Basic HTML Version
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
February 9, 2012
B
ELLEVILLE
- W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Mayor opposes plan
to fund road work
Bright idea?
New lighting proposed in downtown
Museum offers book of history
Free tax preparation offered
To meet the long overdue issues affecting
Michigan's crumbling transportation infra-
structure, Gov. Rick Snyder has proposed
increasing vehicle registration fees by $60
and changing the tax of fuels from pennies
per gallon to a percentage of the price raising
approximately $1.4 billion.
“I have always been supportive of efforts to
make sure that Michigan taxpayers are get-
ting the most of their investments in their
state and local transportation systems
through fuel taxes and registration fees.
However, with the current economic climate
in this state, $60 will create significant sticker
shock for our citizens. This is particularly true
for households who require two or three cars
to meet their economic needs,” saidWestland
MayorWilliamR.Wild in a letter toSnyder.
Wild sent the letter to the governor asking
for his consideration to phase in the increase
over a period of three to four years.
“The result would be a $15 or $20 annual
increase in vehicle registrations and thus be a
reasonable increase in road funding that
would not be burdensome on Michigan fami-
lies. If the governor would consider such a
phasing of registration fees, I could more eas-
ily promote his plan with my legislators and
my community,” saidWild.
The Michigan Legislature is currently con-
sidering a package of bills to support the gov-
ernor's proposals.
The Belleville Downtown Development
Authority hopes to brightenup the city.
Currently, the group is accepting bids to
convert lighting throughout the downtown
toLight EmittingDiode or LED.
The plan will reduce energy costs and
result in less maintenance of the light fix-
tures, of the 146 vintage style light poles on
Main and South streets and at Horizon
Park, Fourth Street Square and Doane's
Landing, according to a spokesman.
The new lighting should be installed
this spring, according to a DDA represen-
tative.
A study by an outside engineering firm
indicated that the initial cost of the conver-
sion would be repaid in energy costs and
maintenance reduction in about 5-7 years.
The city and DDA are applying to the
DTE Energy Saving Program in an effort
to obtain an incentive rebate.
Bidswill be accepteduntil Feb. 15.
safety. The newwaiting roomas well as inter-
nal refinements will support the “Start Up”
and “Fast Track”' initiatives, which are
designed to ensure that patients are seen in a
timely fashion, he said.
“Our goal is to ensure that patients are
seen earlier by an attending physician,
whichwill result in earlier treatment, earlier
relief of symptoms, earlier test results, and
ultimately a shorter stay in the ED,” said
Liliana Mandiuc, clinical manager of the
Emergency Department at Oakwood
AnnapolisHospital.
The dedicated ambulance entrance will
provide for an accelerated ambulance drop-
off, which will help patients that require
acute care receive faster treatment The ren-
ovation will also provide a larger resuscita-
tion room capable of accommodating two
patients, which will support the pursuit of
Level III Trauma center verification at the
hospital. The hospital last upgraded the
emergency department in 1993.
AnyWestland resident can nowhave their
income tax filing done for free.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a
tax preparer will be at The Westland
Friendship Center preparing returns for
Westland residents free of charge.
According to the office of Mayor William
R. Wild, the Friendship Center is an E-file
site only and appointments are necessary.
Generally, he said, the tax return service
offered through the American Association of
Retired Persons (AARP) is for simple
returns. Those individuals with lengthy
returns are encouraged to have a CPAor pro-
fessional firmcomplete their returns.
There is no age or income requirement.
The site manager has discretion over which
returns the on-site preparers are willing and
able to complete. Appointments are avail-
able at (734) 722-7628.
Copies of, Golden Snapshots: Real Stories
by Real People, written by D'Angelo and
Greene Askew, along with the Humanities
Committee of the Wayne County Council for
the Arts, History and Humanities, are now
available for sale in the gift shop at the
BellevilleAreaMuseum.
The museum is open from 3-7 p.m.
Tuesdays and from noon until 4 p.m.
Wednesday throughSaturday.
More information is available at (734) 697-
1944.
New chamber leader
is named in Wayne
Sherrie Brindley will be joining the
Wayne Chamber of Commerce as the new
Executive Director, according to a news
release fromthe organization.
Brindley has worked for more than 10
years promoting communities and small
business. As the former Downtown
Development Authority director for
Plymouth and through her company, One
Office Girl, LLC, she has worked with a
various communities throughout the State
of Michigan onmarketing and community
development projects including branding,
website development,
marketing plans, mer-
chant outreach and
event coordination.
Brindley is a life-long Wayne resident
who has been actively involved in the
community for many years. She has
served on the 2020 Committee and is part
of the teamof residents andbusiness own-
erswho created theWayneRippleEffect.
Brindley will begin regular office
hours in February. She can be reached at
sherrie@waynechamber.net.
Sherrie
Brindley
Annapolis
FROM PAGE 1