On Monday, the Belleville City Council gave unanimous approval for local Democrats to use Victory Station at Five Points for their May 5 Presidential Primary Caucus.
John Herman, president of the Southwestern Wayne (County) Democratic Club, said he is the person in charge of setting up the Southwestern Wayne caucus site for the 11th Congressional District, which includes Belleville and Van Buren Township. There will be about 14 caucus sites in the 11th District.
On Jan. 10, the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved use of its Community Center for one of the caucus sites for the 15th Congressional District.
Herman explained the situation. He said a year ago the Democratic Party put out a request to hold a caucus in Michigan, rather than a primary, and asked the Republican Party to do the same thing to save $10 million. He pointed out that the state is paying for the election and the money saved could have gone to education.
“That was not about to happen,” Herman told the City Council, noting Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson put out ballots for both Republicans and Democrats for the Feb. 28 presidential primary in Michigan.
He said the Republican Party put President Obama on the ballot for the Feb. 28 election. He said President Obama did not ask to be put on the ballot, nor did he ask to be taken off the ballot.
The dilemma came when Democrats learned they can only vote once and the votes at the caucus will determine the number of delegates to the national convention. At first, party leaders urged Democrats not to vote in the Feb. 28 election.
But, Herman said, last Saturday, Democratic Party leaders met and decided that Democrats can vote in both the Feb. 28 election and the May 5 caucus, with the caucus still determining the delegates.
The May 5 caucuses at both Victory Station and the Sumpter Community Center will begin with set up at 9 a.m.
In other business at Monday’s 30-minute meeting, the council:
• Approved holding the annual citywide yard sales on Saturday, Aug. 25, and Sunday, Aug. 26. Although historically the sales had been scheduled the week end after Labor Day, the city tried a new date last year so purchases could be made for students going back to school. Last year, Five Points suddenly was closed for construction that week end, and sales were down. The council decided to give the early date another try;
• Approved a rain date of June 23 for the already approved June 2 Class Car Show and Tea planned at Victory Park by the Belleville Area Council for the Arts;
• Set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m., Feb. 21, to receive comments and suggestions on use of the $57,000 Community Development Block Grants for 2012. Proposed uses are senior/disabled services, barrier-free improvements, senior chore services, and planning / administration;
• Approved the annual filing for the 2013 SMART grant to subsidize the city service that provides transportation to the elderly and disabled;
• Approved transfer of up to $500 to purchase a computer printer, with the exact model yet to be determined;
• Approved accounts payable of $151,788.69 and the following purchases in excess of $500: to Blue Ribbon, $3,290 to replace sewer line (from Water budget); to ES&S, $1,774.64, for election coding; to Evans Electric, $595 to repair light pole; and to Hennessey, $667 to update maps (from Water budget);
• Heard Mayor Pro Tem Jack Loria report on Chamber of Commerce activities. He said the chamber will put on a March 31 road rally throughout the community. Also, he has volunteered to be in charge of the Senior Olympics bicycle race in the city this summer and plans to proposed a new route that includes Edgemont School;
• Heard a report from Police Chief Gene Taylor on his American Pride project, which started last June on Flag Day. He is raising funds to provide flags throughout the community for this year’s Flag Day; and
• Heard Mayor Kerreen Conley and council members praise the work of the Tri-Community CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members, following a report by CERT Program Coordinator Edward Smith, a Belleville Reserve Police Officer. Mayor Conley said, “We certainly hope we never have to use them.” There are presently 16 trained CERT members and a new class will be set up for late March. Smith said the first two trainings were reimbursed by Wayne County and the county check for the third training is still pending.