OLD NEWS

Published Jan. 20, 2011:
Sudden death of VBT Fire Fighter Bill Gage saddens Belleville-area community

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   On Friday morning, people around the tri-community were calling each other to report the death of a dearly beloved friend, who lived in Belleville, served as a fire fighter for Van Buren Township, worked full-time for the Brighton Area Fire District and had a life full of service in a wide area.

   William G. Gage, Jr. died Thursday night at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, from complications in heart surgery to repair and replace two valves. He was 51.

   He was a lieutenant in the VBT Fire Department, serving in the fire department since May 1999. He previously served the Van Buren community as a Police Reserve Officer and as an Emergency Dispatcher for 15 years.

   At the time of his death he was also working for the Brighton Area Fire Authority as a Lieutenant / Fire Inspector.

   He graduated from Eastern Michigan University’s Fire Staff and Command School last fall and was selected “2010 Oakland County Fire Inspector” of the Year by the Oakland County Fire Prevention Society.

   “He maintained the highest levels of compassion, honor, respect, and dedication for the fire service,” said VBT Fire Chief Darwin Loyer in a memo to fire department personnel on Friday announcing Lt. Gage’s passing.

   On Monday, Chief Loyer added that Lt. Gage served VBT not only as a fire fighter, but as a dispatcher and police reserve.

   “Yes, we lost a fire fighter, but also a real good friend,” Chief Loyer said, adding Lt. Gage was active in the greater fire service outside VBT. He was a friend that everyone will miss, Chief Loyer said.

   “He was a phenomenal guy, a great friend,” said Fire Fighter Ken Landstrom. “He will be sorely missed.

   “He was a Class 1 Fire Fighter. He was the best all-around,” Landstrom added, noting Lt. Gage had no biases and did not engage in local disputes.

   Lt. Gage was a 1978 graduate of Belleville High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Michigan.

   “It helps me figure out the goofballs I’m working with,” he joked in a Jan. 4 interview with the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

   Lt. Gage played trumpet in the U of M Marching Band while at the university and continued playing in the alumni band.

   He had been a school teacher and soccer coach and had been seen around the township bringing fire trucks to schools and preschools to teach fire safety to children.

   He said he enjoyed being a dispatcher for police and fire and also liked going into dangerous situations as a fire fighter. But, when he began investigating the fires and working in inspections, he found his calling.

   After earning his certification in those areas, Lt. Gage was hired in 2004 by the Brighton Area Fire Department as an inspector.

   He told the Livingston Daily Press & Argus that he enjoyed finding out what caused a fire, putting the pieces of the puzzle together with the burn patterns and analyzing how the fire reacted and why.

   On Jan. 3, Lt. Gage sent a department-wide email to the VBT Public Safety Department informing his co-workers he would be taking a couple of months off work starting Jan. 12, for a surgical procedure on his heart.

   He closed his email with, “Everyone stay safe, take care of one another, protect the citizens that we serve, and keep the honor and pride of the Van Buren Township Fire Department.”

   In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Brighton Area Fire Authority for the “Bill Gage Inspector Scholarship.”  Memorial donations can be mailed to 615 W. Grand River Ave., Brighton, MI 48116. This program will help fire inspectors get the training they need. Donations also are suggested to the U of M Marching Band.

   Fire fighters from throughout the area, and their fire rigs, came out in force for Tuesday’s funeral services at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Belleville and accompanied the casket to Lt. Gage’s final resting place in Hillside Cemetery in Belleville.

   Chief Loyer said ten pieces of fire equipment was to be coming from Brighton, two from Belleville, and everything VBT Fire Dept. has would be there. And, many more came.

   On Tuesday, selected vehicles escorted the casket from David C. Brown Funeral Home in Belleville, past Lt. Gage’s house on Edgemont, past VBT Fire Station #1, and to the church.

   After the funeral mass at St. Anthony’s church, all the fire apparatus had a huge procession down Main Street to Hillside Cemetery, with an arch supporting a big flag erected with ladder trucks at the Denton/Belleville road intersection.

   Fire fighters and rigs came from throughout Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland and Livingston counties and from as far away as Port Huron and Hamtramck.

VBT Board approves payoff to four police officers who sued claiming discrimination

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   At the regular meeting of the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees on Jan. 11, the board voted unanimously to follow its insurance attorney’s recommendation on federal court case # 09-14506.

   Trustee Jeff Jahr, who had been hospitalized three times for heart problems over the last month, was not present for the vote.

   The dollar amount of the settlement was not announced and, when questioned at the meeting, Supervisor Paul White said the figures will not be available to the public until the court papers are filed, which would take from 18 to 20 days.

   On Jan. 13, Federal Judge Nancy G. Edmunds ordered the case to a settlement conference with Magistrate Judge Michael Hluchaniuk.

   Although it was not mentioned at the meeting, the case settled is the law suit brought by four VBT Police Officers claiming they were discriminated against because they are white and the township supervisor wanted a black public safety director.

   The case was due to go to a jury trial beginning April 5.

   Filing suit in Federal District Court in Detroit on Nov. 17, 2009 against VBT and Supervisor Paul White were:

   • Kenneth Brooks, then 52, of VBT, captain, employed as VBT patrol officer on Oct. 29, 1979;

   • Gregory Laurain, then 50, of VBT, captain, employed as VBT patrol officer in fall of 1982;

   • Dennis Brooks, then 50, of South Lyon, lieutenant and brother to Captain Kenneth Brooks. Dennis Brooks employed as VBT patrol  officer in August 1981; and

   • Kenneth Floro, then 39, of VBT lieutenant, employed as patrol officer on April 1, 1996.

   On July 7, 2009, the township board voted 4-3 to accept the recommendation of Supervisor White to hire Carl McClanahan as interim public safety director. He was sworn into office on Dec. 7, 2009.

   McClanahan filled the vacancy left when Public Safety Director Gerald Champagne was fired in May, 2009. Champagne was the first one to file suit in federal court against the township, Supervisor White, and Trustee Al Ostrowski, claiming discrimination.

   His suit was settled for $457,500, with $305,000 for Champagne and the rest for his attorneys, after Champagne agreed in March 2010 to drop charges against the township and the two elected officials.

   McClanahan’s salary for the interim position was approved at $89,000. He was sworn in as permanent director on July 28, 2010. (He earned $91,757 in direct compensation in 2010, according to township records. The total compensation for 2010 was not immediately available through the clerk’s office.)

   Champagne had earned $99,700.04 in direct compensation in 2008 and $119,734 in total compensation, which includes fringe benefits. 2008 was his last full year as director.

   Lt. Dennis Brooks made $85,363.88 in direct compensation in 2008, and $122,386 in total compensation.

   Captain Gregory Laurain made $116,931.21 in direct compensation and $155,562.79 in total compensation in 2008.

   Lt. Kenneth Floro made $124,312.21 in direct compensation and $158,562.79 in total compensation in 2008.

   Captain Kenneth Brooks made $111,494.44 in direct compensation and $150,908.61 in total compensation in 2008.

   These figures, obtained from the township under the Freedom of Information Act, indicate all four officers would have had to take cuts in pay if appointed interim public safety director. They are all union members and would have to leave the safety of the union for an at-will position.

   The suit by both Champagne and the four police officers hinged on a public  statement by Trustee Al Ostrowski that McClanahan was hired “because he was black.”

   Supervisor White did state at a public meeting that McClanahan was chosen because of his qualifications and that he was black was “a plus” because of the number of black citizens in VBT.

   The suit by the four claimed each of the four officers sustained “a loss of earnings, earning capacity and fringe benefits and has suffered mental anguish, physical and emotional distress, humiliation and embarrassment and loss of professional reputation.”

   They also claimed they had been retaliated against for complaining of a violation of their civil rights, but did not specify the nature of the retaliation.

Preliminary exam set Feb. 1 for Sumpter Township man facing 8 felonies

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Randy Kermitt Burke of Sumpter Township is scheduled to be in 34^th District Court at 9 a.m., Feb. 2, for a preliminary exam on eight felony charges stemming from a Dec. 8 shooting incident in his home.

   Burke is charged with assault with intent to commit murder, assault, weapon discharge in a building, felon in possession of a weapon (x4) and another weapons charge.

   He had been held in the Wayne County Jail since the day of his arrest.

   Burke retained defense attorney Neil Strefling of Madison Heights, and the attorney asked Judge Brian Oakley to adjourn the December court date until Jan. 12, to give him time to study the evidence.

   On Jan. 12, Strefling again asked Judge Oakley to adjourn the case because he hadn’t received all the discovery items in the case, and Judge Oakley set the preliminary exam for Feb. 2.

   Strefling also asked Judge Oakley to reduce the $1 million cash bond set when Burke was arraigned on the charges. He said Burke has a job guaranteed once he is released and having such a high bond is like having no bond at all.

   The attorney said Burke’s parents were in the courtroom and he lives with them. He said Burke said he has no money to put up for a bond, but his parents said they would put up their farm as collateral for the bail money.

   Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Carol Murray told the judge that Burke’s daughter is also an alleged victim. Burke also has a criminal record, Murray said, with five felonies from 1970 to 1982, including criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, armed robbery, and a federal case of fraud.

   Murray said she thinks the $1 million bond set at arraignment is appropriate, since Burke attempted to kill his own daughter and her then-boyfriend and, “By the grace of God they are still alive.”

   Murray apologized for the slow delivery of the discovery items, impeded by the holidays, but, she said, the evidence was provided to the attorney that morning, which complied with the law.

   Attorney Strefling told Judge Oakley it was unfair to hold Burke’s past against him, when he had turned his life around and had no problems in more than 20 years.

   Murray asked Judge Oakley, if he decided to set a lower bond, to order that Burke have no contact with his daughter or the victim.

   The daughter stood in the courtroom and said she was not a victim.

   Prosecutor Murray said, according to the Sumpter Township Police report, the victim and Burke’s daughter were naked in bed together when Burke came in with a gun and wearing gloves. A statement to police said Burke said, “I’m going to kill you both and make it look like a suicide.”

   He allegedly shot at a spot in the bed between the two and made the two take painkilling pills at gunpoint.

   Attorney Strefling told the judge that the daughter said this never took place and she should be excluded from the no-contact order since she lives in the house with her father.

   Strefling also said that his client was just seven feet from the bed and if he had wanted to kill the man, he would have.

   Judge Oakley reduced the bond to $50,000 cash or surety and ordered Burke to have no contact with the victim. It was expected that Burke would be released as early as that afternoon.

   The 34-year-old alleged victim is a truck driver from Wyandotte, who met Burke’s daughter at his work. She also was a truck driver, but hurt her back and now is on crutches and no longer is able to work.

   In the hallway, after the court session, Sumpter Township Police Officer John Toth told defense attorney Strefling that all the statements taken in the case were on video and Strefling made arrangements to pick up copies of the recordings and other paperwork.

VBT Board OKs Waste Management request to bury more sludge

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   After hours and hours of talk by resident John Delaney on the science of landfills and a perceived conspiracy to push forward a co-generation plant at Visteon, at its Jan. 11 meeting the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees voted 5-1 to approve Waste Management’s request for Woodland Meadows landfill.

   Trustee Al Ostrowski voted no, without comment, and Trustee Jeff Jahr was absent and excused.

   Waste Management had asked for permission to dispose of an increased amount of biosolid materials from Nov. 1 through March 31 at Woodland Meadows landfill at the corner of Hannan and Van Born roads.

   The bio-solids are treated sewage sludge from the Ann Arbor treatment facility. The sludge is topically applied to farm fields during part of the year, but it illegal to apply the sludge topically during the winter and it must be buried.

   Waste Management officials said it was a business decision to ask for permission to bury more sludge. Under the host community agreement, such sludge cannot be buried unless the township board approves.

   Van Buren Township agreed on Oct. 21, 2008 to accept up to 250 tons of biosolid materials a day and on Jan. 11, Township Supervisor Paul White said there have been no documented problems with that approval to date.

   Waste Management asked for permission to increase that amount to 450 tons per day, not to exceed a monthly average of 10% of the total waste received at the Woodland Meadows facility.

   Waste Management agreed to discontinue or modify their acceptance of biosolid materials in the event that nuisance conditions such as odors are created, go unresolved, and result in notices of violation.

   Delaney had presented a lengthy article from the Sierra Club to board members concerning landfill practices and this was studied by the Environmental Commission members but the information did not alter their previous recommendation to the Board of Trustees to approve the new request.

   Delaney spoke for an hour and a half on the subject at the township board workshop on Jan. 10 and then spoke another hour at the township board’s regular meeting on Jan. 11.

   He voiced concerns about the safety of what was being buried, but most of all he was worried that this additional sludge would form more methane gases that were needed for the proposed landfill-gas-to-energy project being proposed at the nearby Visteon property.

   Waste Management officials said the landfill already produces more than enough methane for that project.

   Delaney also read from another report and announced that in June or July he heard two complaints that Waste Management had dug a 10’x10’ hole into the side of the landfill and people got sick at a nearby party store from the methane fumes. He said he called Dan Swallow and the Environmental Commission and the information never got out.

   Delaney said a backhoe operator told him about digging the hole and he hopes the person doesn’t lose his job over this.

   Waste Management officials said they had to release/capture some gas at one point and they would look into his allegations.

   The WM officials first were informed at the Jan. 10 meeting and at the Jan. 11 meeting WM District Manager Jack Rowe said the WM officials spoke with a lady outside the workshop meeting on Jan. 10 and, “It might be a disgruntled employee that was terminated.”

   When resident Don Houttaker asked how much the township would be getting for this sludge burial, Supervisor White estimated it would bring in up to $20,000 or so a month.

   Houttaker asked if the township was willing to take this risk to generate from $75,000 to $100,000 a year.

   “In return, we’re going to take this environmental risk,” he said, referring to his concerns about heavy metals in the sludge that will get into the local environment.

   “Maybe it won’t happen in Van Buren. We live a holy life. Some say the risk is low, some say the risk is high,” Houttaker said.

   In other business at the Jan. 11 meeting, the board:

   * Voted unanimously to approve the Animal Sheltering Agreement with the Michigan Humane Society that will result in closing of the township animal shelter and save 68% in the animal control department, going from $37,949.01 VBT costs for animal sheltering to $14,270.61 for the Michigan Humane Society cost. This does not involve the pay of the animal control officer, who will continue to collect dogs half time and do another job the rest of the time. The impounded dogs will be taken to the MHS facility, 900 N. Newburgh, Westland;

   * Approved Poverty Exemption Guidelines for the Board of Review;

   * Approved a contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 236 effective from Oct. 7, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2011;

   * Approved resolutions authorizing the supervisor to sign the Wayne County Annual Maintenance and Wayne County Pavement Restoration permits;

   * Approved the Wade Trim Engineering Services 2011 Rate Schedule, which remain the same as the 2009 and 2010 rates;

   * Approved the appointment of James Ayer to the Local Development Finance Authority with a term to expire Aug. 12, 2014. Ayer, who currently is vice president of finance of Ricardo, Inc.,  replaces Ken McKanders, who has resigned from the LDFA;

   * Approved a proposal to have McKenna Associates provide planning and economic development services until someone is hired to take the place of Dan Swallow, who resigned to take a job in Monroe. Terry Carroll will operate as interim director and will be in the office eight hours a day and attend meetings. Sally Hodges and Christopher Khorey will assist in completing the responsibilities of the interim director up to 20 hours per month;

   * Denied a proposal to make public an attorney-client communication dated Nov. 9, 2010, concerning the work of Animal Control Officer Bob Queener. The attorney recommended denying the motion because the report contains personnel information. Diane Madigan expressed disappointment with the vote, since she has pointed out numerous problems, including contriving records of animal control department drug usage months after their use and missing fees, with the ACO alleging he gave dogs free to 106 indigent residents, although he had no authority to waive their fees. She said she would have liked to see the attorney’s report made public for everyone to see. Supervisor White said because of Madigan’s actions, the township has improved its animal control, saying Madigan did it “almost single-handedly”;

   * Heard CeeJay Marshall complain about Madigan and Public Safety Director Carl McClanahan’s reply: “I gave point-by-point answers [to her concerns]. She has nothing new. I’m not chasing my tail with this”; and

   * Heard Bruce Ross announce that the Warm Winter Coat collection gathered 127 coats that were distributed by the Goodfellows.

EQ/Wayne Disposal

   At the Jan. 10 workshop session heard a presentation by EQ/Wayne Disposal about their new expansion for additional landfill capacity. They have given the presentation to the Environmental Committee, the VBT police and fire chiefs, and now the VBT board at its workshop session.

   An open meeting was held Dec. 30 at the Holiday Inn to show the plans to the public, but nobody came. Another public session will be held at the Holiday Inn on Jan. 31.

   EQ/Wayne Disposal has already agreed to do projects for the township to smoothe the way for their expansion. The Beck Road Ball Field and the gun range are being improved.

City skateboard ordinance
goes back to the drawing board

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The Belleville City Council would like to have an ordinance in place to head off damage to the new downtown streetscape before it gets to the “malicious destruction of property” stage.

   A five-page draft ordinance was debated at Monday’s council meeting and then sent back to city attorney John Day so some parts could be taken out and some wording changed.

   Day said he needed some direction from the council members on what exactly they wanted from the ordinance. He will submit a revised ordinance, which they expect to consider at the next meeting on Jan. 18.

   Councilwoman Kim Tindall asked if having an ordinance banning or regulating skateboards and roller skates was singling out people and insinuating that “bad people’ ride skateboards and roller skates.

   She asked if there is a regulation on bicycles.

   Police Chief Gene Taylor said under current laws wheeled devices can use the sidewalks, but have to yield to pedestrians. When bicycles are in the streets, they must follow the rules of the road.

   Tindall said she did not want to ban roller skates or skate boards or bicycles from the downtown.

   Chief Taylor said there are two major schools near the downtown area and South Middle School students ride their bikes to school. Kids who ride skateboards go to the skate park, which has been provided as a safe place to skate.

   “Keeping the streetscape safe: I fully support that,” Councilwoman Tindall said, adding she doesn’t like banning vehicles from the downtown.

   When asked if there were problems with bicycles, Chief Taylor said once in a great, great while a BMX rider tries to show his little tricks and uses the bike pegs.

   “We don’t want kids not to be able to go to the ice cream store in the summer,” said Mike Renaud. “They should be allowed on Main,” he said of roller skates and skate boards, as well as bicycles.

   John Juriga said when the three planning commissions from the tri-communities met together, they encouraged the use of Main Street as the downtown for the area, for walkability.

   Juriga said he would like to see language added to the proposed ordinance that would include railings, since the library and the Methodist Church have the paint chipped on their railings by youngsters with skateboards.

   “I encouraged that the last time [we looked at the ordinance] and it’s still not on there,” Juriga said.

   “My daughters can’t ride their scooters down to the library?” asked Councilman Brian Blackburn. “It seems like we’re being punitive.”

   “If you see a bike on a wall or bench, can the police do something?” asked Tom Fielder, and Chief Taylor said, “Yes, it’s destruction of property.”

   “We already have a way to address this,” said Fielder. “We want to make a point that this vandalism will not be tolerated.” But, he didn’t want to ban people.

   “The ordinance is being written to stop vandalism, to nip it in the bud,” said Planning Commission Chairman Steve Jones. “I think we should add bicycles, too, if caught on the retaining wall or railing… We’re trying to prevent destruction.”

   Attorney explained the ordinance presented was a draft to encourage discussion, and it certainly did. The question is whether the council wants to prohibit skateboards and roller skates downtown.

   He said with the malicious destruction of property charge, he has to show damage in court to get a conviction.

   “Bicycles have been perceived as an amenity for a walkable community,” Fielder said, adding the bicycle/jogging paths being put in place to link Wayne County communities would go right down Liberty Street. He said it would be terrible if a cyclist going through town couldn’t stop at the Bayou to eat.

   Tindall also objected to the part of the ordinance  that said a youngster could get a skateboard back with a letter from a parent or guardian.

   “No letters,” she said, adding parents are often inconvenienced by something stupid their children have done and should have to come to the police station in person to retrieve a confiscated skateboard.

   “If you can ride a bike to the library, why not a scooter or skateboard?” Blackburn asked, addeing, “I think it’s punitive.”

   “The library has a ramp,” Chief Taylor said. “That’s why we have to have a reserve officer there to monitor the area… We have no problem with skateboarders riding TO the library. It’s the group that does their tricks.”

   “When you get to the library, you have to get off your skateboard,” Day said.

   Fielder suggested the council could designate areas that are off limits.

   Tindall said maybe the outer edge of the Fourth Street Square could be used to get from Main Street to the parking lot, but not on the compass embedded in the square.

   In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council:

   * Heard Blackburn give kudos to the Bayou Grill which would be having an appreciation day for police, fire, and EMTs on Jan. 5; and

   * Heard Vera Howell ask if a public employee of the city is noted for bad behavior, is it the right of the citizens to know what the disciplinary action is? Mayor Smith asked if she referred to DPS Director Keith Boc and Howell said she referred to any employee. Smith said Boc’s case was still under investigation. Howell asked if disciplinary action would be announced to the public and Mayor Smith said it would.

Published: Dec. 30, 2010
Ostrowski announces plans for
dog park, new shelter in VBT

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Van Buren Township Trustee Al Ostrowski has announced plans that have been in the making since before he was elected in 2008.

   “In light of the recent letters to the editor written by residents, it kind of forced my hand to announce plans for a new animal shelter,” Ostrowski said on Friday.

   He referred to several letters from animal lovers over the past few weeks. The writers expressed dismay over operations of the Van Buren Township dog pound, especially that the dogs in the pound were not announced anywhere so people could adopt them and save them from pending euthanasia.

   Ostrowski said he wanted the first order of business when he took office to find a parcel of land for a dog park.

   He said he negotiated with a local business person for approximately five acres on Martinsville Road, and “through the gracious generosity of Ron Tinsley” five acres is being made available for a dog park and animal shelter.

   Ostrowski said his plan is for the animal protection shelter -- which would accept dogs, cats, and injured wildlife – to be run by Van Buren Township volunteers, not the township.

   He said now that the land has been acquired, they have to form a non-profit organization, choose a name, start a bank account, get 401c(3) designation, solicit donations, and get licensed by the state as an animal protection shelter.

   “This is an animal protection shelter, not a dog pound,” Ostrowski emphasized.

   The five acres being considered is part of 13.41 acres re-zoned to R1-A, single-family residential, in September. It formerly was zoned M-I, light industrial. The land use for a shelter/dog park would have to be approved at the township planning level.

   Ostrowski said first a committee should be set up and he has asked Joannie Wazney of the Buster Foundation, Mindy Storen of Closer to Home Animal Advocates, and Diane Madigan, animal activist and dog trainer, to serve.

   He said those who have ideas or suggestions or who want to volunteer on this project should email him at aostrowski@vanburen-mi.org . He will print out the messages at home and give them to the committee.

   “I’ve decided the best way to handle all this, with the township balking at having volunteers, is to take the township out of the equation completely,” Ostrowski said.

   He said Tinsley’s five acres already is completely enclosed with a six-foot chain link fence so it can be used as the dog park VBT residents had told them they wanted. The shelter would be on the dog park property.

   There would be no boarding of animals. It would not be a business, he emphasized.

   It would be a service for VBT and the City of Belleville, he said.

   Ostrowski said there is a lot to be done and many volunteers and donations will be needed. For this project they will need an architect, planners, designers, donated materials, someone experienced with setting up a 401c(3), and a grant writer.

   Madigan said the committee should take tours of other shelters to get ideas on what works best.

   “It’s a good thing for the township. It really is,” Ostrowski said.

   “Anything to save the animals,” Madigan agreed.

   Ostrowski said they would like to find an attorney who would be willing to work with the group pro bono (free).

   (In an aside, Ostrowski explained that in Dog Speak that would be pro bone.)

   He said the group could also use a local banker who would like to help the animals and assist them in getting this project off the ground.

   Madigan said it would be good if a contractor would go out with the committee to visit other sites. And, she added, they could use a webmaster.

   Ostrowski said this new shelter would not interfere with the nonprofit Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue that started in VBT and moved to Sumpter Township to operate. He said FMAR, a no-kill shelter, gets filled to the brim regularly with dogs and cats.

   The new VBT shelter would be a similar operation to FMAR to be able to help even more animals in this area, Ostrowski said.

   He said he is looking for a name for this shelter and would appreciate people emailing him their suggestions.

   On Monday, Tinsley confirmed he is making the land available and they would need legal advice to determine the best way to do that.

   “It’s a start,” Tinsley said. “It’s called: Do something.”

Independent birthday open house
to feature free classified ads

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The Belleville-Area Independent is celebrating the completion of its 16^th year of service to the community with an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5.

   The event will be held in the newspaper office at 152 Main Street, Belleville, in the old movie theater building.

   To mark the birthday celebration, the Independent will offer free, non-commercial classified ads to those who attend the party or call in (699-9020) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 5.

   The Independent offered free classified advertising in 1995 when it first started publishing.

   Also, during the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. hours on Jan. 5, the newspaper is offering 1995 prices for subscriptions: $18 a year, in Michigan or elsewhere, limit one year, paid in advance.

   The Independent invites the public to come in and say hello, enjoy some goodies, and express their opinions on issues of the day. Refreshments will be served.

In December 1995

   In the Dec. 28, 1995 issue of the Independent, there was a picture of Santa Claus with Van Buren Township Supervisor Dave Jacokes and Belleville Mayor Dennis Fassett, posing on the new Belleville Bridge that had just opened to four-lane traffic.

   Another picture on the bridge showed Jacokes, Fassett, City Manager Kerreen Gillert (now Conley), DPS Director Keith Boc, and Chesley Odom, who designed the amenities for the bridge so it wasn’t a “freeway-style” plain bridge as previously planned. Santa was in this picture, too.

   Taking those photos as the icy winds blew was the Independent photographer, the late George Heifner.

   Although the bridge was not completed by the Nov. 15 deadline, Wayne County made good on a secondary deadline to have the bridge opened by Christmas.

   Also on the front page of the Dec. 28, 1995 issue was a box with a picture of Mark Perkins and the wording: “This is the 10^th week of the news blackout to the Independent from the Van Buren Township Public Safety Department, courtesy of Mark Perkins, Public Safety Director, in violation of the spirit of the First Amendment and the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.”

   After about the 12^th week of this box being on the front page, VBT relented and granted news from the police department equal to what it was giving other newspapers.

   This turnabout came after State Rep. Deborah Whyman took the issue to the State Attorney General who said the township had to follow the law.

   The Dec. 28 issue marked the end of the first year of publication for the Independent.

Judge Oakley sets

Feb. 1 hearing on fate of killer pit bull

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The owner of the pit bull who killed a greyhound at 600 Sumpter mobile home park on Oct. 4 is due in court at 9 a.m. Feb. 1 to explain why his dog shouldn’t be destroyed.

   Michelle Korotney said she was called by an assistant Wayne County Prosecutor at 9:45 a.m. Dec. 21, who told her the pretrial examination was under way for Wayne Thomas, the alleged owner of the pit bull Dakota who killed her greyhound Buddy.

   Korotney was shocked because she said she had wanted to attend any court sessions on the death of her dog, but nobody contacted her.

   “It’s not my job to notify you,” the prosecutor reportedly said to Korotney, noting the court is supposed to do that.

   The prosecutor said that it really wasn’t necessary for Korotney to be there, since Thomas was pleading guilty to harboring a dangerous animal and there would be no trial.

   Thomas would be paying restitution for the cremation cost of Buddy, some $135.

   Korotney said she was horrified.

   “He pays restitution and gets to keep his dog. My dog is dead. I want that dog dead,” Korotney said she told the prosecutor.

   Korotney recalls that her son Luke couldn’t sleep for a month because of the killing he watched. He couldn’t eat.

   Luke had to watch his dog dying in his arms, with Buddy’s head hanging down connected only by skin. Luke had to punch the pit bull to get him off Buddy, Korotney said.

   She said she asked the prosecutor which judge is handling the case and she was told it was 34^th District Court Judge Brian Oakley.

   Korotney said that was bad news to her, since she knows Judge Oakley in the past ordered that a dog be euthanized for killing a neighbor dog, but then relented after the killer dog’s owner cried. The killer dog was allowed to be taken to Washtenaw County to live.

   Korotney said if the dog who killed Buddy goes on to kill a child, an adult, or another animal, “everybody responsible should be sued” including the prosecutor, judge, and anyone else who aided in freeing the animal.

   “That dog needs to die,” Komara said and the prosecutor went back to the case being heard in Judge Oakley’s courtroom.

   Later in the afternoon, the prosecutor called Korotney and told her that she told the judge that the owner of the dog that was killed wants the killer dog destroyed, so Judge Oakley refused to take the guilty plea from Thomas for harboring a dangerous animal and instead set the show cause hearing on Feb. 1.

   Presently the dog, allegedly owned by Holly and Wayne Thomas, is living in Washtenaw County.

   After he killed Buddy, Dakota was taken to the Van Buren Township dog pound, but was released the next day by the animal control officer, who said the dog was friendly and didn’t seem aggressive.

   The pit bull was picked up from the pound and was allegedly being taken to Inkster to the dog’s original owners, but within a few days’ time, the dog was back at 600 Sumpter.

   When the park owner was advised of the dog’s presence, the dog was banned from the park and was taken to Washtenaw County.

   In November, Ronald Murray called the Independent to say he was the owner of Dakota and took offense to the dog being called “a killer” in the newspaper, although he admitted Dakota killed Buddy.

   Holly Thomas called the Independent the same day to say she was a neighbor and Dakota was “the neighborhood puppy” and children could climb all over him. Holly and Wayne Thomas now claim to be owners of Dakota.

   It was Holly’s young daughter who had Dakota on a leash when the dog killed Buddy, who was running free.

Two police retirements firsts in Van Buren Township history

By Adam Byrd

VBT Community Police Officer

   On Dec. 31, 2010 Van Buren Township will have an historical moment to remember.

   Officers Roy Schroeder and James Miller will be the first police officers ever to retire from the VBT Police Department.

   Both officers have been a valuable asset to the community and will be missed. Here are some highlights of how these police officers impacted the VBT community over the course of their careers.

   Officer James Miller worked for the VBT Police Department from December of 1982 until Dec. 31, 2010. During his career Miller served as the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer where he educated children on the consequences of drugs, a detective where he investigated criminal complaints, the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator where he assisted subdivisions to unify and take a proactive approach in combating crime, and a patrol officer where he served taking complaints and assisting citizens.

   Officer Miller also was a defensive driving instructor for the police department where he taught the patrol officers evasive maneuvers used in patrol. He also was a grant writer.

   Officer Roy Schroeder worked for the department from December 1982 until Dec. 31, 2010. Officer Schroeder took a

break in his employment with the VBT Police Department from 1988 until 1991 after accepting a Chief of Police position with the South Rockwood Department, located near Monroe.

   Officer Schroeder completed a master’s degree in Public Administration on his own from Central Michigan University and utilized his knowledge for the community’s benefit in the multiple grants he wrote over his career.

   During Schroeder’s career he served as one of the first Evidence Technicians where he collected and processed evidence, as a Firearms Instructor where he taught police officers updated weapon techniques and accuracy, and as an Information and Technology Officer where he implemented the first database recordkeeping system in the history of the police department. He also was an Accident Reconstructionist and a grant writer where he wrote several grants for the police department.  As a patrol officer he served taking complaints and assisting citizens and as the Desk and Support Operations officer where he conducted video arraignments and processed the hundreds of pieces of police paperwork that come through the police department on a daily basis.

   Together Officers Schroeder and Miller worked on some notable projects. One major project was in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation in which the township received an $80,000 grant the first year and between $15,000 and $20,000 for four subsequent years.

   During the technology boom the government would not fund the purchase of computers. Officers Schroeder and Miller, however, did find funding to purchase the parts for the computers and the youth and seniors partnered together and built township computers.

   This cross-generational project allowed the youth to build a relationship with the seniors and get a needed task accomplished. Not only was this a success, but some of the computers are still being used in the senior center laboratory that was created from this project.

   Officers Schroeder and Miller: Thank you for a job well done. The younger officers have a legacy to look up to because of your hard work and dedication to the Van Buren Township community.

   Congratulations on being the first police officers to retire from the Van Buren Township Police Department.

published: Dec. 23, 2010:
School Board moves ahead
with plans for New Tech at BHS

By Jacquelyn Garner

Independent Special Writer

   A New Tech High School, that has been under study since July, came a step closer to implementation at the Dec. 14 meeting of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education.

   The New Tech High School, a separate school within Belleville High School, could begin next fall at a cost of some $400,000, for a four-and-a-half-year contract.

   The board approved having School Supt. Thomas Riutta enter into negotiations with the New Tech Network about the process of being a part of the network and to determine the exact cost.

   Paul Buck from the New Tech Foundation conducted an onsite readiness visit at Van Buren on Nov. 17, in order to prepare a recommendation for his leadership team.

   Once the district hears back about the status of its application, Riutta will be able to begin discussions and negotiations.

   BHS principal Michael Van Tassel said the district became aware of the New Tech model, developed to “fix” the local public high schools, when six Michigan sites began implementation in 2010 – Ypsilanti, River Rouge, Westwood, Pinckney, Holland, and NICE.

   The Van Buren exploration began when Van Tassel, Peggy Voigt, Scott Wilsey, and Jason Butka attended the annual New Tech Conference in July. Then, there were additional visits to New Tech schools on Sept. 16, Oct. 6, and Nov. 3, with a total of 22 district representatives and parents. The expenses for the visits were paid with a grant from New Tech.

   Van Tassel recommended entering into negotiations in order to begin in the fall of 2011. Since appropriate space is a concern, Van Tassel recommended beginning with freshman only and adding a grade level each subsequent year.

   “I realize that the first year of implementation will be a challenge in the old building, but I believe it is wise to begin with the small group in order to be ready to move into our new facility,” Van Tassel said.

   The fees to New Tech provide professional development and support to BHS in the form of intensive professional development, a coach to guide them through the process, and a wealth of technology and curricular support, Van Tassel wrote in a memo to the superintendent.

   In other business at the Dec. 14 meeting, the board:

   • Approved creation of a technology department that would standardize the computer systems in the district and to work with the new high school that will be technology-driven. Long-term employee Harvey Chesney will be the service coordinator, a two-year contract that pays $51,067 for 2010-11 and $62,500 for 2011-12. His current salary is $39,635, so the total increase is $22,865. The technology specialist chosen is James Marcum, III (currently administrative assistant to the curriculum supervisor at a salary of $33,614) who will be paid $40,557 the first year and $47,500 the second year. The second technology specialist is Michelle Kovach (currently working in a technology capacity as a temporary employee at a pay of $12.87 per hour). She will be paid $39,500 for 2010-11. The total increase to the district for the technology team was estimated at $76,251. A paraprofessional rose to address the board, again asking that job openings be posted instead of just being filled;

   • Approved formation of a study team to look at consolidating specific grades in the two middle schools (5-6 in one school and 7-8 in the other). The initial meeting will be the second week in January, with final recommendations to the board of education on March 14. The project is called the Grade Span Configuration Study for Fifth through Eighth Grades;

   • Approved setting up a group to study the elementary school attendance areas in order to re-establish the elementary schools as “neighborhood schools” and decrease the amount of time the children are spending in transit. Alternatives will be explored to evenly distribute the student population in the six elementary schools. The final recommendation is due at the March 14 board meeting;

   • Approved Change Order #5 on the BHS construction, changing the footing, skylight steel, gas pipe material, and provide pool manhole cover, not to exceed $14,953.71;

   • Change Order #6 at an additional cost of $113,296.14 for miscellaneous additional items;

   • Approved BHS Field Order #50 for an amount not to exceed $22,721.60. This involved Davenport Brothers dewatering for nine days ($278.44 per day), 110 yards of flowable fill ($165 per yard), and installation of new foundations as requested in the area of construction to correct the undermining of the foundations at the electrical vault;

   • Tabled the proposed Board Policy Bylaws until the first graph is completed;

   • Heard a report from Peggy Voigt, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Director, on student achievement in the first marking period, including the pilot program for ninth graders where the students generally got higher scores than those in the non-pilot program;

   • Approved hiring of Shawn Ferguson as custodian at Tyler; and Jennifer Cecil in marketing at BHS, assigned to the school store;

   • Heard Van Tassel give a State of the School 100-Day address, explaining changes at BHS; and

   • Recognized Van Buren Civic Fund donations and Outstanding Scientists Students of the Month.

Paraprofessional concerns

   Concerned parent Sandy Jackson, along with three others, spoke on the problems that go along with having 28 Kindergarten students and one substitute teacher in an Edgemont Elementary classroom without a paraprofessional to help. She said the classroom was out of control.

   She quoted BHS Principal Van Tassel, who just had said to the board, “If you can’t read, you’re done,” noting the early years in school are crucial.

   Jackson wanted the board to make a motion to bring back paraprofessionals to the classrooms before 2011 begins.

   Outgoing board president David Peer replied, “We’ll look into it” and Trustee Martha Toth said the board cannot make that motion.

   Curriculum Director Voigt said she went to Edgemont Elementary School last week trying to help.

   Lisa James, a consultant with a nephew in the classroom in question, visited several times and found it to be an “unsafe environment.” She asked the board for a paraprofessional to help.

   Peer, who was presiding over his last meeting after being unseated by voters, said they would get back to her and have a report at the January meeting.

Also contributing to this report was Rosemary K. Otzman.

VB School Board eliminates two jobs, gives a $20,000 raise

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The Communications Office and the job of the Assistant Transportation Supervisor were eliminated at the Dec. 14 meeting of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education, putting Paul Henning and Deb Maciejewski out of jobs just days before Christmas.

   The cuts were part of a cost-savings recommendation from School Supt. Tom Riutta, who also recommended large raises for two supervisors and raises for secretaries.

   The board needed to find funds for the new technology team and a new high school within a high school ($400,000 or so) planned to start next school year.

   The elimination of Henning’s job will save about $34,000 this school year and about $90,000 for 2011-12, Supt. Riutta said.

   Riutta said the work done by Henning will be shared internally through the Technology Department, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Peggy Voigt), the Superintendent’s office, and the Parent Involvement office.

   The elimination of Maciejewski’s job would save $25,000 the first year and $55,000 the next year, he said.

   He also recommended the reduction of the assistant BHS principal assignment of D. Connelly, who was completing his work assignment as of Dec. 17. The planned elimination of Connelly’s interim position would save $40,000 for the remainder of this year and $80,000 the next school year, Riutta said.

   The final cost-cutting recom-mendation was a reduction in the personnel office. Currently, Neil Hartman, another interim employee brought in by Riutta, is working five days a week and this was reduced to three days on Dec. 13, as was planned in the past. The estimated savings would be approximately $25,000 for this year and $42,400 for next year, Riutta said.

   Riutta said the total of these cuts exceeds his recommendation for raises in salaries and opening of the Technology Department.

   Riutta figured adding the two-year savings together would total $391,400, far exceeding the two years of salary increases, which he estimated at $115,228.

   The board unanimously passed the cuts and raises, as outlined by Riutta.

   The raises are:

   • Supervisors’ increase of $16,786 each year for two years, for a total of $33,572 increase.

   This includes Director of Plant Operations and Services Brian Brice who will get a $10,000 raise, from his current $65,913 to $75,913 in 2010-11 and another $10,000 to $85,913 in 2011-12, for a total of $20,000 over the two years.

   Brice has announced he plans to retire in 2012. The contract approved by the board is for two years.

   Also, Business Office Manager Pam Smart, who currently makes $51,428, will receive $58,214 in 2010-11 and $65,000 in 2011-12, for a two-year increase of $13,572. Her contract also is for two years.

   She has been fulfilling the duties of finance director since Nick Armelagos resigned and now is named Supervisor of Financial Services. She will serve as an assistant Business Manager, while Mike Dixon serves as the three-day-a-week interim Business Manager.

   Riutta said that with staff cutbacks, both Brice and Smart have taken on significant job responsibilities in addition to their original duties.

   • Technology Department increase, $38,126 for the first year, $38,125 for the second year for a total of $76,251; and

   • Executive Secretarial increases, $5,405 for 2010-11. This includes a $4,635 raise for Kathy Kovach, secretary to the superintendent, and an increase of $1,000 for Patty Burrell, business office secretary.

   Kovach’s salary goes from $52,095 to $56,500 and Burrell’s goes from $50,676 to $51,676.

   The next morning after the school board meeting, Henning issued a statement when the Independent asked about his reaction to losing his job the week before Christmas.

   “I have done some of the best work of my career for the District and I am very proud to have been a representative of Van Buren Public Schools.

   “I wish to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to rise to the challenges of the last seven and a half years and broaden my career skills. I hope you will remember me for going above and beyond for the students and the community.

   “I wish the best of luck to all as the District moves forward into tougher challenges with state funding and finishing the construction of the new high school.”

   Henning’s last day was Dec. 17.

   Sherry Frazier, who was elected to the school board on Nov. 2 and will take office in January, questioned why the school board made decisions to cut jobs and give raises at the last meeting for David Peer and Victor Hogan, who had been defeated at the polls.

   Frazier has been attending meetings regularly since October and hadn’t heard any discussion about these cuts or raises.

   “You don’t give out $20,000 raises on your last meeting in office,” Frazier said Friday. She also spoke on the issue at the meeting.

   “I just think it’s excessive,” Frazier said. “There was no discussion from any board member.”

   Frazier said Trustee Martha Toth said that it pained her to let Henning go, since he has been an excellent employee. “We won’t know how much he has done for us until he is gone,” Toth said.

   Frazier and others at the meeting said it was improper to have these decisions made by the old board. She said board members told her this has been discussed for a long time and the new board members wouldn’t know the background. But Frazier said it hasn’t been discussed publicly in the last few months.

   Frazier pointed out that Henning’s position also was as a grant writer and if he wrote one good grant, it could pay for his salary.

   Mike Long of Van Buren Township said he was a little befuddled by the board’s action.

   On Sunday, Long said that at the Dec. 13 meeting he asked the board if they could wait one meeting until the new board members were seated and Trustee Martha Toth said it wouldn’t change anything.

   Long said everyone is interim in the leadership positions and when the new school is built most of these people will be gone.

   “I just couldn’t understand why they couldn’t wait one more meeting,” he said.

   Long, who is Henning’s brother-in-law, said he had some concerns about the school district in the past, but didn’t speak out because of his relationship to Henning. Now that is no longer the case.

   He noted that Henning never discussed his work with family members.

   Long said he had nothing against the ones getting the big raises or their abilities.

   He said it was almost inconceivable to hear the superintendent say the district couldn’t hire a permanent business manager because nobody applied, when the only place they posted it was on the district web site, with a link to RESA.

   Long was a longtime official in Van Buren Township government and now is a Realtor. He has two children in Belleville High School and one in elementary school.

Sumpter Township Planners send Alexander’s pond to township board

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   After two meetings focusing on the pond Stanley Alexander dug to drain his property, the Sumpter Township Planning Commission decided it wasn’t theirs to deal with and sent it on to the township board for consideration.

   The action was taken at the regular Dec. 12 planning commission meeting.

   Alexander’s pond is behind his house at 46569 Arkona Road.

   He was seeking a special exemption use permit under one of the township ordinances, detailing farm ponds. He didn’t have the setback required and so he had been directed to get the township engineer involved.

   Alexander said he paid for a survey and Metco engineers confirmed it.

   “I want an ornamental pond,” Alexander told the board, noting he would have to fill in a little bit of the pond to comply.

   But, the ornamental pond requires only 30’ setback, while a farm pond requires 100’.

   Sumpter Township attorney Rob Young said if Alexander is petitioning for an ornamental pond the township board has jurisdiction and approves it.

   “This board doesn’t have jurisdiction,” Young said, adding that it wasn’t the township’s job to make the ordinances clear.

   Alexander said that there are no guidelines for a petitioner to know what to do.

   Young replied that to discuss the differences between ornamental and farm ponds would take time and, “We could be here until next Tuesday.”

   “It’s up to him to present proper papers to the township for review,” Young said.

   Commissioner Matthew Oddy said Alexander wouldn’t be in this situation if he came to the township before he dug the pond.

   “Would we have this issue if we had a planner to assist us?” asked Commissioner Don Swinson.

   Commissioner Jim Clark said he had gone out to look at the pond and, “It’s essentially an ornamental pond. It’s beautiful. It’s terraced… It’s very attractive.”

   Trustee Linda Kennedy, the township board’s liaison to the planning commission, said Alexander should try to get on the next agenda of the township board. She said the planning commission can do nothing because it is not a zoning issue.

   Young said the ornamental pond is covered under the Soil & Erosion part of the ordinances, Chapter 21, page 1,128. The ordinances are on line.

   Alexander said Trustee Kennedy had pointed out that section to him.

   He was told that if his issue can’t get on the township agenda for the December meeting, it could be in January.

   “It’s winter,” Alexander said. “There’s nothing you can do about it now, anyway.”

Pizza/Liquor Store

   Attorney Young then introduced Eddie Zeer, owner of the pizza place at the corner of Sumpter and Bemis roads. Zeer said he has owned that property for 25 years, and had leased it out to various businesses.

   Young said the business no longer is just a pizza place, but also a liquor store and party store, which is “a use change,” and requires planning commission consideration.

   Young said Zeer obtained a package liquor license permit from the State of Michigan and went to the police department and submitted information as required by the LCC.

   Zeer also talked to the township’s part-time building official. Zeer has paved his parking lot and is in the process of putting on a new stucco façade.

   Young said that the township is trying to get a process started, as mentioned by Commissioner Oddy, to have everyone follow the same rules. Young said Zeer wants to have a review of his plans and the commission to find the use appropriate, and he wants it as soon as possible.

   Young said the planning consultant, John Enos, submitted a letter stating Zeer’s use is consistent with the zoning.

   Zeer said he is adding liquor to the pizzeria, which is the main business, and they will have snacks, pop, and other items.

   “We are making improvements on the outside, so we have a different look at the entrance to Sumpter Township,” Zeer said, adding that the inside is already done.

   Deputy Supervisor Craig Moody said Zeer applied for a building permit for an addition to the building, but he didn’t have the setbacks required, so it was denied.

   Commissioners discussed the perception that the business has been closed for more than six months, which would trigger a review by the planning commission before reopening.

   Trustee Bill Hamm said Clerk Clarence Hoffman pointed out to him that the business was now a liquor store. Hamm said he brought the information to the building department.

   Young said he talked to the planner who said he doesn’t want Zeer to spend a lot of money with engineering drawings for a review. It is not expanding, the “parking is what it is,” and it is permitted in the zoning.

   “But, people just go out and start things,” Young said. “We’re trying to be consistent with everybody.”

   “He’s done a great job,” Young said of Zeer. “We’ll just do a review, so it’s a matter of record and won’t become an issue in the future.”

   A site plan review costs $1,000 and Zeer didn’t want to have to pay that. Young said Zeer could use the drawings he had and the attorney wouldn’t have to review it. He said it was not an effort to circumvent the law, but a way to reduce fees for the engineer and planner.

   Commissioner Zeola Walker asked if Zeer had a township business license. She said the dates on a business license would show when the business was open, instead of just guessing.

   “We all agree this is a good idea, as long as the procedure is followed,” Kennedy said of Zeer’s store and noting it could be put on the agenda of the commission’s Jan. 13 meeting.

   Commissioner Clark said the commission could just approve the site plan now, but Kennedy replied, “If you allow him to do business without approval, it’s setting a precedent.”

   “We shouldn’t stop him from doing business, as long as he provides documentation to the board,” Clark said.

   “He has not filled out an application or paid a fee,” Kennedy said.

   Commission chairman Jane Stalmack asked Zeer if he had a business license with the township, but he replied he has a liquor license through the state.

   “Give us a day or two,” Young said. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll get it taken care of so nobody can point to you [Zeer] and say, ‘Bad Boy’.”

   Zeer left the meeting.

   Commissioner Swinson said first it was the grocery store proceeding without permits, then the pond, now this. He said he is not schooled in land use issues.

   “Is there any way the township can work with us in getting help?” Swinson said. “Would it be beneficial to have a planner?”

   Kennedy replied that John Enos of Carlisle Wortman is employed on a case-by-case basis and it’s a budgetary issue for the township.

   “We need a full-time building inspector,” Clark said.

   Oddy said the food market proceeded without a permit, the pond, the parking lot at Keystone, and now this.

   “He’s open for business and he’s not supposed to be,” Oddy continued. “They are doing whatever they want.”

   “We catch them whenever we can,” said Moody.

   “Our zoning ordinances are horribly outdated,” Young said. “Some are from the ‘60s. We change one and it makes a problem for another. We ended up with a zoning ordinance difficult to enforce,” Young said. “We are down an ordinance officer. We try to get to issues right away before it gets a life of its own.”

   Commissioner Tyrone Borden said the City of Detroit shut down his store for five months until he did what they wanted.

   “If they’re not breaking somebody’s knees or picking somebody’s pocket, we try to work with them … give them time,” Young said. “We don’t want to be the hate police. We’re doing the best we can under the circumstances.”

   Deputy Clerk Esther Hurst said her office tries to give applicants all the information they can and there is a checklist for steps in the paperwork.

   Stalmack said they should try to get information in the township newsletter so people know to check with the township before starting projects.

   “People think they can go to Sumpter Township and you can do whatever you want,” Walker said.

   “It was getting good, but now it’s going backwards,” Kennedy said.

Belleville puts out a call for volunteers to help distribute food

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The City of Belleville is seeking  volunteers to help with picking up, sorting and distributing free food to feed senior citizens and others in need.

   City Manager Diana Kollmeyer said the city has been advised by Van Buren Township that after Jan. 1 it will no longer provide manpower for Focus Hope and USDA commodity foods for those in need in the City of Belleville.

   VBT Supervisor Paul White said it is a cost issue. He said VBT has been using its DPW employees to pick up, sort, box, and deliver the food items.

   He said VBT board members indicated they wanted Belleville to share in the cost and, with the VBT budget crunch, the township can no longer afford to do it for the city.

   City Manager Kollmeyer said VBT Senior Director Lynette Jordan has been very helpful to Belleville and is showing Kollmeyer the ropes and helping her set up contacts to get the federal programs running in the city.

   Kollmeyer said Focus Hope is a monthly program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides a food box for senior citizens 60 years of age or older, based on income.

   Focus Hope boxes include cereal, juice, tuna and other canned meats and stews, cheese, milk, dry beans, peanut butter, dehydrated potatoes or pasta or rice, fruits and vegetables.

   The program is being set up for the 48 recipients at Columbia Court, the 13 at Belleville Co-Op Apartments, plus 13 other individuals who need home delivery.

   “I think I have that problem solved,” Kollmeyer said, referring to Focus Hope.

   It’s the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) that is posing a challenge.

   TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing them with food and nutrition assistance at no cost.

   Under TEFAP, the USDA makes commodity foods available to states, who in turn release this food to participating agencies and food banks.

   Recipients of food for home use must meet income eligibility criteria by the state.

   Kollmeyer said the VBT September Days Senior Center has been the local distribution center. VBT would send its DPW over to the Kay Beard Building in Westland to pick up the non-perishable items on the third Wednesday of the month. Church members from Romulus sort the food.

   Then, the next day, the VBT DPW goes back to Westland to pick up the frozen food and participants come to September Days to get their food. VBT would give boxes to Columbia Court for distribution.

   Every month, the distribution center has to order the food that will be needed ahead of time. The specific days of Belleville’s pickup and distribution may be different than VBT’s schedule, Kollmeyer said.

   Kollmeyer said what she would like to have is a church or social group who would volunteer to help with pickup, sorting, and distribution for two days a month.

   Also, the sorting of the food can’t be done at city hall because of scheduled meetings in the council chambers.

   So, a facility is needed for sorting and storing overnight. Kollmeyer said Victory Station might be used.

   Kollmeyer said she was told that occasionally freezer space is needed to store food for a short time and the Arctic Air business in Canton Township offered freezer space to VBT and would also help Belleville.

   The Emergency Food Assistance Program is available free of charge to those who have lost their jobs, are on a fixed income, and/or meet income guidelines, regardless of age.

   Those City of Belleville residents wishing to sign up for the program may come to city hall or call city hall at 697-9323. Then they will be directed to their contact person.

   Volunteers also are urged to call or come into city hall to offer help.

   Kollmeyer said she has gone to training and witnessed the sorting and delivery process. She said she met a couple who drives down once a month from Alpena to help with a local program because they believe it is important.

   “It’s quite a process,” said Kollmeyer, adding, “It’s a wonderful program for people in need. We have to do it.”

   She said with the economy, the need is growing in the community.

   Kollmeyer said Belleville has many generous residents and friends, so she knows people will volunteer once they find out about the need.

   She said she may have to ask VBT to delay its Jan. 1 cutoff for a month, to give the city time to set up its program.

   Kollmeyer said when she was observing the process, she was amazed by the amount of food provided to families.

   She said she saw the biggest box of Kellogg’s corn flakes she had ever seen, plus three to four pounds of beans, canned tomatoes, juice, vegetables, fruits, and many, many other items. The frozen items included shredded cheese, blueberries, and beef. The items change monthly.

   There currently are 36 locations in Wayne County for TEFAP distributions, including VBT September Days (noon to 3 p.m. on the third Thursday – call 699-8900) and Sumpter Township Senior Center (8:30-11:30 a.m. on the third Thursday – call 461-9373). Proof of income and residency is required.

   During budget sessions recently, VBT board members had voiced disapproval that Belleville no longer is paying September Days the $10,000 annual fee it once did.

   Kollmeyer said the city used to be able to use some of its federal Community Development Block Grant funds for senior services, so they could pass that on to VBT.

   But now CDBG has cut back the percentage of funds allowed for services, insisting on more bricks and mortar projects. The city no longer had the funds to pass on to VBT, Kollmeyer said.

VBT’s Dan Swallow heading to job with City of Monroe

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   On Monday evening, the Monroe City Council approved the employment of Daniel E. Swallow as its new Director of Economic and Community Development.

   Swallow, currently the Van Buren Township Director of Planning and Economic Development, was expected to give 30 days notice to VBT on Tuesday, so he could begin his new job in Monroe shortly after the first of the year.

   According to city meeting documents on line, Swallow will be paid $75,000 the first year, with a $3,000 relocation allowance, since they would like him to move from VBT to the City of Monroe. After a year of successful employment, he will be paid $78,000, or $80,000 if he lives in Monroe.

   Immediately upon beginning his job he will have 10 days of vacation coming and that increases to 15 days after the first year.

   There were 65 applicants for the job, 15 were screened by a committee, and five interviewed.

   Swallow has been with VBT for seven years and has been director since January 2009, shortly after Director Bryce Kelley resigned from the position. In 2010 his salary was $72,150.

   Swallow was deputy director from 2006-09 and environmental director 2002-06.

   Two of his references were former Director Kelley and former Supervisor Cindy King.

Santa coming to town this Saturday

   Belleville will be abuzz with activity once again this Saturday, as the Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce presents it annual Winter Fest.

   The big event of the day will be the arrival of Santa Claus on the back of a Belleville fire truck as the finale of the lighted Christmas parade.

   Santa will get the Key to the City, light the City Christmas Tree in front of the museum, and then go over to First United Methodist Church to sit on his throne, where he will listen to children and hand out treats.

   While the families are waiting to see Santa, they will be treated to a live nativity scene at the church, spelling out the real meaning of Christmas.

   There will be activities all day, starting at 11 a.m. when the Ice Festival with its ice carvings and demonstrations opens, along with the outdoor ice rink on the Fourth Street Square, put on by the Belleville Yacht Club.

   The Saturday, Dec. 4 schedule released by the Chamber of Commerce is:

   * Ice Festival, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

   * Ice Rink – 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; also Sunday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

   * Kids Zone – Noon – 3 p.m., includes games, bounce house, inflated slide, face painting, and popcorn

   * Lighted Parade – 6 p.m., starts at Belleville High School, heads to Five Points via West Columbia Avenue, and then northward on Main Street to the museum.

   * After the Parade – Santa gets the Key to the City, lights the City Christmas Tree in front of the museum, and heads over to the Methodist Church to listen to the children.

   * Fireworks over Belleville Lake – planned for about 7:30 p.m. from the Denton Road Bridge, which will be closed to traffic during the event.

   Helping the Chamber sponsor the event are the Belleville Yacht Club, EQ—The Environmental Company, and the Belleville Downtown Development Authority.

School Board OKs idea of raising the roof of BHS cafeteria

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously on Monday to move forward on preliminary plans to raise the roof of the Belleville High School cafeteria, which could cost up to $1.6 million.

   It all started when the School Board couldn’t hear each other speak at meetings in the cafeteria. Members of the audience complained, too, that they couldn’t hear the board. An improved sound system didn’t help much.

   So, the administration asked the professionals on site for the BHS construction to come up with a fix to the poor acoustics. The BHS cafeteria already was getting a new floor, ceiling, and addition to the east as part of the $76 million BHS project.

   The school architects, Fanning Howey, brought in an acoustician, who looked at the cafeteria and the theater, and considered different options to improve the acoustics.

   A plan developed to raise the roof about four feet to get the right dimensions to carry the sound, or to put in a more curved roof – or both.

   John Davids, a principal of Fanning Howey, told the board the cafeteria is 12,000 square feet in size with an 11-foot ceiling.

   The sound could be improved by raising the roof like in a band room, Davids said. But then, there is a lack of natural light in the cafeteria and there will be even less when the south becomes blocked by the two instructional towers.

   “It’s like a cave,” Davids said, adding his idea is to improve the north wall of the cafeteria by installing a bank of 10’ tall windows.

   Also, the six big masonry columns in the cafeteria are bad for sight lines and they will be re-engineering the ceiling to have the cafeteria as a clear span from north to south.

   The gently curving roof, plus more windows in the north, and removal of the big blocks within the room will bring the cafeteria into line with the other state of the art construction at the new high school, he said.

   Davids said it will take special engineering and “will be like building a Swiss watch inside a watch … not that it can’t be done … but it will be a little more fussy construction…”

   He said the cafeteria work will be done after the old high school is demolished and will take about four months. Davids said they’ll have to add a month of construction in the spring and one month on the end during the summer of 2013.

   He said students may have to have lunch in the gym, while the construction is under way.

   BHS Principal Mike Van Tassel spoke in support of the cafeteria makeover.

   “We have to stop thinking in the old way. A cafeteria is more than a place to eat,” Van Tassel said, adding that it will be a commons area during school hours and should be comfortable for students to work in groups.

   “If it was just a lunchroom, we could just plug our ears and deal with it,” Van Tassel said, noting the school needed to be a place for 21^st century learning.

   Davids said the new media center is being built right next to the cafeteria and the area will be a hub of student activity.

   Davids said the cafeteria construction shouldn’t impact the kitchen and Sid Dotinga of Granger Construction said they would work out logistics to get the food to wherever the students will be eating.

   Parent Mike Long urged the school board not to discount the 1,800 students in the school and their need to be fed. He said he does not want to see them sitting on the floor to eat and, “…you’ll have to have a better plan than we’ll figure it out later.”

   Paul Wills of Plante Moran CRESA said those working on the construction will look at the facility and work with the administration on a plan. He promised not to discount the students.

   “We will structure that in advance,” promised Board Trustee Brenda McClanahan.

   David said the board will have three places to change its mind if it approves the preliminary drawings: approval of bid documents, a decision to go out for bids, and accepting or rejecting bids.

   The cost is estimated at from $1.3 to $1.5 million, but they won’t get a more precise guess on the cost until after the architectural drawings are submitted to contractors for estimates.

   “That makes more sense to me than artificial turf,” said Treasurer Martha Toth, referring to the recent split vote on another spending issue.

   “It made sense to four board members. That’s why it passed,” shot back Board Vice President Bob Binert, one of those favoring artificial turf for the football field.

   The board then voted unanimously to approve additional design and engineering from Fanning Howey for the cafeteria roof design at a fixed cost of $68,750.

   In other business at Monday’s meeting, the board:

   * Approved the low bid on lockers for the new BHS from Steel Equipment Company for $260,500;

   * Approved the bid of Dew-El Corp. for athletic equipment for $184,610. This is for the infrastructure of the athletic department, such as support hoops for basketball, volleyball nets, scoreboards (interior and exterior), wrestling mats, wrestling hoists, and other fixed equipment that will be part of the building;

   * Approved change order #2 for operable partitions and additional plumbing alternate not to exceed $84,025.47 to make eight flexible instructional spaces in the new school, instead of the planned four areas;

   * Approved change order #3 as recommended by the State Fire Inspectors for Fire Protection Duct Bank/Switchgear for an amount not to exceed $33,194.07;

   * Approved change order #4 to deduct $311.502 in credits from the previously announced Greatest Maximum Price Allowances because of savings in various parts of the construction;

   * Heard a presentation from four BHS teachers and Principal Van Tassel about the pilot program for 70 ninth graders (of the class of 400) to improve their basic skills in math, English, and science/social studies with an alternative schedule of three hours of 83 minutes each, instead of the regular four hour schedule. A more precise report will be given to the board at the end of the first semester;

   * Approved development of a Family Resource Center at a mobile unit formerly used by the alternative education program. The proposal is for the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency to rent the space and offer free services to the tri-community, including counseling, assistance for rent, utilities, food, homeless support and weatherization;

   * Approved purchase of six trucks for the district: one F750 dump truck from low-bidder North Brothers Ford for $85,677; and three E350s for $68,487 and two F350s for $72,779 from Atchinson Ford of Belleville. There was extensive discussion because a third bidder, Taylor Ford, bid lower than Atchinson and North, but board policy allowed selection of the local bidder. Taylor did not bid on the big dump truck. The district has a pre-approved bank loan on the equipment which allows interest only to be paid in 2011 and 2012, with the rest of the loan paid off in a balloon payment in 2013;

   * Approved purchase of a district digital radio communication system for $133,289.88 from Herkimer Radio Service, with a promotional rebate. Paul Henning said he has put in a grant request to the Van Buren Civic Fund that may help pay for it;

   * Approved the purchase of two diesel Toro Groundsmaster Mowers with batwings from low bidder Spartan Distributors of Auburn Hills at a total cost of $143,023.88. One has a 16’ cut and the other 11’;

   * Approved the minutes of special disciplinary hearings on Nov. 8 where two BHS students were permanently expelled. Also approved were the minutes of special disciplinary hearings on Nov. 17 for two BHS students. One was suspended until the end of the first semester and the other suspended for the remainder of the school year;

   * Approved hiring Monique Holland as Secretary II at Tyler Elementary and Barbara Boss as Secretary III at Rawsonville Elementary;

   * Approved the employer termination of Michael Barnes as a probationary custodian at Tyler Elementary School;

   * Approved hiring Kimberly Henry as a half-time Title I teacher at Tyler Elementary, starting Nov. 8 at a salary of $19,682;

   * Heard a parent plead with the board to restore paraprofessionals to the kindergarten teachers who are overwhelmed without help. She said the district lost one kindergarten teacher who walked off the job “because she can’t do it anymore.” She said the rumors of using the middle schools for all seventh graders at one and all eighth graders at another was not a good idea and explained why. She also said parents from Canton are unhappy that their students will be making the long bus ride to South Middle School, which she said was more than an hour a day on the bus. Her remarks were greeted with applause from the audience;

   * Was reminded the 6 p.m., Dec. 6 meeting at the administration building will be held to work on the policy manual. The next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at South Middle School; and

   * Went into executive session to review a written attorney opinion with school district attorney Gary Collins.

Van Buren Public Schools report 2 cases of whooping cough

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Last week, Van Buren School Supt. Thomas Riutta sent out two letters to parents informing them that one student had been diagnosed with a confirmed case of pertussis (whooping cough). Later a second case was confirmed.

   The Detroit media said there were three cases, one at Belleville High School and two at South Middle School, but school officials said the second case at South Middle School was not confirmed by the Wayne County Health Department.

   The BHS student lives in the part of the Van Buren district that stretches into Washtenaw County.

   The Washtenaw County Health Department reports 186 cases of whooping cough as of Nov. 1 this year and labels the outbreak an “epidemic” with a record number of cases.

   Wayne County cases also are up and the state of Michigan had recorded 1,305 confirmed and suspected cases by the first week in November.

   A three-month-old baby who lived in East China Township, St. Clair County, died of whooping cough (pertussis) on Feb. 22, the only whooping cough death reported in the state thus far.

   The Van Buren Public Schools letter alerted parents that their students may have been in contact with the infected student and what steps they can take.

   Supt. Riutta said the recommendation of the Wayne County Health Department is for anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person contact his or her health care provider for antibiotic treatment or other treatment specific to the individual.

   The letter said the school staff will continue to promote the practice of frequent hand washing. Parents were encouraged to keep their children home for 24 hours after experiencing a fever or any vomiting.

   Parents with questions were advised to call their doctor or the Wayne County Health Department at 734-727-7174 or visit  http://www.waynecounty.com/hhs.htm

   Whooping Cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In advanced stages, it is marked by a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like “whoop”.

   Symptoms include runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, red watery eyes, a mid-grade fever and dry cough.

   After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may bring up thick phlegm, provoke vomiting, result in a red or blue face, cause extreme fatigue, and end with a high-pitched “whoop” sound during the next breath of air.

   Information from the Washtenaw County Health Department said that many adults and teenagers with pertussis do not have a classic “whoop.”

   The Health Department said the cough often lasts for more than a month and in between coughing episodes people may feel and appear fairly healthy. Some report that coughing is worse at night.

   In children less than 1 year old, complications include pneumonia, convulsions, and in rare cases, brain damage. The majority of deaths from pertussis occurs in infants younger than 2 months of age.

   The school administration said small children and those with compromised immune systems are at highest risk.

   An ABC News video report on Baby Whooping Cough Death suggests the big increase in pertussis cases may be because of:

   * Decreasing immunity in teens and adults. Many have not yet gotten their Tdap vaccine booster, and more than half of last year’s cases were in teenagers and adults.

   * Unvaccinated children. Parents who opt out of vaccinating their children create pockets of vulnerability in the community.

   * Change in pertussis testing. A newer test, called a PCR, has become the dominant method of testing and most likely health care providers are detecting more cases that they would have in the past.

   The Van Buren Public Schools is on Thanksgiving break, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 24. Classes resume on Monday, Nov. 29.

Belleville DDA bids farewell to promotions consultant Linda Kirksey

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   At the Nov. 17 meeting of the Belleville Downtown Development Authority, the DDA members congratulated themselves and the community for the new Main Street and the successful celebration of the street on the previous Saturday.

   “Everyone worked hard,” said DDA chairman Kerreen Conley, adding the celebration was “a great way to end the long road and begin the new road for the next journey.”

   Then, Conley said the contract of two-year promotions consultant Linda Davis Kirksey ends in November and she thanked Kirksey for her work.

   Kirksey gave her last report to the DDA and said the street celebration was a “culmination of a wonderful year.”

   She said the year started with a joint process between the city and the DDA that came up with a strategic plan that set obligations and met every goal.

   She said the key was that the city and the DDA worked together and she recommended they meet again, maybe in January, to set priorities for the new year.

   She pointed out grants that could be available and said, “I would like the opportunity to work with you again.”

   “Linda, I think you were a great bridge for the last two years while we got things done,” said DDA member Gary Snarski.

   Mayor Richard Smith also addressed Kirksey, saying she did a lot to keep things together.

   Kirksey was hired by the DDA when the Kroger project was in the mix for the downtown and opposition arose. The Kroger project was put off until 2012 when the economic downturn hit.

   In other business at the Nov. 17 meeting, the DDA:

   * Discussed snow removal in the downtown area, again, with more information gathered by DDA coordinator Carol Thompson, and decided to have city officials and DDA representatives sit down together to work through some of the details. DPW Director Keith Boc was not present to answer questions on present snow removal techniques. Jane Vesche of Main Street Flowers explained to the DDA the problem with build ups of icy snow along the curb that interferes with customer access to stores. Vesche came up with proposals and ideas, but the DDA has yet to make any decisions. Vesche emphasized that the merchants can shovel their own sidewalks, but the way the snow plowed, throws snow back onto their shoveling and builds up impassable berms. DDA member John Hoops suggested a plan, using two DPW trucks at night, to clear the snow away from Main Street and carry it off;

   * Extended the moratorium on the facade program, which has two applications in the works and no final application. The façade program required a property owner to come up with 50% of the money for a project with a cap of $20,000. The moratorium means the 50% is not required, but the cap is reduced to $10,000 – which includes a $5,000 grant and a $5,000 loan for an upgrade project. Ron Vesche said he is working on getting the façade funds, but he had to spend $700 on preliminary architectural drawings and another $1,800 on the required sealed drawings needed to apply. He said he’s already in it for $2,500, which cuts into the project. He said the DDA also requires three bids, but he’s been told his project is too small to bid on. The DDA promised to look at the requirements again;

   * Was informed that DDA member Ryan Taylor has resigned and that Mayor Smith is seeking applicants for the position. Taylor’s seat was from the business community and non-residents may apply. The position is volunteer;

   * Heard DDA member Mike Colletta say, “I’d like to thank the people for putting up with this,” referring to the construction on Main Street. “I know it was disruptive. I know I was sitting in traffic on the curve, cussing out the DDA while trying to get to town”;

   * Heard DDA member Ken Voigt tell everyone to mark their calendars for next July for the first-annual ArtAffair  on Main Street. He also said the DDA should continue to aggressively market the downtown;

   * Heard Prentiss Howell note that the new LED sign is blocked from sight when a truck is stopped at the light on High. He suggested the white line for stopping for the light be moved back a bit;

   * Heard Michael Windiate announce that the Main Street project is beautiful and that, on behalf of the Main Street Merchants Association, he thanks the DDA for their work; and

   * Heard Ron Vesche say the street is very nice to drive on and now the merchants have to catch up from the summer shutdowns. He said the new yellow lines are misplaced and take away three or four parking spots on the street between him and Higgerson & Neal Funeral Home across the street;

   * Heard former DDA member, Vera Howell say Main Street is now a very smooth ride and a pleasant view and business should be picking up. She said she was not present for the celebration and she still is not in favor of closing Main Street for events. “The words Closing and Main Street should not be connected again, except for something like emergencies or repairs. Anything new should not close Main Street.” She said there are many appropriate sites around town for activities and Main Street should not be closed for an hour, a minute or a second.

VBT Board approves agreement with Parkwood Manor I, II

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The Van Buren Township Board of Trustees expressed hope that the upgrades being planned in Parkwood Manor I and Parkwood Manor II will make the apartment complex a nicer place to live and will improve its occupancy rate.

   At its Nov. 16 meeting the board unanimously approved a Municipal Services Agreements between the township and the two Parkwoods, which are Limited Dividend Housing Association Limited Partnerships.

   This designates the Parkwoods as tax-exempt entities that will be paying fees in lieu of property taxes. The agreement also enables the Parkwoods to be eligible for state financing for the rehabilitation work.

   A few months earlier, VBT approved an ordinance to make way for the project.

   Dan Swallow, Director of Planning and Economic Development, said under Public Act 346, the Parkwoods can be tax exempt without the township’s permission. With the cooperation of the township, VBT can get some of the lost tax money through the fees.

   Plans call for $4.7 million in improvements on Parkwood I (200 units) and $2.2 million on Parkwood II (100 units).

   Parkwood I currently collects about $937,000 in annual shelter rents. The 10% service fee would bring about $93,755 to the taxing entities and VBT would get about $9,375.

   Parkwood II currently collects about $759,000 in annual shelter fees, which would reduce to a $75,000 fee in lieu of taxes, and $7,500 would go to the township.

   Swallow said about $17,655 would be paid to the township on June 1, 2012 and thereafter for 20 years. Currently Parkwood I and II pay about $27,424 in taxes to VBT.

   The new agreement also allows for 1% of the rents for an administrative fee to the township.

   “We hope the shelter rents will increase, and so the fees will go up,” Swallow said.

   He said currently the property is under tax appeal to the state, but if the township approves the agreement, Parkwood will remove the appeal.

   Laurence Tisdale of the Parkwood complex said Parkwood I currently has 85% occupancy and Parkwood II has 95% occupancy. He said the estimates of payments to the township quoted by Swallow already have gone up.

   In other business at the Nov. 16 meeting, the board:

   * Approved a resolution to amend the Articles of Incorporation of the South Huron Valley Utility Authority that removes the City of Romulus as a member and adds Romulus as a customer;

   * Approved the first reading of an ordinance change that adopts the updated Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA) Sewer Use Regulations. VBT has five customers that are served by YCUA in the far western part of the township;

   * Approved the 2011 Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) Municipal Contract of $22,140;

   * Approved the 2011 calendar for regular meetings and work study sessions on the same schedule 2010: Regular meetings the first and third Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and workshop sessions on the first and third Mondays at 4 p.m. Clerk Leon Wright suggested the board might like to change to one meeting a month, with the workshop eight days earlier, but there needs to be more discussion on the issue;

   * Adopted the 2011 holiday calendar as negotiated with the unions for 13 paid holidays;

   * Without explanation, pulled from the agenda consideration of an Animal Sheltering Agreement with the Michigan Humane Society. The item was removed from a previous agenda because of a problem with the AFSCME union on the proposal; and

   * Approved fireworks from the Denton Road Bridge at about 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4, as a part of the Belleville WinterFest. The fire departments of the City of Belleville and VBT will block the ends of the bridge to traffic and will stand by in case of emergency.

Executive Session

   At the Nov. 15 work/study session Supervisor Paul White said another item could be added to the end of the Nov. 16 agenda as a result of an executive session to follow the work/study session.

   He said the action item could be “Recommendation by attorney regarding law suit” filed by Ahmad Kasham of Ypsilanti.

   But, after the closed-door session, nothing needed to be put on the agenda for action. There was no explanation.

   The Kasham law suit was filed over a traffic stop, where a Muslim male complained his Civil Rights were violated because a female police officer patted him down inappropriately, which is against his Islamic religion.

   In executive session on Nov. 15, the board also were to discuss contract negotiations for the Police Officers Labor Council (Patrol).

Van Buren Township Board of Trustees to meet Dec. 13, 14; cancel meetings for Dec. 6, 7, 20, 21

   The Van Buren Township Board will meet for its workshop session at 4 p.m., Dec. 13, and its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 14.

   The regular meetings set for Dec. 7 and 21 and the workshop sessions set for Dec. 6 and 20 have been cancelled.

   VBT Supervisor Paul White said the board has to follow the state schedule for getting its budgets approved and the public hearing on the budgets have to be held by Dec. 15.

   At the Dec. 13 and 14 meetings, the board and public will consider the 2010 amended budget, the 2011 proposed budget and budgets of special funds.

Van Buren Twp. DDA approves engineering for Ecorse/Belleville Road intersection

   The Van Buren Township Downtown Development Authority voted at its Nov. 9 meeting to provide engineering services for the Belleville/Ecorse intersection.

   The design work will be done this winter for the dangerous crossing. At one point, the DDA considered a roundabout for the intersection.

   The plan now is for a Michigan left configuration, like the Belleville Road/Michigan Avenue crossing.

   At the Nov. 16 meeting of the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees, DDA Executive Director Susan Ireland said $1.8 million is coming from federal stimulus funds and the remainder will come through bonds the DDA is selling.

   Wayne County is acting as project manager.

   Ireland said the DDA also made a commitment to hard surface the Ecorse South Service Drive from Belleville Road west to Beck Road and from Belleville Road east to the DDA district line, some 1,320 feet.

Sumpter planners put off decision on farm pond for Alexander

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The Sumpter Township Planning Commission held an hour-long public hearing Nov. 18 to consider Stan Alexander’s request to dig a pond on his 10-acre farm at 46569 Arkona Road.

   Then, planners decided they needed more information, since the ordinances seemed to conflict on setback requirements – 30’ or 100’ -- and they needed to be sure of what other things he has to do to be in compliance.

   Also, no one was sure where Alexander’s setback measurement would begin on the pond and if it’s to the water, that would change with the seasons.

   The commission had no planning consultant to sit with it and help with decisions, as is the norm in other nearby communities.

   Township Board Trustee Linda Kennedy, who also sits on the Planning Commission, said no one on the commission is against Alexander getting his pond to drain his farmland. The commission may set stipulations for the permit, however.

    Alexander paid $800 to come before the commission for the public hearing. Action on his request was put off until the Dec. 9 regular meeting of the commission.

   Commissioners considered piggy-backing Alexander’s request on top of the Dec. 2 public hearing for Joe Nasser’s request to put gas pumps at his market/pharmacy now under construction at the corner of Willis and Sumpter roads.

   But commissioners agreed the controversial request by Nasser should bring a crowd on both sides of the issue and Alexander might have to wait for hours to have his issue addressed.

   When asked the background of his request, Alexander said he has been unable to get into his fields until late in the season because of the flooding and his tractor gets stuck five times a year and has to be pulled out by neighbor Perry MacKall.

   Karen Alexander said they want to be self-sustaining and put in a garden they can harvest, but the flooding has made that difficult.

   Alexander said he dug a pond to drain the fields and his next-door neighbor’s family turned him into the township and the building official red-tagged his pond work.

   He said he didn’t know he needed a permit and so he came to the township and applied for a pond.

   Several of his neighbors, who did not object to his pond, were present at the public hearing to learn the steps to get a pond so their property could be drained, too, but they went away disappointed.

   The rules for ponds were fuzzy and they had no clear idea of what needs to be done in Sumpter to get their lands drained.

   From the audience Township Trustee Bill Hamm said that the groundwater level in Sumpter Township is high and most people in the township have a pond in the spring.

   “I’m surprised no one has gone out to look at the property to see what the situation was,” Hamm said, adding that earlier that day he went out and looked and it’s “very pretty, very nice setup and it does drain the water out.”

   As the discussion continued, Alexander asked if he can spread the dirt out that he has dug up and Kennedy said as long as it was red-tagged she wouldn’t suggest he move the dirt.

   Denise Komora, who was sitting in for regular commission secretary Esther Hurst, said she has checked on the credentials of Systems Seven who did the engineering drawings for Alexander’s request and she found the firm is not certified by the state.

   “Someone else has to sign their drawings,” Komora said.

   Alexander said he was unaware when he hired them that the engineers were not certified.

   Mrs. Alexander asked if they could go on with putting in their living fence to surround the pond and Kennedy said she would suggest doing nothing until this is all straightened out.

   Metco Engineers, consultants to the township, had done an engineering review of the site plan, which mentioned the “living fence” of bushes. Metco engineer Keith Uutinen, however, recommended a 6’ high secured fence around the pond, as only a “recommendation”, considering the pond may be 20’ deep in one end.

   Alexander said that depth was to assure any fish in the pond are not winter-killed. As long as the pond is there, he would like to stock it with fish for his own enjoyment, he said.

   Also, Alexander was told by Metco that he should check with Wayne County to find out if a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation permit is required. Alexander said he needed to know who to contact and the commission directed him to ask Metco.

   Hamm noted, “We’re sitting here in November. Snow is coming, which starts our flooding season.”

   “Money doesn’t grow on trees in my yard,” Alexander stated. “It’s taking all I can get to make this request.”

   A neighbor who was trying to find out how to get his own pond suggested the township require a more modest application fee than $800 or have the applicant pay part and then pay the rest if approved. Or, have a refundable fee.

   “This would encourage people to do the right thing,” he said.

   He said Alexander’s pond will lower the groundwater level for people all around him and will benefit the whole neighborhood, since everyone suffers from wet conditions.

   Before Deputy Supervisor Craig Moody had to leave the meeting on a personal emergency, he said, “Nobody is against him having a pond. He just has to follow the rules … I’m surprised nobody explained the steps to him. This is not a witch hunt. A neighbor voiced concerns because she said spoils from the pond, like roots, have been pushed onto her property.”

   He referred to Deputy Clerk Esther Hurst, who lives next door and was not present at the meeting.

   Perry MacKall said he had to replant his crops two or three times last summer because of the flooding. He said his problem is related to a water line installation last summer.

   Now a three-foot culvert east of him, installed last summer, cannot properly accept water from the five-foot culvert in front of his house. This backs the water up and floods the fields, adding to the already wet field conditions.

published November 18, 2010:
Belleville City Council to ask DDA
to help pay for share of museum

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   The City of Belleville’s share of support for the Belleville Area Museum is $32,000 and the 2010-11 city budget contains only $18,000 for the museum.

   At Monday’s City Council meeting, the council voted unanimously to ask the Belleville Downtown Development Authority to pay the other $14,000.

   DDA chairman Kerreen Conley said the DDA had paid $9,000 of the museum share in the past, but this year there is nothing in the DDA budget for the museum.

   Councilwoman Kim Tindall said she would like to see a museum budget and City Manager Diana Kollmeyer said museum representative Tom Fielder had just provided a budget and she will make sure council members get a copy of it.

   The museum is located in the former township hall on Main Street in the City of Belleville, but the building and property is owned by Van Buren Township.

   The township and city support the museum with money from their general funds.

   Sumpter Township once sent money to the museum, as well, but in March 1998 cut the museum out of its budget when it didn’t have enough money. The township has been asked over the years to reinstate its support of the museum.

   In a related matter during Monday’s meeting, Council-woman Tindall said the voters passed the 0.7 mill to support the district library and the city did budget some $70,000 for the library.

   She warned fellow council members not to consider it a windfall. She said the city is short in its rainy-day fund and the money could be put there. She added, just because the money has been freed up, “We don’t have to buy something.”

   In other business at Monday’s 21-minute meeting, the council:

   * Approved Mayor Richard Smith’s appointment of James Power to a seat on the Parks & Recreation Commission, with a term to expire Dec. 31, 2014. Power is a facilities director at Wayne County Airport and both parents had served on this commission before him;

   * Approved Mayor Smith’s reappointments of Kerreen Conley to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority with a term to expire Dec. 31, 2012, and to the DDA, with a term to expire Dec. 31, 2014; Robert Stoner to the Hillside Cemetery Committee, with a term to expire Dec. 31, 2014; John Hoops to the DDA with a term to expire Dec. 31, 2014; Tom Fielder to the Parks & Recreation Commission, with a term to expire Dec. 31, 2014; and Steve Jones and John Juriga to terms on the Planning Commission, with terms to expire Dec. 31, 2013;

   * Approved going out for bids for a VoIP phone system for the municipal building, that had been budgeted at $12,500, which includes phones, headsets and installation. There has to been some tweaking on the service to the Fire Hall and DPW yard, Kollmeyer said. The sealed bids will be opened at the Dec. 20 council meeting;

   * Approved accounts payable of $87,923.83 and a departmental purchase in excess of $500 to BS&A, annual service support fee, $730;

   * Approved the excused absence of Mayor Pro Tem Rick Dawson, as he continues in his cancer treatment and sent best wishes for his speedy recovery; and

   * Heard Ken Voigt say he had been in Loveland, CO recently and found eight medical marihuana dispensaries within the city limits. The voters had just overwhelmingly passed a ballot proposal to ban dispensaries from the city limits. He asked how they could do that and if Belleville could do something similar. Attorney John Day will be asked to look into it.

Fireworks over Belleville Lake
set after Christmas Parade

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Both the City of Belleville and Van Buren Township officially approved fireworks for their lakeside border on Saturday, Dec. 4 after the annual Christmas Parade in downtown Belleville.

   Parade Chairman Randy Brown said he expected the fireworks to be set off from the Denton Road Bridge at about 7:30 p.m. Fire engines from Belleville and VBT will block access on both sides of the bridge during the fireworks, which is being presented again by Colonial Fireworks of Toledo.

   The Old-Fashioned Main Street Christmas parade starts at 6 p.m. from Belleville High School, as usual, with the parade forming behind the school.

   Brown said Santa Claus will come to Belleville on the back of a Belleville Fire Engine this year, instead of the usual Van Buren Township ladder truck, as in the past.

   On Monday, he told both the Belleville City Council and VBT Board (with tongue firmly planted in cheek) that he has checked with the FAA and received approval from both Willow Run and Metro airports for Santa to land at BHS in time for the parade.

   Brown said Santa will receive the Key to the City, as usual, and will meet with children at the United Methodist Church, across Charles Street from the library.

   At the City Council meeting on Monday, Brown was asked if there was a solution to the problem that popped up last year: Children were in line to see Santa or on his knee after the parade and missed the fireworks entirely.

   Brown said there has been no solution proposed to that, but he’d be glad to listen to ideas. He said they don’t want to put off the fireworks too long because people are waiting. Children can’t wait to see Santa once he arrives.

   The parade and fireworks are a part of the Winterfest celebration for all day Dec. 4. It is expected to feature an outdoor skating rink, ice sculptures, and other events.

Lt. Luke graduates from
Police Staff and Command School

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Police Lt. Eric Luke graduated Nov. 5 from the 26^th session of the Eastern Michigan University School of Police Staff and Command – the first member of the Sumpter Police Department to do so.

   At the Nov. 9 meeting of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees, Police Chief James Pierce said the EMU program is designed to assist with career development for both current senior police and new police executives interested in advancing into upper police management positions.

   Chief Pierce smiled and said since Lt. Luke is second in command, that the only place for him to advance to is his job – chief of police.

   The curriculum is an intensive undergraduate and graduate level program consisting of 350 hours of classroom instruction.

   Chief Pierce said the curriculum is designed to take the police student beyong traditional operational methods and expose the students to conceptual thinking and problem solving, while paving the way for further advancement within their departments.

   When asked for his grade-point average, Lt. Luke said it amounted to a 98%.

   He told the board it was an honor to go and it exceeded his expectations. He thanked Chief Pierce for making it possible.

   Lt. Luke is a 16-year police veteran and is second in command in the Sumpter Department.

   Luke was promoted to sergeant in 2008 and to lieutenant in August.

   In addition to assisting in the day-day-day operations of the police department, Lt. Luke is also president of the Sumpter Township Command Officers’ Association, an affiliate of the Command Officers’ Association of Michigan.

15^th-annual Festival of Holiday Trees begins at museum on Nov. 30

   The 15^th-annual Festival of Holiday Trees will take place at the Belleville Area Museum Nov. 30 through Dec.  30.

   The display will fill the entire museum, featuring over 50 trees and wreaths decorated by community organizations, school groups, churches, businesses, and individuals. 

   This year’s tree festival includes a Silent Auction of seven Christmas trees of different sizes decorated in various themes.  Bidding on the trees has begun and will end on Dec. 15.  Proceeds from the auction will support the projects and programs of the museum.

   Holiday events taking place at the museum include the City of Belleville tree-lighting ceremony to be held on the museum lawn immediately following the Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 4. 

   On Saturday, Dec. 11, the museum will offer Children’s Christmas Ornament Workshops at 10 and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Children will make five old-fashioned ornaments to take home.  The cost is $2, and it is not necessary to pre-register for a session. 

   During the ornament workshops, Santa will be available for photos at the museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Santa will also be at the museum on Saturday, Dec. 18 from noon until 4 p.m.

   Available in the museum’s gift shop for the holiday season are Christmas ornaments, old-fashioned toys, stocking stuffers, and holiday jewelry.  Also on sale is the 2011 Belleville Area Historical Society calendar and the third edition of “Water Under the Bridge: A History of Van Buren Township.”

   The museum, located at 405 Main Street, is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.  It will be closed Dec. 24-27 and open Dec. 28, 29, and 30.  For more information, call the museum at 697-1944.

published: Nov. 11, 2010:
Parents invited to assembly at South Middle School on Nov. 18

   Van Buren Public Schools invites all parents and the community to participate in a parent assembly entitled “What We Need to Know about Teens and Sexuality”. 

   The assembly will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18, at South Middle School, 45201 Owen Street, Belleville.

   This past spring, Van Buren Public School students were administered the MiPHY (Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth) survey.  This anonymous, online survey assessed risk behaviors, risk factors, and protective factors associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use (ATOD), violence, sexual behavior, physical activity, and nutrition in Grade 7, 9, and 11.

   After analyzing what the students shared, the district decided to have several “parent assemblies”.  By letting parents hear the data, providing experts to share information and strategies, and entertaining questions, parents can better understand what students are facing and how to best help them.

   Our first topic of sexual behavior was chosen when the data revealed 15.2% of 7^th graders, 40.1% of 9^th graders, and 70.2% of 11^th graders reported they “ever had sexual intercourse”.

  Although the district offers maturation and reproductive health curriculums, parents may not feel confident in talking with their students about this particular topic.

   Barb Flis, the coordinator for Talk Early & Talk Often, will present strategies. The Taylor Teen Health Center will present the latest information on the various forms of birth control available and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

   Merck & Co. will have information available on Gardasil®, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for both females and males between the ages of 9 and 26.  There will be ample opportunity for questions and answers with all of our experts.

   For more information, contact Kimberly Nofz or Cathy Bandy, Parent Involvement Facilitators, at 697-9123 ext. 230 or email parentinvolvement@vanburenschools.net
   The next parent assembly will be on the subject of Bullying.

VBT Police nab couple stealing vacuum cleaners, TVs

   Last Thursday, Nov. 4, the Van Buren Township Police Department’s Special Investigative Unit (SIU) received information about a male and female who were stealing flat-screen televisions and “Dyson” vacuum cleaners from Meijer and Wal-Mart stores in the Southgate, Westland, Taylor, Canton and Van Buren areas.

  With the information obtained along with other sources, SIU officers were introduced to the male and female suspects and observed a 42” flat-screen television and Dyson vacuum that they had just stolen from a Wal-Mart store in Canton.

   Subsequently, SIU officers arranged for the purchase of another flat-screen television and Dyson vacuum that the male and female agreed to deliver. Over the weekend, SIU officers were contacted by the female suspect who advised that she and the male had just stolen a 47” flat-screen television and a Dyson vacuum.

   SIU officers met in a parking lot in Van Buren Township where an officer paid her $900 for the property at which time both the male and female were taken into custody.

   Keith Arlan Mortzfield and Joann Catherine Mortzfield have been charged with Felony Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property. Both are out on bond awaiting their preliminary exam date scheduled for Nov. 17 at the 34th District Court.

   It was later learned that the 47” flat screen television and Dyson vacuum that SIU purchased had been stolen from the Wal-Mart store on Michigan Avenue in Canton.

   Canton Township PD will be seeking two additional counts of felony retail fraud from their Wal-Mart store.

   The Meijer Corporation has also been contacted and has been seeking these same individuals for the past several months. Meijer believes that these same individuals are responsible for the theft of nearly $200,000 in merchandise from their stores in the Wayne County area.

  The male and female were selecting flat screen televisions with a value of $500 to $1,000 and Dyson vacuums with a value of $500 to $700.

-- Captain Greg Laurain

VBT Police Department

Sumpter Police seek suspects in Oct. 12 Ace chainsaw thefts

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Two chainsaws, worth about $600 each, were stolen by two men from the Ace Hardware store in Sumpter Township during business hours on Oct. 12.

   Then, the next day, about the same time, two men returned and tried to do it again, but the hardware store owners had chained down the saws this time and the thieves were unsuccessful.

   Store employees recognized one of the men from the previous day’s robbery and said so, scaring them off. One of the employees chased the getaway car but it got away.

   Sumpter Police Chief Jim Pierce said he put together a new Special Investigation Unit, made up of his best investigators, to help solve such crimes.

   Officers Danielle Buccellato, John Toth, and John Ashby have been investigating the Ace Hardware theft and have surveillance photos taken by Ace’s cameras. The pictures of the young suspects are very clear and they are hoping someone in the community will recognize them, so the pictures are being disseminated.

   Officer Buccellato said there are at least three people involved in the case of retail fraud over $1,000. There were two from the first day, plus the getaway driver. On the second day, there was one familiar face and one unfamiliar face in the store trying to take the chained-up saws, plus the driver of the getaway car.

   According to Buccellato’s report, the call came in at 5:44 p.m. on Oct. 12, and she was dispatched to the area of Willis and Sumpter for a larceny in progress at Ace Hardware.

   The caller said the two subjects ran out of the store with two chain saws and headed either southbound on Sumpter Road from Willis or westbound on Willis from Sumpter.

   The vehicle is described as a silver 1997 or so, Ford Taurus with a paper plate in the back window and a hubcap missing on the driver’s side. Also, there may be slight body damage on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

   Buccellato said she did not see any such car in the area when she responded on Oct. 12.

   Another witness said it may have been a light tan vehicle, a Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable with no plate (but surveillance tapes showed it was a silver Taurus). The witness also said he observed the same vehicle driving around in the parking lot earlier.

   The two male suspects that stole the saws were described by witnesses. One was tall, thin, with brown hair, glasses and a mustache in his early 20s. The second man was short, heavy set, with brown hair, also in his 20s.

   A witness said both suspects had been in the store earlier and has asked to use the restroom, but were advised there was no public restroom. The suspects left the store and returned later, inquiring about the chain saws. That’s when the grabbed the saws and ran out of the store.

   The saws are described as:

   * Stihl chain saw, model MS 200T, orange color, serial number #172047886, with a silver Stihl chain saw bar, serial number #30050004809.

   * Stihl chain saw, model MS 391, orange color, serial number #281908750, with a silver Stihl chain saw bar, serial number #30030008822.

   Officer Buccellato said the surveillance tapes show that when the two grabbed the chain saws, they ran out and the silver Taurus had been pulled up to the door and the trunk had been popped by the driver. The saws were put into the truck, the men entered the vehicle, and the car took off and escaped.

   On the second day, when the saws were secured, one man from the first day and a different person came in to try to take more saws. When an employee recognized one of the men, they ran out of  the store and the car had been pulled up again and the driver had popped the trunk.

   One of the men slammed down the trunk as he ran by and got into the driver’s seat. The driver had moved over to the passenger seat when the fleeing man approached the car.

   The car is believed to have gone westbound on Willis both days.

   Buccellato said the third person is in the surveillance tapes, but his face is covered with a hoodie and cannot be recognized.

   Those with any information on the case are asked to call the investigative team at 461-6898. Tips can remain anonymous, Buccellato said.

DDA celebration to bring
dancing on Main Street 

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   “We’re having an open house for the downtown,” announced Carol Thompson at Monday’s Belleville City Council meeting in explaining the Saturday, Nov. 13 party on Main Street.

   She was speaking on behalf of the Belleville Downtown Development Authority.

   “We’ve come through on the other side … It looks wonderful, is wonderful,” Thompson said of the completed Main Street project.

   Main Street had opened fully to traffic and parking earlier Monday. On Nov. 13, it will be closed again (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), but this time for a celebration.

   She said the plan is to have a big open house downtown, with businesses inviting people in.

   She said there will inflatables for the children, music, dancing in the street, bike races, and shopping. The Harvest Time Bingo game drawing will take place for a Wii Fit and there will be sidewalk chalk drawing, street performers, and treats.

   “It’s been restricted for the last months and now it’s open,” Thompson said.

Belleville Council delays marihuana decisions for 30 days

 By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   After more than an hour of public hearing on two ordinances dealing with medical marihuana, on Monday the Belleville City Council voted to table action and extended the moratorium for another 30 days.

   The present moratorium would have ended before the next meeting, and council members felt their final action was getting close.

   They said they needed more time to fine-tune the ordinances, but they have already had about nine months.

   One ordinance is for zoning and allows medical marihuana-related activities in the Industrial-2 zoning, a strip of land along the south side of the railroad tracks.

   The second ordinance is for permitting and spells out rules of operation for the establishments.

   The ordinances are in response to the state referendum in 2008 that approved medical marijuana and the state statute that followed.

   City Attorney John Day said there have been four or so inquiries about setting up shop in Belleville for medical marihuana-related businesses, including a dispensary and an indoor farm.

   “The statute has a litany of defects, but the city is bound to abide by the laws passed by the State of Michigan,” Day said.

   “There is nothing in the statute that actually legalizes marihuana,” Day said. “The sale is still illegal. The statute does say you can have these places and what they are going to do there is not clear.

   “… Just saying where they will go … doesn’t mean it will successfully operate … If we don’t do it, we may have it where we don’t want it.”

   He said the legislature and courts will have to figure out how this whole marihuana statute is going to work.

   “It is just getting started,” Day said. “It will take decades to get through the courts.”

   Mayor Richard Smith urged the council and members of the community to give any ideas or concerns they have on the marihuana ordinances to him or City Manager Diana Kollmeyer as soon as possible so they can be considered for the final drafts of the ordinances.

   In other business Monday, the council:

   * Approved excusing Mayor Pro-Tem Rick Dawson from the meeting as he is at home recuperating from cancer surgery and chemotherapy/radiation treatments. At the end of the meeting all the council members wished him a speedy recovery;

   * Approved the closing of Main Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. between Roys and Third and also Fourth Street between Main and the alley on Saturday, Nov. 13. This will allow set-up time for the 11 a.m.-2 p.m. celebration of the completion of Main Street construction;

   * Approved the re-appointment of Lawrence Gallo and the new appointment of Randy Priest to the Board of Review, both with terms to expire Dec. 31, 2013. Priest is replacing Dave Fields whose term expires Dec. 31. Priest is a retired school teacher who owned his own home improvement company;

   * Approved the closing of Main Street at about 6 p.m. on Dec. 4 for the annual Christmas parade. Also, approved giving the Chamber of Commerce control of Main Street from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for a Winter Ice Fest on the same day. This will not involve a street closing. Events include ice carving demonstration and an outdoor skating rink on the Fourth Street Square provided by the Belleville Yacht Club, and other events. In a memo to the council, Chamber representative Tom DiPietro promised “no alcohol or marihuana will be sold” and since the election is over, there should be no “indecent or profane language” or any “indecent or disorderly conduct”;

   * Unanimously approved the closing of Main Street from Third to Fifth and Fourth Street from Main to Charles from 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28, until midnight Saturday July 30, 2011 for a juried fine arts show, a juried craft show, and an antique show sponsored by the Belleville Area Council for the Arts. Councilman Jim Shrove at first was reluctant to close Main Street for an unproven event, but was convinced by BACA members and business persons in the audience;

   * Held a public hearing and then unanimously passed an ordinance regulating outdoor portable storage units and refuse containers. If a container is to be used for more than 30 consecutive days or twice or more within six months, a city permit is needed. The ordinance was inspired by concern about how long people have been leaving such containers in their yards;

   * Approved this year’s Home Decorating Contest, co-sponsored by the city and the Independent. Holiday lights should be on from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 15 and 16, when judges will select winners for Victoria Commons, Harbour Pointe, the two mobile home parks, and the balance of the city. Councilman Brian Blackburn said whatever section he is assigned to judge, he will take into consideration whether a house won last year because he wants to spread the awards around. Mayor Richard Smith said the judges will make their decisions individually and that beauty is “in the eye of the beholder”;

   * Approved signatories for city investments with Multi-Bank Securities, Inc. The signers for any transactions are Richard Smith, mayor; Reginald Dawson, city council member; and Lisa Long, city clerk/treasurer;

   * Approved accounts payable of $283,534.87, including the following departmental expenditures over $500: to SLC, $866.05 for replacement water meters from the water fund; to SMART, $1,618.08 for vehicle repairs, using CDBG funds; and to Water Tap $3,000 to replace water valve, from the water fund; and

   * Heard Tom Fielder ask for people to donate their old strands of lights to help the Parks and Recreation Commission decorate Horizon Park without a budget. DPW Director Keith Boc said there are no electrical outlets for lights at Horizon Park.

Sumpter planners question process for Nasser’s building

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Sumpter Township Planning Commissioner Matthew Oddy said he has nothing against the new market being built by Joe Nasser at the corner of Willis and Sumpter roads, but he wonders about the process used to OK the construction.

   The approvals completely avoided the planning commission and he was surprised when he saw the building under construction.

   At the commission’s Oct. 14 meeting, Oddy found that the minutes of the May 13 meeting, which were up for approval, were incorrect and that may have led to some confusion – but doesn’t account for everything.

   Oddy pointed out the minutes were coming for approval five months after the meeting and he would like to see a different process so this couldn’t happen again.

   Since state legislation changed, the planning commission has to meet only once each quarter, unless it has business before it, so the October meeting was the first meeting since May.

   At the May meeting, the commission was asked to comment on the concept of a market at that corner, so Nasser wouldn’t spend money on engineer drawings if the commission didn’t want a market there and would deny it in the future.

   Commission Chairman Jane Stalmack said the motion stated in the minutes was not correct, lot 3 hasn’t been rezoned as required or, “If so, I wasn’t invited to the zoning meeting.”

   Township attorney Rob Young said the minutes came to the township board with a recommendation, but the minutes were wrong. He said the township board permitted the building to go forward, based on the minutes.

   “My concern was that procedure wasn’t followed … I don’t know how we could approve it without a site plan,” Oddy said, noting all that Nasser had at the May meeting was an artist’s drawing of how the building would look from the outside.

   “I guess I dropped the ball,” said Deputy Supervisor Craig Moody. “METCO [engineers] reviewed the plans… I apologize on my part. I’ll take the blame.”

   Attorney Young said he should have realized something was wrong, but, addressing Moody, “If you’re willing to take the blame, I’ll share it with you.”

   Young said he would make sure the plans that were submitted will be given to the planning commission to study and correct.

   “I would like to see the plans, but I don’t know they would be corrected,” Oddy said.

   “We have to treat everyone the same,” said Commissioner Jim Clark. “It’s a great building, but …” indicating that people could complain that Nasser got special privileges.

   Deputy Clerk Esther Hurst, who is the regular secretary to the planning commission, was not present for the May 13 meeting and so, in her absence, the minutes were prepared by Executive Secretary Denise Komora. The unapproved minutes were given to the board who thought the commission had approved the project, rather than just the concept.

   Hurst said that Nasser brought only one set of plans to the township and those were sent to METCO, the consulting engineers.

   “Let’s get the plans to you,” Young said. “It’s not the right chronological order, but at least you can have a look at them…”

   Oddy said it was hard for him to speak up to question the process, “But, I don’t want anyone to accuse us of not following procedure.”

   “We’ll bring the plans. If they are not proper, we’ll have them change it. We have to treat everyone alike,” Young said.

   “We have to keep our credibility,” Moody agreed.

   The commission voted to correct the minutes to reflect what happened at the meeting.

   Stalmack scolded Moody, stating the planning commissioners are part-time and meet only occasionally and Moody is full time and should have followed through. Moody agreed he dropped the ball.

   Oddy noted that the minutes were submitted to the board without the commission reviewing them, which is a concern.

   “I should have made sure the process was followed,” Moody agreed.

   In other business at the Oct. 14 meeting, the planning commission:

   * Heard a presentation from Laura Kreps of Carlisle Wortman planning consultants on the procedure for updating the zoning ordinances. She first will do an assessment to see what is out of date and what needs change. She will present a full draft to the commission in December. Young said it would work best for the commission as a whole to review the draft and make suggestions. “We want everyone to have as much input as possible,” Young said. Once the ordinances are in a condition the commission is happy with, it will be sent to the board. Young said the commission probably is going to deal with medical marijuana as a zoning issue;

   * Heard Young say that the township board has asked him to look into an ordinance that restricts putting piles of dirt on a property that changes the grade and floods out the neighbors. The township has an ordinance that restricts excavation, but not the addition of dirt. Young will bring a proposed ordinance to the commission in the future;

   * Discussed Young’s proposed changes to the accessory building ordinance and decided the changes needed more work. Young will present it again in the future;

   * Approved a site plan for Keystone Charter Academy, 47925 Bemis Road, for a parking lot expansion. Jason VanderKodde, an engineer for National Heritage Academies, said they will do whatever the township requires. While NHA at first was told last spring that a hard surface wasn’t necessary and gravel was OK, they learned that was incorrect. VanderKodde said their contractor told them they didn’t have to get township approval for the expanded lot. [The contractor who told them they didn’t need to pull any permits from the township was Bill Budd, husband to Van Buren Township Treasurer Sharry Budd, who serves on the VBT Planning Commission.] Clark asked who did it and was he trying to skirt the ordinance? VanderKodde said it was a “landscaper” and the mistake was probably done “out of ignorance.” He did not name Budd, but an irritated township official gave the name. The new paved area will alleviate some of the traffic congestion at the school as parents come to pick up their students after school during a 30-minute window (that recently was expanded from 15 minutes); and

   * Set a public hearing for Nov. 18 at 7:05 p.m. to consider approval for a pond at 46569 Arkona Road, owned by Stan Alexander.

VBT Board meets

with dept. heads to form budget for 2011

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   In two days of marathon sessions last week, the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees met with department directors to hammer out a balanced budget for 2011.

   Supervisor Paul White had pointed out the revenues for 2011 are expected to be $752,835 less than for 2010.

   He asked directors to cut 10% from their spending for 2010 to meet the falling income. Some cut and some added.

   The total 2011 budget is proposed at $13,077.867, down from $13,830,702 for the amended 2010 budget.

   Public Safety revenue, from the 4 mills levied, brought $4,138,000 in 2010 and that is expected to drop to $3,675,554 in 2011, a difference of almost a half million dollars

   Public Safety is the largest department at the township and the amended budget for 2010 is $5,614,635. The 2011 budget was presented to the trustees at $5,111,800, but then items got added during the discussions.

   While the planned retirements of Officers Roy Schroeder and Jim Miller ($25,000 incentive each) reduce the budget because they will not be replaced, another $37,500 in overtime wages was proposed to cover those in training.

   Also, another $5,000 was added to meet state requirements of at least $25,000 in the training budget for expenses. [Although, the 2010 amended budget was for just $20,000.] Also, another $75,000 was added pay for three new police cars.

   There was talk that if the library millage passed on Nov. 2, the $420,401 set aside for the library in 2011 could be used for other things, including the five police cars for 2010 and 2011, plus buyouts for retirees.

   When asked if the Honor Guard members would perform if the township paid only for uniforms and expenses, Captain Greg Laurain said they would not work without being paid.

   He said they have been working as ambassadors for the township since 2005 and take comp time.

   There is no line item for Honor Guard, so the cost of the ceremonial group is not easily totaled.

   Supervisor White said he looked into the recent Honor Guard visits to Taylor to honor two different Taylor police officers who had been killed on duty. He said the total amounted to $11,257 and he wondered how that contributed to “protecting and serving” the citizens of Van Buren Township.

   Lt. Brooks said it was illegal for them to work without being paid because of what would happen if they got hurt and Supervisor White said that the Warren Police Department has a volunteer Honor Guard.

   “I understand the culture, the nature of it,” Supervisor White said. “If it was important in your culture, you would volunteer.

   “Comp time is not free,” Supervisor White said. “We pay for comp time.”

   Clerk Leon Wright said the Honor Guard is not free, he sees the expenses.

   “We purchase uniforms and other things,” Clerk Wright said. “It should be an honor for you to serve. If the residents pay for it, it’s not an Honor Guard.” Wright noted that he coaches athletics without pay.

   Captain Laurain said it boils down to do you want an honor guard or not.

   “It has to do with how we manage it,” Clerk Wright said. “If we pay for your uniform and the car to get you there, your time should be volunteer. It’s great that you want to do this.”

   Captain Laurain abruptly left the room and then returned a few minutes later.

   McClanahan said they probably will not train the honor guard as much this year and concentrate on the core skills.

   When asked, Laurain said there were eight officers in the Honor Guard.

   Police Department office wages were decreased for 2011 with the elimination of one AFSCME maintenance position and cut the AFSCME records clerk to part time.

   Lt. Dennis Brooks, who is in charge of police training, prepared a six-page report with a cost analysis to back up his request for more money in wages for training, which he said will reduce liability.

   He said that he was told the supervisor has cut all training when not on duty, and Supervisor White said that was not true.

   “I have said that as much training should be done on duty as possible. We can plan for it,” Supervisor White said.

   “I apologize,” Lt. Brooks said. “My orders were very specific. I was ordered to cut all overtime for training. I assumed it was [that it had to be done] on duty. I assumed it came from the township supervisor.”

   Public Safety Director Carl McClanahan said that was the direction he gave Lt. Brooks.

   “Every job requires updated training,” said Clerk Leon Wright. “Do what you can.”

   “I’ll manage it. That’s my job,” McClanahan said.

   Captain Laurain said there is going to be some overtime, with only five cars on duty at one time.

   “I sold my soul to the devil a little bit to get things for nothing,” said Lt. Brooks. He said he made some trades with the City of Wayne to use their indoor range for low-light training. He said he also called in cars on duty one at a time to go to the training in Wayne. He said citizens might have had to wait an extra 10 to 15 minutes while this training was going on.

   Lt. Brooks also said the Concealed Pistol License training (commonly called CCW) was a phenomenal success, but, “It costs us to provide free programs. The tradeoff was huge for us, in public relations alone.”

   Supervisor White asked if non-residents were given free training and Lt. Brooks said there were four or five non-residents who took the course for nothing. (He did not mention that he and his wife now live in South Lyon and she, a VBT dispatcher, took the free course.)

   He said some people who had done things for the township had moved away and were not current residents so he called them. He said he had told them he would do something for them when the free classes were planned.

   McClanahan said next time they will charge a fee to help cover the cost of the program, for wages.

   “We did all that training for comp time,” Lt. Brooks said. “We can’t do that anymore.”

   “In a perfect situation, we’d be throwing money at you,” said Clerk Wright to the police officers, adding, “but that was four or five years ago and unfortunately, right now things have changed.

   “The public safety millage revolves around the value of homes in the township. As we know, it’s dropping. Let’s do what we can afford.

   “We have a rainy day fund (landfill) and it’s going to be raining for three to four years. We need to stretch it

   “We’re deciding how we’re going o use those funds … We are trying to figure out how we get through these hard times. We can’t give extra there and there,” Wright said.

   Trustee Jeff Jahr said reduction of staff is an option, and there are two retirements.

   “I’d rather have one less car on the road to make sure officers are adequately trained,” Trustee Jahr said. “I sure don’t want to put out an inadequately trained force and worry about getting shot on a traffic stop.”

   “I can make decisions if I have the facts,” Clerk Wright said, adding that his office called the township’s workman’s comp insurance agent and found that Honor Guard members would still be covered by the insurance if they weren’t being paid.

   Trustee Phil Hart said he wanted $15,000 added to the 2011 police budget for updated technology and Jahr agreed, saying they should cut $15,000 from somewhere else.

   Jahr suggested McClanahan could get the information on the technology and then propose a budget amendment that would come from somewhere else than his budget. He presumably referred to the landfill fund.

   Jahr said it would make the board’s job a lot easier if it had a line item for overtime. He said he requests that every year.

   Supervisor White said he, too, requested a line item for overtime.

   “If that’s what you want, we get it every month and throw it in your box,” said Treasurer Sharry Budd.

   “We can’t put a budget out that’s not right,” Budd continued, directing her comments to the police department. “You need to share the maintenance person with another department. I think your budget is short. You have no money in your budget for this maintenance guy.”

   They agreed to add $37,500 to the maintenance budget and $37,500 to police department budget for animal control.

   The animal control budget is being reduced to $61,116, down from $105,482, because the plan is to shut down the animal shelter and have a contract with the Michigan Humane Society to house/adopt/euthanize the dogs.

   The animal control officer would be reduced to half time on a daily basis to cover animal control and be a police department custodian half time. He would continue to have a minimum of two hours pay for being called out in the middle of the night.

   A balanced budget must be approved by the township board before the end of the year. Supervisor White said he plans to present it for a vote at the first meeting in December.

published Oct. 28, 2010:

Election choices include school board, library

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Along with deciding on who Michigan’s governor will be and who the state will send to Washington, Lansing, and the courts, local voters will decide on school board candidates, library board members, and a library millage in next Tuesday’s election.

   Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the state. Clerks’ offices throughout the state, including in Belleville, Van Buren and Sumpter, will be open this Saturday to accept last-minute applications for absentee ballots.

   Running for two, four-year positions on the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education are: incumbents Victor Hogan and David Peer, as well as Sherry Frazier, Michael Miazga, Ralph Nodwell and Scott Russell (all profiled in last week’s Independent).

   Eight candidates are running for seven seats on the Belleville Area District Library Board. Six of the seven that were appointed to the interim library board by officials in Belleville, Van Buren, and Sumpter, have chosen to run for the permanent position, plus two newcomers.

   On the ballot for the district library board are Michael Boelter (Incumbent), Christina Brasil (I), Joy Cichewicz (I), Mary Jane Dawson (I), Elaine Gutierrez (I), John Juriga, Joseph Monte (I), and Harry Van Gelder. All were profiled in last week’s Independent.

   Also on the ballot is a request for a levy of 0.7 mill for 12 years for operation of the Belleville Area District Library. The tax would cost taxpayers 70 cents per $1,000 of taxable value of their property or $70 on $100,000 starting in 2010.

   The district library agreement passed by leaders of Belleville, Van Buren, and Sumpter last winter includes the directive to pass a millage for operation before the end of 2012 or the agreement would lapse.

   The library would not close, but would not be a district library and would operate another way, possibly with fewer services.

   On April 17, the library pulled out of the Wayne County Library System and went off on its own. The county system had been charging fees to the Belleville library that the local library felt were unnecessary. Since the library withdrew from the county system, it has saved at least $150,000, according to library board candidate Michael Boelter.

   Currently what used to be called the Fred C. Fischer Library is being supported by contributions from the three communities.

   Sumpter Township already has a library millage of .7 mill, which would be replaced by the new millage if the voters of the district approve it. Sumpter taxpayers would see no change in their tax bills. The only change would be where the tax money is delivered. Presently, Sumpter collects it and then sends most of it off to the library. If the ballot proposal passes, the tax would go directly to the library.

   Current contributions from the three communities are:

   * Sumpter Township, $166,588;

   * City of Belleville, $70,788; and

   * Van Buren Township, $471,407.

   Belleville and VBT take their contributions from their general funds.

   At recent meetings, officials were asked if taxpayers would get refunds for the amount the municipalities saved by not having to send money to the library from the general funds. The answers were No and that the municipalities would use the money they saved on the library to avoid cuts in other services.

   According to an Oct. 11 report on revenue, the library expects a total of $827,933 in revenue this fiscal year from various sources, including the three municipalities.

   If the ballot proposal for .7 mill passes, it is expected to raise $1,020,153 when first levied this year, according to the ballot wording.

   Literature from the library warns if the millage doesn’t pass, beginning in January it expects less revenue than it had in 2003. This will result in staff cuts at all levels and corresponding cuts in library hours and days open and a 25-30% cut in the book and materials budget.

   It may result in fewer public internet

stations as old machines break and cannot be replaced, the library literature warns and, “By 2013, it could mean complete closing of the library.”

   Interim library board member Paul Henning, who is not running for the permanent board, said the Fred C. Fischer Library name had to be changed because of 2007 state library law that requires the name of the district covered to be in the name. It was re-named the Belleville Area District Library by the committee that put together the district library agreement that was approved by Belleville, Van Buren, and Sumpter.

U.S. Congress

   Also in the Nov. 2 election, Republican candidate Rob Steele is seeking to unseat 15^th District Congressional District Rep. John Dingell, 84, who has served 27 terms in Congress. In 1955, Dingell, at age 29 ran for his father’s seat after his father died in office. Dingell won and is the longest serving member of the House. Democrat Dingell lives in Dearborn.

   Dr. Steele is a practicing cardiologist who lives in Ypsilanti. He believes the most pressing issues are excessive government spending, high taxes, health care and government accountability.

   The 15^th District includes Sumpter Township.

   In the 11^th Congressional District that includes Van Buren Township and Belleville, Incumbent Republican Thaddeus McCotter, 45, of Livonia is being challenged by Natalie Mosher, a Canton Democrat.

   In Congress, McCotter mixed in tough rhetoric against communist China with his support for standard Republican policies like tax cuts. He has been a familiar face as a spokesman for the Republicans. He plays lead guitar in a bipartisan rock and country band and has played for the troops in Iraq.

   Mosher is a graduate of Michigan State University and has always worked as a teacher and a non-profit development director. She said she is not a career politician and wants to help put Michigan back on track.

State Senate

   Patrick Colbeck, 45, a Canton Republican and Kathleen Law, 64, a Gibraltar Democrat are seeking to fill the 7^th District Senate seat left open by the term-limited departure of Bruce Patterson. They are joined by John Stewart of Plymouth, who served three terms in the House as a Republican. He filed as an Independent after he pulled out of a Democratic filing because he thought Marc Corriveau was going to run. Stewart said he will caucus with the Democrats, if elected.

   Colbeck is a management consultant and former aerospace engineer. He is a pro-lifer and supports term limits and a part-time legislature. His top issue is the economy.

   Law served in the House from 2003 to 2008. She is a research chemist by trade and is passionate about the environment. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.

State Representatives

   Republican Lori Levi, 44, of Canton is seeking to unseat Democrat Dian Slavens of Canton for the 21^st District House Rep. seat, which serves Van Buren, Belleville, and part of Canton.

   Levi is a small business owner and pro-lifer. She has been an energetic candidate throughout the 21^st district, including putting on gun safety programs at the Van Buren Township Hall and attending last week’s VBT Neighborhood Watch forum. She will be handing out candy with attorney Tom DiPietro and Mayor Richard Smith in front of DiPietro’s law office during downtown trick or treat on Friday.

   Slavens, 52, was a respiratory therapist at Henry Ford Hospital for more than 20 years before being elected state representative in 2008. She has been a familiar presence at many, many local events and local coffee hours since then.

   She is married to Mark Slavens who was appointed Wayne County Third Circuit Court Judge by Governor Granholm in May 2007. He is running for election to the position in the same election.

   Both Levi and Slavens say they want to clean up Lansing, but have widely differing view on how to do that.

   Republican Pat Somerville, 30, of New Boston and Democrat Deb Kennedy, 56, the incumbent of Brownstown Township, are running for State Representative in the 23^rd District, which includes Sumpter Township.

   Kennedy was elected to an open seat in the State House in 2008. She incurred the wrath of Sumpter officials for working to stop Toronto trash from being deposited in the Carleton Farms landfill in Sumpter, which brought needed income to the rural township.

   Somerville, a University of Michigan engineering graduate, does retail management. He is pro-life and supports Michigan moving to a part-time legislature.

School Board OKs purchase of 20 new laptops for BHS staff

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Administrators at the high school have been asked to analyze and manipulate student data on 1990 computers that jam up and have the keys fall off – “junk,” in the words of School Supt. Thomas Riutta.

   At Monday’s meeting of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education, the board voted unanimously to buy 20 new Dell laptop computers for BHS administrators and key teachers to use at a cost not to exceed $21,621.60.

   The money comes out of the large technology portion of the bonds for BHS construction.

   BHS Principal Michael Van Tassel said he really needs 80 to give to all the teachers to use, but he didn’t want to ask for all of them at once. He requested just 10 to 20 now.

   Supt. Riutta said eventually they will buy all 80 computers needed.

   In other business at Monday’s meeting, the board:

   * Approved the low $1,569,099 bid of City Carpet & Flooring, Detroit, for soft flooring for the BHS construction;

   * Approved the low $58,950 bid of D.C. Byers, Detroit, for resinous & epoxy flooring for the project;

   * Approved the low $98,300 bid of Cig Jan Products, Caledonia, for visual display boards for throughout BHS;

   * Approved the low bid of $118,000 for interior and exterior signage from Detroit Marking Products. This is for wayfinding signs in the school, safety signs (Exit), and the electronic message board in front of the school on West Columbia Ave.;

   * Approved the $78,620 low bid of The Sheer Shop in Shelby Township for blinds and shades, some motorized and most manual;

   * Approved the second-lowest bid of $74,985 of Aerodynamics Inspecting Company, Inc. for testing, adjusting and balancing air flows and other things;

   * Approved the $542,810 bid of the DataCom Group, Holt, for technology wiring for present and future needs. This is just the infrastructure for the equipment that will be ordered;

   * Heard a presentation on safety considerations for the 2011 Spring Break student trip to Germany, France, and Spain, telling what would be done in case of a U.S. government travel warning due to terrorism or civil unrest. Board President David Peer said since it is a school-sponsored trip, he wanted the group to know that if the board was convinced the trip was too dangerous for students, the board could cancel the trip. Board Treasurer Martha Toth said, speaking from experience, that parents have to make decisions, knowing, “Something can go wrong”;

   * Heard an enthusiastic presentation by curriculum consultant Bonnie Riutta and BHS Principal Van Tassel on the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing of ninth graders at the high school that has brought “legitimate, quality data that we can look at” and see specific things to focus on for the students, Van Tassel said. The students will be tested again in January;

   * Discussed about $500,000 worth of equipment needed by the Building & Grounds, Maintenance, and Transportation Departments, including trucks, vans, mowers, and a radio system for the whole district, to replace outdated equipment. The bids aren’t in place yet and the plan to finance the purchases is yet to be completed, so no action could be taken; 

   * Approved hiring of Doris Birchmeier as a special education teacher at BHS ($39,365); Dorte Junker, as a special education speech pathologist/itinerant ($50,303); James Chmielseski as a bus driver; Michelle Cosby as a food service worker at Savage; Gail Hanes as a food service worker at BHS; Stephanie Jones as a food service worker at North Middle School; Robert Page as a bus driver; and Donna Wise as a food service worker at BHS;

   * Approved minutes of three special disciplinary meetings that resulted in the permanent expulsion of three students and the suspension of another student for 10 days;

   * Approved the May 19-20 trip to Mackinac Island for Savage fourth graders and Haggerty fourth and fifth graders. About 160 students are expected, plus 40 chaperones;

   * Changed the Nov. 22 board meeting date to Nov. 29 to avoid the week of Thanksgiving; and

   * Held the first reading of a proposed Parent involvement Policy to comply with requirements for Title 1 funding. The second reading and adoption is expected to be at the Nov. 8 meeting of the board.

Juried fine arts, crafts, antique show proposed as Artaffair on Main

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Members of the Belleville Area Council for the Arts were present at the Oct. 18 Belleville City Council meeting to pitch a new event for the city next summer: a juried art fair that would require the closing of Main Street for about two days.

   Crafts, antiques, and entertainment would also be a part of the event.

   Ken Voigt, chairman of the “Artaffair on Main” committee, explained the event which is timed for the weekend after the Ann Arbor Art Fair to attract artists in the area for that fair.

   Voigt’s proposal is for Main Street to be closed from Third to Fifth Street and Fourth Street from Main to Charles starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28, until midnight Saturday, July 30, for the event.

   Voigt said the arts council will be responsible for details such as sanitation and security.

   DPW Director Keith Boc suggested the city get a list of responsibilities for the event, like they do for Strawberry Festival, instead of just saying it will be worked out.

   Voigt said the arts council accepts the responsibilities for dumpsters and other necessities.

   Mayor Richard Smith agreed that the responsibilities should be put into writing.

   Arts Council president Kay Atkins said there will be no paint put on the sidewalks to mark booth spaces, as has been done for Strawberry Festival. Chalk was mentioned as a marker.

   “We’ll continue to have discussions on it at another meeting,” Mayor Smith said, noting there is plenty of time to work out all the details.

   In other business at the Oct. 18 meeting, the council:

   * Set public hearings on Nov. 1 to hear input on the proposed Medical Marihuana Zoning Ordinance, the Medical Marijuana Licensing Ordinance, and the Storage Pods Ordinance;

   * Held a public hearing on the Skateboard/Roller Skates Ordinance and tabled the document for further review;

   * Opened 15 bids for four used city vehicles, with bids ranging from $123 to $1,559 on two 1998 pickup trucks, a 1998 Crown Vic, and an old Econoline Van used for senior transport. The bids were turned over to the administration to determine the high bidders and complete the sales;

   * Approved closing High Street from Main to Church from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, for the Jingle Bell Run, this year including a 5K course, like the recent Brain Aneurysm Benefit Run, over the Denton Bridge, into the residential neighborhoods, and back. The course also requires the parking lane on southbound Main to be closed from High Street to Denton Road. Presenting the request was Ty Patton;

   * Approved paying Plante & Moran up to $18,000 for the work on the audit that was not a part of their contract;

   * Heard Tom Fielder and Darlene Bodnar from the Strawberry Festival tell some changes being made to the festival for next year, such as not closing Main until 6 a.m. Friday of the festival, with the festival beginning at 4 p.m. Friday. The council deferred action on the festival request to use Victory Station for meetings with no fee until the non-profit status of the group could be confirmed;

   * Approved the mayor’s appointment of Mike Renaud to an unexpired term on the Planning Commission, to expire Dec. 31, 1012. “It’s nice to see him take a position, instead of sitting in the back row yelling at us,” said Councilwoman Kim Tindall, lightheartedly. She said she could now go to the Planning Commission meetings and yell at him from the audience;

   * Approved accounts payable of $106,708.63, including the following departmental purchases over $500: Ace Cutting, $700 from CDBG funds for detectable warnings for crosswalks on Main St.; Decatur Electronics, $1,165 for new radar unit; Etna, $3,268.64 to restock water supplies; McCoig Materials, $951.50, $879.50, and $650.50 for concrete for road repairs; MI Power Rodding, $510, clean out service line in Village Park rest room; and Oakland County Treasurer, $1,962.75 for CLEMIS membership fees; and

   * Learned the Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, at Village Park to inspect the newly asphalted paths. The public is invited.

VBT board grants two tax breaks for GE projects at Grace Lake

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   Two tax breaks for the General Electric Company were granted unanimously by the Van Buren Township Board at its Oct. 19 meeting.

   GE is leasing several buildings from Visteon at the former Visteon Village, now called Grace Lake Corporate Center. A $20 million total investment at the site is reported.

   The Oct. 19 action included public hearings on a personal property tax exemption under PA 328 and an industrial facilities exemption certificate under PA 198.

   The personal property tax exemption on $1,161.081 worth of new equipment for Building E (45 W. Main St.) would mean $750.13 less tax per year for VBT for 12 years, a total of some $9,000. The new equipment would result in at least 12 new jobs.

   The project will develop new metals for aircraft engines and the new equipment will include off-the-shelf equipment such as ovens, furnaces, measuring machines, with one piece being engineered, and everything to be delivered by Dec. 31.

   What is developed will be sent to a plant GE is trying to buy at Haggerty/ Ecorse Road for testing and manufacture.

   “We will develop a full-scale manufacturing system that doesn’t exist today,” said Douglas J. Dinon of GE Global Research.

   He said when it’s complete, the whole cell will be lifted out and sent out to its new location.

   Trustee Jahr asked if the specifice buildings being used by GE are still exempt from taxes through Visteon, which still owns the property. Visteon was in bankruptcy and the township wasn’t allowed to pursue them for funds.

   Susan Ireland said she has written to the township’s bankruptcy attorney to ask if the township now can revoke Visteon’s tax exemption, since they have exited bankruptcy.

   “Visteon is not playing straight with us,” Trustee Jahr said, adding that he had nothing against GE.

   The PA 328 exemption is new for VBT which didn’t qualify for it previously, but does now because of changes at the state level.

   “The state says hurry up and do it for GE,” said Ireland. “I don’t think $750 is worth saying ‘go away, GE,’” she said.

   Trustee Phil Hart commented, “They wouldn’t go away.”

   Trustee Hart said Visteon didn’t add the employees it promised and, “I thought we had all the t’s crossed with Visteon and I was wrong…”

   Supervisor Paul White pointed out the tax exemption is for GE not Visteon and VBT provided a $30 million bond for Visteon.

   “In no way are we helping to finance this project. GE is,” said Dan Swallow, director of planning and economic development.

   The second tax break approved for GE is for an industrial tax exemption of 50% for 12 years, which will provide 125 new jobs by December.

   This project is in part of Building F (40 Main St.) and Building D (50 Main St.) and involves $848,519 in new equipment -- personal property – mostly software for use by engineers.

   This tax break would cost VBT $463.82 per year in uncollected taxes.

   Dinon, from GE, told the board that GE is having 20 to 25 new employees starting each Monday and there have been 430 employees hired so far for the facility.

   Dinon said his time with GE Global Research is split between VBT and upstate New York. With him was Sandra Johnson of Fort Meyers, Florida, of the GE Tax Department.

   This is Phase 2 of GE’s requests for PA 198 exemptions, with the VBT board granting the first exemption at its July 6 meeting. More exemptions will be requested as GE moves forward with its phases.

   In other business at the Oct. 19 meeting, the board:

   * Approved hiring Thomas MacDonald as DPW Superintendent, at

a salary of $56,000. This position has been budgeted for but vacant since November 2008. MacDonald was the former DPW Director in Wayne and retired, only to be called back to work part time to help the city. He has 32 years of experience in the field. VBT DPW Director Todd Knepper said he knows McDonald from past professional contacts and he is highly competent and will be an excellent addition to the township team;

   * Approved the Supervisor’s reappointments of Environmental

Commission members with terms to expire Oct. 1, 2013: David Brownlee, Tony Gibson and Norm DeBuck;

   * Removed from the agenda a letter from four elected officials asking for action on a 2008 letter of understanding on take-home cars for police officers;

   * Removed from the agenda the proposed ratification of the AFSCME Local 236 union contract from Oct. 7, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2011 because the paperwork needs correction of typos and other changes. Clerk Wright said a special meeting could be called to consider ratification once the document is in the correct form;

   * Approved Swallow’s request for extending the moratorium on submission or receipt of applications for medical marihuana-related activities for another 90 days. Swallow said he needs the extra time to gather information and prepare documents;

   * Heard from Bruce Ross that a Warm Coat drive is under way and people are asked to bring coats to drop boxes through Nov. 6 for inclusion in Goodfellow baskets for local people;

   * Heard John Delaney say he wanted to talk for an additional three minutes under Non-Agenda Items because he had another topic, different from the animal control situation he addressed earlier. Supervisor White said there is no provision for more time when a subject is changed and Delaney said Clerk Leon Wright told him there was in a private conversation in the hallway, which he taped. He also said he had taped Supervisor White in a previous private conversation. Pam Ruff supported Delaney’s statement about Wright, saying she heard it, too; and

   * Heard Clerk Wright say he really felt bad about the death of Michelle Korotney’s dog Buddy, who was killed by a pit bull that was released back to the owners by somebody in animal control or the police department. He asked that people not bring up personnel issues at open meetings, referring to complaints about Animal Control Officer Bob Queener. “I know the issues and I know what’s being addressed,” Wright said. “Give the director [McClanahan] a chance to resolve the issue. You keep bringing forth new issues. Allow us to do the job you elected us to do.”

Cultural Commission

   At the Oct. 18 workshop session, Trustee Denise Partridge introduced a proposal to set up a Cultural Commission for the township, saying it would help the township qualify for grants.

   Parks & Recreation Director Bruce Ross said he did some research and found there are a lot of grants available for groups with cooperative efforts.

   Supervisor White said VBT will never become a premier community until it gets a number of cultural activities for the residents.

   Treasurer Sharry Budd was resistant to the idea, asking how it would be financed and insisting such a commission would be “stepping on everybody’s toes,” including the library, museum, and arts council.

   White said the township will begin getting yearly payments of $375,000 from EQ in late 2011 or 2012. He said some of it should be used to benefit the township’s culture.

   “We owe that to our residents,” he said.

   White said possibly not the whole $375,000 would be used on cultural activities, and some could be set aside for capital improvements.

   “I think it’s appropriate for this board to do this,” White said, adding other arts groups could bring requests to the commission for grants.

   “I think the groups we have are enough,” Budd persisted. “I’ve talked to them and they’d be here” to protest.

   “There’s no intent to step on anyone’s toes,” White said.

   “It’s just the opposite of stepping on anyone’s toes,” said Trustee Partridge. “It will bring people together.”

   Trustee Hart pointed out there are a lot of different personalities on the different groups in the community and, “We don’t want to lose them.”

   Hart said there’s a small population of volunteers and they’re getting worn out. “We don’t want to irritate them.

   Trustee Jahr said he certainly supports cultural activities, but he thinks forming the committee before the money is available is putting the cart before the horse.

   “I think we should have it in place and ready to go when that money comes in,” White responded, noting that part of the funds have already been designated for certain activities.

published: Oct. 21, 2010:
BHS Security Team fired Friday; new group being hired

By Rosemary K. Otzman

Independent Editor

   School district administrators were not satisfied with the way the V-International security team was performing at Belleville High School, so on Friday the firm was fired.

   School Supt. Tom Riutta said Tuesday that they are in the process of interviewing the second-highest bidder for the job, Strategic Protection Group of Oak Park.

   Supt. Riutta said V-International of Detroit was let go on Friday and came back on Monday to see if things could be worked out. They couldn’t.

   “We were very unhappy with their service,” Supt. Riutta said on Tuesday, citing several incidents. He said a security guard was involved in a wrestling match with a student and a special education student hit a guard and started a confrontation.

   Supt. Riutta said he was not free to discuss yet another incident.