Shop With A Firefighter
Due to the current economic climate, we believe there will be an even greater need for this program. This program could not happen without the generous donations of the following organizations:
- The Firefighters, Fire Administration, and the Township Employees take up collections from their members.
- The Original Romanos (West Bloomfield) – has donated the pizza party since 2005
- Meijer (Commerce Twp.) – has been donating gift cards since 2005
- Entertainment Express (Dearborn) – has donated the limousine service since 2006
- Audette Cadillac – 2007
- Sylvan Market – 2008
- Orchard Lake Marathon – 2008
- Busch’s Market – 2008
One hundred percent of the donations go to the program. Any leftover money has been put towards the following year’s program. In 2007, with money that was left over from the “shop with a firefighter” program, the firefighters started a “back to school with a firefighter” program. The firefighters purchased backpacks and school supplies and dropped them off at local elementary schools.Anyone interested in making a donation can contact the West Bloomfield Fire Department @ (248)409-1505. More information and pictures from the program can be seen on the Firefighters Union website, www.iaff1721.org and go to the Honor Guard tab and select the shop with a firefighter tab.
A Heritage Worth Saving
John T. Roda, MSES, PWS
Environmental Manager
Although there is an abundant amount of state lands within Michigan that regulate its rich diversity of forested areas, West Bloomfield Township is unique and fortunate enough to actually have a local ordinance in place to protect its own natural resource called the Woodland Conservation Ordinance.
Our ordinance is unique in that the focus of the ordinance is not intended to protect trees in general but to protect woodland systems: these include trees, other woody plants, and various other forms of understory plants. The ordinance was written by and for the mutual benefit of the citizens of West Bloomfield Township.
Our woodlands provide natural beauty for the human observation and recreation as well as provide habitat for numerous species of plants and animals. They aid in noise control, wind buffering, air filtration, top- and subsoil erosion control, and numerous other, life-enhancing natural processes such as carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen generation.
Along with this Ordinance, the Township has a Woodland Review Board in place to conduct the business pertaining to the protection of these valuable areas. The duty of this Board is to ensure that residential and commercial development activities meet both the spirit and intent of the provisions of our ordinance. To do this, the board conducts public meetings and hearings; conducts “on-site” visits and inspections, meets with other township boards, officials, and individuals; and provides a forum for all residents who have concerns with the implementation and administration of the ordinance.
West Bloomfield is a community that strives to be very diligent in protecting its regulated woodland areas. If you have a home that is within a regulated woodland, backs up to a regulated woodland or if you simply do not know if you are within a regulated woodland it is best to contact the Development Services Department at Town Hall or you may take a look at the Township overlay maps available on the Township web-site www.wbtwp.com to inquire about your property.
West Bloomfield, Michigan 48323
(248) 451-4780 Fax (248) 624-7435
Ed Haapala, Director
Email: e_haapala@wbtwp.com
Typically between the hours of 7am and 9am, our water usage is at the highest. The City of Detroit has provided an exempt period for peak hour water usage between the hours of 11:00pm to 5:00am. This means that our community can consume as much water as necessary during this timeframe.
Therefore, the West Bloomfield Water and Sewer Department in an effort to reduce water usage during peak hours, and to assist in lowering water rates paid to the City of Detroit, asks for your support and cooperation in pursuing water usage as feasible during the exempt period between 11:00pm and 5:00am.
If there should be any questions or concerns with regards to this request, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience at 248.451.4785 or send me an email at e_haapala@wbtwp.com.
- Public drain systems that are maintained by the Road Commission for Oakland County (typically located in roadways or adjacent to roads within the road right-of-way.)
- Public drain systems that are maintained by the Oakland County Drain Commission (typically located within drainage easements outside the road right-of-way.)
- Private drain systems that are maintained by an individual homeowner or subdivision associations (located both within and outside of the road right-of-way.)
MANHOLES
Distinguishing Storm Sewer from Sanitary Sewer:
- Storm sewers are completely separate systems from sanitary sewers.
- Storm sewers collect and control storm water (rain water) and convey that drainage to a pond, wetland, lake or stream.
- Sanitary sewers collect sewage which is conveyed to a sewer treatment plant where it can be properly treated before it is released back into the environment.
- Storm sewer manholes will usually be labeled “Storm” or the manhole rim will have slots or holes (catch basins) for water infiltration.
- Sanitary sewer manholes will usually be labeled “Sanitary” and are typically bolted down.
Regular maintenance reduces the risk of flooding or standing water, helps to maintain the structural integrity of the system, and more importantly, improves the water quality for our environment.
Collapsed or broken pipes can cause excess sediment to enter our lakes and streams. According to a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control statistic, it is estimated that over 4.5 billion tons of sediment pollute the rivers of this country each year.
| CULVERT | OUTLETS | CATCH BASSINS |
 |
 |
 |
- Check your ditch or swale to see if it needs to be re-graded to provide positive drainage.
- Check driveway culverts to make sure they are not filled with excess sediment and restricting water flow.
- Check for illicit discharge connections (discharge of pollutants or non-storm water materials into the storm sewer.)
- Sink holes over culverts or drain pipes may indicate a collapsed pipe.
- Check catch basins for leaf, debris or sediment build up. Over time, catch basins become filled with sediment and need to be cleaned out to improve water quality and water flow. It is important to properly dispose of this sediment; some material may be polluted with a high level of contaminants that will need to be taken to a hazardous waste landfill.
- Inspect pipe outlets to ensure openings are clear and free of sediment or blockages.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
| Administration Michele Economou Ureste, Supervisor m_eu@wbtwp.com Catherine Shaughnessy, Clerk c_shaughnessy@wbtwp.com Teri Weingarden, Treasurer t_weingarden@wbtwp.com |
Trustees Larry Brown l_brown@wbtwp.com Gene Farber g_farber@wbtwp.com Steven Kaplan s_kaplan@wbtwp.com Howard Rosenberg h_rosenberg@wbtwp.com |
Newsletter Editor
Pat Helson,
Executive Assistant
p_helson@wbtwp.com
What Do You Think of This Newsletter?
We want to make this newsletter as informative as possible. Please let us know what information you would like to see included. You may provide your comments by sending us an e-mail at:askwestbloomfield@wbtwp.com or by calling Pat Helson, the Executive Assistant to the Supervisor at: 248-451-4800 ext. 2888.
