VBT approves contract with Zambelli fireworks for June 24 show

Zambelli Fireworks, which has been awarded the contract for fireworks in Van Buren Township for the past four years, has again been chosen to put on the $10,000 show.
It will be at dark on June 24 at the Beck Ball Fields with a rain date of June 25.
At its regular meeting on May 16, the township board unanimously approved Zambelli as recommended by the VBT Recreation Committee and Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Wright.
There were two bidders.
The $10,000 cost of the show is from the Waste Management funds.
Supervisor Kevin McNamara said he was seeking donations from corporate businesses for any overtime wages that occur with police and fire personnel for the event.
Supervisor McNamara told the board at its work/study session on May 15 that he had raised $5,000 and is reaching for $8,000.
Trustee Sherry Frazier said that seems like a lot of money for four to five hours of work.
Police Chief Jason Wright said they usually have a couple of field fires from the fireworks.
Trustee Frazier asked that the fireworks agenda item be removed from the Consent Agenda for the May 16 regular meeting, where it had been placed, and put under New Business, where it could be discussed. It was moved.
“Any time we spend $10,000 and raise that much money, the public needs to know,” Frazier said.
Director Wright said this year they will be having a disc jockey for the event instead of the live band they had last year.
In other business at the May 16 meeting the board:
• Approved on a 6-1 vote an agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the Iron Belle Trail and also approved, 6-1, using the $30,000 grant to pay PEA, Inc. for engineering and landscape architectural services for the initial 2.5 mile segment of the trail planned for VBT. Trustee Frazier voted no on both motions, saying she needed more information;
• Unanimously approved another six-month moratorium pertaining to medical marijuana cultivation facilities, running from May 20 to Dec. 20;
• Approved the $47,497 grant award from the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority for the Summer Youth Employment Program. The title of the program is “The REAL,” which stands for Revealing Exceptionally Amazing Leaders. Human Resources Director Nicole Sumpter said on June 27, the township will hire 35 at-risk youth, ages 14-24, to work through Aug. 10 (with a vacation week granted the week of July 3). She said “at-risk” meant “any kid you want to keep out of trouble for the summer.” There were 63 applicants, with 58% of them African-Americans, 37% Caucasians, 3% Multi-Racial, and 2% Other;
• Approved the second and final reading of the completely overhauled Zoning Ordinance;
• Approved the second and final reading of an ordinance to rezoning 40631 Alden Drive from C-1 (general commercial) to R-1C (single family residential) so the family can enlarge their home;
• Approved the first reading of an amendment to the General Code of Ordinances on Waterways, to adopt the state ordinance that can be enforced by the township and 34th District Court;
• Was advised there is free tire disposal at the VBT Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 3; and
• Learned the VBT offices will be closed for Memorial Day.
Closed-door session
After the May 15 work/study session, the VBT board went into a closed-door session to discuss an attorney-client privileged written opinion letter regarding township property.