Waterford Township may have a new supervisor but Anthony Bartolotta has promised to continue a path set by predecessor Gary Wall over the last 12 years.

In 2024 alone, the township debuted a new master plan, saw growth in the business community and received the most requests for permits to raise backyard chickens since the ordinance was approved.

Residents approved a 21-year $36.4 million bond for a new community center. The township purchased part of the former OCC Highland campus for the new site. Community center planning included a deal with the school district for the township to take charge of the senior center.

New community center is in Waterford Township’s future after voters approve 21-year bond

Public transit, first introduced with routes by the Western Oakland Transit Authority in 2020, now includes multiple SMART bus trips on weekdays and Saturdays.

The business climate also looks bright: By June, for example, four of the township’s six approved marijuana shops had opened. The other two requested extensions and were denied. In September the township reached a milestone of 12 approved short-term rentals, after a regulating ordinance was passed in 2023.

Waterford Township marijuana licensee asks for more time

DTE Energy opened its new service center on part of the former Summit Mall site.

The township’s director of development, Jeffery Polkowski told The Oakland Press earlier this year that he expected more than 70 business applications in 2024, which would exceed 2023 figures.

Four Waterford businesses get special approvals

The township’s master plan, updated this year, includes a long-term strategy to revitalize the Drayton Plains community to create a walkable Main Street-style area along Dixie Highway.

A master plan helps township officials determine best places for future development, including transitional areas between neighborhoods and business, and is a guide for best land-use practices related to environmental issues, transportation, public services and facilities.

Management change planned at Waterford Township senior center

Rep. Brenda Carter devotes the last weeks of each year to helping people struggling to meet basic needs.

The Pontiac resident said she will never forget her middle-class family falling into poverty after her parents divorced when she was a little girl. Though her mother made sure they had a home, Carter recalled days without heat or water because her mom’s income couldn’t cover all the bills. She blames that poverty for her mother’s cancer death, too, because they could not afford health insurance.

That’s why she and her husband, Randy Carter, collect necessities to donate to local organizations between Nov. 1 and Dec. 20 each year.

“We have 62,000 people in Pontiac. Not everyone is having a Merry Christmas,” Carter said.

On Dec. 6, they provided warm clothes and blankets to Pontiac-based Hope Shelters, which provide food and other resources, including temporary shelter and warm clothes, to people who are homeless.

Brian Wright, Hope’s executive director, said the donations help serve the immediate need of keeping people safe when they’re outside and assist people with getting reestablished when they are able to find more-permanent homes.

Employees at Orion Township-based Premium Distributors hosted a collection drive for winter coats and donated those at the same time.

“This will ensure that every guest has a warm coat this winter. We serve a lot of people in the winter — including people in the local community,” Wright said.

The warm hats, waterproof gloves, scarves, and coats are given to the people Hope serves along with bedding for those who have found more-permanent shelter.

“These items serve as a nice housewarming gift to help them get reestablished with keeping house,” Wright said.

The Carters also provided Thanksgiving turkeys for area military veterans, handwritten holiday cards and stuffed animals to 68 people in hospice care, toys for children in low-income families, and, in honor of her late son Bryan and her brother Claude, who were miliary veterans, gifts for Pontiac’s American Legion Post 20’s holiday party for veterans.

DTE Energy’s outage map shows more than 1,400 customers have lost power since the freezing rain started falling early Monday afternoon.

Waterford Township initially had the largest outage – more than 1,000 customers – but that appears to be resolved.

Nearly 500 customers in Farmington Hills, north and south of 13 Mile Road, west of Northwestern Highway, are waiting for power to be restored. DTE’s estimated time is 6:30 p.m. today.

Nearly 400 customers in Royal Oak are without power, down from nearly 475 earlier. DTE estimates service will be restored before 5 p.m. today.

Some of the outages are caused by tree branches, others by wildlife or equipment issues, according to outage map details.

The National Weather Service Office in White Lake Township estimates the freezing rain and sleet will turn to snow as the night progresses, with about an inch accumulating by Tuesday morning. Ice under the snow could make for dicey travel.

The county road commission has salt trucks on the road and used social media to ask drivers to use extreme caution.

“Mother Nature is throwing some crazy weather at us right now,” the road commission’s post concluded.

Snow is falling this week and cold weather is back – but don’t hold your breath for a white Christmas.

“I’m certainly not going on record as saying we’ll have a white Christmas,” said Steve Freitag, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in White Lake. “There’s a 34.7% chance of one.”

The weather service bases its prediction on records between 1991 and 2020 and defines a white Christmas as one with at least an inch of snow on the ground.

“There’s some hope but certainly it’s not likely. I feel our prediction is accurate,” he said, adding that meteorologists are tracking a weather system that could change the outcome.

The Old Farmers Almanac issues weather predictions throughout the year. Perhaps none are read as closely as Dec. 25’s snow status, which the editors base on data from the National Weather Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This year, the almanac predicts a green Christmas in Michigan.

Winter technically starts on Dec. 21, the solstice marking the time when the sun is furthest from Michigan and delivers the least amount of daylight.

The almanac notes that nature is unpredictable but based its pronouncement on a 30-year historical average and the weather service’s forecast of a milder winter season.

Weather service records between 1874 and 2023 show southeast Michigan’s Christmas Day averages are:

•  High: 33 degrees Fahrenheit

•  Low: 22 degrees

•  Precipitation: 0.08 inches

•  Snow fall: 0.5 inches

•  Snow depth: 2 inches

Despite weather service standards that require at least an inch of snow on the ground to qualify for a white Christmas, Freitag’s personal definition is a little different.

“To me it’s snow falling from the sky on Christmas Eve and Christmas,” he said. “We all want to see the snow globe.”

Pontiac officials have been busy redrawing district maps since residents approved changes to the city charter in August.

The new charter created a paid, full-time at-large council seat but reduced the number of city districts from seven to six.

The council will vote on the new districts next month but a public hearing is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall, 47450 Woodward Ave., so residents can say which of two plans they prefer.

All council terms expire on Dec. 31, 2025. The change will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, after the 2025 council election.

The agenda and complete packet, with the two proposed city district maps, are online at https://cms3.revize.com/revize/pontiacminew/councilagendapack-121724a.pdf.

White Lake Township Supervisor Rik Kowall can’t talk about the cybercrime that has paused work on the $45 million new civic center.

“That’s under investigation,” he said. “But I can tell you we already paid out the money for infrastructure and land balancing that needed to be done … I’m confident this will come together.”

Township officials approved a plan in 2020 to build a township hall and public safety headquarters west of the library at 11005 Elizabeth Lake Road and adjacent to Stanley Park at 10785 Elizabeth Lake Road. The park would be developed to include beaches on Brendel Lake with an overlook and fishing pier. Trails will bring all the sites together with exercise stations, picnic areas, and other amenities for year-round use.

The Elizabeth Lake Road renovation is done, along with water, sewer and storm drains, he said. The only change order to the plans has been for conduit that DTE Energy is installing for internet and telecommunications.

“We have streetlights, another roundabout and 2,200 feet of sidewalk,” he said. “We have safe on-street parking that we’ve been trying to get for more than three-and-a-half years.”

Overall, work had been ahead of schedule, he said.

The excavating and leveling of the earth at the new site wasn’t supposed to start until spring, he said.

“We’ll actually save over $100 thousand in extra winter construction fees while the project is paused,” he said. “And thanks to Congresswoman Haley Stevens, we’re getting $1.6 million from Washington for this project.”

When the work is done at the end of 2026, he said, the township will have more of a “little-town feel.”

“The township triangle has 2.2 miles of trails and we’ve got the $2 million for the Stanley Park improvement – that’s going forward without missing a beat,” he said.

More Waterford Township residents are interested in keeping chickens in their backyards.

Jeffrey Polkowski, the township’s community planning and development director, said he’s seen a sharp increase in the last two years from five years ago, when requests came once or twice a year.

This year, 10 people have applied to the planning commission to keep chickens, said Zoning Administrator Justin Daymon. Of five with planning commission dates, two requests were approved, one was denied and two more will be considered on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Daymon and Polkowski can’t say how many residents have backyard chickens, because people often don’t realize they need to get the township’s permission if the animals are kept on land less than five acres. Roosters are barred from residential areas. The township’s ordinance considers chickens to be small livestock, as are ducks, quail or other animals such as chinchillas.

People keep backyard chickens for several reasons, such as part of a more-sustainable lifestyle, knowing the source of their eggs or as a family hobby.

More communities are permitting backyard chickens. Detroit approved a chicken ordinance last month. Royal, Ferndale and Troy also allow backyard flocks. But not all communities approve.

In September, Bloomfield Township won a three-year court battle with a couple who wanted to keep backyard chickens.

Waterford officials typically learn about backyard chickens after a neighbor calls code enforcement to complain about noise, waste smells or signs of rodents. Code enforcement officials investigate and will ticket the birds’ owners. The owners have the option of getting rid of the flock or asking for the planning commission’s approval.

Of the requests this year, Daymon said. “I think only one didn’t originate from a special enforcement complaint.”

Waiting until a neighbor complains can lead to heartbreak, Polkowski said. In September, a Shoman Street family applied to keep 12 chickens – a gift to their seven children – and four ducks. The planning commission considered approving the request and limiting the family to a total of 12 birds. The township’s general but unwritten rule encourages a limit of six backyard chickens. The motion failed on a 2-to-4 vote. The family had to get rid of all the chickens and ducks.

On Tuesday, the township will consider two requests: One in the 300 block of Tull Drive; the other in the 6300 block of Grace K Drive.

Polkowski said anyone considering chickens will improve their chances by taking a few steps before bringing home any small livestock:

•  Speak to your neighbors first before going to the planning commission. Talk about how many animals would be appropriate. If you’re planning on 10, for example, you may find the neighbors prefer a smaller number, he said. You may be able to negotiate a compromise. The goal is to get neighbors’ support before a planning commission meeting. “It’s hard to imagine the planning commission denying a request that the neighbors support,” he said.

•  Seek the planning commission’s approval first rather than asking for forgiveness after bringing small livestock home. “Code enforcement will find out the second a neighbor complains,” Polkowski said.

•  Make a waste-management plan so the commissioners know how you’ll keep the coop and yard sanitary and limit the risk of rats and predators.

•  Know rules for coop locations. The township has worksheets online with rules for the size of accessory buildings and the distance they must be from property lines and other structures: https://www.waterfordmi.gov/345/Checklists-Requirements.

•  Do your homework. In addition to waste management and figuring out how to keep rodents and predators at bay, chicken owners should learn to spot signs of salmonella and the highly pathogenic avian influenza – bird flu – and take action. The virus can quickly kill a brood of chickens. The state offers two resources: www.michigan.gov/birdflu and small flock biosecurity tips at https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/avian/avian-influenza#biosecurity-small-flock. Michigan State University also hosts a page with tips and resources: https://cvm.msu.edu/vdl/news/2024/avian-influenza-information-and-resources. MSU’s veterinary diagnostic laboratory is the only one in Michigan authorized to test for bird flu. As for salmonella: 18 Michigan residents were among 334 people in 47 states in a 2018 wave of salmonella in people with backyard chicken flocks.

If a resident discovers a neighbor is keeping chickens illegally, Polkowski said it’s best to call code enforcement at (248) 674-6262 rather than negotiate directly with the neighbor.

Waterford Township’s planning commission meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, to review the agenda for its 6 p.m. meeting in the township hall auditorium, 5200 Civic Center Drive.

For more than 40 years, four communities have cohosted an annual holiday party in downtown Pontiac.

On Saturday fans of the annual Holiday Extravaganza put on by Pontiac, Auburn Hills, and Waterford and White Lake townships can participate in an 8 a.m. 5k, Run Elf Run, watch a parade featuring a few of the popular floats from Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day parade applaud scholarship recipients and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, among other activities.

Linda Zabik, the Holiday Extravaganza’s executive director, has helped produce the event for most of the last 42 years.

“We work with the township supervisors and mayor and a handful of community leaders who plan the events and raise the money so the attractions are free for families. That’s so important, especially now,” she said.

The parade features 12 professional floats – including the new Skillman Foundation’s “Make Your Own Story” entry – and three character balloons, six high-school marching bands and 60 volunteers dressed in cartoon character costumes to walk the parade route.

“Each high school band received $1,000 for their music program for being in the parade,” Zabik said. “Hopefully the weather cooperates and we’ll have a really nice day.”

Run Elf Run is one way for event organizers to raise money for the next year. The $40 entry fee includes a T-shirt and other gifts.

During the fun run / walk, some of the floats will be available for people who want to snap selfies, she said. Last year 129 people signed up for the run. As of Wednesday afternoon, Zabik said 153 registered – and many arrived dressed as elves.

“We’re hoping for 170 by Saturday,” she said.

Immediately after the race, at 8:30 a.m., officials will present scholarships: $5,000 to four high school students in honor of the late Fran Anderson, a former Pontiac teacher who was active in the community. The students will ride in the parade as junior Grand Marshals. WXYZ news anchor Carolyn Clifford is the parade’s Grand Marshal.

Four nursing students at Oakland Community College will receive $1,500 scholarships in honor of the late Calandra Green, former county health officer.

Scholarship established in memory of Calandra Green, former Oakland County health officer

The parade starts at 11 a.m. and shouldn’t last more than an hour, leaving plenty of time for the Winter Fun Fest, Zabik said. While there is what she called “a tremendous amount of gifts-in-kind to make this work,” it costs close to $150,000 to produce the annual event.

“The greatest part of this is, you bring four communities together and there are no boundaries,” she said, adding that the community leaders, from county commissioners, mayors and township supervisors to the volunteers “know that this is all about kids and families and creating exceptional memories.”

For people who can’t attend in person, Media Network of Waterford WTV10 will livestream the main events on its Facebook page.

Josh Bowren, Media Network’s executive director, said viewers should periodically reload the browser they’re using to watch the broadcast on Facebook: facebook.com/medianetworkofwaterford.

The 43rd Annual Holiday Extravaganza starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, with Run Elf Run followed by 8:30 a.m. scholarship presentations at the Flagstar Strand Theatre. The parade begins at 11 a.m. on North Saginaw Street and the Winter Fun Fest is noon to 3 p.m. along North Saginaw Street between East Huron and Water streets in downtown Pontiac. Learn more at www.holidayextravaganza.org.

The Penske Family Foundation will donate $3 million to support the Integrated Care Center.

Roger Penske, chairman of the international transportation services company Penske Corp., surprised everyone in the room when he announced plans to support the program beyond 2027.

“This was an initial grant that we made … we’ll be able to attract a workforce that will be meaningful,” he said, adding that he felt funding the care center would be sustainable for “many decades” with many other partners.

The care center will provide mental health and medical services along with wrap-around services from Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency. Anyone can use the services, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.

Penske said mental health care is important to a healthy society and the care center will provide a lifeline to people.

Services include mental-health support for individuals, families and first responders offered by OLHSA. The provider also helps low-income individuals and families as well as veterans and older residents with everything from food assistance to classes, home repair and emergency shelter, among other resources.

The care center opened in May at a temporary location in downtown Pontiac but will move in February to the former Sarah J. Weber Media Arts Academy, 48980 Woodward Ave.

The care center is a joint effort by Honor Community Health, Oakland County, Oakland Community Health Network, OLHSA and Trinity Health.

The $3 million donation will be paid in $1 million increments over three years. The ICC was created with $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act money.

County Executive Dave Coulter said the county is looking for money now to fund the ICC beyond 2027.

“It is our hope that people will understand the value of this kind of concept and that other funders beyond the generous will step up and support our work,” he said. “We’re confident that if we do this right, we’ll attract other funders.”

Another challenge is hiring and retaining employees in a competitive marketplace.

OCHN CEO Dana Lasenby said her organization will likely recruit workers laid off last week from Pontiac General Hospital.

OCHN also recruits at college fairs and community events, she said. The challenge is paying a competitive wage in order to retain employees.

The nonprofit has openings for teachers, weatherization and disability specialists, supervisors and food specialists, among others.

The county has job listings for hearing and vision specialists, nurses, a health program coordinator and a county health officer. Learn more at https://www.oakgov.com/government/human-resources/work-for-us/full-part-time-jobs.

Since May the care centerhas treated more than 850 patients, many from Pontiac, who needed primary and mental health care services at the clinic. Nearly half spoke Spanish and more than 63% were women. More than 200 of them – 25% – had no medical insurance.

Dr. Nik Hemady, Honor Community Health’s chief medical officer, described integrated care as a person who arrives with an urgent medical issue and discloses feeling anxious over other issues in their life. The clinic connects the patient to mental health and housing, food or job resources.

One measure of success, he said, will be a reduction in people delaying care until they have an extreme condition that requires an emergency room visit or hospitalization that could create a cascade of other problems, such as job loss.

“This is not just about treating symptoms; it’s about improving lives,” he said.

An Oakland County woman is planning to quit her job after picking up a Michigan Lottery prize check for $1.3 million.

The 47-year-old woman told lottery officials she wanted to remain anonymous.

She bought the $20 winning ticket for Michigan Lottery’s Ace of Spades instant game at Perry’s Palace, 411 North Perry St. in Pontiac. She chose to take her payment in a lump sum rather than $2 million in annual payments.

She called her mother right after she knew the ticket was a winner.

In addition to quitting her job, she told lottery officials she plans to take a vacation and save the rest of the money, calling the win “a huge relief.”

More than $68 million in prizes remain, including two $2 million top prizes and 932 $2,000 prizes.

In the 2023 fiscal year, the Lottery provided more than $1.3 billion for Michigan’s public schools, its fifth contribution of more than $1 billion. Learn more at michiganlottery.com.

People living with a gambling addiction and their loved ones who need support can get free confidential help via the National Problem Gambling Helpline, (800) GAMBLER or (800) 426-2537.

Over the next few days, Waterford Township officials will consider two options for the community’s waste-hauling service.

On Wednesday, Supervisor Gary Wall and his successor, Anthony Bartolotta, met with the current contractor, Priority Waste, to discuss a one-year contract extension. But township trustees will also consider drafting a request for a new waste hauler contract.

Priority’s Waterford contract expires in March. To consider other companies the township must publish a request for proposals, allow time to evaluate bids, make a selection and sign a new contract before the end of February.

Waterford is weighing the options after Priority bought out 72 Green for Life (GFL) municipal waste-hauling contracts and equipment in May. The issue may be discussed at the trustees’ next study session, at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, in the conference room 3-2 at the township hall at 5200 Civic Center Drive.The regular meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Meeting agendas are online at https://www.waterfordmi.gov/AgendaCenter

The transition started on July 1 and led to significant criticism by residents in Waterford and many of the 71 other communities.

Priority Waste finalizes GFL purchase and takes over some Oakland County routes

Months of long-delayed pickups of trash, yard waste and recycling led to emergency meetings between municipalities and company officials.

Priority blamed many of the problems on shoddy trucks bought from GFL, the inability to rapidly expand the fleet, hire and train adequate drivers to properly service existing and new customers.

Waterford is not the only community evaluating other waste pickup options.

Rochester Hills sets deadlines for Priority corrections

In October, Orion Township officials announced Priority would be dropped on Dec. 31. The township signed a contract with Waste Management for service starting on Jan. 1. Priority and Standard Waste Services also bid for the contract.

Township residents will pay $62.23 per quarter for a single-family household, a $1.15-per-month increase over current rates. Waste Management agreed to honor existing discounts. The township will release more details this month.

In October, Priority secured a 5-year contract with Rochester. It’s the only renewal the company has among the former GFL communities. Pontiac signed a 10-year agreement on June 28.

Waterford Township to host town hall on Priority Waste service

On Thursday, Keego Harbor’s city council will consider extending its contract with Priority. In March, the city’s GFL contract had been extended through 2027, but a new company means a new agreement is needed. Priority officials promised to honor GFL’s 2025 terms with rates set for $20.36 each for weekly pick-up for household waste, recycling and yard waste. Payments would increase to $21.06 in 2026 and $21.99 in 2027.

Keego Harbor’s council meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at city hall, 2025 Beechmont St. in Keego Harbor and will be livestreamed on the city’s website: https://civiccentertv.com/watch-live. The agenda and complete meeting packet are online at https://www.keegoharbor.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3301/f/pages/november_21_2024_city_council_meeting_packet.pdf.

For more than a decade, a stately old apartment building in Pontiac’s Indian Village neighborhood stood empty. Oakland County took possession of the historic Casa Del Rey about a decade ago as part of a tax foreclosure and later added it to the newly formed Oakland County Land Bank.

Since then, county officials have been looking for someone to save the property.

Gregory and Ronita Coleman decided to take on what is now a $15.5 million renovation and restoration project through their company, Coleman Allen. They’ll convert the existing 41 units into 50 apartments to be rented at market rate.

The Colemans plan to open the building to tenants in 2026. Rents will range from an anticipated $1,000 for one of the12 studios apartments; $1,250 for one of the 22 bedroom units and $1,500 for one of the 15 two-bedroom units. The building will have one three-bedroom unit that will rent for $2,000 a month. Tenants are expected to earn between $50,000 and $90,000 a year – a group sometimes referred to as the “missing middle” – people who earn a good living but cannot afford a mortgage.

Ronita Coleman said the project is only possible thanks to support from the city, county, state and several nonprofit organizations. On Friday, the Colemans joined a ceremonial groundbreaking for the property.

“We’re thrilled to see this finally become a reality,” she said, calling it a “vision, divinely ordered” and a testament to collaboration.

The state’s housing development authority provided tax increment financing for just over $4.3 million; a $3.5 million grant from MSHDA’s Missing Middle program, which used American Rescue Plan Act money to increase housing to support workforce development; a $3 million loan from the county’s housing trust fund, a $2.8 million Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax abatement and nearly $2.7 million loan from the MEDC’s community revitalization program.

Two nonprofits, Cinnaire, which makes capital investments in people and places to transform communities and IFF,  a community development financial institution formerly known as Illinois Facilities Fund are also supporting the project.

Ronita Coleman graduated from Cinnaire’s Women Empowered to Build program, which is dedicated to women-led real estate ventures.

The Colemans started working with Jill Robinson, deputy treasurer and executive director of the county’s land bank, in 2023 to formulate a plan.

Gregory Coleman said he was happy to be a second-generation business owner in Pontiac and wanted to honor the sacrifices and dreams of his father as well as pay those dreams forward for future generations.

Casa Del Rey has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989. Realtor C.L. Groesbeck Jr. commissioned renowned architect Robert O’Derrick to design the building at 111 Oneida St. in Pontiac in 1928.

The four-and-a-half story Moorish-style building features yellow and orange brick as well as historic Pewabic tile inside and out. Pewabic tile is made in Detroit by the oldest continuously operating pottery in the U.S. The elliptical lobby features twin curved staircases, Corinthian columns and vaulted plaster ceilings. Some areas are decayed but others are relatively well preserved. Vandals have marked some of the walls with graffiti, but that might be the easiest problem to fix.

Beverley Lloyd, IFF’s eastern region managing director of lending, said she was impressed by the Colemans’ plan and knew they were committed to the renovation despite knowing they would find surprises and challenges along the way, which are expected when renovated older properties.

County Executive Dave Coulter said redeveloping Casa del Rey is exactly the kind of project meant to be supported by the county’s $20 million housing trust fund.

“This isn’t a nonprofit endeavor,” he said. “These folks want to make a buck – that’s the American dream. Pontiac is the county seat and needs investment and TLC but we are all-in on Pontiac.”

He credited MSHDA for promoting the county’s housing trust fund, but said it wouldn’t happen without the Colemans’ bravery and commitment to taking on the historic property’s renovation.

Former seven-term county commissioner Helaine Zack, a social worker, beamed and called the Colemans’ project “the best of the best.”

Zack serves on the county-run Oakland Together housing trust fund board and has been committed to Oakland County’s affordable housing issues for at least 10 years.

“You can’t do anything if you don’t know where you’re going to sleep at night,” she said. She made homelessness the focus of her work during a 2015 fellowship for executive excellence at Harvard University provided by SEMCOG and the Taubman Company.

Commissioner Angela Powell said Zack kept after county officials for years to support affordable housing efforts.

“I’m grateful I get to work on these things,” Zack said.

Gregory Coleman called Casa del Rey a “symbol of resilience and hope and growth in the city,” adding that their mission went beyond homes.

“We’re building communities,” he said. “Communities are living organisms … We are planting a seed of hope and progress.”

Mayor Tim Greimel said the project is another sign of the city’s resurgence. Other projects underway in Pontiac include:

•  Converting the former Pontiac State Bank building, 28 N. Saginaw St. into more than 100 apartments.

•  New construction of the Exchange Flats, loft apartments west of the former Oakland Press building.

•  Expanding senior housing at the Village of Oakland Woods.

•  The new five-story apartment building at Auburn and Francis being built by Lighthouse.

•  Converting the former Perdue School, 25 S. Sanford St., to senior apartments.

•  New housing on the former Wever School site by Community Housing Network at New York and Carlisle, near Walton and Telegraph.

•  At least a dozen single-family homes built in the Stonegate subdivision at Elizabeth Lake and Johnson and plans to build more homes in the Fairways subdivision near Walton and Giddings.

•  Converting a former department store, Neisner Brothers five-and-dime, at 46 N. Saginaw St. to 15 loft apartments.

When Pontiac’s city council meets Tuesday, a key agenda item will be how to replace the city’s finance director.

Dee Ann Irby was unanimously approved by the city council to take the job in August. Irby left her job as Troy’s controller in August and had 20 years of experience in her field.

Her salary was $153,000 a year and her start date was Sept. 9. But she withdrew from the position days before starting the job.

A few weeks later, she was persuaded to take the Pontiac position, but less than a month into the job, she tendered her resignation. Her last day is Friday. She could not be reached for comment.

Mayor Tim Greimel said he was disappointed in Irby’s decision, but not entirely surprised “given the hesitancy she expressed immediately following her confirmation by City Council and before beginning work at the city. Despite these concerns, she proceeded with the role and ultimately determined it wasn’t the right fit for her.”

He said the city continues recruiting for the role and will hire the  consulting firm Rehmann to manage the city’s accounting in the interim.

“Rehmann has worked with the city in the past, and we anticipate them starting work later this week,” he said.

The city has been unable to find a permanent replacement for Timothy Sadowski who left his job on Feb. 2 after 11 months on the job.

The finance director is responsible for the city’s fiscal health, managing audits and overseeing tax and utility bills, cash receipts, accounts payable and payroll.

The city’s grants and philanthropy manager, Alexandra Borngesser, left in February and was succeeded by Lisa Campbell in June. The department of public works director, Al Cooley Jr., left the city in October 2023. Cooley was succeeded by Mark Ragsdale in June.

Other items on Tuesday’s agenda include:

•  A presentation by consultants Ernst & Young about how the city’s $37.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act money is being managed. Under federal rules, all the money must have a designated purpose by Dec. 31, 2024, and be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, or it must be returned to the federal government.

•  The council will get an update on the youth recreation center. Earlier this month, the council approved a budget amendment to add $80,000 to the cost of demolishing the former McCarroll school, the pay for additional backfill dirt. The council originally approved a not-to-exceed $300,000 allocation for the city’s share of the demolition. The county land bank authority is paying $500,000 toward the work.

•  The council will consider a resolution to prohibit images or promotions of elected officials, or candidates for public office on city publications such as newsletters and mailers, starting in 2025.

The complete agenda is online at https://cms3.revize.com/revize/pontiacminew/councilagendapack-111924.pdf.

The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at city hall in the council chambers, 47450 Woodward Ave. in Pontiac.

An Oakland County woman who spontaneously paid for a $20 lottery ticket now has $1.3 million more to her name after realizing it was a winner.

The 64-year-old woman, who told state lottery officials she wants to remain anonymous, bought her Michigan Lottery Strike It Rich instant game ticket at Meaad Enterprises, 1950 E. 12 Mile Road in Warren. She told state officials she’d been in line to pay for gas when the person in front of her bought several Strike It Rich tickets, so she bought one for $20.

“I scratched the ticket off when I got in my car, and immediately locked the doors and signed the ticket when I saw I’d won $2 million,” she said. “It still hasn’t fully sunk in that I won!”

She decided to take a lump sum payment of $1.3 million instead of the annual payments for the full $2 million prize. She said she’ll use her prize money to pay off her car, pay for home improvements and donate to charities, calling it a win that will “make a big difference for me and my family and it’s going to change our lives.”

The Strike It Rich game has paid out more than $14 million since it debuted in October. Each $20 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $20 up to $2 million. More than $92 million in prizes remain, including two $2 million top prizes, 20 $10,000 prizes, and 61 $5,000 prizes.

To learn more about Michigan Lottery games, visit www.michiganlottery.com.

People living with a gambling addiction and their loved ones can get free confidential support via the National Problem Gambling Helpline, (800) GAMBLER or (800) 426-2537 or by visiting www.ncpgambling.org.

Michigan residents can expect a milder, calmer winter through February, according to the National Weather Service and the current edition of the Farmers Almanac.

Temperatures will be slightly warmer, which means we may see more rain or freezing rain than snow.

A lot of math goes into weather predictions which are based on probabilities. The number seven remains important, said Alex Manion, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in White Lake. For now, that’s the number of days local meteorologists confidently predict weather.

Temperature, jet stream and moisture are just a few variables to be calculated, Manion said.

Each month, the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center issues a 90-day outlook. The weather service is one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s agencies.

These 90-day outlooks are general guidelines subject to change.

This year, Manion said, a weak La Nina system is expected, which could mean warmer and wetter winter and that’s good news, because the Great Lakes region has experienced drought conditions, he said.

According to predictions from the NOAA, the Pacific Northwest will also experience more precipitation. But the southern tier of the country, from southern California to North Carolina, will experience much drier conditions.

La Nina conditions occur when cooler water in the Pacific Ocean affects the tropical rainfall patterns between Indonesia and South America and the path of the jet stream as it travels from west to east. That in turn influences the Earth’s weather patterns.

“There’s a 60% chance of a weak La Nina this year,” Manion said.

Locally, the odds are not favorable for snow the next two weeks, he said, unlike last fall when a measurable amount of snow fell on Halloween.

“Climatologically speaking, we’re more likely to have a green Christmas than a white one,” he said, because of an overall warming trend. On Feb. 27, temperatures reached a record-setting 73 degrees in southeast Michigan. It was the third-warmest February since 1882, according to weather service figures.

“Winter will come,” Manion said. “This (La Nina) outlook is just a glimpse into what could potentially happen. Last winter we had a strong El Nino and it turned out to be a warmer and drier season. There’s no definitive way to say what will happen three months from now … we’re kind of hedging toward a more-active winter.”

Just as La Nina’s effect comes from cooling the Pacific Ocean and creating wetter conditions, an El Nino system is the result of above-average surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which results in drier conditions.

There are equal chances that temperatures could be normal, higher or lower this winter, he said.

“There are no correlations between La Nina and temperatures,” he said, adding that the real influence of such systems is on snow, rain, freezing rain, sleet or a combination. Air temperatures are also not directly affected by El Nino.

There’s a 45% chance that (precipitation) will be above normal, a 33% chance it will be normal and 22% it will be below normal,” he said. “We’re expecting a slightly wetter-than-normal winter, but there are other phenomena that can tip those numbers one way or another.”

He’s talking about the phenomena of an Arctic Oscillation or a Polar Vortex, which is a ring of wind that moves between the North Pole and lower latitudes. Strong circulation of winds around the pole keep the cold air confined, but when the winds weaken, cold arctic air drops south and can affect the Great Lakes.

Last year’s climate prediction called for warmer temperatures and drier conditions consistent with the El Nino conditions. Records show the season was the fourth warmest on record for most of Michigan and in southeast Michigan the 34th least snowy, with snow falling short with about 20 inches – well below the typical range of 30 to 60 inches a year. The weather service report said it was 15 inches below average.

Meanwhile the Farmers Almanac, which has made seasonal predictions since 1818, predicted last winter would be colder with lots of snow, sleet, ice and rain storms in Great Lakes states. This year, the almanac predicts warmer-than-normal temperatures and average precipitation, with below-average snowfalls.

A popular Rochester Hills park has a new attraction: a pedestrian suspension bridge across the Clinton River.

The bridge, at Innovation Hills, is more than a fun stroll with a great view. The 112-foot span provides access to 48 acres of green space and a half-mile unpaved walking path at the 110-acre park. It’s the only pedestrian suspension bridge in Metro Detroit.

The bridge towers are 20 feet tall and reached by about two dozen steps and the deck, made of steel cables, rope and wood, slopes gently over the river between the towers. Visitors will find it near the Turtle Trail, about a half-mile walk from the park entrance.

People walking across the bridge will be able to see brown trout in the Clinton River and Class 3 rapids.

Mayor Bryan K. Barnett called the new bridge a “thrilling addition to Michigan’s premier park.”

Innovation Hills features a 3-acre nature-themed playground and seasonal modern restrooms, solar lighting and a glowing walkway. It’s a popular geocaching destination.

The park is at 2800 W. Hamlin Road in Rochester Hills, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission. Learn more: rochesterhills.org/parks.

Waterford Township voters narrowly approved a 21-year bond proposal to create a community center using part of Oakland Community College’s former Highland campus.

The proposal narrowly passed Tuesday by just over 575 votes: 19,230 yes to 18,651 no, a margin of just under 0.54%.

The $36.4 million bond will be used to purchase 51 acres of land on OCC’s Highland campus and renovate an existing building to create a multigenerational community center. Supervisor Gary Wall said the plan will help modernize and consolidate Waterford’s currently scattered resources.

Anthony Bartolotta, a 14-year township trustee who will take office as township supervisor on Nov. 20, said he stayed up until 4:30 a.m. Wednesday to watch vote tallies.

The community center bond proposal “was a nailbiter,” he said, adding that he expects the township will take possession of the property next week.

It will be 18 months to two years before the property will be open to the public, he said, because of the significant renovations needed.

Waterford Township elects a new supervisor for the first time in 12 years

Six days remain before the Nov. 5 presidential election and counting votes could take longer than usual given the historic number of early voters.

Nationally, more than 51 million votes had been cast as of Tuesday, according to Associated Press reports.

In Michigan, nearly 7.3 million voters are registered and through early Tuesday close to 2 million absentee and early voting ballots had been cast, or a 27.4% turnout. Statewide, more than 2.3 million absentee ballots have been sent out and nearly 69% – more than 1.6 million – were returned.

In 2020, state figures showed a record turnout of 70.5%, with 2.1 million absentee ballots returned of the more than 3.1 million sent as of the Tuesday before the presidential election.

This is the first presidential election since Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2022 requiring 10 days of early voting for all state and federal elections.

Since Oakland County started early voting on Saturday, Oct. 26. As of Tuesday, turnout is nearly 31% after 46,944 people have cast in-person ballots and 239,524 absentee ballots were returned of the 366,966 sent.

In Detroit, the state’s largest city, early voting started Oct. 22. Turnout was 22.5% through Tuesday morning with 15,268 early in-person voters and 75,403 absentee ballots returned of 110,518 sent.

In Grand Rapids, the state’s second-largest city, turnout was 23.7% with 6,119 early voters and 24,601 absentee ballots returned of 37,885 sent.

In Troy, the county’s most populous city, early turnout was 27.3% with 2,700 voters casting ballots since Saturday and 13,347 absentee ballots returned of 24,036 sent.

In Pontiac, the county seat, turnout was 18.9% with 1,339 voters casting early ballots and  5,916 absentee ballots returned of 9,234 ballots sent.

Other communities:

•  Farmington Hills, 32.8% turnout: 2,017 early in-person ballots, 16,271 absentee ballots returned of 24,855 sent;

•  Rochester Hills, 32.7% turnout: 2,684 early in-person ballots, 14,978 absentee ballots returned of 23,054 sent.

•  Southfield 31.9% turnout: 2,293 early in-person ballots, 15,428 absentee ballots returned of 22,793 sent.

•  Waterford Township, 31.2% turnout: 2,927 early in-person ballots, 13,519 absentee ballots returned of 19,568 sent.

•  Novi, 34.5% turnout: 2,19 in-person ballots, 12,416 absentee ballots returned of 17,845 sent.

•  West Bloomfield Township, 35.2% turnout: 2,640 early in-person ballots, 15,433 absentee ballots returned of 22,772 sent.

This is the first presidential election since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. More than 1,250 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were charged since that time with felonies or misdemeanors. Of that group, 718 people have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal charges, including at least 213 who pleaded guilty to felonies, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

Jan. 6 violence has caused fears in some Americans that there may be more violence after the results of this election are known.

This week, authorities in Oregon and Washington are investigating after fires were started in multiple ballot drop boxes.

Michigan is one of seven swing states that could be the key to winning the presidential election for candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Trump’s closing statement, delivered at New York’s Madison Square Garden Sunday, was marred by racist insults, including a comedian who called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” Trump and his campaign officials have distanced themselves from the remarks.

Harris planned her closing statement for Tuesday evening at the Ellipse, the park between the White House and National Mall and the site of Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, address that preceded the attack on the Capitol.

Oakland County residents can vote in-person at early voting sites, which will be open through Sunday, Nov. 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thursday hours are noon to 8 p.m.

It is too late to mail absentee ballots back to the local clerk’s office. They can be hand delivered, put in drop boxes or tabulated at an early voting site.

Anyone who wants to register to vote must do so in person at their local clerk’s office until 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Voters can check the status of their absentee application or ballot online by going to Michigan.gov/Vote or by contacting their local clerk. At the web page, people can find a wealth of additional election information, including how to register online.

DATE SOURCE: Data comes from this SOS election dashboard. The info is updated daily.
https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/election-results-and-data/voter-participation-dashboard.