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The Charter Township of Northville is a vibrant, safe and attractive community. The perfect place to live, work and play! This new e-newsletter is another way for you to stay connected to what's happening in your community! | |
Photo credit: Northville Chamber of Commerce | |
Supervisor Mark J. Abbo Outlines the Township’s Future at the State of the Community Luncheon and June 8 Meeting
Who would have thought a cute dog would be such a crowd pleaser, but that’s what happened. Northville Township Supervisor Mark J. Abbo brought an adorable dog and news of Northville Township earning $1 million in interest income in 2022, a $925,000 increase over the previous year, to the Northville Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Community Luncheon.
Supervisor Abbo was one of three speakers to update residents, businesses and other stakeholders about current projects. The Supervisor was joined by City of Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull and Northville Public Schools Superintendent RJ Webber in addition to the Northville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Douglas Wallace.
A Surprise Guest
Supervisor Abbo brought a furry friend. He introduced support dog Max, the Northville Township Police Department’s Goldendoodle, and surprised guests mid-speech as Max and his handler, Community Service Officer Andrew Domzalski, greeted guests.
“Max joined the Department in October, last year, and he offers comfort to anyone who needs it,” Supervisor Abbo explained. “He also helps with investigations by relaxing people who have experienced trauma. You’ll see him around town, in the schools, in our parks.”
Based on the number of cell phone cameras that came out when Max entered the room, he was a welcomed guest.
Also welcomed was news that Treasurer Jason Rhines and the Township finance team made some strategic changes that led to earning approximately $1 million in interest income, versus $75,000 in 2021. Also, the Township’s cash and investment portfolio has significantly less market risk than it had two years ago.
Practicing responsible government was the theme throughout his address as he discussed Legacy Park, the new Essential Services Complex, the second water tower, MITC and Unity Skatepark.
Mark Your Calendar
Residents will learn more about these projects Thursday, June 8 at 7 pm at Township Hall, when the community is cordially invited to a joint meeting of the City, Township and School District at Northville Township Hall. Supervisor Abbo will provide more details on how he’s leading Northville Township forward while focusing on how it synergizes with the City and School District’s needs.
“Northville Township is an incredible community,” he said. “I’m proud of who we are, and how we help people. We are caring. We volunteer. We treat each other with respect. …We are excited to call Northville Township home, and I am delighted for what our future holds.”
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Awards Program Honors First Responders
Northville Township Department of Public Safety recently hosted its sixth annual Recognition of Excellence Ceremony and gave out 60 awards, commendations, citations and certificates to its fire and police teams. The top awards went to:
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Other winners: PSO Mike Galunas, Lt. Brent Muller, Detective Justin Norlock, Firefighter Jacob Fedel, Firefighter Hugh Jordan, Lt. Kyle Lewis, Firefighter Jason Raschke, Battalion Chief Brian Siriani, Capt. Phil Sutherland, Firefighter Steve Leach, Officer Daniel Hernandez, Officer Edin Livadic, Firefighter Greg Ryan, Officer Tony Dang, Officer Zach Lewis, Detective Tyler Schmittou, Detective John Cozzi III, Firefighter Chris Wiggins, Fire Marshal Tom Hughes, PSO John McPherson, Officer Robert McFadden, Lt. Patrick Reinke, Officer Ben Sellenraad, Officer Christopher Bachand, Lt. Adam Burton, Firefighter Christopher Kolinski, Battalion Chief Brad Neuhart, PSO Carrie Hollingshed, Lt. Christopher Rowley and Deputy Chief Matthew MacKenzie.
Thank you all for your heroic service!
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Special Winter Storm Debris Collection Completed
When we say the back-to-back winter storms caused tons of damage to residents’ yards, we mean it. GFL Environmental collected 150 tons of debris before it could no longer offer the special service.
Northville Township’s Department of Public Works staff and local contractor Complete Outdoor Services of Michigan (C.O.S.M.) added to that tonnage significantly. They finished the job in mid-April. While they didn’t weigh their haul, it’s safe to say it rivaled GFL’s tonnage.
Normal yard waste collection has resumed. Please place debris in 32-35 gallon plastic or metal containers labeled ‘Yard Waste’ or ‘Compost’ or in biodegradable paper bags. All containers must weigh 50 pounds or less.
Yard waste includes garden waste, leaves, lawn cuttings, shrubs and tree trimming waste. All large brush or tree limbs must be bundled with heavy twine or rope, be less than 18 inches in diameter, cut down to less than 4 feet in length and be 50 pounds in weight or less.
Thank you for letting us be part of the solution to the intense storms.
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Park Improvements to Come
Improvements are unfolding at your area parks.
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New playground equipment is coming to Marv Gans Community Park. Installation is slated for late fall. Stop in this summer for one final time on your ol’ favorite.
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Millennium Park’s baseball fields will get new dugout roofs in August, as well as upgrades to the restroom building. The new fencing around the fields was added in April.
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Unity Skatepark is being built at Millennium Park, too. Construction will begin this summer with completion expected in the fall.
Northville Township’s exciting park system awaits your visit!
To discover more parks in Northville Township, visit https://npar.info/parklistings.
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Legacy Park’s Eastern Trails are Open for Use
Have you explored the eastern end of Legacy Park yet? It is open from dawn to dusk.
While much of Legacy Park is closed because it’s a demolition site, there are two open biking and hiking trails on the eastern end of the property to explore now.
The two-mile Bell Branch Trail is for mountain biking. It features rolling terrains and twists and turns.
The Chinkapin Hiking Trail is a one-mile loop to explore on foot.
If the trails are muddy, please avoid using them. When you leave ruts or a deep footprint, it contributes to erosion, which damages the trails. Thanks for helping us maintain these high-quality trails.
To access, park on the north side of Wayne Avenue or in the Schoolcraft College parking lot off Haggerty Road. The trails and trailhead are on Wayne Avenue (north of Cross Road, off Haggerty).
To learn more about Legacy Park and view a map, visit https://ntwp.org/easterntrails.
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Derek Smith to Lead Northville Parks and Recreation
We are preparing the welcome wagon! Industry veteran Derek O. Smith was named the new director of Northville Parks and Recreation. He begins July 3.
The Parks and Recreation Commission made the appointment at the recommendation of Northville Township Manager Todd Mutchler and Northville City Manager George Lahanas.
Northville Parks and Recreation is a shared service between the Charter Township of Northville and the City of Northville to jointly operate Parks and Recreation and Senior Services.
Director Smith will replace Interim Director Debra Bilbrey-Honsowetz, who came aboard in July 2022 to run the department after a long career at Canton Township’s Leisure Services.
A Legacy of Leading
Director Smith joins Northville Parks and Recreation after holding a similar post for Independence Township for seven years. He led a team of 16 full-time employees and 130 seasonal or part-time ones, a $3.4 million operating budget and managed five parks. Like Northville’s, it includes a Senior Services division.
He also worked in Novi and led the Southeastern Livingston County Recreation Authority in Brighton. He has been heavily involved at the state level, serving on the executive board of mParks for eight years in various positions, including president. Softball has been a passion, too. He previously had leadership roles with the USA Softball of Metro Detroit Association for 20 years and as a regional player representative for the National USA Softball board.
The four initials behind his name, CPRP, show his commitment to the profession and signify that he underwent specialized education and experience to become certified as a parks and recreation professional, the national standard in the industry.
“I am excited to be given the opportunity to serve a community that is engaged in and supports a high standard of quality-of-life parks and recreation services,” Director Smith said.
An Accreditation Expert
At Independence Township, Director Smith was involved with the rigorous multi-year process of accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) in 2016 and reaccreditation in 2022. Northville Parks and Recreation will begin the CAPRA process and will benefit from his experience.
He's most looking forward to shaping the future of the 350-acre Legacy Park, on the grounds of the former state psychiatric hospital.
“Legacy Park is an incredibly rare opportunity for the community and region to showcase itself as a premier park and trail system,” he said. “The project will offer excellent community stewardship through environmental sustainability, economic impact, and a variety of health and wellness benefits that will be inclusive for everyone.”
An Outdoor Aficionado
Director Smith is an avid outdoorsman. He, along with his wife, son and daughter, enjoy hockey, soccer, baseball, golf, boating, fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, dirt biking, skiing and snowboarding. They live in Hartland.
Northville Parks and Recreation Department provides parks, facilities, programs and services through three divisions. The Recreation Division hosts programming in special events, youth recreation, camps, teen enrichment, adult recreation, athletics and more. The Senior Services Division provides programming in health and wellness, social, educational, enrichment and events. In addition, it operates a daily curb-to-curb transportation program for adults ages 60+ and people with disabilities. The Parks and Facilities Division is responsible for a variety of neighborhood and community parks and pathways. The parks boast a variety of amenities, such as athletic fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, pavilions, dog parks, pathways/trails, boardwalks and nature areas. Unity Skatepark is being built this summer for an anticipated fall opening.
“We’re thrilled to bring a passionate professional like Derek to our community,” Township Supervisor Mark J. Abbo said. “Residents in the Township and the City share his passion for recreation and the outdoors. We feel lucky to have him lead us into what we expect to be the golden age of recreation for this region.”
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Photo credit: Terry Jacoby | |
Fire Department Collaboration Leads to Learning
The Northville Township Fire Department collaborated with two organizations recently to help each deliver exceptional service to our community.
To prepare them for a busy summer, the Fire Department taught the Northville Parks and Recreation team an American Heart Association course called Heartsaver CPR AED Training. About 10 people learned adult, child and infant CPR as well as how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
It is conducting another one in June for them as well.
The firefighters also teamed up with Maybury State Park, who allowed Township firefighters to use the park’s former two-story, 2,214-square-foot headquarters and detached garage for a training exercise.
They were able to start fires, search a burning building for occupants (mannequins) and extinguish the flames on a real house structure.
“It’s a rare event having a live fire exercise on an existing home or real structure,” said Northville Township Fire Chief Brent Siegel. “It’s been 15 years since Northville Township has had one. That’s why we invited other departments to participate. Seeing how fire behaves within a real structure is great preparation for future emergencies.”
The building became surplus to park operations and was scheduled for demolition at the end of April, so Maybury State Park Unit Supervisor Traci Sincock invited the Northville Township Fire Department in to use the structure as a teaching tool before the demolition.
“We are glad that at the end of its useful life, it benefited the community by offering vital hands-on training,” Sincock said. “We are proud to be a community partner.”
Collaborating shows a shared vision of excellence and a common goal of helping as many residents as possible.
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First Neighborhood to Earn Township’s Partners in Your Safety Sign
Being first comes with bragging rights. And new hardware! The Ridge Hills subdivision at Seven Mile and Ridge roads sports the inaugural Partners in Your Safety sign from the Northville Township Police Department.
The sign signifies that this neighborhood has been active in the Partners in Your Safety program, a crime prevention partnership. Through it, law enforcement and residents work together to promote problem solving and create safer neighborhoods.
Ridge Hills earned the sign by outlining goals for residents and then by attending quarterly meetings and crime prevention seminars that empowered residents to be the extra set of eyes and ears for law enforcement. They also displayed Partners in Your Safety decals in their windows.
The sign’s presence sends the important message to potential criminals that this tight-knit community is keeping an eye on one another to prevent crimes.
To learn how to get your neighborhood involved, visit https://ntwp.org/partnersinyoursafety.
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May Election Underscores the Importance of Teamwork
Northville Township hosted a special election May 2 for Northville Public Schools. Wayne County certified the election and Northville Township received a perfect canvass during the certification process. Congratulations to the Clerk’s Office!
Thank you to all who participated in the civic process. Here’s the breakdown:
Voter turnout: 23.06%
Votes cast at polls: 1,155
Votes cast by absentee ballot: 4,218
Voters who passed the bond: 72.08%
A special thanks to all who worked or volunteered for the election. Here is the helpful team who made this election a perfect canvass:
- 49 precinct inspectors
- 13 absent voter inspectors
- 8 closing team members
- 5 Information Technology and Communications support team members
- 8 Water and Sewer team members
- 4 Facilities team members
- 1 Police officer escort to Wayne County to drop off election materials for certification
Thank you for the excellent example of teamwork.
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Residents Shred Sensitive Documents with Township’s Help
Thank you to the 170 residents who took part in our May document shredding collection event. Each car had an average of seven bags of sensitive paperwork.
Mark your calendar for the fall one. Sept. 23 is confirmed as the next Shred-It event.
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Township Hall’s Facelift Complete
Township Hall, at 44405 Six Mile Road, has a new look and we invite you to stop by Monday-Friday 8 am-4:30 pm to see it.
The 18-year-old tattered carpet, banged-up walls and broken furniture are gone. To create a more collaborative workspace, we received a minor facelift. In two short weeks, the Facilities Management team used its construction management skills to transform our workspace that dated to 2005, when we opened the doors at our present address.
Our well-worn furnishings had exceeded normal industry lifecycle expectancy by nearly 10 years. This caused a large increase in maintenance work orders by chronic, ongoing failures and most replacement parts were obsolete. Some of the carpet was torn, too, creating a tripping hazard within the facility.
The biggest piece of this is with our workspaces. They were reconfigured to prompt more collaboration and an easy exchange of ideas between employees, better reflecting our culture of connecting, engaging and serving the community.
We had put aside money to fund the renovation project for five years as part of our capital improvement budget plan. We also leveraged a state of Michigan cooperative purchasing agreement that allowed us to purchase the goods at significantly reduced fees. Our new seating, for instance, still reflects 1996 pricing, allowing the Township to remain fiscally responsible.
The Township sold some of the pieces that remained trouble-free and donated the rest.
“The environment now matches the Township’s culture of innovation,” said Facilities Manager Brandon McCullough.
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Senior Fest 2023 is June 15
Register now! Northville Senior Services, in collaboration with the Northville Community Foundation, has the hottest ticket in town. Join us for Northville Senior Fest June 15 from 10:30 am-2 pm at the Northville Community Center.
This Beach Bash-themed gathering features a catered lunch by Genetti’s, a DJ, dancing, multiple raffles and gift baskets, vendors and much more.
Every year it sells out, so commit to joining us by June 8. The fee is $15/person. Register online, stop by the Northville Community Center between 9 am-noon or call (248) 305-2851 to sign up.
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Photo credit: Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island | |
Senior Spotlight: Looking for Fun in the Fall? Head to Mackinac Island
The charm of Mackinac Island awaits Oct. 17-20. Northville Parks and Recreation is pleased to offer the mParks Grand Experience, an all-inclusive discount travel package for independent travelers ages 50 and older. Accommodations are at the signature Grand Hotel, where adventurers will enjoy five-course meals, carriage tours, bocce, sightseeing and more.
Registration Information
Rooms are booked based on occupancy type. Prices listed below are per person, including taxes and gratuities. You will need to enter your roommate's name, if applicable, to complete registration.
Single: $1,495 - 803F
Double: $1,110 - 804F
Triple: $1,075 - 805F
Questions? Call Lindsay Boujoulian, Senior Services Supervisor, at (248) 305-2852.
To register, visit https://npar.info/mackinacisland2023.
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