Sumpter approves liquor license for Tin Pan Saloon’s reopening

A new liquor license and dancing and entertainment permit was approved by the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees at its May 26 meeting.
The recommendation will now be sent to the Sumpter Police Department for an investigation and then on to the Liquor Control Commission for the final decision.
The application was for a new Class C Beer Wine and Liquor License and SDM License with Permits for Dancing and Entertainment for SPK III, INC., at 19350 Sumpter Road. The applicant is Stephen P. Kovach III, age 24, with a home address of 19234 Sumpter Road. He is listed as the sole owner.
The location is the closed Tin Pan Saloon that is reopening.
Attorney for the applicant said the proposed licensee was previously occupied by another licensee, T.P. Tin Pan, Inc. That licensee no longer occupies the premises, said attorney Frank J. Palazzolo in a Feb. 24 letter to the LCC.
SDM, Specially Designated Merchant, allows beer and wine consumption off the licensed premises.
In other business at the May 26 meeting, the township board:
• Stood for a moment of silence in memory of Fire Fighter Ed Wisniewski;
• Approved hiring Carlisle Wortman Associates as planning and zoning administrators at a cost of $2,560 monthly;
• Approved the Sumpter Township Emergency Operations Plan as updated by Police Captain Eric Luke. He said after reviewing the Wayne County Program, he came to the conclusion that Sumpter needed a more comprehensive plan. The community center will be used as a shelter after a tornado or other emergencies and the township will be going out for bids for a generator to use there;
• Approved the updated Emergency Management Resolution as part of the Wayne County Program, as submitted by Captain Luke. He said the last one signed was from 2004 and contact names needed to be changed. He said by taking part in this program, if they need Sumpter’s help, they will get it, and Sumpter needs their help, Sumpter will get it;
• Approved adoption of the State of Michigan’s Substantial changes to the FOIA Act and Sumpter’s updated policies;
• Approved the recommendation from the Planning Commission to adopt six amendments to be added to the special exception use permit for 19750 Sumpter Road, the Skate Park;
• Approved the Fire Department discontinuing association with the Western Wayne Mutual Aid. Fire Chief Joe Januszyk said the group costs $2,500 to join and fines $5,000 for each position it is not able to fill. “It’s getting to be a money pit,” he said, adding that the township has mutual aid with Augusta and Van Buren townships;
• Approved hiring Chris Walter-Hamm as a firefighter. Hamm, who is a new appointee to the planning commission, is the wife of Trustee Bill Hamm, who also is a paid-per-call fire fighter;
• Was informed by township attorney Rob Young that he has the two deeds for the property being donated to the township by the pump station and he will have them recorded with the Wayne County Register of Deeds;
• Heard Leroy Paige talk about the Honor and Remember Michigan Chapter, of which he is director. He said Sumpter Township was the first community in Michigan to endorse the Honor and Remember flag. “We’ll support it in any way we can,” Supervisor John Morgan said of Paige’s veterans program;
• Heard Mary Ban said the Free Press got the answer that no one else could. She said it published a report on Sunday that said $1.2 million a month is being taken from the taxpayers in Wayne County to pay for the jail that isn’t being built – almost $15 million so far. She told taxpayers to just look on their tax bill for the “jail” entry to see what they are paying;
• Heard Sharon Pokerwinski, secretary of Parks and Recreation Commission, explain that as long as she is secretary the minutes of the commission will be handed into the clerk’s office after each meeting. She said when the deputy clerk was out for recovery from an operation she didn’t know why the minutes weren’t given to the board. She asked Trustee Bill Hamm, who had complained, if he had all his minutes now and he said he did;
• Heard newly widowed Denise Wisniewski thank everyone for the spaghetti dinner to raise funds for her husband and for those that visited him at home. She was given permission to use the community center for the meal after the funeral. She asked if there could be a “last tone out” for Ed and Supervisor Morgan said he’s sure that could be worked out. “Just let us know what you need and we’ll help you,” Supervisor Morgan said.