4 Questions About Grosse Ile with Township Supervisor Brian Loftus

Trenton-Grosse Ile Patch editor Nate Stemen sat down with Grosse Ile Township Supervisor Brian Loftus to become better acquainted with the island.

Loftus has been township supervisor for four years and is running for another term in November on the Republican ticket. He grew up in southeastern Michigan and is a former pilot for the United States Air Force.

After and during his time in the Air Force and the Michigan International Guard, Loftus worked in a number of different aviation venues, including several years as a commercial airline pilot. He recently retired from Fed Ex after 27 years of service as a pilot.

Loftus retired from the military after 33 years of service and almost immediately put his experience to use as township supervisor of Grosse Ile, which is home to its very own airport.

He's been married to his wife Ann for 32 years and has a son, Patrick, 28, and a daughter, Katie, 25.

Loftus had plenty to say about the island and its residents including the fact that it has the oldest population Downriver—among other interesting facts.

Here are the questions followed by Loftus's answers:

What makes Grosse Ile special, great and/or unique?

"The natural resources we've preserved. ... It's a rural setting with municipal amenities. We have lots of wildlife, lots of open space and lots of trees.

"The best thing about Grosse Ile is we're a little piece of heaven in the corner of the industrial mecca of the world."

How would you describe the Grosse Ile community?

"There's a little bit of everything here, but, overall, I'd say we're a very generous community—more so than many of the places I've lived. Just look at our voter turnout." (Grosse Ile had 49 percent voter turnout in the recent Republican primary.)

"We are the oldest community Downriver and we are getting older."

What is the median home value in Grosse Ile?

"We use an average market value of $250,000, when you throw in a few homes or estates, if you will, that are in the $3 or $4 million range.

"We have just over 4,000 total households. When you have a dozen or so that are valued well over $1 million it really skews the number northwards, because we have homes selling everyday for under $100,000."

What's the greatest thing this community does each year on the island?

"We really don't have an annual 'great' event. The Island Fest is a festival. It's fun, but if it didn't happen next year I don't think it wouldn't change the lifestyle of the community a bit."