January 20, 1983

W wm mm *imimmw^*mmm mmmm •Volume 18 Nurriber.60. Thursday, January 20,1983 . ' Westland, Michigan 44 Pages*' Twenty-five centos *• 1W Stbtrfcti'Co'iftiq unite Corporalk*. A|l R[(kt> Rtuntj summer tax By Te'ri Banas savings is estimated to come from in asked to collect its own taxes, accord tice of collecting school taxes just once school districts can enact the plan by terest payments the district would Carll, the school district's assistant su staff writer ing to Westland Mayor Charles Picker each year. "The collection fee (1 per resolution with only limited approval perintendent for personnel. have paid to borrow money for opera ing. cent on county and school taxes) would power from the local municipality. Still fresh from its successes in insti tion. With a more even flow of tax dol "Before the law change it (whether • be an advantage to the city," Pickering When the matter was before the to collect school taxes twice-a-year) . tuting a dual school tax collection plan lars coming into the district, school of admitted. "But a lot would depend on Livofiia section of the school district in Livonia, Livonia Public School offi ficials say that borrowing will be'un- was strickly up to the whim of-the local WESTLAND WAS the scene of heat the relationship the (Livonia) board es before the law change, the Livonia City governments," explained Carli. "This '< cials have asked for the same in the necessary. ed debate two years ago when the tablishes with the city. Council could have denied the district's northern section of Westland. (the law change) give* the school board : Monday, the school board approved Wayne-Westland School District asked "We would want to make sure its request. Under the new law, a school the right to collect its own taxes." •_ The school board acted to institute "the plan by resolution. Under state law, the city to collect its summer taxes. well publicized that the city is only the district can appeal to a higher order — twice-a-year tax collection in the West- the city of Westland now has until Westland residents blamed city offi School officials say the plan would collecting agent." Wayne County, In this case — if the lo mean minimal cost to Implement. land portion of the district Monday. March 1 to respond to the school's in cials for steep rises in mortgage pay>. Pickering said that if the district cal, municipality turns down the re The area represents aproximately 10 tent to begin collecting half of the ments due to changes made by at least That's because'Westland already col also prepares mortgage companies for quest. lects taxes twice-a-year. Because West- percent of Fhe district. school taxes this July. A public hearing, one mortgage company to compensate the change, then "In the long run resi According to district estimates, the required by law, also was held that for the early tax collection. land is on a the same fiscal calendar as dents won't experience ah increase in ""THE COUNTY treasurer has al the school district — the year begin school district should save some night in the school board offices but no taxes or escrow accounts." one spoke on the matter. ready told the school districts that the ning in July — it already collects its $100,000 a year in that section by col Because of the large number of com Under Public Act 333, signed by Gov. county would collect the taxes if the lo local city taxes In July and collects lecting school taxes twice a year. The However, the school district may be plaints, the city returned to the prac William MJUiken before he left office, cal governments don't," said James county and other taxes in December. Alano Club to use Perrinville School The Livonia School Board authorized costs in older buildings is a contract the lease of the Perrinville Elementary provision which cites responsibility School to an 'alcoholics recovery group over utility costs. According to the Monday night — more than a year and agreement, Alano will pay all of the a half after the school was closed due utility costs in the first five years of the to declining enrollment. agreement and almost 70 percent of The rental agreement, which the overhead costs in the final five amounts to nearly $225,000 over 10 years. The group also will split the cus years, was approved by school board todial costs with the district. The dis trustees Monday after almost one year trict will still maintain the landscaping of negotiations, said the district's busi chores, according to the agreement. • ness superintendent, Arthur Howell. The group, founded 12 years ago, The agreement with the Northwest- lists 500 members, according to club Alano Club, described as a social club -information marift available-ny—4he- that offers educational and recreation school district. It has no affiliations al programs for recovering alcoholics, with other groups, though some 98 per takes effect Feb. 1. However, club di cent of Its members belong to Alcohol-, rector Cal Brodie said it may take until ics Anonymous (AA), Brodie said. It of* sometime In April before the organiza fers a variety of educational meetings ; tion moves in. and lectures, including AA meetings, Currently, Alano has an office on and recreational activities; such as Haller Street in Westland. dances, bingo garfTeSTpo^lplayuig and Until school officials cemented ..tfife.: -ping pong. In Garden CUyVthe local deal with Alano, Perrinville had been court was so impressed withNte work one of four vacated school buildings. In that it refers alcohol offenders to the all, the district has closed 23 school program. buildings, the majority of which began The center's hours will be 10-2 a.m. shutting down in the mid-1976s. weekdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. Still to remain in the building will be to midnight on Sundays. Perrinville Is the offices of the district's curriculum on a 4.5-acre site on Ann Arbor Trail In department.' Westland. The oldest section of the According to the agreement, rent in building was built by Ford Motor in the first two years will be $13,600, an 1956 for company employees. Later, it Axing it nually, and $20,400 each.year for the was deeded to the Nankin Mills School next three years. The yearly rent In the District and eventually was taken over Westland firefighters gather around as Capt. Marvin Liberty considers using an ax to cut a cake for the department's celebration following fixe years will be $27,200. by the Livonia Public Schools. of 20 years of service. Holding the cake is fire Chief Ted Scott. ''"'"*-• OF PARTICULAR importance to a The district closed the school in June district saddled with high maintenance 1981. JHayoEJEetpesJSerbert's appointment Mayor Charles Pickering has vetoed cause the city had an $800,000 deficit them to build a fine community," he "In my experience as city treasurer, the appointment of A. Kent Herbert, when hie took office and because of fric said. I have met with taxpayers who "were former fjnaqce director for the city of tion between Herbert and other city One of his goals is to work to solve literally in tears worrying how they Westland, to the City Council. Herbert employees. the mounting problems of the city with could pay their taxes. Government was appointed Monday night to fill the After leaving the city, Herbert joined all elected officials in the city. should, never put its hard working tax vacancy created by the resignation of Baseline Inc. of Plymouth as vice pres "There has been tod little recognition payers in this position." Justine Barns, newly elected state rep ident/treasurer. by the mayor that the council has been He said he won't be a rubber stamp resentative. Her term expires, Jan. 1, elected also and represents the many for policies or actions for the benefit of 1984. ••••'.• HERBERT WAS one of nine persons elements of the city, its neighborhoods any mayor, special-Interest group or He was nominated for the seat by who had been nominated by the council and its people. Compromise should be any particular Individual. Councilman Charles T. Griffin. Voting to fill the post. One of them, Glenn an Important element between the "Each program presented to the no on his appointment were' council Shaw Jr., had declined the nomination. mayor and council," he added. council must be judged and supported members Nancy Neal and Ben DeHart. Others nominated were Dennis Fas- or rejected on Its own merits," Herbert Expressing surprise and disappoint sett, James W. Nelms Jr., Terry J. HERBERT ALSO said he wants to added. ment over the council's selection, Pick McGovern, Thomas H. Brown, Arlle W. provide better and more direct com On the city's financial problems, he ering also said the council failed to fol- Glpson, Ken Horn and Harry Conner. munication with the residents. said he wants to assure a "balanced ap ' low proper procedure in the selection. Herbert said that with the resigna x "I,n past elections, this has been a fa^ proach" to budget cutting and equal .He added that Herbert would have to tion of Finance Director Larry Wil vorite buzz-Word of many of the candi sharing of the sacrifices necessary by abstain from budget deliberations since liams, his former assistant In the dates. I have some very specific Ideas all elements of the city, including civic his wife works for the city. finance department, that he feels his on how to do this.

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