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October 7 – 13, 2021 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 40 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Romulus school superintendent is suspended
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Community
Romulus
Vol. 136, No. 40 Schools Superintendent Dr. ” Dixon referred to “numerous
credit card purchases” that
Sumpter Township Benjamin Edmonson has been The current administrative structure were “without receipts” and
Director of Public Safety placed on paid administrative doesn't appear to be conducive said that those discrepancies
Eric Luke corrected erro- leave by members of the board had been reported to the board
neous reports that it police of education. to preparing any type of efficient audit. members previously in a com-
took 2 ½ hours to respond to School board members munication from the district
a Judd Road traffic accident. voted 4-3 to place Edmonson on finance committee.
See page 3. leave during a contentious pub- Mike Dixon, a management audit and the disarray which He said that the credit card
lic meeting last week while consultant hired by the board exists, he said, in the business statements with no backup doc-
financial improprieties report- members, the motion to sus- office. Dixon told the board that umentation from the adminis-
THE CANTON ed by an independent consult- pend Edmonson, with pay, there were numerous material trative office were “a serious
EAGLE ant are being investigated. pending an investigation was weaknesses in the audit and problem.” He also noted the
EAGLE
Vol. 74, No. 40 Much of the meeting, including approved. Some board mem- that financial processes were issuance of several smaller
not followed. He said that the
bers appeared surprised by the
invoices to one business entity
many comments from board
Veteran Canton Police members and the public, motion which was added to the business office was staffed with for the possible purpose of
Ofc. James Marinelli and remained confusing and unin- agenda by the district finance employees who had little or no avoiding competitive bidding.
Ofc. George Duncan will telligible due to some technical committee. training. “The current administrative
retire from the department issues and the outspoken disap- Dixon, who has been work- “They are dedicated people, structure doesn't appear to be
this month. proval of many audience mem- ing with the district for about 6- they just need guidance,” conducive to preparing any
See page 2. bers. 8 weeks, repeatedly stressed Dixon said. type of efficient audit,” Dixon
Following a lengthy and the financial problems the dis- In addition to the purchas-
detailed report, off camera, by trict is facing, including a late ing and record keeping deficits, See Schools, page 6
THE INKSTER
LEDGER STAR Centennial and counting
LEDGER STAR

Vol. 74, No. 40
Michigan State Police are Canton resident marks 106th birthday with family and friends
asking for information
regarding a shooting Sept. 24 Staying social and engaging
which left an Inkster woman with others, having a support
hospitalized in critical condi- system and passion for life -
tion. plus some good genes might be
See page 6. key to living to be 106 for
Virginia Bett of Canton
Township who celebrated her
THE NORTHVILLE birthday recently at
EAGLE
EAGLE Waltonwood Cherry Hill
Senior Living.
Vol. 210, No. 40 Dressed in her favorite
color - red - and with red vel-
In keeping with the sea-
son, the Northville Art vet cupcakes, rose gold bal-
loons and with friends and
House will host the Live @ 5 members of her family, the
Halloween Art Crawl from 5 entire day was a celebration
until 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23. for Bett. The 106-year-old
See page 4.
mother of two, who is also an
avid painter, credits great care
THE PLYMOUTH and her love for art as part of
EAGLE her positive attitude for living
EAGLE
a happy life.
Vol. 21, No. 40 “And perhaps a bit of wine
at dinner while we were grow-
Residents at
Independence Village of ing up,” her son Bruce Bett
Plymouth were offered a added with a smile. Bett was
unique look at the skill and there to celebrate his mom's
artistry of their neighbors landmark celebration - while
recently during a Resident her other son living in the U.P.
Expo. will visit later this month. Virginia Bett
See page 4. Bett is one of the 1 percent
of Americans who currently together they raised their two her son said. “We know that having
are living beyond the age of sons in Grand Blanc, and then At her party, local musician access to great care, nutritious
100 according to the U.S. Ann Arbor. Her husband was John Latini provided enter- meals and access to a social
THE ROMULUS Census Bureau. In Michigan, 3 an economics professor at the tainment and the Waltonwood life helps people enjoy more
ROMAN percent live to be older than University of Michigan, and in culinary team made her fulfilling lives -which leads to
ROMAN
Vol. 136, No. 40 100. Last July, Waltonwood her own career as a teacher, favorite foods including the longer lives,” said Tiffiany
Carriage Park resident Bonita she helped co-found a daycare red velvet cupcakes. Gifts for Tucker, executive director of
Members of the Romulus Gibson celebrated her 110th center in Grand Blanc. She Bett included framed pictures Waltonwood Cherry Hill in
City Council approved the birthday. has been painting for years. of her family and of her own Canton. “For Virginia's birth-
plan for the171-acre multi- Bett, who was born and “What she loves most is paintings. It was a day to day, we wanted to make it all
million dollar Romulus raised in Des Moines, Iowa, painting including oils, but she acknowledge all of her accom- about things she loves - like
Trade Center by a 6-1 vote met her husband at a fair and shines most in watercolors,” plishments, her son said. the color red.”
last week.
Sumpter receives highest possible financial audit rating
See page 6.

Sumpter Township received a priority for at least three
THE WAYNE the highest possible rating on ” years that I can see. You have
EAGLE the recent financial audit of This is a very specific audit. very methodically invested the
EAGLE

Vol. 74, No. 40 the municipal finances and The state says you have complied pension funds to get to the 84
practices.
percent. That extra contribu-
The conduct of Wayne City Rana Emmons, from out- tion allows you to ride out any
Manager Lisa Nocerini is the side accounting firm Post, with all regulations and procedures. downturn in the economy,” she
basis of two separate lawsuits Smythe, Lutz and Zeal, told the said.
filed in U.S. District Court board members during the At the request of Trustee
seeking monetary damages. Sept. 28 meeting that the Emmons also noted that the “The township did very well Tim Rush, Emmons explained
See page 5. “clean” audit found no excep- township was able to pay on the pension investments,” that the township bond rating
tions or disclosures by the $500,000 in water bond debt Emmons said. “Sumpter was is now at an A minus, which,
financial professionals. with $2.5 million remaining on able to pay $440,000 extra into she said, is very strong.
THE WESTLAND She said that while state those bonds. the pension fund. I have to Trustee Matt Oddy asked
EAGLE shared revenue was flat and She commended the board commend the board for the the Certified Public
EAGLE
Vol. 74, No. 40 there was a decrease in members for their contribu- extra pension contribution Accountant if there were any
which is a great idea. It puts
violations of commingling of
tions to the MERS pension
income from building permits,
Federal assistance for the township managed to fund which has reduced the the township money to work.” grant funds or any financial
area homeowners and sur- increase the fund balance by township liability “significant- She explained that the improprieties found during
vivors of the June 25 - 26 $419,000. There was, she said, a ly”. She noted that during the township pension liability is the audit.
severe storms and flooding 2-percent overall increase in current financial climate, now 84 percent funded, far “No, we did not find any-
in Westland and other com- property values in the town- many municipalities have above the average of other thing that would indicate that,”
munities is still available ship which added to revenue been unable to make extra communities. she said. “This is a very specif-
from FEMA. received without any millage payments or reduce that out- “Again, I have to commend
See page 6. rate increase. standing liability. this board for making pensions See Audit, page 3

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