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| Livonia Observer; Thursday, February 28, 2008 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 28 2008, 06:16 PM (491 Views) | |
| Administrator | Feb 28 2008, 06:16 PM Post #1 |
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Livonia may be drawn into Northville Township row with developer Alex Lundberg A fight over the future of a long-vacant hospital in Northville Township has spilled over into the courts and could conceivably fall to Livonia voters to resolve. Since the state-auction sale of the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital in October, developer REIS (a joint venture of Schostak Bros. & Co and Real Estate Interests Group, Inc.) and Northville Township have been at odds, and in court, over the future of the site. Citizens of Northville, a concerned citizen’s group, will hold an informational meeting on the development at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Highland Lakes Activities Center, 20301 Silver Springs Drive, Northville, 48167. REIS claims that the township has prevented it from moving forward with its plans to build a commercial/residential development on the site. Township Manager Chip Snider said it wasn’t that simple. “It’s a common myth that the township didn’t approve a plan,” he said. “The township did approve a plan, just not one as rich as they wanted, in their opinion.” The township board held that the developer’s plans called for more commercial and residential development than they were prepared to allow and did not grant a variance for REIS. REIS Spokesman Steve Mitchell said the former hospital property is 414 acres of land at Seven Mile and Haggerty Roads purchased by REIS in October for $31.5 million through a state auction. If the company gets its way, it will put up a mixed-use development that will include commercial retail and office space as well as homes, condominiums and apartments. The development as they conceive it could run higher than $800 million. But no matter how much REIS wants to spend, the township holds that the developer wants too much. REIS believes they’ve offered more than enough concessions. “REIS met with the township on 25 or 30 occasions and made a number of concessions to get more retail,” Mitchell said. “They wouldn’t. Bottom line: REIS felt that there was no other alternative (than to go to court).” The township’s zoning board of appeals declined to hear REIS’ case and the company filed a $100 million suit in Wayne County Circuit Court against the township. Eastern District Court Judge Sean Cox appointed a facilitator to settle the dispute on Friday. Snider said the judge wants to hear there’s been a meeting between the two before May. Since the development was stalled over variances and the developer is suing the township, there have been rumors that the property could be annexed to Livonia. To annex the property, 20 percent of the people living on the property would have to sign a petition that Livonia voters would have to endorse by ballot. Before the end of last year, REIS moved eight people onto the property in four manufactured homes to serve as 24-hour security. The people have certificates of occupancy from the township and are for all purposes, residents of the township. Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey said, theoretically, a majority vote of the residents on the property to annex could put the issue in the hands of Livonia voters. Right now, he’s not willing to discuss the issue beyond the limits of theory. “We’re interested observers,” Kirksey said. “There’s nothing before us, there is no annexation, there is nothing to discuss. All of the action is between the township and the developer.” The mayor wanted to stay away from crystal ball-gazing in the row between REIS and Northville Township, but was optimistic that cooler heads would eventually prevail. “My personal opinion is that I hope the developer and Northville resolve their differences,” Kirksey said. “I don’t think it will come to annexation.” Annexation is a lopsided process because cities can annex parts of townships but not the other way around. A group of bills have been introduced into the Senate that would correct some of that disparity by making the process longer and putting more of the affected township’s residents into the process. Michigan State Rep. John Pastor said he wasn’t completely up to speed on the annexation bills making their way through the legislature because they haven’t come up in the House. Still, he said the state can’t really afford to turn its nose up at a major project like this right now. “It doesn’t make sense that a billion-dollar development gets hung up by anything,” he said. “That’s roads, infrastructure and buildings. It’d be a huge shot in the arm for the economy.” He said communities and the state have to do more to welcome corporate America and encourage developments like Highwood whenever they want to spring up. Construction projects, large ones especially, benefit everyone. “The automobile jobs are going away, this will spur the economy,” Pastor said. “We shouldn’t worry about annexation, we should worry about making deals. The economy is not going to grow by things staying the way they are.” alundberg@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2109 http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...0/80228010/1027 |
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| Administrator | Feb 28 2008, 06:16 PM Post #2 |
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Suspected Webster arsonist in custody Livonia police have a 32-year-old Livonia man in custody in connection with last week’s arson at Webster Elementary School. The suspect is expected to be charged tomorrow, said Lt. Greg Winn. “We have a 32-year-old Livonia man in custody for a series of arsons including the arson at Webster school on Feb. 18,” Winn said at about 4:30 p.m. today. “There were three attempted arsons of vehicles early this morning and evidence from those led us to this person.” Police will present the case to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office and would be able to release more information on Friday, Winn said. http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...NEWS10/80228013 |
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| Administrator | Feb 28 2008, 06:17 PM Post #3 |
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Letters to the editor Keep criticism in check In my travels around town and in reading the Livonia Observer Letters to the Editor section, I continue to observe a troubling trend of Livonians ripping on Livonia. I'm not trying to paint a false reality. It's not a great thing the city's second-largest employer, Quicken Loans, plans to leave Livonia in a couple of years. It's not a wonderful thing that we continue to see vacant commercial properties. I'm not thrilled that residential property values are declining. I'm bothered that two grocery warehouses closed in Livonia over the past eight months. It shakes me when I hear about people who lose their jobs. I realize this is happening in Livonia, but it is also happening all across southeastern Michigan. I get a feeling that too many Livonians look at our economic shortcomings from a provincial scope, but in reality, there are people in Northville struggling to sell their homes, vacant commercial properties in Birmingham, and Bloomfield Hills residents losing jobs. Our region's economic hardships know no geographic boundaries. There are some people who continue to look for blood in their critiques of the Livonia Public School District. There are people who believe the recent announcement that the Value City store is closing at Livonia Mall is an indication of Livonia's demise. We hear people complain that four tenants are leaving Laurel Park Place Mall (yet we don't hear about the new food court and ongoing negotiations to bring in other new tenants.) There are people who want to point aggressive fingers at one person for complex issues. While some critical comments are justified, there seems to be a bitterness in the tone that damages our community. Imagine you are shopping for a home, and one house you like is surrounded by neighbors who complain all the time. Chances are you will be taking your house search to another neighborhood. Constructive criticism can be a productive thing, if the person offering the criticism can back it up with a reasonable action to solve the problem. If investors and developers only read about reported struggles and sharp complaints, why should those people have any confidence to invest in that area. So let's keep our criticism in check, and in perspective. We don't have a perfect town, but I believe we have enough community pride in Livonia to take our complaints and use them as steps that can lead to productive improvements. Dan West president, Livonia Chamber of Commerce Not all agree on plowing I found this statement to be laughable in Marsha Szmatula's "Laughable no plow reasons" letter: "... all we citizens want is some common sense when it comes to clearing our streets after it snows É Clear away the snow if it's 2 inches or 20 inches." The citizens in Livonia are not 100 percent on this issue. The majority of neighbors and coworkers I've spoken with have no issue with the policy of not plowing side streets when snow falls are under 4 inches. I have lived in Livonia for 39 years and have never witnessed anyone having trouble driving down a side street with snow accumulation under 4 inches. So, I feel it is laughable to say "all we citizens" in a way that implies a majority. The other thing that I find laughable with Ms. Szmatula's letter is the thought of plowing as little as 2 inches of snowfall. On 2/22/08 for example, there was 1 1/2 to 2 inches of snow in my driveway that I did not have time to shovel before leaving for work. When I came home 10 hours later only a small patch of snow in a shaded area was left - the rest melted away on its own. What if that 2 inches of snow fell late in the evening? Should it be plowed overnight on premium time, when by dawn the next day only a trace of it would be left by mother nature? Would it be common sense to consume the additional fuel; increase the wear and tear on plow equipment; damage curbs and pavement; and risk exceeding the annual budget for snow plowing for little or no benefit to the average motorist? Common sense is biased towards a person's perspective on an issue. With the issue of plowing snow under 4 inches deep on Livonia's side streets there is no slam dunk right or wrong. Jerry Piasentin Livonia You could always move out First of all I am not surprised Mr. Weber has touched a nerve again. Both Mike Butler and Peggy Fallows wrote (letters) in the Feb. 21 edition about Leo's ability to vent his complaints of Livonia and its citizens through the written word. As Mike Butler stated this is NOT only recent letters written by Leo. Matter of fact, the reason I am writing this is that this has been Leo's mission since as far back as March of 2001. Mr. Weber basically called me a liar because I made a response to his complaints about, of all things, the side streets weren't being plowed and then when they were they placed large piles of snow in his driveway. Imagine this, he's still writing about the same darn issue. Oh and he also was writing about how then and now Mayor Kirksey was handling the city. Leo, you called me a liar because I had stated I have neighbors that help each other out when it snows, we clear either other's drives and sidewalks and especially make sure the elderly on our block are looked out for. I respect my elders and fellow citizens. Well then, if in fact you HATE this city so bad, HATE the Mayor so bad, and HATE your neighbors and citizens of this city so bad, MOVE. Matter of fact, I would LOVE to help you move, I will not only help load and pack the truck I will drive it to whatever city in this state or country you want to go to. Leo, it is your RIGHT to use the First Amendment to express yourself, but you go too far, you make generalizations, name calling and false statements. STOP the madness! One last thing, do you know what I've been doing with the Opinion pages that have Leo's letter's printed in them? I line my cat litter box with them, face up. My cat places on his words what I feel they are full of É manure! That's my right to say so. Arnold "Chip" Weingart Livonia LPS spirit comes through Out of the ashes rises the Phoenix. A tragic event that left students and staff stunned has been an impetus for a community to come together. Those who call Webster Elementary "home" would ask the question "why?" É yet something much bigger and more beautiful than we could imagine was at work É As we parents waited for word on what we could do, LPS was busy doing what they do best: Putting the needs of our kids first. The whole district was on mid-winter break until Wednesday, yet Monday morning would find administrators at the board office. All who were able attended, regardless that they were supposed to be on vacation. On Wednesday, Webster staff arrived at the formerly closed Taylor Elementary. Though the focus was getting the building ready, the real work was to begin healing. Word is that some staff wandered the halls with tissue boxes in hand; not to dry tears of sadness, but tears of gratitude as offers of help and donations began arriving. Anonymous donations were left at the building. Parents flocked to REMC to re-create classroom signs destroyed by fire. E-mails flew back and forth as other parents coordinated breakfast and lunch to be delivered to staff at Taylor on Friday, as well as food for the workers throughout the weekend. Teachers' wish lists were formulated, helping to replenish some of the necessities lost in the fire, as well as giving parents a much-needed way to help. Local businesses began calling with offers of donations. Plans for a fund-raiser formulated, and restaurants stepped up. Items and services were donated for the silent auction. In the midst of this, LPS workers began the daunting task of transforming a vacant school into a conducive learning environment - in less than a week. Not surprisingly, they were successful. When Webster families walked through the doors of Webster-Taylor for the open house on Sunday afternoon, we were greeted not only by the smiling faces of staff and volunteers, but also by the warm, inviting atmosphere of the building. Board members were there, a sure sign of support and encouragement. The real story is still unfolding, as a community continues to reach out, supporting our kids and the staff in trying to replace what was lost. Some of those items are irreplaceable, yet the love and support, the coming together of our LPS community makes it easier to bear. Allison Johnson Livonia Recall is ridiculous What a waste of taxpayer dollars, time, effort and energy. The recall efforts against (state Rep.) Andy Dillon are absurd. You have the right to get rid of Mr. Dillon, if you so choose, and it is by casting your vote in the upcoming election. Additional money does not need to be spent by anyone to remove someone from office who is doing his job. You may not like the result, but don't continue to spend taxpayer dollars demanding a special election for your own personal special interest or because you are sitting around with time on your hands. I think it is ridiculous that you complain that Mr. Dillon's office sends out newsletters, too. What's next? When you don't hear from him because he is saving the taxpayer dollars you don't want him to spend, you'll complain that you don't know what is going on or (that) he is not telling you all the facts. Redford Township and the surrounding communities finally have some representation and Andy Dillon has gone to bat for our community. Mr. Dillon has helped the schools and brought attention to the needs of our community. The economy in Michigan needs tax dollars to run. The economy doesn't need to pay for a special election during an election year. There are a record number of schools in this state in financial trouble, foreclosures are high, jobs are low. Money has to come from those who can (afford it) to help those who can't, whether we like it or not. It is time to come together to solve this economic problem, not create more division. Quit being so shortsighted with this recall effort. Tina Kleinknecht Redford Township Ignore scheme to recall Dillon I'm really disheartened by the recall effort being waged against Andy Dillon. Originally I was opposed to electing Andy. However, he came to my door and spoke to me personally during that campaign about his views and his vision for the district, and I've been a supporter ever since. Every time there has been a hard decision for Andy Dillon to make, he has come back to the district and held a public town hall meeting to explain to us why he made that decision. Whether I agreed with him or disagreed with him, Andy did not hide at the Capitol and refuse to answer to us. We elected him to make the tough votes as well as the easy ones, and when he makes the tough ones, he at least has the decency to explain himself to us personally. That is the way a respectable state representative is supposed to operate, and Andy Dillon is a role model in that regard. Why on earth would we recall OUR OWN House Speaker just because an outside interest says we should? It is a point of pride for our township that the Speaker of the House hails from Redford, and we would be minimizing and embarrassing ourselves if we played any part in the scheme to remove him from office! Save Speaker Dillon! Dennis O'Leary Redford Township |
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| Administrator | Feb 28 2008, 06:18 PM Post #4 |
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Cox's ill-conceived license opinion sends yet another wrong message Two days after Christmas, while Lansing was silent and largely deserted for the holiday season, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox issued an opinion indicating that only permanent Michigan residents may get a driver's license. It appeared to say that people living here legally, but on a temporary basis, couldn't get one. That opinion came in response to a request by state Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge. It was clearly not produced overnight. The opinion was five single-spaced pages in length and was accompanied by 13 footnotes and case citations. Nobody I talked with in preparing this column - and I talked with plenty of people - knew Cox's opinion was coming. But it was a bombshell. It provoked a round of furious finger-pointing with Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, his fellow Republican. Her office was responsible for implementing Cox's complex ruling. It enraged the business community, which employs nearly 400,000 aliens legally in Michigan on valid visas. It infuriated state universities when they suddenly discovered that thousands of their students and faculty members living legally in Michigan could not get a driver's license. It wounded economic developers across the state, who found themselves trying to explain that Michigan really didn't want to slam the door against international business expansion. And it provoked official protests from the governments of Japan and India. All this from one little opinion by a state attorney general. Of course, there was a political dimension to all this (surprise, surprise). The subject of illegal aliens has been one of consuming interest during the presidential campaign, especially to many Republicans, who want the border with Mexico closed and all illegals chucked out. (That is, unless they employ any on the sly.) And the issue has more than just Republicans squirming. Sen. Hillary Clinton got herself into trouble during the presidential debates with a series of confusing and contradictory responses when asked whether illegal aliens should get driver's licenses. Most Lansing sources I talked with figure that Cox was doing little more than pandering to the anti-immigrant wing of the GOP. I tried to ask Cox's PR guy about this, but my call was not returned. In any event, once people returned to Lansing and the national press started saying that Michigan was now the toughest state in the country for aliens to get driver's licenses, all hell broke loose. Jim Epolito, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., was politely furious. He fired off a letter to Cox noting that his troops "have been receiving frantic telephone calls, e-mails and letters from Michigan's international business community regarding this issue. Your opinion, issued with no advanced warning to the business community and with no opportunity for a hearing or public comment, has given the international business community the perception that Michigan is not open for business." Epolito cited more than 375,000 employees who were in Michigan on perfectly legal visas, who could not effectively conduct their business without being able to drive a car. And Birgit Klohs, the highly effective economic developer for Grand Rapids, told me she'd been on the phone at all hours trying to explain what was going on to angry foreign companies considering - at least, they had been - Michigan as a possible place for expansion. Universities were just as dismayed. University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman pointed out that our universities are on the front line of bringing capable people to Michigan. I got a call from Linda Lim, the head of U-M's Southeast Asia Center, saying that she had an office full of students in tears. Meanwhile, once the secretary of state's office started figuring out what the opinion really meant, they ran into all kinds of trouble trying to work their way through the complex opinion. Lawyers quickly pointed out that Cox's language appeared to mean that even U.S. citizens living in Michigan temporarily could not obtain a driver's license. Implementing rules were issued Jan. 22, and were promptly attacked by a suit from the American Civil Liberties Union. Cox's office complained that the secretary of state "misread" the opinion, which is the legal equivalent of "I wrote it, but it's your problem to figure out what I meant." Fingers were pointed back and forth all over Lansing, with feelings (mostly anger) running especially high between the attorney general's office and that of the secretary of state, both Republicans. Meanwhile, Gov. Jennifer Granholm urged the Legislature to find a fix to overturn the Cox opinion. Acting with unusual speed and bipartisanship, both the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation that allowed foreign citizens living temporarily in Michigan to obtain a driver's license. The governor promptly signed the bill last Friday. But the damage has been done. With his state facing terrible economic times, with Michigan desperate for skilled immigrant workers and students, Cox's opinion succeeded in holding our foot up to be shot with our own pistol. What's sad, embarrassing and all-too predictable about this particular episode of pandering-gone-wrong is that it was totally, and completely, unnecessary. Phil Power is founder and president of The Center for Michigan, a think tank based in Ann Arbor. The opinions expressed here are Power's own and do not represent official views of The Center. He welcomes reader comment at ppower@thecenterformichigan.net. http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...506/1199/NEWS10 |
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| Administrator | Feb 28 2008, 06:18 PM Post #5 |
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Spirit sparked by fire The Livonia Public Schools community showed its incredible heart in the wake of the fire that destroyed much of Webster Elementary School last week. Much more than walls, ceilings, desks, books and equipment were lost in the blaze. There were all the extra touches that make a building into a school, especially one that housed 350 students in either special education or academically talented classes. Students were emotional over the loss of their building, but youngsters can be resilient. Now located at Taylor, the Webster staff and students will face challenges. It won't be the same. But many tell us of the strength of Webster's spirit. Credit goes to all the extra work and effort put in by staff and administrators, by parents and business donors, and by many others across the district who found a way to help - and will find a way to help - to make this transition work. http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...509/1199/NEWS10 |
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| Administrator | Feb 28 2008, 06:20 PM Post #6 |
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Falling home values won't necessarily cut tax bills By Alex Lundberg OBSERVER STAFF WRITER If your home is worth less, you should pay less in property taxes, right? Not so fast. Even though Livonia's home values fell by 8 to 9 percent over the past year, that doesn't mean property taxes will be falling as well. Homeowners who have been in their homes for many years, and thanks to Proposal A have a taxable value much lower than their assessed value, will still see a hike in taxable value by 2.3 percent, the rate of inflation. Since taxable value is used to figure homeowners' property tax bill, that means that, unless tax rates are cut by governmental units, those people actually pay more in property taxes. The problem, according to Livonia Assessor Sherron Schultz, is Proposal A. "Since Proposal A was passed in 1994, taxable value has been lower than SEV. The market has been good," Schultz said. "Until the SEV is below the taxable value, taxes will go up. This is the bad side of Proposal A, there's an increase in taxes with no relationship to the value of the home." Assessed values are based on sales within individual neighborhoods. "Assessors calculate assessed value, which is the same as the old State Equalized Value, the same as they have for years and years," she said. "It's based on sales in the area." As sale prices around the city (county and state) have dropped, assessed values have dropped accordingly. What residents are running into is their capped value which is the prior year's taxable value minus any removals (demolished garages, removed pools) and then multiplied by the rate of inflation. That figure, plus any additions (new garages, installed pools) gives you the new capped value. The new capped value is compared to the assessed value and whichever is higher becomes the new taxable value. That figure is multiplied by the total tax rate, which includes city, county and higher education tax rates, to get a homeowner's tax bill. The right people to call with questions, of course, is the staff at the assessor's office. Schultz said the notices go out and there's a few days of people calling for clarification. While they don't count calls, she said the phone traffic in the office is already back to normal. Most people get directed to the assessor's office, but the mayor's office has had to field a few calls too. "We got a few calls through the switchboard, we got some e-mails too but that seems to have tapered off," Mayor's office Clerk Karen Cook said. "Most of the calls we're getting now are about snow and which streets we plow and don't plow." Residents who are unhappy about their assessments can set up a meeting with the city's board of review by calling (734) 466-2220. Schultz warned, though, that the board cannot change taxable value. alundberg@hometownlife.com (734) 953-2109 http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../802280541/1027 |
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