Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared March 19-25 as Michigan’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, and the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) is calling on residents to act by participating in a voluntary statewide tornado drill at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22.
“We are approaching the anniversary of the deadly EF3 tornado that devastated the city of Gaylord last year,” said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. “It serves as an important reminder to take steps now to prepare and create a plan to protect your home, your family, and your pets.”
According to The National Weather Service, the state of Michigan averages 15 tornadoes each year. “This drill gives people a chance to make a plan and put it to the test, so we are all better prepared when a disaster strikes,” Sweeney said.
Businesses, organizations, families, and individuals are encouraged to engage in this statewide preparedness activity but are not required to do so. During the drill, residents will observe or hear alerts on TV and radio stations, as well as outdoor sirens in their community if the local emergency management agency is participating. Contact your local emergency management agency to learn how local alerts are administrated in your community and if your community is participating.
The average lead time for tornadoes to develop is 10 to 15 minutes, which means residents need to be ready to react quickly when a warning is issued. To be ready for a tornado:
Know the difference: tornado watch means conditions exist for a tornado to develop; tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.
Know the signs of an approaching tornado: dark, often greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark low- lying cloud; and a loud roar, like a freight train.
Stay tuned to commercial radio or television broadcasts for news on changing weather conditions or approaching storms.
Develop an emergency preparedness kit with essential items such as a three-day water and food supply, a NOAA Weather Radio, important family documents, and items that satisfy unique family needs.
Identify a safe place in your home for household members and pets to gather during a tornado.
Make sure everyone understands the tornado warning system in your area.
Engage with your local emergency manager to find out if they are participating.
For wmore information about being safe before, during, and after a tornado, follow the MSP/EMHSD on Twitter at @MichEMHS or go to http://www.michigan.gov/miready.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Wayne State University officials Monday to announce the Wayne State Guarantee. (Photos provided)
Posted by The Huron Hub | State & Region news | March 14, 2023
Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Wayne State University officials Monday to announce the Wayne State Guarantee, a new initiative offering incoming Michigan students with family incomes of $70,000 or less a tuition-free degree with zero out-of-pocket expenses.
The program will begin in the fall of 2023 and cover the full cost of tuition and standard fees. This is made possible by the bipartisan Michigan Achievement Scholarship program, which Governor Whitmer signed into law in 2022, saving students up to $8,250 on their associate degree at a community college, up to $20,000 at a private college, or up to $27,500 at a public university.
“Students in Michigan deserve the opportunity to receive quality, affordable higher education,” said Governor Whitmer. “I’m proud to work with universities across the state to lower the cost of college for Michigan students and help them gain the skills to be prepared for the new and expanding businesses coming to the state. Last year, almost half of first-year students at Wayne State University had zero out-of-pocket expenses, with this initiative, the university is offering that opportunity to even more students.”
Who’s Eligible for the Wayne State Guarantee
-Incoming first-year undergraduates who are Michigan residents admitted for fall 2023 as a first-time undergraduate in a degree-program. -Household income of $70,000 or less and assets of $50,000 or less as confirmed on the 2023-24 FAFSA. -Michigan residents eligible for the Pell grant in 2023-24 are also eligible. -Must be enrolled full time (12 or more credit hours per semester) each semester. Funding is for fall and winter semesters. -WSU must receive your 2023-24 FAFSA by April 1, 2023, and be eligible to receive federal student aid. -Must be admitted to WSU by April 1, 2023.
The Wayne State Guarantee covers the full cost of tuition and standard fees (matriculation, registration, and student service fees) with a combination of federal, state, and other WSU scholarships and grants. The award is renewable for up to four years, with the option to apply for a fifth year if the student is on track to graduate in that year.
Wayne State provides more than $350 million in financial aid annually.
“Wayne State has a long history of being a university of access and opportunity, and now our commitment to making a college degree affordable comes in the form of a guarantee,” said Roy M. Wilson, Wayne State University president. “We are excited to expand the opportunity for an affordable, world-class education to more Warriors. We are grateful for Governor Whitmer’s leadership in establishing the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and paving the way for Michiganders to pursue tuition-free higher education.”
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
To make college more affordable for families, grow Michigan’s talent pool, and get the state closer to achieving its Sixty by 30 goal, the governor signed bipartisan legislation creating the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. This legislation builds on Governor Whitmer’s promise in 2019 to pass Michigan Reconnect and Michigan Opportunity Scholarships to reach the state’s Sixty by 30 goal of 60% of adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030.
The scholarships are renewable for up to three years at a community college and up to five years at a private college or public university, totaling up to:
-$8,250 at community college -$20,000 at a private college or university -$27,500 at a public university
Huron Township Supervisor David Glaab is the chairperson for Conference of Western Wayne (CWW).
This week he released a statement on behalf of the CWW regarding the shipment of hazardous waste from the Ohio train derailment to Republic Services in Romulus and to Van Buren Township.
“The Conference of Western Wayne represents nearly 730,000 residents who depend on us to fight for clean water and air. The safety of Wayne County families is our number one priority and that is why we support Romulus, Van Buren Township and Wayne County in their opposition to being the dumping ground for Ohio’s hazardous material. It is not a Michigan problem, and it must not become one,” Glaab said.
After news of the toxic waste shipment surfaced last week, a temporary pause was put in place.
According to Glaab, the CWW wants it to be much longer than that.
“While there has been a pause on the importation, we are calling on the EPA to publicly commit that there will be a permanent halt and that this hazardous material will never be sent to Wayne County,” Glaab said.
The AP is reporting that some of the remaining liquid waste is going to a facility in Vickery, Ohio, for disposal in an underground injection well. Norfolk Southern is also shipping solid waste to an incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio.
Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency also announced that two new hazardous waste sites will receive some of the shipments — an incinerator in Grafton, Ohio, and a landfill in Roachdale, Indiana.
The CWW is an organization of 18 Western Wayne County communities that coordinates 9-1-1 services for its 730,000 residents and a 340 square mile region, according to the organization’s website.
CCW meets monthly to discuss issues such as legislation, transportation, public safety, substance abuse prevention, community and economic development, employment and the environmental health of the region.
CWW communities are the Cities of Belleville, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, Inkster, Livonia, Northville, Plymouth, Romulus, Wayne and Westland, and the Townships of Canton, Huron, Northville, Plymouth, Redford, Sumpter and Van Buren.
As the November general election draws near, The Huron Hub is hosting a question and answer session with Huron Township’s public safety director regarding the upcoming fire department millage renewal.
Below are the questions and answers from Everette Robbins, director of public safety.
How will the upcoming millage read on the ballot in November?
The ballot will contain the following language:
Shall the previous voted increase in the total tax rate limitation that may be imposed for all purposes upon property in the Charter Township of Huron, Wayne County, Michigan, as reduced to 1.9595 mills ($1.95 per $1,000 of taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 2.0051 mills ($2 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of twenty (20) years, the years 2023 to 2042, both inclusive, to provide funds for the operation and maintenance of the fire department; which levy will raise in the first year of the levy approximately $1,338,273. (THIS IS A RENEWAL OF FIRE MILLAGE PRESENTLY BEING LEVIED.)
Is this a new millage? No, it is not. This is a renewal of the current operating millage which expires at the end of this year.
What is this millage in November for? The millage we are asking residents to pass on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022, is for the operating costs of maintaining fire services within Huron Township. This includes the personnel costs of our firefighters, fire costs such as lifesaving supplies for fire response vehicles, utilities, fuel costs, training, insurance, as well as computer and radio maintenance fees just to name a few. Simply put, and most importantly, it would allow us to continue to employ the most dedicated and professional group of firefighters I’ve ever worked with in my almost 30 years in public safety. As a resident myself, it makes me cringe to think for a moment about not having OUR firefighters responding to help my family, friends, and fellow residents when time is critical, and they are needed the most. To me this millage is mostly about them, OUR firefighters. So often I get asked by residents how they can thank our firefighters for the great job they do. Supporting them and giving them the ability to continue to serve Huron Township as they proudly do every day is the best thanks I can think of. Make no mistake, I do realize that I am more fortunate than most residents who must make the choice at the ballot because I get a front row seat to the great things our fire staff does every single day. I get to see the lives they save. I get to watch as they run into a burning building to save a family’s pet without hesitation. The respect and admiration that I have for them is endless. My family and I sleep well at night knowing that if we need them, the best in the world are coming to help!
How many firefighters do we have in Huron Township? Currently, we have three full-time Firefighter/ Paramedics, four part-time Firefighter Paramedics, 11 part-time Emergency Medical Technicians, and 11 paid-on-call Firefighters.
Our Fire Department is led by one of the greatest leaders I’ve ever known, Fire Chief Jamie Hinojosa. The love he has for this community is infectious. To say we are fortunate to have him at the helm is truly an understatement!
Huron Township Fire Chief Jamie Hinojosa
24 hours a day, 7 days a week we staff a Firefighter Paramedic partnered with an Emergency Medical Technician. We are a licensed Advanced Life Support Fire Department (ALS) Fire Department. The most important part of being an ALS Department is that a licensed Paramedic is always on duty when one of our residents, business owners, or crash victims need them the most and time is critical.
Does our Fire Department mostly respond to fires or medical emergencies? In 2021, the Huron Township Fire Department responded to 1578 EMS or medical and 276 fire related calls for service. From January 1st, 2022, through September 30th, 2022, the Huron Township Fire Department responded to 1258 medical and 184 fire related calls for service. As documented, the higher number of calls for service are EMS (medical) calls which is related directly to the health and safety of our residents.
Is this the only millage that is used for fire department services? No, it is not. On August 4th, 2020, The Huron Township voters graciously approved a fire improvements millage of .96 mills. This millage can only be used for improvements to the Township Fire Department for the costs of acquiring, constructing and/or improving buildings, facilities, sites, vehicles, and equipment for the Fire Department, including the costs of constructing and/or improving the Public Safety Dispatch Center.
Prior to the 2020 election, we invited residents to tour our fire facilities and take a firsthand look at our equipment. We also conducted numerous town hall style meetings within the neighborhoods we serve. We were very transparent with our residents as to our intentions with this millage. Our fire staff puts their lives on the line each and every day for us and in return deserve the best facilities and equipment we are able to provide them.
The fire improvements millage cannot legally be used for operating costs or personnel costs. It can only be used for the things that I mentioned above.
Can you give us an update as to how we have used the money from the equipment millage that was passed a couple years ago? What is being asked, I believe, is about the Fire Improvement Millage that I outlined above. Many residents were able to see for themselves the disrepair that our fire stations were in as well as some of the outdated equipment our fire staff were using as they performed their duties.
In the first couple years of this millage, we are making good on the promises we made to residents back in 2020. Currently, we are in the process of finalizing plans and beginning renovations on the fire station in Waltz. This will be a great opportunity for us to not only improve one of our fire facilities, but it will also be something that residents can be proud of and it will really be a beautiful improvement to that great village. This will be a great first step to improve our public safety infrastructure. The other major use of this millage in the initial years is the ordering of a new Fire Ladder Truck. Currently, we are utilizing a 1992 ladder truck that we purchased used in 2018. Although the truck has served its purpose, as we did our best to work with what we could afford, it is beginning to fail, and maintenance costs are increasing. A new fire ladder truck has been ordered, but it will not be available for approximately 2 years. Once it is here, it will be a long-term investment for our community that I truly believe will save not only property but lives as well.
I want to make sure I reiterate that none of these funds can be used for costs associated with the millage we are asking the residents to pass in November of 2022. For instance, we could not use the funds spent on either the fire facility improvements or the Fire truck for personnel and/or operating costs. The reason for going into great detail as to how we are using the Fire Improvement Millage Funds is hopefully to show our residents that we are transparent while following through on the promises we made.
What will happen if this millage (Fire Operating Millage) doesn’t pass? The truth is that I do not know what we will do. We have done our best to be fiscally responsible, but eventually any saved money will run out. While we will continue to have our Fire Improvement Millage funds available, if we are unable to provide personnel it will be irrelevant as that millage cannot be spent on operating costs. I always hate the part where millage requests become what seems like a threat if it doesn’t pass, so I apologize in advance. Simply put, if we as a community want to maintain our own fire department with OUR personnel, this millage must pass. If it doesn’t, we will search for plan B, but at this moment I don’t know what that may look like. I can say confidentially that we won’t be in better hands than we are now.
What do you as the Director of Public Safety want the community to know about the Huron Township Fire Department? Several things, thank you for this question. I want the community to know that we don’t only strive to serve the community, but as importantly we want to be a part of the community. We want to not only be there during a critical incident, but also be there to teach and educate the community at events like Applefest, Community Picnic, etc. We truly enjoy getting into the neighborhoods and meeting the residents we serve and listening to their input because their voices matter the most. The kids, what’s more important than the kids? Whether it’s the positive memories they will hold forever when getting sprayed by the truck in the summer or waving at Santa and the Easter Bunny as the Fire Truck comes by, nothing is more important than passing on our love of public safety to the little ones. I serve in this position today because of positive experiences with public safety in the community where I grew up, and I want the same memories and experiences for our children.
My true hope? I hope that our community will pass this millage not because we pass out fliers or post on social media, but because we have proven to them over many years that we are deserving of their support. I hope that over the past several years we have built a trust and partnership with the residents of Huron Township through providing quality service and open communication. I hope the community will support us because they feel we have supported them when they needed us the most.
The greatest part of serving the community that I have chosen to live and raise my family in is never having to ask you to make a decision that I don’t have to make myself. I will support this millage because our firefighters and the safety of this wonderful community Is undoubtedly worth it.
Lastly, to OUR Huron Township Firefighters, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the great work you do. To our paid-on-call staff, thank you for leaving the comfort of your homes when the tones go off. And thank you for the feeling of safety you unselfishly provide for Huron Township!
Public notice posted by The Huron Hub | Aug. 1, 2022
TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF HURON:
NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN THAT AN ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF HURON, WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022. THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:00 A.M. UNTIL 8:00 P.M.
POLLING LOCATIONS: Precinct 1 Miller Elementary School 18955 Hannan Road Precinct 2 Senior Park Barn 28245 Mineral Springs Road Precinct 3 Kirby Church 2773 Will Carleton Road Precinct 4 Huron High School 32044 Huron River Drive Precinct 5 Huron High School 32044 Huron River Drive Precinct 6 Summit High School 18601 Middlebelt Road
All polling locations are accessible for voters with disabilities. To obtain election instructions in an alternative format (audio or Braille), please contact the Clerk’s Office at 22950 Huron River Drive, New Boston, Michigan, 48164 (734) 753-4466, prior to election day.
Below is a listing of the offices that will be voted on the November 8, 2022 State General Election. Sections are: Democratic Party, Republican Party, and Proposal.
Partisan Section: Governor Representative in Congress – 6th District State Senator – 4th District Representative in State Legislature – 29th District County Executive Sheriff – Partial Term Ending 12/31/2024 County Commissioner – 11th District Delegate to County Convention
A sample ballot may be viewed at the Clerk’s Office or online at mi.gov/vote. Absentee ballots are available for all elections; registered voters may contact the local clerk to obtain an application for an absentee ballot.
By Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub | July 29, 2022 — 10:05 AM EST
The Huron Township clerk’s office is advising residents who vote at precinct 1 at Miller Elementary School that they may need to take a road detour to get to the polls during the Aug. 2 primary election.
“We have been advised by county road officials that during phase two of the downtown construction, the intersection at Hannan/Waltz/Huron River Drive will be intermittently closed. If the intersection is closed on Election Day, Hannan Road can be accessed from Pennsylvania Road,” said Clerk Jeremy Cady.
“Although there is ongoing construction in the downtown area, the polls will still be open for in-person voting on Tuesday, Aug. 2 for the state primary election.”
If you would like to avoid the construction, you can still obtain an absentee ballot from the clerk’s office until 4 p.m. on August 1.
The Clerk’s Office is open: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday before the election, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Please call the Clerk’s Office at 734-753-4466 ext. 131 if you have any questions.
The Huron Hub needs your help to share the stories and happenings of Huron Township and the surrounding areas.
Submit news, photos, announcements, events, articles for publication, and letters to the editor via email at Editor@HuronHub.com or at the contact page on HuronHub.com.
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