Sherwood Forest

February-March 2005

Feb 10, 2005

TAX FORUM UPDATE

The Detroit Tax Forum (www.detroittaxforum.org) is a group of residents from Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, and other neighborhoods who are working on the problem of excessively high property taxes in the City of Detroit. In the past year Sherwood Forest resident John Corvino and other members have been meeting regularly with Detroit CFO Sean Werdlow and City Assessor Fred Morgan to resolve the problem of excessive assessments. We are pleased to report that those meetings have directly resulted in assessment reductions for several dozen homes in Sherwood Forest and Palmer Woods.

Sometime in February the City should be sending out notices of 2005 property tax assessments, as well as explaining the procedure for appealing these assessments before the Board of Review. We encourage residents with excessive assessments to do two things: (1) Follow the procedure for appeal as explained in the City?’s mailing. (2) Alert the Tax Forum of your appeal, so that we can present your case directly to Assessor Fred Morgan. You can do this by making a copy of your appeal request and leaving it in John Corvino?’s mailbox at 19691 Shrewsbury Road. Please note that last year?’s mailing arrived late, causing some residents to miss the official deadline for filing an appeal. If that happens again, file your appeal anyway: the City cannot blame residents for delays at the assessors?’ office.

During our meetings with Sean Werdlow and Fred Morgan, Detroit Tax Forum members also discussed ways of achieving tax parity with surrounding communities (which typically have far lower property-tax rates than Detroit?’s). Recently, Mayor Kilpatrick announced a proposal for a 50% reduction in the City?’s portion of property taxes for homes purchased after 1998 in 22 neighborhoods, including Sherwood Forest. (See http://www.freep.com/news/locway/finances6e_20050106.htm for the Free Press story on the announcement.) Whether that proposal becomes actual policy remains to be seen.

The Detroit Tax Forum has also met with City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Sharon McPhail, and has a meeting planned with mayoral candidate Freman Hendrix, to educate the candidates regarding our concerns. (We had previously met with Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel, a Sherwood Forest resident, and Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabi.) We believe that fair and competitive tax rates are key to attracting and retaining residents in the City, and we want tax parity to be a significant issue in this year?’s mayoral campaign.

Please visit our website at www.detroittaxforum.org for more information about property taxes.

John Corvino

THE SNOWS OF MARCH

Winter is not over, and we should anticipate the need for street snow removal in Sherwood Forest at least once more this season.

Here are some of the problems we have faced so far this winter. We seek your help in solving them:

 It always seems to snow on Wednesday night or Thursday when courvilles are in the street. Unless residents pull their courville containers up above the curb, we cannot plow on the days of trash pickup.
 Some residents still leave vehicles on the street. No matter how many reminders we send out, some residents just can?’t be persuaded to move their vehicles from the street before plowing begins. Please remind your errant neighbors. Drivers quite simply will not plow if there are too many cars on the street.
 Some residents yell at the snow plow drivers for leaving snow at the foot of their driveways. If we want our streets plowed, snow inevitably will be left at the foot of our driveways. Would we rather have no plowing?
 The city tries to help, but doesn?’t. Historically, the city has found it difficult to respond to neighborhood requests for street snow removal. This year, the city has contracted with several different companies to plow residential streets. Unfortunately, they make just one push down the center of just some streets, and they end up complicating the work of our own snow removal contractor.

We recognize that most residents value our snow removal service and cooperate to assure its effectiveness, but getting the job done is not always easy. Our special thanks to Marcia Baum for her fine work as chair of the snow removal committee.


A REQUEST FROM THE DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Detroit Fire Department asks residents and business owners to dig out any snow-covered fire hydrants located near their property. Make sure that snow is not blocking doors to any building. Citizen assistance in snow removal will enable the department to quickly identify and use the closest hydrant in the event of a fire.


WINTER EVENTS IN THE CITY

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American Heritage
Through February 27, 2005: Without Sanctuary ?– Photography of Lynching in America
Through April 6, 2005: Rock My Soul ?– The Black Legacy of Rock and Roll

Detroit Historical Museum
Through June 3, 2005: American Icons?– Detroit Designs. See designs that originated in Detroit and have become embedded in our cultural memory.
Guts, Games and Glory ?– Detroit?’s sports legacy in words and pictures.

Scripps Conservatory on Belle Isle
Annual Winter Floral Display. Free admission.

Campus Martius
Enjoy our beautiful new ice skating rink in the heart of the city. Directly in front of the Compuware Building. Open 11-10 on weekdays, 10 to midnight on Saturdays, noon to 8 on Sundays.


RECYCLING OPPORTUINITY

Do you receive the newspaper or junk mail each week? Do you wait until garbage or bulk day to dispose of this access paper? Well, the best way to get rid of this paper is to recycle it. Newspapers, magazines, shopping catalogs, office paper, junk mail and shredded paper can all be recycled 24 hours/ 7 days a week at MacDowell Elementary.

MacDowell Elementary has partnered with Abitibi Recycling, The Paper Retriever. The school can earn some money for recycling paper. Some of this money can assist the school with field trips, school dances, books and other worthwhile activities. Please help this school recycle your unwanted paper. MacDowell is located just a short distance from Sherwood Forest at 4201 W. Outer Drive, off of Wyoming between Birwood and Mendota. The green and yellow recycle bin is located in the parking lot.

Thank you for supporting MacDowell Elementary.

I. Claxton


PATROL INCREASES HOURS OF SERVICE

Have you noticed our patrol car on the streets during the early morning hours or at other unexpected times? YOU ARE SEEING THE CAR MORE OFTEN BECAUSE WE HAVE INCREASED THE HOURS OF SERVICE. In response to your requests for expanded service, as well as strong financial support from many of our residents, we have been able to make a modest increase in patrol coverage, which we hope will continue into the new fiscal year. That, of course, depends entirely on the size of our membership. Some residents have failed to make their second payment, which was due on December 1, 2004. Others are not supporting our patrol at all, even though they are benefiting from the service everyday. If you have a question about the status of your membership, please call Gordon Rodwan today at 342-5827. If you are new to the neighborhood, we welcome your membership on a prorated basis.

Thanks to all who are helping to keep Sherwood Forest a safe community.


DON?’T OVERLOOK THAT
LIME-GREEN POSTCARD

If you received a lime-green reminder postcard in the mail a few weeks ago, it is because you have not paid your Sherwood Forest Association dues for the fiscal year that began on October 1, 2004. Your $45 annual dues are the best deal in town. That money enables us to sponsor activities and services throughout the year, including: street snow removal, park maintenance, social activities for children and adults, the monitoring of compliance with property restrictions, this Tattler, the web page and so much more.

Don?’t delay! Send your $45 check to our treasurer today, and make it out to the Sherwood Forest Association. Mail the check to:
Sue McMillan
19494 Shrewsbury
Detroit, MI 48221


THIS OLD HOUSE

Enclosed with this month?’s paper Tattler is an updated ?“This Old House?” list. If you are an e-mail subscriber, access the list by going to www.neighborhoodlink.com/detroit/swoodforest and clicking on ?“This Old House.?” While recipients of the paper version of the Tattler get the list only once a year, e-mail subscribers can access the most up-to-date version whenever they need it. This is just one of many reasons to become an e-mail subscriber. If you have not already done so, send your e-mail address to rodwan@sbcglobal.net. You will get the most current neighborhood news ?– much of which is news that is disseminated to our e-mail subscribers only.

The ?“This Old House?” list exists because it is not always easy to find competent and reputable contractors to work on our beautiful historic homes. There is nothing better than a recommendation from a neighbor who has used and been pleased with a contractor?’s services. We welcome your recommendations for additions to this list. If you have a bad experience with someone on the list, or find outdated information on the list, we want to know that as well. Please send all information to rodwan@sbcglobal.net.


UPCOMING BULK PICKUP DATES

Monday, February 28
Monday, March 28
Monday, April 25
Remember: bulk pickup is always on the fourth Monday of the month, and bulk should not be placed at the curb earlier that the day before the pickup date.


YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTION:

www.neighborhoodlink.com/detroit/swoodforest