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Representatives of a Romulus
Company are among those who traveled
to China last month in tandem with a
trademission of Gov. Rick Snyder.
CorriganAir andSeaCargo represen-
tatives joined the trip, characterized as
a Michigan Economic Development
Corp. trade mission. The China trip was
an effort to boost exports to China
where Michigan business exported
about $4.1 billion in goods andmaterials
in 2013, according to the MEDC. That
was a 28 percent increase from 2012,
according to the MEDC and makes
China the third largest export market
for the state.
Participants also included: Air and
Liquid Systems (paint finishing),
Rochester; ATCO Industries (automo-
tive), Sterling Heights; Coffee Beanery
(coffee franchises), Flushing, Genesee
County; Global Electronics (auto elec-
tronics), Southfield; Huron
Technologies (chemicals), Leslie,
Ingham County; KC Jones Plating
(chemicals), Warren; SmithGroup JJR
(architecture and engineering services),
Ann Arbor and Tranor Industries (auto-
motive), Detroit.
The group made stops in Beijing,
Guangzhou and Shanghai to talk about
partnerships, distribution and buying -
accompanied Snyder's trade mission in
China Nov. 20-26 and the traveling exec-
utives participated in some of Snyder's
events.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
December 4, 2014
MINUTES OF REGULAR ROMULUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING
November 10, 2014
Romulus City Hall Council Chambers, 11111 Wayne Rd. Romulus, MI 48174
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tem, John Barden.
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Present:
Kathleen Abdo, John Barden, Harry Crout, Sylvia Makowski, Celeste Roscoe,
William Wadsworth.
Excused:
Linda Choate.
Administrative Officials in Attendance:
LeRoy D. Burcroff, Mayor
Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, City Clerk
1.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Roscoe to accept the agenda as presented.
Roll Call
Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion
Carried Unanimously
.
14-470 2A.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Abdo to approve the minutes of the regular
meeting of the Romulus City Council held on November 3, 2014.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo,
Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-471 2B.
Moved by Abdo, seconded by Roscoe to approve the minutes of the special meet-
ing of the Romulus City Council held on November 3, 2014, 7:00 p.m. Study Session, Local
CommunitySupport Plan.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
3A. Petitioner:
Nadine Hohnke and Rob Mercier, from Public Service Credit Union, present-
ed three checks totaling $3,000 to Kim Ratcliff - who accepted the checks on behalf of the
Romulus Animal Shelter. Councilman Wadsworth commented that was the second largest dona-
tion that has ever been made to the Animal Shelter. They also presented a check in the amount
of $300 to fire chief, David Allison, who accepted on behalf of the Good Fellows Organization.
The Public Service Credit Union employees had fundraisers to raise the donated money.
4. Chairperson's Report:
14-472 4A.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Wadsworth to schedule a study session for
Monday, Nov. 24, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the Downriver Mutual Aid (MABAS - box alarm
system) Agreement. The meeting is to be held in the City Hall Council Chambers, 11111 Wayne
Road.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
4.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Abdo to accept the chairperson's report.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
5. Mayor's Report:
Mayor LeRoy Burcroff announced city offices will be closed in observance of Veteran's Day on
Tuesday, Nov. 11 and the first annual Veteran's Day Parade will be held with the rededication
of the World War I Memorial and dedication of a new veteran's memorial.
14-473 5A.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Abdo to concur with the administration and
authorize the City of Romulus to participate in the City of Rochester/MITN bid for acquisition
of sidewalk ice melt compounds for a period of one year (with an option to renew for two addi-
tional years) at the quoted price of $7.25/50 lb. bag (for a committed purchase of 930 bags)
from the lowest bidding company, Washington Elevator Company.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
-
Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
6. Clerk's Report:
Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg extended a thank you to everyone who helped out
on Election Day, November 4, 2014.
14-474 6A1.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Makowski to schedule a study session for
Monday, November 24, 2014 at 6:15 p.m. to review Ordinance Chapter 8, Buildings and
Building Regulations, Article VIII, Sections 8-211 and 8-212 proposed amendment to update
the International Property Maintenance Code for adoption of the 2012 edition.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
14-475 6A2.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Crout to approve second reading, final adop-
tion of Budget Amendment 14/15-10, General Fund - introduced at the Council meeting of Nov.
3, 2014.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
6B. Treasurer's Report
7. Public Comment:
None.
8. Unfinished Business
Councilman Wadsworth mentioned other worthy charities that resi-
dents could donate to as well as the Romulus Animal Shelter - Helping Hands, Cemetery Board,
Good Fellows, Library Fund, Progressive Hall, Coleman Center, Civic Center, Boys and Girls
Club, and the Salvation Army.
9. New Business
10. Communication:
Councilman Crout asked for donations of turkeys and other food items
to Helping Hands for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
14-476 11A.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Makowski to approve Warrant 14-21 in the
amount of $599,086.08.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
14-477 11B.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Makowski to approve Warrant 14-21E in the
amount of $11,270.00.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
12.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Makowski to adjourn the regular meeting of the
Romulus City Council.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Crout, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
I, Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, Clerk for the City of Romulus, Michigan do hereby certify the forego-
ing to be a true copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Romulus City Council held
on November 10, 2014.
Publish:
December 4, 2014
I
NKSTER
- R
OMULUS
Two long-abandoned gas sta-
tions top the list of structures that
will be demolished by the City of
Romulus in the comingmonths.
Members of the city council
approved a demolition list that
initially included a dozen proper-
ties, although three of those were
tabled-one of those after a last-
ditchplea fromthe homeowner.
The abandoned gas stations
are at the corner of Ecorse and
Merriman roads and at Middle
Belt nearGoddard.
The remainder of the proper-
ties were residential, including a
single-family residence that had
been used as a multi-tenant
building onHuronRiverDrive.
Council members agreed to
remove three properties from the
list, including one at 35606
Bibbins, one at 35960 Vinewood
and 7385 Colbert. The latter prop-
erty required an amendment to
the motion, because the property
owner, Chris Farris, had driven in
from Kalkaska and missed the
study session where the demoli-
tion was discussed. Farris said he
had an inspection for the proper-
ty scheduled for the following
day, and disagreed that the prop-
erty needed to be demolished.
“I do agree that it's not a nice-
looking property. It needs to be
renovated and it's on our list to
renovate in the spring, with a new
roof, siding and complete interi-
or,” said Farris, who has
rehabbed more than a dozen
homes in the community. “I've got
about $15,000 invested already
and Iwant to see it through.
“If you look at the properties
we've touched in Romulus, you'll
see that they've been brought far
above code compliance and
turned into nice, attractive homes
in the neighborhood,” he added.
“I'd like a little more time on this
property.”
Being placed on the demoli-
tion is just a part of the process
for removing abandoned and
unsafe structures, according to
Mayor Leroy Burcroff. Property
owners were notified earlier this
year and a hearing took place at
the Construction Board of
Appeals in September. Property
owners still have the option to
appeal the decision in court.
Burcroff said Farris could meet
with city officials after the inspec-
tion and determine the best
course of action.
“It's in our best interest to keep
the home and have it improved,”
saidBurcroff. “We'd rather have a
building there; it's got more value
and it generates more tax rev-
enue than a vacant property.
“We're trying to be fair with
people. We want good buildings,”
he added. “But we also do know
that there are some people that
just aren't going to put the effort
into them. We ultimately have to
go through a process.”
Council OK’s list of buildings for demolition
Original play premieres tomorrow
Romulus company representatives join governor’s trade mission
Spare the Rod, a play written by retired
Inkster Police Officer Stacey Johnson, will
be presented at 7 p.m. Dec. 5-7 at St.
Clement'sEpiscopal Church.
The production is a story about a father
who refused to correct his wayward son.
An unexpected twist of fate in the play will
have families thinking about their values, a
spokeswoman said.
"This play will remind families that no
matter what we've done, Christ loves us. We
can always runback tohim," she added.
The church is located at 4300 Harrison,
between Carlysle and Annapolis in Inkster.
Tickets for the play are priced at $20 if pur-
chased in advance and $25 if purchased at
the door.
Curtain time will be promptly at 7 p.m.
for all three performances and doors will
open at 6 p.m.
The production is presented by Stacey J.
Productions and a portion of the ticket
sales will be donated to help the young sur-
vivor of a shooting in the city last July.
For tickets or information, call (313) 779-
0600 or (313) 587-3966.
Tickets are also available at
www.eventbrite.comSpareTheRod.
Family plans fundraiser
A well-known Romulus family is
hosting a fundraiser next week to sup-
port amember strickenby lung cancer.
The Plank family will host a lung
cancer benefit to support Gwen Plank
Smith in hopes of gathering donations
to help offset the cost of fighting the dis-
ease and paying for her Cobra insur-
ance.
The benefit, a “Quarter Mania
Auction and Dinner,” will take place at
6 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Family
Restaurant on Eureka Road. In a quar-
ter auction, attendees bid on chances to
win items that have beendonated.
“It'll be a fun event,” said Regina
Plank, who is organizing the benefit.
Councilmember Harry Crout said
the Planks have a history of supporting
other causes in the city.
“They've been at every fundraiser,”
he said. “They always step up and help
out. Now it's our turn to step up and
help themout.”
For tickets or more information, call
ReginaPlank at (734) 749-5111.