Township Newsletter April 2018 Visit www.royaloaktwp.com Charter Township of Royal Oak NEWSLETTER Supervisor s Message Greetings! We are almost through another Winter season and, if you are like me, looking forward to Spring! The Township is doing well and we have much good news to share with you. I hope you enjoy reading about all of the updates and coming events from ourvarious departments. I am very proud of our Board and Trustees. We have a renewed commitment to serving our community with fresh ideas and a new level of professionalism. In order to serve you more efficiently, we have upgraded our telephone system. We now have direct-dial phone numbers for departments with better voice mail capabilities. Read more about the phone upgrades on page 3. We are also in the process of installing new signage in the Township offices to help you find the department and assistance you are looking for. A new Welcome sign has been installed on southbound Wyoming Ave, near our northern border. More welcome signs are planned for later in 2018 and into 2019. Water system upgrades will begin soon, with pipe upgrades on Eight Mile Road. Spring beautification will begin in late May, when we plant flowers in the most visible areas of the Township. I encourage residents to do their part in beautifying our community by following grass mowing and trash removal rules and sprucing up your property! In development news, our local Aldi store is planning a very exciting $1M renovation. We continue to strive to improve our community and hope it instills pride in ourresidents. Supervisor Donna Squalls CONTACT INFORMATION Township Board Administrative Officials Donna J. Squalls, Supervisor Gwendolyn W. Turner, Clerk Cynthia A. Phillips, Treasurer Trustees Karen D. Ballard Jollie Dixon Richard D. Miles Kim S. Tillery Administrative Offices 21131 Garden Lane, 2nd Floor Ferndale, MI 48220 Main: 248.547.9800 Fax: 248.547.1415 Contacts Executive Secretary 248.547.9801 Supervisor 248.542.7540 Treasurer s Office 248.547.6383 Clerk s Office 248.547.2686 Building Department Code Enforcement 248.965.3582 Fannie Mae Transportation Pearl Wright Senior Center 248.547.9803 Library 248.542.0141 Recreation Center 248.542.1452 Emergency DIAL 911 Community Channel Comcast Channel 15 Township Website www.royaloaktwp.com
Township Newsletter April 2018 2 News from the Township Manager Capital Improvement Upgrades to Township infrastructure and development opportunities have been my focus for the past several months. We are developing a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that will concentrate on roads, water and sewer projects. I am grateful to our Board of Trustees, who recently approved new planners for the Township: Carlisle, Wortman Associates, Inc. They will take over planning services for the Township effective March 31, 2018. Seeking TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS for an Activation Strategy Advisory Committee If you are interested in new development in the Township and would like to be an active participant in this process, please contact Jessica Thomas at 248.547.9801 or jthomas@royaloaktwp.com. Activation Strategy In addition to Capital Improvements and planning, the Township will be working with MKSK on an Activation Strategy. They will assist us in identifying high priority needs, desired outcomes and potential target markets for development. An Advisory Committee will be formed, made up of representatives from the Township Board, Planning Commission/DDA, key property owners, and members of the community (see box above). The goal of the Committee is to gain an understanding of the legacy, expectations and relevant past experience in attempts to attract redevelopment, and therefore zeroing in on target markets and opportunities to attract them. We will use a multi-stage process to achieve this goal and hope to have a plan in place by the 4 th Quarter of 2018. Jessica Thomas Clerk s Office Updates Introducing Deputy Clerk Tiffany E. Cryer Tiffany joined the Clerk s office in October, 2017. She comes to us from Southfield, and is ready to help residents with moving the Township forward in any manner that is positive and productive. Stop in and say hello! New Election Equipment New voting machines have been ordered and will be ready to use for the August 2018 primary election. We hope that all of our voters will be as excited about the new equipment as we are. The Clerk s Office is investigating possibilities for citizens to preview the equipment. Any announcement would be made on the Township website. Election workers needed The Clerk s office is seeking election workers for the upcoming primary election in August, 2018, and for the general election in November, 2018. Please stop by the Clerk s office to complete the State of Michigan Election Inspector application or call Tiffany Cryer at 248-547- 2686 to have it mailed to you. Election Dates for 2018 Michigan residents will be voting for a new Governor this year, as well as a number of other positions and ballot initiatives. Mark your calendars for these dates: State Primary Election: Tuesday, August 7, 2018. Last day to register for the State Primary Election is July 9, 2018. State General Election: Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Last day to register for the General Election is October 9, 2018. Notary Public The Clerk s Office provides Notary Public services to Township residents and business owners at no charge during our regular business hours, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. FAQs A new FAQ page has been added under the Clerk s Office page on the Township website. The website will also include updated election information and meeting notices. Clerk Gwendolyn Turner
Township Newsletter April 2018 3 NewPhone Numbers In January, 2018, a new telephone system was installed at the Township offices. Our goal was to streamline communications by making it easier for residents to direct-dial departments. While the main Township phone number remains the same 248-547-9800 MANY DEPARTMENT PHONE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED. Here is a list of commonly used numbers: Township Phone Numbers Senior Center The Senior Center is going strong and we have several new members. Please stop by to visit or volunteer during our regular hours, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. Senior Center Coordinator Selina Johnson The Activities Calendar will now be available on the Township website on the Senior Center page. We will begin cleanup and planting in the Senior Garden as soon as Spring weather permits. Contact Selina if you are interested in helping in the garden. The Transportation Center has a new bus driver, Mr. Derek Bellman. Please join me in welcoming him. Department of Public Works Trash and Yard Waste Information The pickup day for Royal Township is FRIDAY. Please have your trash, yard waste, bulky waste and recycling out for collection by 7:00 AM, but NOT BEFORE Thursday evening. Place it 3-4 feet from obstructions, such as mailboxes, trees or shrubs. The Township has contracted with GFL Environmental (previously known as Rizzo Services) for trash removal services. HOLIDAYS: GFL observes the following holidays* that may affect our pickup day: New Year s Day (January 1) Independence Day (July 4) Christmas Day (December 25) If a holiday falls on your scheduled pickup day, service will be delayed by one day. *All other holidays fall on a day of the week that will NOT affect our Friday pickup. YARD WASTE When does pick up begin? Pickup begins Friday, April 6, 2018, and will continue through the end of November, 2018. Yard waste is collected on the same day as Household Waste, but is collected by a separate truck. How does it work? Place yard waste in yard waste paper bags or in plastic/metal containers that are no larger than 32 gallon size and are marked Yard Waste. Brush and tree limbs larger than two inches in diameter should be bundled and tied with twine or rope (not wire) in 4-foot lengths and no more than 18 inches in diameter and 60 lbs. in weight. Place yard waste at the curb in front of your home no earlier than Thursday evening before the Friday pickup. Some residents have been placing yard waste in empty lots. This is considered illegal dumping and you will be fined when caught! What IS yard waste? Yard waste includes: garden waste, leaves, lawn clippings, shrubs and tree trimmings. What IS NOT yard waste: Please do not place these items for yard waste collection: dirt, sand, sod, gravel, large stumps, animal feces, dead animals. BULKY WASTE Large bulky waste items, such as furniture or appliances, will continue to be part of our trash removal services. Please CALL CUSTOMER CARE at 844.464.3587 to schedule a pickup of bulky waste on our regular pickup day, as this is done by a separate truck.
Township Newsletter April 2018 4 Code Enforcement Property maintenance is every homeowner s responsibility. We can all do our part to make our Township a safer and more attractive place to live. As we approach grass cutting season, the Township is working diligently to ensure that properties are well maintained. We have redesigned our processes to ensure that ALL lots in our community are maintained with pride. If you notice properties that are unkempt, please report them directly to: Code Enforcement codeenforcement@royaloaktwp.com 248.965.3582 Ordinance FAQs Here is a round-up of some common FAQs regarding ordinances. A copy of all Township Ordinances is available on the website under Government/Code of Ordinances. Dogs The ownership of Pit Bulls and Pit Bull Terriers is prohibited. All other dogs MUST be licensed in the Township. Contact the Treasurer s office for more information. Fences Fences that are 6 feet or less in height shall be permitted behind the principal structure, however, other rules apply. Check the Code of Ordinances for further details. Property Maintenance Grass must be mowed, and be no higher than 8 inches tall. VIOLATORS WILL BE ASSESSED A FEE OF $500 IF TOWNSHIP MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED. Junk and inoperable vehicles are not permitted. Landscaping must be well-maintained and may not be overgrown. Landlord Licensing All rental properties must be registered with the Township. Business License All businesses operating in the Township must be registered and have an approved business license with the Township.
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Township Newsletter April 2018 6 Annual Fireworks Display Save the date! Saturday, June 30, 2018 Mark your calendar for the Township Fireworks display. Planning is currently underway, and more information will be announced as it becomes available. Fireworks take place at dusk (approximately 9:30 PM). We are hoping to include: Snacks/refreshments Entertainment Games for kids and families This is a great, family-oriented event and we hope to see you there! Charter Township of Royal Oak 21131 Garden Lane, 2 nd Floor Ferndale, MI 48220 Township Newsletter April 2018