3
JULY 13 -19, 1986 THE CITIZEN
Benton Harbor
By OD Leuty
BE TO HARBO - Con-
troversy surrounded the
approval of Benton Harbor
budget for fi al year 19 6-
7, t the July 7 City Cornmis­
'on meeting.
Commi sioner Bill 01£ blast­
ed the budget, which calls for a
9.9 percent cut in funding for
police and fire and only a 3
percent cut in general admini
tr tion. The budget also anti­
cipate 7 million in develop­
ment out 'de of the city's
Do nto n Development
Authority DDA di trict.
olf id the revenue por-
tion of the budget is "overly
optirni ic." He called the
verall budget a "busine a
u al budget."
olf claimed that cuts in
public fety - police and
fire - are no good for the city.
City an er Elli itchell
defeated the cuts by saying
th t 100 percent of the city'
police officer that ere at
the top of the p y scale have
left the force.
Itchell : . d that police
and fire problems are linked
to other community ills." He
said that dilapidated tructures
po an arson problem and
one ay of reducing the load
of wo for city firefighter
is to tear the ructure do n.
He cited that the city has tom
do n nearly 150 buildings in
the p three years and an
on demolishing 4(}.50 more
"in a fe months."
Police problem "relate
directly to unemployment," said
itchell. He told commis-
loners that it is "inherent on
us to improve our economic
b " to provide more job .
itchell abo claimed that
the city oing to cr
do n on .delinquent taxe He
referred directly to Industrial
F acilitie T . Exemption Certi­
fic tes - which offer 50 -ercent
tax bre for 12 years on
improvements or expansion to
city indu ry. He said that
the city will collect taxe from
industries, and tho with
IFTEC's will have their exempt­
ions removed.
itchell cited cited that from
19 3- 5, 11 busine s expand­
ed in Benton Harbor, 12 busi­
ne located in the city, and
2 busine had 'major" re­
mod elings,
Commi loner George Wy­
singer said that city money is
being 'misu d". He said ther
is too much "fat" in the budget
that could be placed el where.
He cu d the commi loners
that voted for the budget of
"leaving the fat here it' at."
ysinger added that he
thinks more manpower in the
city' police force would deter
crime.
itehell sternly countered
ysinger's arguments, charging
that Wysinger "does not under-
and government, he doe not
understand planning, he doe
not understand admini ration,
and he sure does not under-
d implement tion."
"If you believe him,"
charged itcheD," ay away
(from Benton Harbor); if you
believe me, come on in."
Voting for th budget were
Commi . oner Dorothy Dickey,
Arnold Smith, orval Wei ,
ickey Yarbrough, Michael
Gov tos, and Mayor Wilce
Cooke. Wysin er and olf
cast di nting vote. Com-
. ioner Ralph Cren a
absent.
In other ction, the com­
mission unanimously approved
reque to u the city's
revitalieation effort name -
, The Benton Harbor" -
for a voter registration rally
to be held Saturday, July 12.
The Citizens for The e
Benton Harbor organization had
reque ed permission from the
city for u of the name earlier
this year, but permi . n was
denied.
The group
under that name, though, and
the reque t for the rally a
S per Manuf cturing Co.
1099 ilton a given 12-
year 50 percent t break by
the commi sion, in another
move.
The tax-bre is through
Soper bein given an Industrial
Facilities Exemption Certificate.
The 50 percent tax-break i
on a 7500 foot, addition to the
company' exi ing building and
the purcha of machinery and
equipment. The total cost of
the project is estimated at
311,495.
Soper plans to hire five
more people after t 0 year.
The company presently em­
ploys 40 people.
Advance Cab Lines, 873
E. Empire, was granted
approval of nine cab permit
renewals by the commission.
The company requested no new
permits.
going to be denied
of the name, said
Coo e. Coo e said th t if
City Cler Margaret Bowman
wa to register voters at the
rally e could face dismissal
because the comrni 'on had
denied the group use of the
" ew Benton Harbor" name.
In a compromise reached by
commission member and Com­
mi loner Bill olf, a member
of Citizens for the New Benton
Harbor, th "e Benton Har­
bor" name would be allowed
for the voter re . r ion rally
only. The eompromi m es
it possible for Bowman to
register would-be voters at the
rally, to be held at 2 p.m. in
the Burch Printers parking lot,
t Riverview Dr.
In other actions, the com­
mi . on granted approval to
Allan C. Hill Entertainment
Corp., of Sar sota, Fla., to
hold a circus on Sept. 13, at
River Terr e Park, Market and
12th Street. Two performances
will be presented, at 4:30 and
7:30 p.m. .
D IEL E. COOK po in front of on of hi mural t th Youth
Cente recently open t 224 p. one.
BH program
BENTO HARBOR - Syl-
vester L. Tutt, Executive
Director announces that the
Blossornland Area Community
Action Agency ha planned a
grand opening for its Youth
Development Center located at
224 Pipestone in Benton Harbor
for Wednesday, July 16, 1986
from 10 am.-5 p.m.; and is
inviting the entire Berrien
County community to come and
participate.
The Youth Development Cen­
ter is a eight room facility con­
sisting of one large combina­
tion video room/lounge area;
one playroom for children under
the age of 10; one kitchen
from which to dispen re­
freshment for the kids; one
sick room; two bathrooms and
two' offices for staff. The
Center will cater to children,
ges 5 through 21, and will
be open from 9 am.-Il p.m.
Monday through Fridays.
It is anticipated that the
Center will be supervised by
staff designated by the BACAA
Executive Director, and the
youth who participated in it
developmenL
The murals outside of the
building are the art work of
venteen year old Daniel E.
Coo Danny-Cookie ouster",
grand n of rs. Canary Cook
and the late Reverand Daniel
E. Cook of Benton Harbor.
Danny was the first youth
identified by Christine Russell­
Little, BACAA's Director of
Housing & Energy Program
for hi talent and skills. Danny
also painted other art work
and graffiti inside the Center,
and identified for Ru ll-Little
other local artistic talent as
demonstrated by Antonio
Kyle, and Tim Bygers inside
the Center. Danny ill be
responsible for isting in the
creation of a corporate structure
comprised of youth that will
be headquartered at the Center,
and allowed to conduct eigh­
borhood Beautification projects,
fundraisers, etc.
Thelma Branch and Corbett
S yles, BACAA s Intake/
Outreach Technicians currently
are responsible for the Youth
Center Operation .
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