Mayor Gives State of the City Address

Trenton Mayor Gerald Brown did his best to remain positive during the ninth annual State of the City Address on Monday as he spoke about the crushing economic crisis that is still affecting the city each day.

Brown gave the address in front of state Sen. Patrick Colbeck, several local business owners, members of the Trenton Rotary Club, Trenton Public School District staff and many others at about 1 p.m. at the Westfield Center.

Brown began the address by explaining the city would have to continue to tighten its belt largely due to a 3 to 4 percent forecasted decrease in the cities taxable state equalized value of properties. He added the projected decrease could mean up to $400,000 less in tax revenues for the city.

“I probably sound like a broken record when I talk about the economy and how challenging it has been for the past three years, and this upcoming year will be very similar,” Brown said.

The stock market also was discussed in the address. Brown said “due to the bad stock market in the past several years,” the and Pension system and the Municipal Employees’ Retirement system would have to be additionally funded $500,000.

The projected city budget for 2011-12, Brown said, has a gap of $1 million to fill. Brown asked Colbeck to “take a Trenton position” in regard to the hardships the city faces and the potential repeal of the personal property tax, which he said was "frightening."

On a positive note, Brown commended all four city unions and the non-union employees for making concessions that saved the city $600,000, which assisted in filling the $1 million dollar gap he previously mentioned.

Staying with the positive vibe Brown was trying to cultivate throughout the address, he mentioned that the city is in “a much more comfortable situation than many other Michigan cities throughout the state.”

“I’m told that many Michigan cities are on the bubble for receivership, and even bankruptcy,” Brown said. “When wages, medical benefits, retirement packages and manpower are compared to other cities, Trenton is way ahead of the curve, when it comes to the necessary modifications that had to be made.”

Brown mentioned and who became national news recently. Petkov taunted 7-year-old Edward who is dying of Huntington’s disease.

“Yes. It was cruel to the little girl and embarrassing to Trenton that this could occur in our community, but it was the rallying and fundraising of people getting behind the little girl and her family,” Brown said.

Brown brought the positivity level back up by acknowledging the people in the community who donate their time and talents to third-world countries, including Haiti and Nicaragua.

The various city departments were addressed. Brown said many of the departments are finding ways to get money to benefit the city.

For example, the police and fire departments managed to use grant money and other alternatives to raise general fund dollars to buy a new 100-foot ladder truck and to buy and install in-car mobile cameras for patrol cars.

Police also agreed to a 12-hour shift in the uniform division in order to better utilize manpower. Brown said the shift should provide more visibility of patrol officers.

Brown commented on the ’ new recycling program at the Transfer Station, which no longer requires pre-sorting recyclables.

Finally, Brown updated the city on projects and developments.

• Talks between the cities of Trenton, Riverview and Grosse Ile about building a water purification plant to separate themselves from the Detroit Water and Sewage Department are still ongoing.
• The former Riverside Hospital site is scheduled to become an assisted-living facility and Brown said it “is still a go.”
• The former McLouth Steel site is still unresolved.