By Amanda Ensinger
Staff Writer
Prairie Township officials recently held a hearing to review the proposed 2019 budget.
“We will have revenue of $3,256,100 and expenses of $3,068,929, leaving us in the black of $187,000,” said Tracy Hatmaker, township administrator. “We have a really good balanced budget to present.”
The trustees agreed with this sentiment, but did say they have a few edits they would like to see as they inch closer to 2019.
“There are a couple of things we need to discuss more, including money for an additional full-time staff member for the zoning department,” said trustee Stephen Kennedy. “I think that could be a part-time position. However, that is a discussion for another time, but just because there is money there doesn’t mean it is a done deal.”
Reading Program
Prairie Township will again host its annual Reading with the Firefighters Program.
“This program was a big success last year and will take place again this year at 7 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 8,” Kennedy said. “It is a great community partnership and gives firefighters an opportunity to further engage with residents.”
The program is for children between the ages of 2 and 10 years old and includes reading books to the children each week, teaching them some type of lesson related to emergency services and having accompanying activities with the lesson.
The reading program will take place at the Prairie Township Fire Department Station 241, located at 123 Inah Ave.
Dine and Dash
Another activity taking place later this year is the annual Dine and Dash 5K/10K and Community Dinner. This event will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at the corner of North Murray Hill Road and West Broad Street.
The board approved paying RacePenguin up to $2,000 for race timing services during the event.
“This will be the second year we have done this event and the idea is residents will participate in the race and then dine together afterwards,” said James Gant, director of the Prairie Township Community Center. “This year, we hope to have more food vendors and continue to grow this event.”
This will be the second race the township will host this year. The first race was a collaboration with the Westland Area Business Association that took place during the annual Fish Fry.
“For that race, we saw a significant increase over last year,” Gant said. “Last year we had 25 signed up registrants, this year we had 150 people participate. We are hoping for the same success with the Dine and Dash.”
The registration cost for the Dine and Dash is $30 for residents and $45 for non-residents if you register by Aug. 19, the regular registration is $35 for residents and $50 for non-residents if you register by Sept. 20 and $40 for residents and $55 for non-residents if register the day of the event.
To register for the race, visit www.prairietownship.org/278/Dash-N-Dine-5K-Community-Dinner.
