Throughout this issue of Living in Bloomfield you’ll find ways various Township departments are utilizing their budget to bring residents first-class service. This is what residents expect and the Board of Trustees prudently works to ensure services are financially set up for success now and in the future. Our fiscal year begins on April 1st and each spring brings a fresh perspective on how we will operate for the next year. One area that demands improvement and can’t be found in our budget is road replacement.
Simply put: Our Road Conditions Are Unacceptable.
As I campaigned for the role of Supervisor, the number one issue I heard from residents were the flat-out awful condition of their roads. Traveling door-to-door across the Township, I saw first-hand just how bad they’ve become. I don’t blame residents who are sometimes confused by who “owns” a road. It’s important to understand that the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) owns and maintains all of the Township roads. The Township’s Department of Public Works is subcontracted to care for subdivision roads while RCOC cares for major roads like Telegraph and Woodward.
At present, the only way to finance a new road in a subdivision is to find support for a Special Assessment District (SAD) in which residents take on the financial liability of the project; and the Township issues a bond. Residents pay on an annual tax bill for the special assessment across ten to fifteen years. This may have worked years ago, but I feel there has to be a better solution for today. One that has more long-term sustainability.
I want to highlight our DPW who were awarded the Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award by the American Public Works Association. This is a testament to their dedication to care for the roads that fall under the Township’s jurisdiction. Not only in the winter when plowing snow and salting roads is required, but in the spring and summer when maintenance is routinely performed. We are the only Township in Michigan to have the services of a sophisticated Road Division. Pavement preservation is the goal of DPW, but I’m aware that complete restructuring of subdivision roads is beyond the scope of what they can do.
I’m excited to announce the Board of Trustees has approved creation of a nine-member Road Advisory Committee. This is a volunteer group committed to supporting the community by reviewing current road conditions, identifying problem areas, discussing practical solutions for improvement, and researching self-autonomy of local roads. The committee acts as a recommending body to the trustees and will explore feasible repair and maintenance strategies, research legislative funding opportunities, and develop cost-effective ideas.
I want to thank the residents who have volunteered their time and energy to serve on the committee and I feel confident we’ll find a solution that makes more sense for our fellow residents.
I invite you to attend one of our future meetings in our newly renovated Township Hall.
- Mike McCready