Romulus mayor reports continued city progress
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| Mayor Robert McCraight |
McCraight discussed a number of topics during the one-hour address and continued to stress the transparency and core values of his administration. “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier,” McCraight quoted from Colin Powell's 13 rules of good management, a motto he said inspires him daily.
“You can't rain on this parade,” he told the audience as he spoke of the importance of the city and the schools working cooperatively to provide the best quality of life possible in the community. “It's the Romulus Community Schools,” he stressed. He added that he was inspired, too, by the Romulus High School Lady Eagles basketball team who won both the league and district championships, one reason he said he chose the high school for the annual address.
“They didn't look at the clock, they didn't look at the score, they just kept getting it done, they kept playing,” McCraight said. “That's what we're doing. We're getting it done.”
The goals he outlined during his campaign for office remain the basis of his administration, he told the crowded audience. McCraight also reviewed the number of meetings he and city department heads have attended with other state, regional and neighboring community officials. Those meetings, he said, “help move us forward.”
McCraight addressed the need for a new police station in the city and said grant funding might be possible. He noted that Police Chief Robert Pfannes had instigated a new policy of having police officers take an oath of office and praised both the department and Pfannes for the work load the department currently faces. He said there had been a 53 percent increase in calls during the past year.
“We've had great success with economic development, but that does increase the load on our fire department and police department.” He added that it was important to provide a place for officers to work and show them that the community values them. He recounted an incident last year involving an armed man who had fired shots at officers. “I watched officers put themselves in the line of fire, put themselves in danger without any hesitation,” he said. “Their job is not fun and games.”
McCraight told the crowd that the ordinance department had great success with eliminating blight in the city. He said of about 1300 citations issued for unkempt property, 88 percent had been solved. He moved on to the current development success the city has experienced, noting the 2 million square foot NorthPoint development as one example of many he mentioned.
“It took significant effort. The developer met with elected officials to determine what the community wanted,” he said.
Romulus, McCraight explained, remains a great bargain for residents and businesses as the tax rate is the fourth lowest of the 34 communities in Wayne County. He praised the city department heads who helped create a 2023-2024 balanced budget with “needs” rather than “wants” which allowed the city to save money and still increase the fund balance.
He addressed the Veterans' Memorial project in the city and said the city is hoping to build a Veterans' Park. He said there was open conversation regarding the issue which he described as very fluid. He said the city was working on ways to qualify for grants to help fund the tribute to veterans and reminded the audience that the historic Bird House in the city is named for a man wounded at Gettysburg. “That opens the door for some grants,” he said.
McCraight detailed multiple other examples of progress and development in the community and noted that one of his other guiding quotes is from Abraham Lincoln. “If we determine a thing can and should be done, find a way to do it.”
“That's what we are doing in Romulus,” he said. “Finding a way to get it done.”
McCraight closed his address with the introduction of his two children, Declan and Dahlia, who helped him introduce his wife, Kendra. McCraight and the children presented her with flowers and words of gratitude from McCraight for her support. He reminded the crowd that “family is really what it is all about,” as he announced that the McCraight family would be expanding with another child expected in December.
