop- of Michigan (MERS). The pen- The tax was proposed as a way repeatedly criticized the effort
erty valuation, usually about sion system sued the city for a to fund, in part, the MERS pen- to increase property tax and
Preparations are under half the market value. The serious arrearage in contribu- sion obligation for retired claimed that the city was
way for the annual Brews, owner of a home with a State tions. The city opted not to employees. City officials claim already taxing residents at the
Brats, & Bands at the Barn Equalized Value of $100,000 defend that lawsuit, according that currently 40 percent of the highest rate allowed by state
fundraising event planned would see an $800 tax to court records, which result- annual city budget is used to law. Criticism of the officials
for Saturday, Sept.10, in increase. ed in the court-ordered levy on fund pension payments to for- and the proposed tax became
Preservation Park. This effort follows a court every property owner in the mer public safety employees. so adversarial that Mayor John
See page 2. ordered levy of 13.13999 on the city. Council members Kelly Rhaesa called a recess and left
winter tax bills in the city. The The latest effort to shore up Skiff and Phil Wagner cast the the council chambers.

THE INKSTER
LEDGER STAR Clean
LEDGER STAR
Vol. 75, No. 32 up crew
A large and enthusiastic
crowd large audience wel- The annual scrubbing
comed 'Magician to the and sanitizing of all
World' Gordon Russ to the equipment used in the
Leanna Hicks Public upcoming Rotary Club
Chicken Barbeque set
Library in Inkster last for Sept. 11 during the
Saturday. 66th Annual Plymouth
See page 5. Fall Festival took place
last weekend. Rotary
club members spent the
THE NORTHVILLE morning power wash-
EAGLE ing, scrubbing and
EAGLE
Vol. 22, No. 32 scouring the racks and
other equipment and
The Northville Planning utensils that will be used
Commission has supported a in the preparation of
recommendation from the about 8,500 chicken
Farmers Market Task Force dinners to be served on
'Chicken
Sunday.'
to establish the amenity out- Presale tickets for the
side the Downs develop- dinners are available
ment. from any Rotary Club
See page 5. member and will
include the traditional
THE PLYMOUTH half barbequed chicken,
EAGLE chips, an ear of corn, a
EAGLE
roll, a beverage and a
Vol. 22, No. 32 cookie. The price this
year is $13 if purchased
Members of the Plymouth
Noon Rotary Club began in advance and $15 if
purchased the day of
making preparations for the the barbeque. (See
traditional Fall Festival related story, page 3.)
Chicken Barbeque back in Photos by David Willett
March.
See page 3.

THE ROMULUS
ROMAN
ROMAN
Vol. 137, No. 32
Blue Sky Ice Cream and Trustees discuss possibilities for Banotai Park
Hamburgers hosted a three-
day festival last weekend to Sumpter Township trustees have easy access to the ponds Bowman said the concept conceptual at this time.
support women and children recently heard conceptual ideas and pedestrian paths.” He said includes the installation of mul- Deputy Supervisor/Trustee
in crisis. for a total renovation and remod- the proposed paths would be tiple docks, one he said, should Tim Rush also cautioned the
See page 6.
eling of Banotai Park in the com- asphalt and that paths would be be “a good size.” He said the board members that the discus-
munity. wide enough to allow for emer- plan also includes a dedicated sion of was “just conceptual and
Township Supervisor Tim gency vehicle access and vehi- area for pets at the site. only conceptual.” He said the
THE WAYNE Bowman discussed the prelimi- cles from the maintenance Trustees had several ques- plan would be presented in great
EAGLE nary plans during the Aug. 9 department. He envisions horse tions regarding the impact of detail in the future as discus-
EAGLE
Vol. 75, No. 32 workshop session of the board trails at the park along with the temporary seasonal employees sions continue. He also suggest-
members, stressing that the
on the current union contract.
ed that there might be grant
hiking trails.
Wayne public safety offi- plans were conceptual and that Bowman said the plans would Bowman reiterated that the money from Wayne County avail-
cials called for help from the no funding mechanism had been use an estimated 90,000 yards of plans he was discussing were in
Wayne Hazmat team last discussed or even estimated for sand to create the amenities. He the very preliminary stages and See Park, page 6
weekend as they battled an the project. said the ideal plan would be the
unknown substance in the The entire 80 acres of the construction of one or two brick
Rouge River. park needs to be cleared during and mortar restrooms in the
See page 4. a first phase of the reclamation, park which would be main-
Bowman said, and in another tained by township employees
phase the entire 5-acre pond under the supervision of a
THE WESTLAND area should be re-dredged allow- newly-hired Parks and
EAGLE ing for a larger pond of about 15 Recreation Director for the
EAGLE

Vol. 75, No. 32 to 18 feet. The project would township. The new director
would supervise two or three
include new slopes and a beach
Members of the area for the public to enjoy. The part time or seasonal employees
Norwayne Community renovation would include two at the park.
Citizens Council hosted the guard structures to control traf- The plan includes bringing
Back to School Extravaganza fic in and out of the area and electric power to the plant and
and Outdoor Movie last week new designated parking lots. possibly a maintenance building
and gave away 200 back- “Users would come through where park maintenance sup-
packs. gates to go to four parking lots,” plies and equipment could be
See page 4. Bowman said, and each would stored. Sherwood Pond in Banotai Park.

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