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September 21, 2023 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

PLYMOUTH - SUMPTER
PLYMOUTH - SUMPTER

New water bill service

is approved by trustees

Water bills in Sumpter Township will “This isn't skilled work,” he said, and
have a new look beginning next month. indicated that the employee currently
Members of the township board of preparing the mailings is capable of pro-
trustees approved using KCI of Grand viding much higher level work, which, he
Rapids to print and mail the water and added, is needed.
sewer bills. KCI currently prints and mails “This is freeing up an employee's
the township tax billings, officials said. time,” he told the board members, noting
Cost for the service is expected to be the printing and preparation of the mail-
$2,500 per quarter for the preparation and ings is a time-consuming job. Outsourcing
postage on the 3,300 water billings pre- this aspect of the billing will allow for bet-
pared quarterly. ter use of the employee's time, he
Finance Director Scott Holtz explained explained.
to the board members that the data and The new billings will be on 8 ½ by 11
compilation of the billings would continue inch sheets and will allow the township to
to be prepared by a township employee include other communications or mes- Grounded
and that the township would retain con- sages to residents, officials said. The new The historic Courthouse Grille on Plymouth Road was demolished recently to
trol of the billings. He said this would free billings, in mailing envelopes, will replace make room for a condominium development planned for the property. A 103-unit
up the department employee to provide the currently used postcards. luxury apartment will be built on the site of the beloved restaurant. The project will
other services needed in the finance Trustee Peggy Morgan cast the only no be partially funded with a State of Michigan EGLE (Environment, Great Lakes and
department. vote on the new procedure. Energy) grant and loan. Officials said the site is contaminated with metals and
petroleum compounds and has debris in the ground left over from use as a land-
fill prior to 1930. The state awarded a $535,000 Brownfield Redevelopment Grant
Showing off to install a vapor mitigation system and a separate $1 million EGLE Brownfield
Redevelopment Loan will be used to offset the cost of special deeper foundations
Renown local artist and needed on the land. The redevelopment will connect the property to Hines Park
founder of the Art and the Middle Rouge Parkway. The development is scheduled to be finished in
Foundation is visiting Paris December 2025, according to plans. Officials said the new project "will further
working with young overseas rejuvenate the Plymouth Road corridor along with park access and connectivity
artists. Gilito is a French with Old Village and job creators on Haggerty" Road. The long-rumored ghosts in
expatriate from Cape Verde, the building did not make an appearance during the demolition, according to
Africa. Roko has worked with reports at the site.
the young artist and accom-
panied him to visit museums
introducing him to classic
artwork. Roko will also be
working with several other
underserved youths and
their work will be featured in
his Paris exhibition, opening
Sept. 28 at La Commanderie
du Clos Montmartre.
Information is available at the
Roko website or Facebook.