ww w.hometownlife. com BY DARRELLCLEM "They're struggling to pay their bills," said to keep the tax intact included James Godbout, interpreted as being insensitive to taxpayers. ~ STAFF WRITER council President Charles Pickering, who for Cheryl Graunstadt, Michael Kehrer, Dewey "I can feel the pain of every citizen here that'g, weeks has drawn support from Councilman Bill Reeves and Robert Stottlemyer. having a hard time," he said. An election-year battle over a trash-disposal Johnson. Stottlemyer initially supported Pickering's But, Kehrer said the issue "is technically a vote tax cut culminated Monday as a sharply divided Pickering proposed reducing the trash-dispos­ proposal on Monday. on recycling." Moreover, he held out hope that, Westland City Council voted against reducing al tax from 2.15 mills to 1.8 mills. He also sought Johnson said he believes some of the city's $1.2 if the city begins a successful program, costs existing rates. to slash by $300,000 the amount budgeted for million surplus in the sanitation fund could be for dumping trash at landfills eventually will be A council majority blocked a tax-cut proposal, the Central Wayne County Sanitation Authority. used to start curbside recycling. Others, how­ reduced. saying it would kill hopes for a curbside recycling Pickering has said his plan would save taxpay­ ever, said a move to deplete that fund could lead Pickering and Johnson said their stance on the program and siphon dollars that could be need­ ers more than $800,000. Put another way, the to financial problems. trash-disposal tax shouldn't be viewed as a vote ed if state officials increase garbage-disposal owner of a $100,000 house would save an esti­ Referring to curbside recycling efforts, against recycling, which they said they favor. tipping fees. mated $20 a year. Godbout said, "We're negligent if we ignore that Some officials fear that reducing the trash-dis­ The same 5-2 majority also voiced fears Wild had initially proposed cutting the trash- and turn our backs on it." posal tax could lead to financial problems that that yearly trash-disposal costs could soar by disposal tax to 2 mills and returning $7-50 a He and others have said that, eventually, the could threaten the city's general fund, precari- ~ $230,000 or more if the city has to hire a new year to the same homeowner. However, he said state is likely to force a curbside program. aously hovering around the $2 million mark. garbage hauler, which already has lost work in he could accept the council majority's decision Moreover, Godbout and Kehrer said city offi­ Monday's vote came as the council approved some communities. to maintain the tax rate and explore curbside cials may have to try to dip into the sanitation a $60 million general fund budget for the fiscal However, the council's tax-cut proponents said recycling. fund if the city is slapped with high cleanup year that starts July 1. It also came after a group a decision to maintain existing rates amounts to But Wild cautioned Monday that "for me to costs for Central City Park, which is fenced off of citizens launched a grassroots effort to sup­ charging property owners for services they're not support a program, it's going to have to make due to contaminants such as lead. port curbside recycling by collecting hundreds of receiving. They said taxpayers deserve a refund, sense." If such efforts fail, he said, the city could Kehrer, who said he has been unemployed signatures. however minimal, amid Michigan's economic opt later to cut taxes. several months during the last year, said his vote crisis. Ultimately, those council'members who voted against a trash-disposal tax cut shouldn't be [email protected] j (734) 953-2110 BY DARRELL CLEM STAFF WRITER Westland police are seeking help Westland police are seek­ identifying this ing a suspect involved in a suspect, wanted Monday afternoon robbery at for a bank robbery the Comerica Bank branch on Monday. Call the Wayne Road south of Warren. Westland Police . A lone bandit went into Department at (734) the bank about 1:47 p.m. and 721-6311 or (734) handed a note to a female tell­ 722-9600. er, warning that he had a gun, according to police reports. suspect wore a light-colored, The man demanded money vertically striped shirt, blue and escaped with several hun- • jeans and tennis shoes. He also dred dollars. Before he fled, wore what was described as the bandit ordered the teller to prescription eyeglasses, pos­ return the note to him. sibly tinted or with transition . Police have released a pic­ lenses. He wore a baseball cap. ture of the suspect, who was The teller told police that the PHOTO BY DOMALD J- ALLEY caught on a surveillance cam­ suspect didn't speak during era. The teller described him the robbery. He entered the.; , as a white male in his mid- to bank from and east door. He: It's official late 50s. He was about 6 feet fled the scene in an unknown John Glenn High School graduate Nicholas Lloyd (left) and Samer Suleiman (near left) celebrate as they are declared graduated during the tall and weighed about 200 direction. Police said Comerica Commencement ceremony on Saturday. Uoyd had the highest ranking in the class of 2007. For more photos, see Page A3, for a complete list of pounds. He had dark but gray­ is offering a $2,000 reward graduates, visit the Westland Observer Web site at www.hometownlife.com. ing hair that was pulled back for information that helps in a ponytail. He also had a authorities nab the robber. Call mustache and goatee. the police department at (734) According to police, the 721-6311 or (734) 722-9600. BY DARRELL CLEM dent, Benson said. bond and ordered to appear in court STAFF WRITER A 9-month-old child also was in the June 14 for a preliminary hearing to home but was not injured, the detective determine whether he will face trial. about grass complaints A shooting suspect was arraigned on said1. Heater confirmed that two other sus­ criminal charges Wednesday after a 26- Police Sgt. David Heater said one of pects are being sought. Anyone who has Citing a record number of office. year-old Westland man was wounded three suspects was arraigned Wednesday information is urged to call the Westland vacant properties and fore­ It's a problem he said the city early Sunday, when assailants forced in front of Westland District Judge Police Department at (734) 721-6311 or closures on homes, Mayor is having problems tackling, their way into his home on South Sandra Ference Cicirelli. (734) 722-9600. William Wild said his office with foreclosures now reaching Hubbard north of Palmer, police said. The defendant, 25-year-old Jason Some details about the incident has been inundated with com­ into the hundreds. The investigation was continuing, but William Hicks, is charged with assault remained unclear, such as a possible plaints about tall grass not That said, he has asked police Sgt. Chris Benson said Tuesday with intent to murder, armed robbery, connection between the victim and the being mowed. the council to schedule a that "it appears the motive was robbery." first-degree home invasion, felony fire­ assailants. Wild, during a Westland study session to discuss the The victim was treated and released at arms, being a felon in possession of "It's unclear to what extent they knew City Council meeting on issue. A formal request was Oakwood Hospital/Annapolis Center in a firearm, and being a foiirth-degree each other," Benson said. Mondays said the issue now made Wednesday to council Wayne. He was shot in the left shoulder habitual offender. ranks as causing the most President Charles Pickering, by a handgun during the 1:15 a.m. inci­ Hicks was jailed on a $750,000 cash [email protected] I (734) 953-2110 phone calls to his City Hall who schedules such meetings. © The Observer & Eccentric (omonipncp For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS i \* Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE Volume xxx CLASSIFIED 87 (866) 887-2737 Number xxx CROSSWORD PUZZLE HOMETOWNLIFE Joss BIO MOVIE GUIDE E14 OBITUARIES A14 co-ut .TJ «,**f OPINION A10 PINK 04 SPORTS (WG) Observer S Eccentric | Thursday, June 7,2007 www.hometownlife.com Fire, police square off in 2nd Battle of BY DARRELL CLEM Fire Capt. John Adams Truth be told, both sides simply saying he is backing choose sides and sign up to ing suitimer^months due td STAFF WRITER joked this week that police simply want to sign up as the good-natured competi­ donate blood are urged to an increase % outdoor an$ officers had the guns to force many donors as possible for tion. , stop by the mayor's office or water-sports accidents. ••' Westland residents bled blood donors to their side. But a blood drive scheduled for 8 "When it comes.to giving call (734) 467-3200. Regardless of which side blue last year, giving local it didn't seem to rattle Police a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, June back to your community, While all blood types are brings in the most tlpnors, police officers a victory in a Chief James Ridener, who 18, at the Bailey Recreation there is nothing like giving important, the American Red the winning department will friendly contest with city fire­ said the men and women in Center, behind City Hall on the gift of life," Wild said. Cross especially needs Type O be given a Gold Blood Bag fighters to see who could sign blue won a fair fight.