Eastpointe, MI - Hopeful of brighter future

Mayor points to new business construction and District Court as pluses

Published: January 20, 2005
By Tom Watts Macomb Daily Staff Writer

Eastpointe Mayor David Austin admits the city of 35,000 people has been through tough financial times with recent budget reductions, but new construction and a new district court are just some of the areas helping make up for a loss in revenue sharing from the state.
Austin presented the state of the city address to business leaders at L.F.A. Hall on Wednesday and acknowledged residents and businesses are surviving state revenue cuts and looking forward to a better future for the city.
"The good news is we have a fund balance of $3.9 million," Austin said. "The bad news is it wouldn't take much to lose it."
Instead, Austin highlighted the positive changes the city experienced in 2004 including, improvements in the Finance Department; water bill accounts online; infrastructure upgrades by the Public Works Department including storm sewer replacement; and a public library that had 175,000 people visit last year.
"In many ways 2004 was a successful year," Austin boasted. "The most important achievement was the City Council acknowledging our capital improvements must take priority, like roofs and park bleachers."
Wednesday's annual event, which was hosted by the Eastpointe Area Chamber of Commerce, included some of the city's top officials such as Police Chief Michael Lauretti, Fire Chief Danny Hagen, Building Supervisor Gary Young and District Court Judge Norene S. Redmond.
Young said city officials are excited about a $3 million building permit for construction of an indoor climate-controlled storage facility on the city's south side, among other building construction and infrastructure improvements.
"We're experiencing our own building boom," Young said Wednesday. "Construction of a new Flagstar Bank and strip mall is a good sign, and the reconstruction of the 100,000-square-foot Drummy Oldsmobile building on Eight Mile Road is good news."

One of the most successful stories of 2004, Austin said, was welcoming a new 38th District Court with Judge Noreen Redmond presiding.
"It has been one exciting year," Redmond said. "We have one of the most progressive and serviceable courts in the state. We have done so much."
Redmond said additions to the district court since it opened last year include a payment drop box; new court hours; evening hours for probation officers; a suggestion and comment box and $25,000 in new computers.

Veronica Klinefelt of the Eastpointe City Council presented business leaders with an update of the Downtown Development Authority, including steps taken to make traffic safety a top concern for officials.
"We are making downtown more pedestrian-friendly," Klinefelt said. "Instead of buying something and leaving, we want people to spend more time walking downtown."
Among the things the city is doing to keep people downtown, she said, include the purchase of two bike racks and street banners, while the planting of more trees and flowers is helping shape the city through the Beautification Committee.
Klinefelt, however, said there seems to be a false perception that Eastpointe has a crime problem.
"There were no murders last year. No fatal accidents. Robberies were down 28 percent. Assaults were down," Klinefelt said.