Lookback: 2016

Taylor was an active, vibrant community in 2016 … and the best way to remember the year was to review its news, by the numbers. So start the countdown, and let’s roll through all the figures, and what they meant to the community.

$2.73B

Despite a “very weak economy” after several years of valuation declines, Taylor’s tax base stabilized in 2014 and witnessed slight increases in 2015 and 2016 as values grew in each of the past two years, to $2.73 billion, according to Standard & Poor's Global Ratings released in November 2016. The S&P gave the City an “A” rating and a stable outlook based on three consecutive years of positive budgetary performance. The score also reflects a return to stability in key leadership positions and positive available fund balances. Stated S&P: “Budgetary performance improved dramatically in fiscal 2013, reversing a trend of structural imbalance, and has since remained consistently strong. Factors in the financial turnaround include a more stabilized management team, significant staff reductions, revisions to health care benefits and tempering declines in taxable value, which drive property taxes."

428 / 1,250

The total number of lights on Telegraph Road and elsewhere in the community that are being converted by DTE Energy to the new, improved LED version, which will show an annual savings of approximately $250,000 to the community. The new LED bulbs use less energy and perform much better.

$30,000

The approximate cost of the new indoor baseball-softball facility that will replace the old gym in the Taylor Recreation Center. The facility will include batting-pitching cages, synthetic turf. With approximately 2,000 families involved in Little League in Taylor, the facility should get a workout.

$25,000

The cost of the City’s new outdoor movie screen and sound system, purchased by an anonymous donor. The “Movie in the Park” program opened this fall to large crowds and rave reviews and will be scheduled throughout the community from May to October 2017.

$40,000

The cost of a new playscape at Howard Noble Park (right), located on Champaign Street between Huron and Mayfair, near Blair Moody Elementary School.

Two-thirds

The percentage of power outages in the City attributed to tree overgrowth by DTE Energy, which restarted an intense tree-trimming program in the community in 2016.

33

The number of “Coffee With Mayor Rick Sollars' podcasts the City is scheduled to air in 2016. Hosted by Dr. Paul Reeves, the shows are wide-ranging, and are available on the iCare Taylor app and the City of Taylor’s website.

$229,845

The cost of the new Coan Lake seawall (left) in Heritage Park, replaced in 2016. The old seawall had been deteriorating for years, and portions had even been removed by the City. The new seawall was funded through a FEMA grant and the City’s buildings and grounds fund.

$45,000

The cost to clear and create a connecting pathway between Heritage Park and Wayne County Community College’s Downriver Campus, which will enhance walking, jogging and cycling opportunities in the area. The funds were part of a $95,000 state grant that also includes …

$7,000

The estimated cost for a new drive shaft for the waterwheel at Coan Lake, which opens the door for the wheel to have decorative lighting added (through another grant, this one by WCCCD). When finished, the waterwheel will take on the look of a small Ferris wheel.

$8,000

The cost to transition 57 Heritage Park light poles to LED lighting, expected to be completed in April 2017.

$15,000 / $12,000

The cost of asphalt repairs to parking lots and pathways, along with the cost of pump repairs, in Heritage Park. The asphalt repairs are expected to be finished before the year ends; the pump repairs will be finished by May 2017.

1

The one and only Taylor Fire Department Fire Safety House (left) was renovated and reopened in September. The house had fallen into a state of disrepair after budget problems, along with changing ideas and uses for the building. Located next to the Fire Station No. 3, on Ecorse Road, it was originally built in 1991 through a combined effort of the Fire Department, Masco and the Rotary Club. When the fire safety program was active, there was a markedly decline in fire-related crime among youths in the community. The department is reaching out to all schools in the City to schedule tours and demonstrations. During those tours -- aimed at fourth-grade-aged children -- they will learn fire precautions and how to react in an emergency. The department hopes that the children will help prod entire families toward better fire-related topics, like the importance of smoke detectors.

$275M / 1,800

The number of investment dollars and jobs recently created in the Eureka Road business, retail and entertainment district according to a 2016 report by the City of Taylor. The information was part of a presentation that Mayor Rick Sollars shared with Wayne County officials as the City attempted to gain further county cooperation in the “Eureka Way!” shopping district. The largest contributors to the investment and job growth opportunities are the renovated Southland Center and scheduled building of the Menards' site on the old Gibraltar Trade Center property. “Until you really analyze the details, you don’t realize the positive impact Eureka Way development is having on our community,” Mayor Sollars said. “Eureka Road, between Telegraph and Allen, is one of the hottest development areas in Michigan. Every new location adds to our tax base, offers our residents new choices and expands job opportunities.”

1,980

The average number of monthly Internet Lab users at the Taylor Community Library for the first eight months this year. One hundred and 75 e-magazines (including Consumer Reports) are available through the library, while 22,591 e-books are available through the organization’s “Overdrive” program (shared collection free with Taylor Library Card).

2 & 2

The number of new fire trucks and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs purchased for the Taylor Fire Department this year. The SUVs include vivid reflective safety markings on all sides; multi-level emergency lighting that works on a single touch; and an extended bed feature that can serve as command post and equipment storage so that the firefighters are ready for anything that they face. The SUVs were a request of Chief Stephen Portis, who feels that the department will be much more mobile with these vehicles, which will cut down on the larger fire trucks having to be dispatched on a constant basis. The traditional fire trucks are not necessary on many of the department's runs, and the wear and tear of constantly being dispatched ages them. So one set of new vehicles should directly benefit the others.

3

The number of hours of free streaming music daily using a Taylor Library Card!

$9M

The cost of the long-awaited Cinemark Southland Center and XD 12-theater complex. Cinemark now stands where the old Mervyn’s was located, before it was razed for the new development.

$105,000

The investment by Taylor Golf in the interior of the Lakes of Taylor Golf Course clubhouse facility. Included in the renovations were flooring improvements throughout the building, new fixtures in the pro shop, and painting and sprucing up in the snack bar.

60

The number of new mini-Mite and Mites involved in the Belle Tire Youth Hockey Program. The new additions bode for a great future of Belle Tire hockey, which is the main driver of revenue at the Taylor Sportsplex. Other 2016 highpoints at the TSX include the purchasing of third Zamboni (emergency back-up); the addition of Lacrosse; new paint in the lobby; the addition of the Divine Child High School Hockey Program; shower upgrades to the locker rooms; “Learn to Play Hockey” for girls instituted; three new graduation ceremonies scheduled; State Wars (National Inline Championship) added to the schedule; HVAC upgrades; new automatic entrance doors; a summer Robotics Competition scheduled; and sound system upgrades.

$8.8M

Kroger’s investment in its Taylor location, which held a grand re-opening in June. It now includes one of the company’s largest floral departments and an on-site fuel center. During the grand re-opening ceremonies, Kroger donated $2,500 each to Kennedy and Truman high schools. New Supt. Ben Williams, outgoing Supt. Diane Allen and principals Melissa Skopczynski and Tommie Saylor were on hand. The store introduced “ClickList” during July, which is an online grocery ordering service. The first 400 shoppers were presented with $10 Kroger gift cards during the re-opening.

$10,000

The amount donated to the Taylor Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence by the new DFCU Financial location on the corner of Wick and Pardee, which held a grand opening in early May. DFCU purchased and totally remodeled the old Sigur's Florist Shop. The Taylor Public School Foundation for Educational Excellence is a non-profit independent organization of volunteers committed to enriching the educational environment of the Taylor School District. The Taylor DFCU location is the credit union’s second in the Downriver area, having opened a Riverview branch roughly 10 years ago.

60

The number years in business celebrated by Pia’s Ristorante Italiano earlier this year. In March Mayor Rick Sollars and his family visited and helped one of the restaurant’s founders, Josephine Pecci, celebrate the milestone. Mrs. Pecci was born and raised in Supino, a province of Frosinone, Italy, before she came to America in 1954 with her father and four siblings to begin a new life. The following year, Pia’s started as a pizzeria pickup-only location – and was the first pizzeria in Taylor Township. Josephine and her late husband, Luigi, built the location into what it is today, using her original recipes to lure a never-ending line of satisfied customers. Daughter Dina now runs Pia’s – although Josephine still takes an active role.

14/$500,000/$6,000

The number of beds donated to the Fire Department; costs in building renovations to its own Telegraph location; and donations to charity, made by Gardner-White Furniture. The southeast Michigan-owned and operated furniture retailer celebrated the grand re-launch of its Taylor store in April. As part of the ongoing festivities, Taylor Firefighters received 14 new beds, and a $3,000 donation went to a pair of important local charities (Enchanted Makeovers, a Taylor-based nonprofit that works with women, children and female veterans battling homelessness; and Humble Design, a Pontiac-based nonprofit that helps furnish homes for the formerly homeless in Taylor and the Detroit-areas).

$100,000

A grant awarded to the City by the Blight Elimination Program of the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority, targeting the old and abandoned Fletcher Elementary School along Pardee Road (which was torn down in the fall). In October 2015, the Michigan Land Bank received a $1 million grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to continue efforts to demolish vacant and abandoned structures and promote public safety. County land banks and local units of government with eligible projects across the state were invited to apply for funding. Grant awards for individual projects were capped at $250,000. Statewide, 41 applications were submitted requesting more than $3.4M to fight blight. The City is planning to create parkland on the site.

$350,000 / 300

The investment and number of jobs being created by Measurement Incorporated in Taylor. Measurement Inc. is renovating the old Dunham’s store in the Taylor Commons Shopping Center along Ecorse Road. The Measurement Incorporated location is scheduled to open in mid-February 2017. It is an employee-owned corporation that provides educational and professional examinations, program evaluation and related services to state and local governments, other testing companies and various professional organizations. Its list of customers includes over 25 state and local departments of education and more than 15 corporate clients and partners.

8/201/$60,000

The number of tractor-trailers, pallets of bottled water and donations raised during January’s “Operation Flint,” the bottled-water donation campaign spurred by the combined efforts of the City of Taylor, Home Depot West and Load One. The original goal was to collect one semi-tractor-trailer full of bottled water and ship it to the beleaguered residents of Flint, who were suffering from a water crisis. The campaign would not have been so wildly successful if it wasn’t for its key contributors. Taylor Department of Public Works employee Lonnie Thompson thought up the idea, and relayed it to City Councilman Charley Johnson. Simultaneously, Mayor Rick Sollars, looking for new home furniture with his wife, Alicia, happened upon a similar bottle drive at Art Van Furniture. Johnson called Sollars and they started hashing out the details. Home Depot West agreed to be the host site, and Load One CEO John Elliot agreed to donate the drivers and the trucks ... and the rest is history.

41

Years in operation by The Information Center. It celebrated the milestone and a brand new location with festive open house in June. The Information Center, Inc., The Family Resource Place is a private, non-profit organization that provides information and referral and senior services to residents of southeast Michigan, with the objective to connect people with the human service resources that fit their individual needs. Through a variety of programs, The Information Center has been dedicated to the goal of connecting people with resources since 1975. Among the services that TIC offers are information and referral, employment and training, Medicaid waiver, nursing facility transition, adult day care, early childhood home visiting connections, employee assistance programs, options counseling, trusted care solutions and disability screening.

$8.99

Cost of a Chicken Apple Club meal, with Acai Berry Boost smoothie, at the new Tropical Smoothie Café on Telegraph Road. It opened this year next to Gardner White Furniture and offers a drive thru and online ordering services. Just in case you’re hungry, the Chicken Apple Club is grilled chicken, bacon, smoked cheeses, and Dijon honey mustard plus a crunchy apple and kale slaw on toasted flatbread. The anti-oxidant Acai Berry Boost smoothie is made of Zola Acai, strawberries, blueberries, bananas and pomegranate. It sounds too good to be so healthy.

55

That’s cents – during 55-cent wings days at the new Primanti Bros. Restaurant, which opened this year in Southland Center. The Pittsburgh-based blue-collar eatery is known for its huge sandwiches, made with homemade bread, tons of slaw, homemade French Fries and your choice of meats hot off the grill. But the location is getting high marks for its 55-cent wings on Sundays (bone in) and Mondays (boneless). A staple of steel town since 1933, the Taylor Primanti’s was the first to open in Michigan. We’d include the price of beer in this order, but his is a family magazine!

2

The number of new parking spots devoted to seniors/expectant mothers and veterans in City-owned lots around the community. The program started at City Hall, where Department of Public Services employees installed two new spaces outside the north entrance along Goddard Road. Mayor Rick Sollars said: "We've seen these types of dedicated parking spaces in other neighboring communities, and we thought it was a good idea to bring them to Taylor. If it benefits our residents, it's a good idea."

$8.4M

The investment by La-Z-Boy Furniture, which will anchor a new development on the old Taylor Tool location along Eureka Road, directly across from the scheduled new Menards’ location. La-Z-Boy previously occupied what is now Hantz Financial before that franchise store went out of business. The new location will be operated by the Monroe-based manufacturer (founded in 1927) of home furniture, including upholstered recliners, sofas, stationary chairs, lift chairs and sleeper sofas. The company employs more than 11,000 people. The entire retail 3.4-acre site will include construction of a 23,200-square-foot commercial building, anchored by a La-Z-Boy store (15,600-square-feet). The remaining space will be occupied by retail and restaurant tenants. The former site used an extensive underground system of tunnels, tanks and vaults that included many contaminants including an oil-filled sump in one room. The environmental contamination associated with those operations poses development constraints that were Brownfield eligible, along with requirements of a storm water retention system. The Brownfield application was approved Taylor and the proposed project takes into account all of the environmental problems at a cost of $633,943. The project will successfully redevelop a contaminated site, and bring increased jobs and tax base (post-development taxable value is estimated at $1.5M). The plan also matches the City of Taylor’s vision for the corridor, with enhanced streetscaping, safer walk ability and traffic flow.

$5.2M/50

The expansion and jobs created by one of the most unique businesses in Taylor, The Oakwood Group. The company was awarded a $500,000 grant by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in September, after earlier receiving a 12-year Industrial Facilities Tax Exception from City Council in early August, which will create a $5.2M manufacturing expansion that will add 50 new jobs. The MEDC grant will help Oakwood build 99.000-square-feet of manufacturing space in its facility. The company makes impact absorbers, speaker grilles and automotive badges, employing 288 in Michigan (Dearborn and Taylor).

31,000

The approximate number of surgeries performed by The PAWS Clinic, which celebrated five years in existence and $180,000 worth of expansion during a ceremony in September. The clinic is a 501c3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization whose mission is to decrease animal homelessness and needless euthanasia by making high quality, affordable spay/neuter services available to our community.

54,000

That’s the amount of square-footage that Life Bridge Church is revitalizing after acquiring the old Taylor Lanes. It’s not often that an old bowling alley turns into a church, and the facility more than doubles the space currently available to the church at its old Superior Blvd. Location. In addition to much more space, Life Bridge Church intends to use its new venue to support a much larger vision – to create a community center that will offer a similar environment with several entertainment options. The plans include keeping six bowling lanes.

950/$263,000

The number of dental patients, and the total funds expended, during the eight years of Shwedel Dental’s annual “Dentistry From the Heart.” Held in September, Dr. Steven Shwedel and his team of more than 50 volunteers offer free dental care for a day. In 2016, they worked on 105 people in need. Even the thunderstorms didn’t keep patients from arriving as early as 3 a.m. Each received fillings, extractions or a dental cleaning. In total over $32,000 in dental services were performed this year. Dr. Shwedel and his volunteers have already marked their calendars for the ninth annual Dentistry From the Heart event to be held on September 9, 2017.

930

The number of animals adopted out or returned to their owner by the Taylor Animal Shelter from January through the third week in November. The shelter, a no-kill-for-adoptable facility, continued to hold periodic special adoption days on Saturdays and continued to be upgraded and renovated, with the parking lot resurfaced this fall.

14

The number of residential buildings demolished by the City of Taylor in 2016. Ten of those buildings were categorized as “dangerous buildings” and the total cost was approximately $80,000.

$5.46M

Total investment made in the community by 20 new residential permits that were issued in 2016 by the Building Department.

19/2,700

The number of programs held in 2016 and the total participants in the Taylor on Watch program, overall. Taylor on Watch is an ongoing educational and crime-fighting program instituted by the Taylor Police. The programs held this year included topics from parenting to home security, crimes against the elderly and identification fraud. Topics in 2017 will include women’s self defense, first aid, neighbor relations and gun laws and safety, along with open houses at the police and fire departments. To get involved, call (734) 374-1444.

70,000

The approximate numbers of calls that the Taylor Customer Service Center in City Hall recorded through mid-November. Depending on the day of the week, weather conditions and time of year, the CSC handles between 260 to 416 calls in a day. The average wait time is 2:54 minutes.

$3,224,784 / 14 / 8.5

The number of dollars spent, streets targeted and miles of roadway renovated though Thanksgiving by the City of Taylor as part of its concrete panel replacement program. The program enables the City to stretch its limited budget in a more cost-effective manner. Those statistics includes 38,970 square yards of concrete removed and replaced, 192 utility structures repaired and 88 ADA ramps constructed in the following locations:

Hayes (Mills to Telegraph)
Champaign (Beech Daly to Telegraph)
Mills (Champaign to Hayes)
Westlake (Champaign to Myler)
Sloan (Ecorse to Champaign)
Wolhfeil (Telegraph to Robert)
Hayes (Monroe to Pelham)
Madden (Beech Daly to Westlake)
Holland (Goddard to Wick and Wick to Trolley)
Bailey (Chestnut to Eureka)
Westlake (Superior to Eureka)
Racho (Eureka to Pennsylvania)
Hayes (Pine to Monroe)
Champaign (Pardee to Pelham)

Racho Road, from Northline to Eureka, will be started next spring (2017).

$648,560 / 7 / 2.6

The number of dollars spent, streets targeted and miles of roadway renovated through Thanksgiving by the City of Taylor in its hot mix asphalt program. The HMA program addressed the following locations:

Mortenview (Superior to Eureka)
Mortenview (Northline to Superior)
Lorne (Huron to Pelham)
Empire (Allen to Northline)
Haskell (Mortenview to Merrick)
Haig (Telegraph to Beaumont Hospital-Taylor Campus)
Newcastle (West Pointe to Oak)

The City’s HMA program did not count Beech Daly, resurfaced from Eureka to Brest, which was part of a federal aid project ($1.2M total cost; Taylor’s share was $221,028).

276,825

The number of linear feet of cleaning and inspection scheduled in the DPW’s sewer cleaning and inspection program kicked off this year. This project is the result of a $2 million Stormwater, Asset Management and Wastewater Program grant, originally filed in November 2013. Through Thanksgiving, the project has cleaned and inspected 71,182 linear feet, or about 26 percent of the total project, for an estimated cost of $760,400. The SAW grant program is scheduled to end in June 2017.

18,920

The number of linear feet of new water mains installed in the City’s water main replacement project in the Northwest section of the community this year. The project cost $3.238 million, and included replacing 64 fire hydrants and installing 21 others.

26,000

The approximate number of ballots cast in the City of Taylor during the November 8 Presidential Election. The election drew nearly 57 percent of the registered voters in the community. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won in Taylor, approximately 50 percent to 45 percent, over the eventual president elect, Republican Donald Trump.

$240,000

The amount of funding that the 23rd District Court received from the Michigan Supreme Court to fund the operation of its drug/sobriety program. Instead of costly incarceration, problem-solving courts, like this one, closely supervise offenders who are required to enroll in treatment programs and be drug tested regularly. Extensive follow-up analysis shows that participants in these courts are far less likely to resort to the same problematic activity. Graduates of Michigan sobriety courts are more than three times less likely to commit another offense after two years. The Court has graduated 144 individuals since the program began in 2004.

4

The number of consecutive Junior League World Series baseball titles won by a team from Chinese Taipei after the Shing-Ming Junior Little League team from Taoyuan defeated the Kawaihau Little League all-stars from Kapaa, Hawaii, 9-1, in August to earn the world championship for the 13- and 14-year-old division of Little League baseball.
The Chinese Taipei team rolled through the Asia-Pacific region, finished 5-0 in Taylor, outscored JLWS opponents 43-4 and extended a World Series winning streak to 25 games, stretching back to 2012. The 2016 appearance was the seventh straight by teams from Chinese Taipei. During that time, the Asia-Pacific champions have won five world championships.

0

Yes, that’s a big zero, for the number of career defeats registered by Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chen Hsun. He won the JLWS championship game, his third of the 2016 World Series tournament. He threw a three-hitter, walked two and struck out seven to lower his earned run average during the JLWS to just over 1.00 … maybe he should be called Cy Hsun.

16,000

The number of square feet in a new storage building being constructed at Taylor Meadows Golf Course by Persiconi Construction Co. The course has been in the midst of its largest renovation ever, with two holes being totally restructured and a new pond installed. Persiconi provided the low bid to build a new storage facility on the course's far west acreage, near the corner of Newcastle and Beech Daly. That building will provide storage for the fleet of golf carts that service the course. Those carts were previously stored at the old FIA Building on Ecorse Road, but that building was sold for the purpose of a large convention and banquet center.

515

The number of yards in Taylor Meadows’ first Par 5 hole, the renovated and redesigned No. 12. As part of the course’s major renovation, a strategic pond has been added to the course between the old 10th hole and the new 165-yard Par 3 11th. That pond not only improves the look and feel of the course, but increases safety from balls off of the tee from one hole flying into neighboring groups. Taylor Meadows hosts a lot of tournament play and the holes are extremely close together, so the safety boundaries between the two holes were one of the significant issues in the new project. The new 515-yard Par 5 No. 12, along with the storage facility, should eliminate shots that fly off the course and onto Beech Daly. The new No. 12 is the course's first Par 5, and makes Taylor Meadows a Par 72 course.

100-plus

The approximate number of attendees for the second annual Michigan-Michigan State Tailgate Luncheon sponsored by the elected officials of the City was held at the William Ford Senior Activities Center on October 28. The seniors, most clad in the colors of their favorite university, were catered a great lunch. If anyone noticed, the 100-plus seniors in the room leaned a little toward the maize and blue ... although there were plenty of green-and-white fans and even one who insists, each year, on coming as a Buckeye!

$75,000

The amount of funds allocated by Taylor Community Development Corporation to Beyond Basics, as part of a program to improve reading at the elementary school level. The mission is to bring every pupil at Myers Elementary School to standard reading levels by the third-grade. Key leaders in Taylor and elsewhere met in October to announce a partnership between the Taylor Reading Corps and Beyond Basics, a 501(c) (3) child-centered, literacy nonprofit. Beyond Basics will attempt to achieve what the all-volunteer Taylor Reading Corps could not – and accumulate data that proves the program is working. Beyond Basics is focusing only on Myers Elementary School, where pupils have struggled with reading proficiency. Most studies have shown that if students do not reach proper reading levels by the third grade, they likely will never catch up.

3,049

The number of recorded reading hours in the Taylor Community Library’s Summer Reading Program, which had 457 registered in the program. The recorded hours were capped at 20 per reader.

123

… As in FOP Lodge No. 123, the winner of the chili contest during the first “The Police in the Park” celebration, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Taylor, City of Taylor, and Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in September. The celebration was focused on bringing together law enforcement and the people it serves -- a day of community and law enforcement unity. One of the feature events was the Chili Cook off, held in the Masco Pavilion. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 123 ended up taking home the trophy, which was created and donated by Shaggy LeBlanc from Shaggy's Raticals.

2,500

The approximate number of people who attended October’s Hallow-Palooza across Heritage Park. The first-time Halloween event, which was a wild success on a beautiful fall evening, included 60 trick or treat stops (including two different “trunk or treat” locations), $1,500 in candy (purchased with sponsor dollars) and at least 40 groups and businesses. It snaked its way through Heritage Park, the haunted Petting Farm, Conservatory and Sheridan Center. The event was free for residents. The evening ended with a big-screen performance of "Hotel Transylvania 2" on the City's new outdoor movie screen. Hallow-Palooka replaces the City's old "safe Halloween" program.

48,473

The circulation of Braille and Talking Books for six months at the Taylor Community Library. The Braille and Talking Books program, a regional-wide entity formerly operated by Wayne County in Westland, was relocated to Taylor when the library was transferred back to the City earlier this year. Individual application and update requests for Braille and Talking Books for those same six months were 993.

112 / 2,154

The number of programs and attendees at Taylor Community Library programs for the first eight months of 2016, including such stalwarts as “Itch to Stitch” (50 meetings, 457 participants) and “Book Discussions” (10 meetings, 141 participants). The library circulated 103,413 through the first eight months of 2016.

2,000

The approximate number of (very happy) music lovers attending the 2016 Taylor Summer Festival main concert of Everclear with special guest Sponge in late June. An alternative rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1991, the Everclear was formed by Art Alexakis, the band's lead songwriter, vocalist and guitarist. Starting in 2012, Alexakis also started up a 1990s nostalgia tour, called the Summerland Tour, occurring every summer with Everclear and other 1990s alternative rock bands. Sponge, a festival favorite in Taylor, put on another great show led by high-energy lead singer Vinnie Dombroski.

600

The approximate number of participants in the Taylor Color Fest Run, held for the first time this summer. The run, a new addition to the summer festival’s weekend schedule, drew interest from young and old – and everything between. Hundreds of runners, walkers, organizations, families and children took to the Heritage Park jogging paths, working their way through a "shower" provided by from the Taylor Fire Department ladder truck and various color stations, where runners were covered with colorful powder. It was a big hit – and a great time for participates of any age.

$3.8M

Additional annual funding for the Taylor School District, thanks to the approval of two new levies approved in November. District voters approved by an overwhelming 59-41 percent margin an enhancement tax for the system, the first passed by voters since the late 1960s. The Taylor School District School Improvement Bond was the result of collaboration between district officials and Mayor Rick Sollars. The schools took the opportunity to ask voters to consider a school improvement bond at a rate of 0.96 mills to match an expiring City levy, ensuring that the school bond would essentially have a net zero impact on residents' tax bills. Funds from the bond will generate approximately $1.19 million per year for the next five years and will be dedicated to new school buses, school buildings, and instructional technology. Simultaneously, the Wayne County RESA Enhancement Millage also passed a countywide vote. That enhancement millage will levy another 2 mills for six years, and will bring approximately $2.6 million per year more to district for improved technology infrastructure; instructional technology for students and teachers; roofs, boilers, windows, exterior doors and parking lots; and to maintain low class sizes.

3,504 / 48

The number of people who visited and number of birthday parties held at the new Jeffrey Lamarand Splash Field in Heritage Park. Meanwhile, approximately 4,000 people visited the Northwest Park Pool this summer.

36 / 102

The number of groups and participants in Beaumont’s “Let’s Walk Taylor Today” program, a partnership between the City of Taylor and Beaumont. Walkers who sign up at the Taylor Recreation Department receive a starter’s kit for the program that includes pedometer, tips, logs and lanyards, and they become eligible for monthly awards.

600

The approximate number of participants in the 2016 Taylor Winter Festival parade, sponsored by Taylor Ford. The parade kicked off the Winterfest, which included entertainment, tree lighting fireworks and much more on November 26. Overall, thousands flocked to the Heritage Park for the event.

Priceless #1

Trash and recycling services in the City of Taylor were greatly upgraded in June 2016, thanks to a new agreement between the City and Rizzo Environmental Services. The City Council approved a transfer and revision of the old contract (held by Midwest Sanitation) to Rizzo. Improved offerings include: Weekly trash pickups including unlimited bulk items; weekly recycling pickups; “Rizzo Rewards” for recycling; and a “QAlert” system that handles all service calls from residents. Bulk pickup – long a sticking point among residents – and weekly recycling were big hits with the community.

Priceless #2

An agreement between Taylor Police and WCCCD Campus Police to allow WCCCD security to patrol Heritage Park, especially in late night and weekend hours. The campus police upgraded its licensing to enable its officers to patrol the park, which is located directly adjacent to the campus. The agreement calls for more law enforcement visibility in the park – at no cost to the Taylor taxpayers.