Ypsilanti Citizen News ]]>

City Council approves all mayor's re-appointments
By Dan DuChene
Jun. 16, 2010   ·   3:42 a.m.

Jone Coleman, president of downtown business LookInTheAttic, shares his thoughts with City Council about the discussion and procedure taken to pass mayoral re-appointments, which he was being considered for the Downtown Development Authority.

After much procedure, Ypsilanti City Council approved six mayoral re-appointments to city boards and committees Tuesday, including the two postponed from earlier...read more

Council postpones two reappointments
By Mark Tower
Jun. 4, 2010   ·   4:57 p.m.

Two of Ypsilanti's volunteer board members were not reappointed on schedule Tuesday night, owing to a 4-2 vote by City Council to delay the appointments until...read more

Downtown properties to be rehabilitated
By Mark Tower
Jun. 4, 2010   ·   10:40 a.m.

The three properties located at 120, 122 and 124 West Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti will soon be rebuilt into commercial and office space and loft apartments, thanks to a planned $1.7 million investment by developers.

Three recently-vacated properties in downtown Ypsilanti, two of them condemned, will soon be renovated owing to recent purchase by a local development company and...read more

Ypsilanti Township authorizes litigation against Liberty Square
By Mark Tower
May. 28, 2010   ·   6:53 p.m.

Many of the homes in the Liberty Square complex on Grove Street in Ypsilanti Township are already boarded and ready for foreclosure sale. All 151 units, some of which are still occupied, will be condemned Tuesday, Ypsilanti Township has resolved.

Residents living in the Liberty Square complex of townhouses will see a sticker appear on their homes Tuesday, when the Ypsilanti Township Building Department places...read more

Ford plant granted tax exemption by township
By Mark Tower
May. 24, 2010   ·   5:44 p.m.

Ford Motor Company's Rawsonville Plan, located at the intersection of Textile and Bridge Roads in Ypsilanti Township, will soon be the new home for production of Ford's Electric Focus batteries, formerly produced in Mexico.

New machines and equipment will soon be wheeled into Ford's Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti Township as it begins manufacturing a line of batteries for the new global...read more

Ypsilanti Township tackles reduction in law enforcement

Photo by Christine Laughren

Sheriff Jerry Clayton and Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo discussed deputy reduction at Tuesday evening's meeting.
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Reductions across board in 2010 budget

By Christine Laughren
Nov. 23, 2009    ·    3:01 p.m.


Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton said he will not relish the “daunting task” of deploying 10 less deputies in Ypsilanti Township come Jan. 1

Speaking to Township officials at last Tuesday’s regular meeting, Clayton said he would like to schedule community forums in the near future and speak directly to residents. He said it’s important residents don’t have “false expectations” with the changed level of service.

“A big issue for us is going to be aligning the residents expectations with our ability to provide service,” Clayton said.

Township officials voted on its 2010 budget Tuesday, which calls for the reduction of 10 deputies - leaving the municipality with 28 deputies covering the region. A four-year, 2-mill tax levy, which was defeated in the election earlier this month, was expected to maintain 38 deputies, generating approximately $3,230,770 in the first year. The measure was voted down by a 169-vote margin, with 51.42 percent of the ballots voting against.

Washtenaw County Sheriff's Cmdr. Dieter Heren said preliminary work on a new deployment plan for the 28 deputies has begun. By compiling historical data on calls for service over the past 12 months, Heren estimates the number of calls for service each deputy is responsible for to nearly double.

Although the millage proposal failed Clayton urged the Township to consider another millage proposal for the following year. However, Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo said that will be up to the Ypsilanti Township residents.

“I think it would have to come from the people as opposed to come from this board,” Stumbo said Tuesday evening. “There’s a lot of theories on why the millage didn’t pass and I agree with some of them but you really don’t know.

‘It was a very close millage and I think if the people want it to come back I think they’ll express that,” she said.

In the meantime, Stumbo said she is looking to the county to see if it can share some of the burden and help the municipality retain some deputies.

Law enforcement wasn’t the only fund that saw its numbers drop. The municipality shaved its budget by nearly $3 million as it continues to struggle with declining revenue.

Significant general fund expenditure changes also include staff reductions across the board as well as wage changes and other concessions negotiated with local unions.

The Township and Sheriff’s Office have yet to schedule community forums regarding reductions in deputy staffing.

Click here to download Ypsilanti Township's 2010 Fiscal Year Budget.

Related Articles:
Township shortens work week to 32 hours
Ypsi Twp. seeks tax hike for police services



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