Canton Trustees Approve Higher Water and Sewer Rates

Homeowners' bill for water and sewer will go up by about 7 percent, starting on May 1. Canton Township trustees approved the measure Tuesday.

Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy said the increase is not good, but not as high as the 20-to-30 percent increases he has seen. Canton's increase is based on a 5-year true-usage study performed by Utility Financial Solutions.

“We have to maintain the system,” said Rick Eva, the township's finance director. “We can’t let the system become unsafe.”

The trustees also agreed to spend $6,800 to purchase a new police K-9

Canton Township Police's current K-9, a German shepherd named Lefty, will retire after eight years with the department.

“We’re very happy with the K-9 Academy,” said Patrick Nemecek, the township's public safety director. “We think we have a very good dog picked out, and I’m sure the board is going to meet him when we bring him in to swear him in.”

He said the new dog is a 14-month-old German shepherd named Thor. Nemecek said that the cost of the new canine will eventually be made up through funds forfeited in drug seizures.

The board also approved two special land use requests.

A 21.93 acre parcel was granted for construction of the Canton Preparatory High School, on the north side of Cherry Hill Road, west of Canton Center Road. The 56,220 square foot building will have the potential to host 800 students and 40 staff members, according to the school's plans.

The National Heritage Academy was granted land use for the construction of the South Canton Center Elementary school, a kindergarten through eighth-grade charter school. The proposed building will go up on the east side of Canton Center Road, south of Palmer Road, on a 15.35 acre parcel. It will accommodate as many as 750 students, according to plans submitted to the township.

A grant of $50,440 was awarded to the township by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for Urban Farmers Markets. The funds will go toward the spring and summer farmers markets at Preservation Park. The markets will be held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from mid-May though mid-October.

The board also approved:

• Paying $25,432 for membership in the Alliance of Rouge Communities. Canton has been a member since 2003.
• A 2011 lawn maintenance contract with B & B Landscaping for $21,975.
• A new playround surface at the Sheldon School – which is leased by Starfish Family Services. Miracle of Michigan and Indiana was awarded the contract for a new rubber safety surface, at a cost of $25, 950.
• Payments for annual maintenance fees, for the Logos Financial Management System, $85,025; and the Kronos Time and Attendance System, $11,281.02.