2005 State of the City Address
(200k PDF file)
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September 16, 2007
$4M arena sale OK'd by council
The council voted 5-1 Wednesday on a real estate and asset purchase agreement between the Melvindale Building Authority and Barnes Development Co. LLC.
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September 16, 2007
THE BIG FREEZE: City has issues to clean up before ice rink sale
Melvindale city officials have much to contemplate before selling the city’s ice arena to a company tied to Donald L. Barnes Jr., chief executive officer of Belle Tire, in a $4-million deal.
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September 11, 2007
Belle Tire may buy Melvindale ice arena for $4M
City officials will meet Wednesday to consider selling one of Melvindale’s prized assets -- the municipal ice arena.
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September 9, 2007
City Council will study $4M arena sale plan
After submitting a purchase agreement for $4 million for the ice arena last week, Don Barnes, chief executive officer of Belle Tire, was told his company will have to give council members more time to review the agreement.
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September 7, 2007
Mayor seeks to sell ice arena
The City Council was expected to review an agreement Wednesday that would sell the Melvindale Ice Arena to Belle Tire for $4 million.
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July 30, 2007
Sharing services spells savings
The scenario is playing out in at least two dozen communities across metro Detroit, as officials look to save money and maintain services. While most aren't ready to merge wholesale, they're studying consolidating departments across city borders and sharing services like never before.
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July 29, 2007
Magazine ranks two cities as being ’most affordable’
Two of Downriver’s northernmost communities have been named to Money magazine’s 25 most affordable towns to live in the United States.
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July 19, 2007
Fire merger plans hit snag
Downriver communities grapple with job security, collective bargaining issues, slowing consolidation drive.
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June 29, 2007
Aug. 7 election opponents are not impressed by State of City speech
The two people who are challenging Mayor Andrew Luzod in the Aug. 7 primary election were not impressed with what they heard during his State of the City Address on June 14.
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June 29, 2007
Mayor: Deficit shrunk by $650,000
The City’s deficit shrunk by about $650,000 in 2006. The improvement in Melvindale’s financial picture was announced by Mayor Andrew Luzod during his State of the City Address on June 14.
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June 13, 2007
Fun in the sun!
The Melvindale pool, closed for the past two years due to budget problems, reopened last weekend with a free day that drew 345 visitors.
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April 26, 2007
Michigan mayors say budget cuts endanger cities
LANSING -- Mayors of 50 Michigan cities today urged lawmakers to fix the state’s budget problems without further revenue cuts to local governments and, just as importantly, without further delay.
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February 4, 2007
Study of fire consolidation is a go
A week after a workshop touting the results of the Downriver Community Conference Fire and EMS Consolidation Feasibility Study, the Melvindale City Council approved a resolution agreeing to include the city in further analyses.
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March 14, 2007
Swimmers can jump into city pool again
Veterans Memorial Pool will open for the summer. The City Council voted unanimously to reopen the swimming pool at 3155 Oakwood Blvd. in front of Allendale Elementary School.
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March 29, 2006
Firefighters sue cities to prevent joint agreement
Officials say plan improves service.
Firefighters’ unions in Allen Park and Melvindale have filed a lawsuit to block a controversial intergovernmental fire and emergency service agreement between the cities.
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March 24, 2006
Expanded animal shelter to reopen
The Allen Park Animal Shelter has been renovated and expanded as a result of an agreement with the City of Melvindale, which begins April 1.
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March 5, 2006
Neighboring cities seek service-sharing proposal
A plan created by officials in Melvindale and Allen Park would allow both cities’ fire departments to help each other during fires and other emergencies.
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February 15, 2006
Mini-Olympics
Melvindale Civic Center, "We Skate Programs" Olympic-style Competitions.
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November 30, 2005
Connector sought between I-75, I-94
Officials discuss easing traffic at proposed border crossing by linking the highways in Melvindale.
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November 20, 2005
Border link in the future? Connector could cut through Melvindale
LANSING — Just when Downriver thought it was out, it could be back in.
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September 14, 2005
Junior Miss wants to make big difference
Linnea Delahanty does not want to be just another pretty face. She wants to make a difference in the world, and her dad is her guiding light.
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June 5, 2005
Audit puts city $810K in the hole
An audit of finances from 2004 has shown that the city is $810,000 in the hole. Mayor Andrew Luzod already has set up a task force to find ways to help the city climb out of the deficit.
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May 11, 2005
Farmer Jack, Food Basics to close
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. announced plans yesterday for a major restructuring that will include the sale or closure of half of its 650 grocery stores.
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April 27, 2005
Money Troubles Close City’s Pool
This summer, it will be closed due to the cost and the condition of the pool.
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April 10, 2005
Council considers fate of future festival fireworks
The Melvindale Days festivities have been a part of the city for about 30 years, so officials hesitate to change it. But change may be needed because it is an expensive event.
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March 13, 2005
Mayor offers to cut salary
In his State of the City address delivered March 2, Mayor Andrew Luzod volunteered to cut his salary by 25 percent effective immediately.
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February 6, 2005
Election issues agreement is reached
Officials already knew the city would begin handling elections for the school district as part of the state’s election consolidation process, but now an agreement has been reached.
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January 23, 2005
Radios reflect history for these collectors
Most collectors have a favorite, and Claude Poletti of Melvindale is no exception.
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February 2, 2005
Baby’s Surgery Brings Family to United States
Melvindale, Cao Nguyen and Thuy Ngo of Vietnam tried for eight years to have a child.
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February 2, 2005
Downriver Native Earns Detroit Medal of Valor
Gerald Norgren knew when he was 3 years old that he wanted to be a firefighter.
More than 30 years later, the friends he knew in Melvindale were around to see him receive two awards for doing what he has always wanted to do.
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February 2, 2005
Lender bolts on truck deal
Publicity about the city’s financial condition caused a lender to back out of an agreement.
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January 8, 2005
New budget stays course
The budget the City Council approved Dec. 28 has few changes from the 2004 spending plan.
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December 19, 2004
Budget fix will not cut 5 police posts
After a commotion over the past several days, five officers and three divisions will not be cut from the police budget after all.
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December 15, 2004
Money woes, Be wary of minimum requirements
Melvindale appears to be the latest city to face it. Less than two weeks ago, public school leaders from across Wayne County met to discuss it. The problem is funding.
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December 12, 2004
Mayor may face recall following cuts in police
The Police Department stands to lose more than $300,000 if the budget is approved Wednesday.
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November 10, 2004
Grants Target Old Facilities
The City is now part of two redevelopment organizations, one through Wayne County and the other through the Downriver Community Conference.
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November 3, 2004
Darling to add facility near existing site
Darling International Inc. will build a facility beside its property at Greenfield near Allen Road.
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October 13, 2004
Melvindale Firm Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Evans Distribution Systems hosted a special celebration last month to recognize the company’s 75th anniversary.
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October 13, 2004
Donated Land To Be Used For Overflow
Darling donated one acre of land behind its property on Greenfield, and the city will use that land for a sanitary sewer overflow tank.
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October 3, 2004
Agency takes over program
The Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency will take over the housing rehabilitation program from the city.The program offers housing rehabilitation assistance to individuals who meet requirements.
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September 26, 2004
Discolored Water Still Safe to Drink
The city’s fire hydrants are being given an inner cleansing, so residents’ water might look different for a couple of hours.
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September 8, 2004
Plenty to do in October for Seniors
New programs to start for a variety of things for seniors to participate in through the Parks and Recreation Department.
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September 1, 2004
Long Gone!
Make it two years in a row now that the Detroit Lions alumni have bested members of Police Department on the softball diamond.
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August 29, 2004
DDA Changes Budget Year Time Frame
To enable the transition to a calendar year, this month the City Council approved a half-year budget for the DDA.
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July 14, 2004
Safety Town Program
During classes over the two-week period, children learn through hands-on involvement about safety concerns such as fire, poison, strangers, traffic, trains, cars, buses, playgrounds, home, animals and toys.
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June 30, 2004
Residents brace for summer tax bills
City treasurers from around Downriver are giving taxpayers an idea of what to expect. Every taxpayer will see a 1-mill increase in the state education tax.
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June 9, 2004
Whole New Ballgame
New paint job on this spherical tank at the Marathon Oil refinery just off Interstate 75 in Melvindale.
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May 23, 2004
One Percent Fee Added
With some hesitation, the City Council approved adding a 1 percent administration fee to the entire tax bill for this year only.
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May 12, 2004
Law Day
The 24th District Court was taken over by students, seniors and law enforcement agencies Friday during the 25th annual Law Day.
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May 9, 2004
Citywide Garage Sales grow across Downriver
MELVINDALE - People who love garage sales will have the entire city at their fingertips next month during the first citywide sale.
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May 5, 2004
Survey will be key to state grant
The Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency has applied for a grant of as much as $500,000 from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, but residents’ involvement is part of the application.
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May 5, 2004
Business success may depend on image
A stronger downtown that draws new restaurants and entices more residents to walk around is a goal for city officials, Mayor Andrew Luzod said.
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May 2, 2004
Authority Plans More Improvements
The downtown will continue shaping up, as the Downtown Development Authority is planning several more improvements.
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April 7, 2004
Food Basics opens Downriver
Melvindale High School musicians played their tunes inside the grocery store, shoppers lined the aisles to check out Food Basics.
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