Melvindale

By GABRIEL GOODWIN Sunday Times Newspapers MELVINDALE — The contract between the city and Rink Management Services, Inc. is complete after a unanimous vote by the council Wednesday. The one-year deal allows the management company to take over the marketing responsibilities for the arena. The contract stipulates either party can terminate the contract with 30-day notice. The city agreed to pay the company $1,450 a month and an undisclosed commission rate on any revenue above $725,000. Rink Management is required to submit … [Read more...] about Council approves company to begin marketing ice arena

By GABRIEL GOODWIN Sunday Times Newspapers MELVINDALE — The City Council voted to maintain the 10-mill police and fire special assessment and increase the residents’ recycling rates after considering options to eliminate $500,000 from the city’s budget deficit. The 10-mill special assessment is used to pay for police and fire services provided by the city, City Administrator Jim Beri said, and levies about $1.29 million a year. A portion of the assessment will assist in the fire consolidation payments to the city of Dearborn, … [Read more...] about City renews assessment, raises recycling rates

By GABRIEL GOODWIN Sunday Times Newspapers MELVINDALE — Despite the public outcry over safety concerns, the city council unanimously approved GLE Scrap Metal’s proposal to install a metal shredder unit in its scrap yard. Owner Nathan Zack said he wants to do good things for the community and the surrounding areas. He would like to make the $10 million investment into Melvindale, he said, and add additional jobs to the community with the ability to shred vehicles and recycle metals back to General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor … [Read more...] about City approves highly-opposed shredder installation

By GABRIEL GOODWIN Sunday Times Newspapers MELVINDALE — The City Council unanimously approved a contract to have Rink Management Services Corp. operate the Civic Arena. The vote came after the Virginia-based company’s second presentation to the council. The first came at the Aug. 6 council meeting after Councilors Nicole Barnes, Carl Louvet and Wheeler Marsee walked out. City Administrator Jim Beri said the arena does not have the staff to be profitable because “one person cannot handle the operation and marketing of the … [Read more...] about Rink Management Services to run Civic Arena

By GABRIEL GOODWIN Sunday Times Newspapers MELVINDALE — The City Council passed a 12 percent water rate increase for city residents Monday. The city has been subsidizing the 4.4 percent rate increase imposed by the city of Detroit since July 1, but because of cancelled meetings, the city’s hands were tied. The last two meetings lacked a quorum to proceed with any voting after absenses of three councilors – Carl Louvet, Medina Balderas and Kalley Hess – and Mayor Stacey Striz July 17, and three councilors – Louvet, Wheeler … [Read more...] about Melvindale water rates to rise 12 percent

By GABRIEL GOODWIN Sunday Times Newspapers MELVINDALE — With an expected $1.2 million from the state of Michigan’s revenue sharing program, Melvindale councilors agreed to ask for roughly 42 percent of the money in advance to continue paying for the fire department consolidation with Dearborn. The council accepted the resolution to move forward with the application to receive a $500,000 advance from the state. The money would be set aside for the agreement with the firefighters’ union for funding their retirement and continue … [Read more...] about City seeks future revenue to settle present debts

By GABRIEL GOODWIN Sunday Times Newspapers MELVINDALE — Three city councilors walked out of Wednesday’s meeting after acting on only one item — citing disagreements with the corporation counsel — bringing an end to the meeting because of a lack of a quorum. It was the second council meeting cancelled since July 3 because a quorum was not present, making it five weeks since the council last conducted business. Among the disagreements is an attempt by the city attorney to impose a gag order on city employees preventing them … [Read more...] about Councilors walk out of meeting