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No. 43
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
October 25 - 31, 2012
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
The Wayne Chamber of
Commerce is requesting dona-
tions of items for a silent auc-
tion/raffle for the annual
Holiday Luncheonplanned for
Dec. 6
See page 6.
Public hearings took place
Monday regarding requests for
tax abatements for two firms
that could bring about 70 jobs
and invest more than $25 mil-
lion in theRomulus.
See page 3.
Robert Bosch Corp. execu-
tives presented the Plymouth
Township Trustees a check for
$30,000 just before the regular
meeting of the board last
week.
See page 7.
Twelve Northville mothers
took a little extra pride in the
announcement last week that
Thornton Creek Elementary
won the $50,000 grand prize in
a national essay contest.
See page 7.
It's time to start planning for
the Festival of Holiday Trees
at the Belleville Area Museum
which has become a focal
point of the community's holi-
day celebration.
See page 5.
Vol. 127, No. 43
Vol. 65, No. 43
Vol. 65, No. 43
Vol. 12, No. 43
Vol. 12, No. 43
Vol. 127, No. 43
Vol. 65, No. 43
Vol. 65, No. 43
The
Inkster
Dove
Foundation, in collaboration
with the ladies of Zeta Phi
Beta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Nu
Zeta Inkster Alumnae Chapter,
will host the second Annual
HealthExpo.
See page 6.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Marti Farrough ofWestland,
organizer of the Plymouth
North Ridge Church quilting
group,
helped create 30 handmade
quilts donated to Arbor
Hospice patients
See page 6
.
Municipal clerks throughout the area are
preparing for a large voter turnout Nov. 6 and are
hoping voters take advantage of the ways avail-
able to smooth theway in the voting booth.
In Romulus, City Clerk Ellen Craig Bragg
urges voters to be prepared by taking advantage
of the informational pamphlets and materials
provided. She said she estimates that the “pre-
pared” voter will spend about 15-20 minutes with
the ballot, while those who are unfamiliar with
the number of proposals and their language may
spend twice that amount of time making their
decisions.
“We urge voters to get a sample ballot, here at
our offices, or on the city website, and go over the
proposals,” she said. Craig Bragg said the ballot
in Romulus is extensive with the Wayne County
proposals, the school election and the
Presidential and judicial races.
“I anticipate a large voter turnout,” she said,
“maybe larger than the last Presidential elec-
tion.”
Romulus is processing about 100 absentee bal-
lot a day and will have extended hours next
week. The clerk's office will be open from 8 a.m.
until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and will be
opennext Saturday from8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Craig Bragg also noted that the weather will
influence the turnout, too. “If it's nice weather,
the turnout will be even larger,” she said. “We've
also made some changes to accommodate voters
if the weather is inclement by changing
entrances to the polling places to keep them
inside andwarm.”
PlymouthCityClerkLindaLangmasser issued
a statement urging voters to use absentee ballots
Edward McNamara had a lot of advice and
insights for his children while they were grow-
ing up. One of his predictions for the future
was that airports would become the “water
ports of the 21st Century.” As the Wayne
County Executive from 1987 until 2002, he
believed that airports, particularly Detroit
Metro, would be crucial to the quality of life in
the area.
Wayne County Commissioner Kevin
McNamara, (D-Belleville) couldn't help but
recall his father'swords last weekwhenhewas
sworn in as a member of Wayne County
Airport Authority by Judge Brian Oakley of the
34th District Court in Romulus. The board
members oversee Detroit Metro Airport,
including the McNamara Terminal, named for
Edward McNamara who died in 2006. The
board also overseesWillowRunAirport.
The ceremony took place in the McNamara
Terminal near the memorial sculpture of
McNamara's father.
“This is one of the most pivotal duties of my
life,” Kevin McNamara said. The ceremony
was attended by McNamara's mother, Lucille,
his wife, Aida, son, Cullen and brother,
Terrence along with many local officials and
dignitaries.
“Today, DetroitMetroAirport is the primary
doorway to every community in Wayne County
and to Michigan for citizens across the United
States and around the world. It is a hub for
business activity, and its progress is a vital plat-
form in our county's growth. Both Detroit
Metro and Willow Run airports are consider-
able assets as we strive to make Wayne County
an ideal place for families to live, work, learn
andplay,” the newboardmember said.
“This is a privilege and honor to be appoint-
ed by the Wayne County Commission to serve
on the Wayne County Airport Authority
Board,” said McNamara. “I look forward to
collaborating with fellow board members to
make the airport an evenmore significant eco-
nomic hub. I will also work to ensure that the
quality of life is improved for residents living
near both Detroit Metro and Willow Run air-
ports.”
As a commissioner for District 11,
McNamara serves the western Wayne County
communities of Belleville, Canton Township,
Sumpter Township, Van Buren Township and
Wayne. Transportation infrastructure has been
one of his priorities since serving as a commis-
sioner. The redrawn District 11 will represent
the communities of Belleville, Huron
Township, Romulus, Van Buren Township,
Wayne and southern Westland beginning Jan.
1, 2013.
Dr. Scream, will return to
The Village Theater at Cherry
Hill for a special two-night
engagement just in time for a
pre-Halloween scare.
See page 5.
See
Vote,
page 2
Early last Thursday morning, a
major water main break crippled
local Plymouth Township busi-
nesses along Five Mile Road,
backed up traffic and left a bank
manager and some merchants
withquestions and concerns.
A main water line leading from
the newest water tower at Five
Mile and Beck Roads, currently
undergoing major repair and con-
struction, ruptured spewing
muddy water across the road and
slowing traffic.
An underground utilities con-
tractor was on the scene, along
with several workers and employ-
ees from the township water
department, directing the excava-
tion of the site to try to determine
the cause.
A worker from CI Contracting
in Brighton said he doubted prob-
lem was caused by an unexpected
spike in the water pressure from
the Five Mile tower. He indicated
it was unusual as the temperature
was in the 50s and the lines were
relatively new.
One worker said the large
diameter pipe that fed the area
was under the control of Plymouth
Township for maintenance, but
ultimately controlled by the City of
Detroit water board.
“That's unfortunate for every-
one, as they are on strike,” he said.
“There is no one to test the water;
they won't come up here and no
onewill cross theunion lines”.
Last month employees who are
part of the largest Detroit Water
and Sewerage Department union
went on strike. The AFSCME
local, made up of 950 employees,
will be replaced by independent
contractors, said to cut the work-
force by 81 percent, according to
published reports.
Charter One Bank Manager
Cindy Isenhoff, said the bank
branch on Five Mile was without
water since 5:30 a.m. She said this
was not the first time they have
had problems with the water sup-
ply.
“Many times our water volume
is very low and one time all of our
toilets almost exploded when they
were trying to flush out the lines,”
she said.
She said the employees would
be drinking bottled water for a
while after the leak is fixed and
the water turned on. “I'm not tak-
ing any chances.”
Mother's Pizzeria, located just
down the street in a shopping cen-
ter was also without water and
customers, but the Caribou Coffee
shophadwater andwas busy.
The manager, who asked not to
be identified, asked, “Who's going
to pay for this lost business?”
Officials have said in the past
that the water tower operation
was unsatisfactory. Built to hold
one million gallons, the tank has
not been filled to capacity.
Reportedly, the tank will hold only
250,000 gallons of water before
draining to that level. The Detroit
Water and Sewerage Department,
which has increased water rates
in Plymouth by 18 percent, has
been requiring repairs to the
tower and the township has
already spent about $96,000 on
replacement valves.
In April at a Township Board of
Trustees Meeting, a contract was
awarded to DeMattia Group for
the work on the Five Mile Road
water tower booster estimated to
cost $491,000. The project is not
complete and there have been sev-
eral cost overruns. A large garage
to house the booster pump next to
the tower is near completion.
DeMattia was the construction
company selected to build a town-
ship hall, a DPWbuilding, the 35th
District Court, a police station and
a fire station.
We urge voters to get a sample ballot,
here at our offices, or on the city
website, and go over the proposals.
”
Area clerks warn of lengthy ballot
Past and future
McNamara sworn in
to Metro Airport board
Water main break prompts business concerns
Workers attempt to control the water line rupture that disrupted traffic
last week.
Wayne County Commissioner Kevin McNamara, far right, his mother, Lucille and brother,
Terrence, admire the sculpture of his father, Edward McNamara at Metro Airport following his offi-
cial swearing in as a new member of the Wayne County Airport Authority.