A
SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
P
AGE
2
November 10, 2016
To subscribe to The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
B
ELLEVILLE
- I
NKSTER
Van Buren gives Aerotropolis 1 more year
Aerotropolis project officials
have one more year to prove the
value of the project to VanBuren
Township or the Downtown
Development Authority will dis-
continue paying the annual dues
of $25,000.
The DDA has been paying
dues to the project since 2009
and some officials feel the town-
ship has received nothing in
return for the $175,000.
At the Oct. 25 meeting of the
group, Aerotropolis Director of
Business Development Marco
Salomone and marketing con-
sultant Luke Bonner spoke to
members of the authority board
regarding the project.
Craig Atchinson, chairman of
the DDA board of directors,
demanded to know what Van
Buren was getting from the
Aerotroplis and how the commu-
nity has benefited. Bonner
responded that there had been
some development in Romulus
and those projects could hire
Van Buren Township residents.
He added that he felt
Aerotropolis has “a failure to
launch” and was a victim of
study after study rather than
effectivemarketing.
The board members along
with Bonner and Salomone dis-
cussed the project extensively
inquiring as to exactly what the
marketing plan was going for-
ward and what part the
Aerotroplis project played in
recent development inRomulus.
Bonner told the group that
Aerotropoliswas amajor site.
“Everyone calls it the 440,” he
said, referring to the 440-acre
site at the northwest corner of
Ecorse andBelleville roads.
He said a recent tour of
Aerotroplis had brought in peo-
ple from around the country and
they gave unabated feedback on
the weaknesses and strengths of
sites in this area.
“The assets we have here are
on a par with others,” Bonner
said, adding, “I think we are
doing the right things.” He men-
tioned a new social media effort
tomarket the project.
According to board members
at the meeting, Huron Township
and the City of Belleville have
not paid dues for two years while
Ypsilanti Township pays $15,000
and the City of Ypsilanti request-
ed a $10,000 waiver. Romulus
pays the full $25,000. After much
more in-depth discussion as to
the benefit to the community and
anticipated progress by the
Aerotropolis representatives, the
DDA board members agreed to
pay the dues for another year
and then review the progress.
Legislators set meeting
Honored firefighter resigns
Goodfellows’ help available
Wayne County Commissioner Glenn
S. Anderson and State Sen. David
Knezek will be hosting their normally-
scheduledmonthly coffee hour event in
Inkster from noon until 1 p.m. Monday,
Nov, 14. The meeting will take place at
the Leanna Hicks Public Library, locat-
ed at 2005 InksterRoad.
Residents are encouraged to attend
and discuss issues of importance to
them. Citizens who have questions or
concerns in the meantime are encour-
aged to contact either of the elected
officials bymail, telephone, or email:
Sen. DavidKnezek
Mail: P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (855) 347-8005
Email:
CommissionerGlennS. Anderson
Mail: 500GriswoldSt., 7thFloor,
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224-8855
Email:
Applications for holiday help from the
Belleville/Van Buren Goodfellows are
now available at the Van Buren
TownshipPoliceDepartment front desk.
The forms will also be available
online at the Van Buren Township web-
site,
and are print-
able.
All applications must be submitted in
personbefore 3 p.m. Dec. 2.
Residents of the City of Belleville and
Van Buren Township are eligible for the
program. Sumpter Township residents
can apply for help through the
Goodfellows organization in that commu-
nity.
Proof of residency, such as a driver's
license or state identification card will
be required during in-person applica-
tions. A current utility bill will also be
accepted as proof of residency if it con-
tains the name and address of the appli-
cant or family. Applications must be sub-
mitted in person and no mailed or
emailed applicationswill be accepted.
For more information contact Pam
Fleming at (734) 699-8934 from 9 a.m.
until 3 p.m. Monday throughFriday.
Van Buren Township firefighter John
Henderson has been awarded the 2015
Firehouse Magazine Michael O.
McNameeAward of Valor.
Henderson placed fourth in the
national ranking of firefighters honored
for displaying great bravery in the face of
dangerous conditions. A Van Buren fire-
fighter for 15 years, he recently resigned
fromthe department.
The August issue of Firehouse
Magazine described the brave actions
that won Henderson the national honor,
noting that the township department was
called to a fire in a tri-level home on Dec.
13, 2015. When Henderson and his part-
ner arrived on the scene, they were alert-
ed that a young childwas inside the burn-
ing home. Henderson went to the front
door to find the child who had been spot-
ted by police officers who were first on
the scene.
Visibility was limited to 12-18 inches
from the floor where flames and smoke
had engulfed the structure. Henderson
donned his safety gear, only to realize he
left his helmet on the truck.
Without regard for his own safety,
Henderson crawled through the heat,
flames and smoke in an attempt to find
the child. As he crawled forward in zero
visibility, he touched the soft clothing of a
toddler. He dragged the child back out
the front door with him through the blaze
where firefighters began medical proce-
dures to theunresponsive child.
The 2-year-old had sustained burns to
more than 50 percent of her body and
was hospitalized for treatment.
After months of treatment, she was
released from C.S. Mott Children's
Hospital, and continues to recover from
the incident.
Henderson was officially honored by
the township for his bravery in the rescue
of the child.
Henderson resigned from the town-
ship fire department in response to a
new rule that required paid-per-call fire-
fighters to work four duty crew shifts
monthly. Henderson's job as an instructor
of closed-space rescues requires him to
travel and prohibits his guarantee of
working four shifts, he said. Henderson
has had some other organizational issues
with the department and resigned his
rank of lieutenant just prior to the rescue
incident.
