Once again, a New Year is laid out before us, which means there are many challenges and goals ahead for local governments.
Joe Young, manager for the Village of Oxford, sees 2006 as a year to ‘move the village forward with new development.?
‘Keep the downtown revitalized with new businesses and new construction … that started during this past year,? he said.
With the help of the Oxford Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Young said a new master plan will be implemented to help with future businesses.
The New Year’s challenges, according to Young, are to strengthen and increase service levels from the village, the police and the Department of Public Works.
One project under the village’s belt this year includes the possible expansion of the water system housed on S. Glaspie Street.
‘That’s something we’re going to be presenting to council in a meeting in January to consider,? he said.
Young has deemed 2006 the ‘year of the fix.? For instance, he said the village must put finishing touches on the street construction projects started last year.
Also, Young said the vacant lot between Centennial Park and Casa Real might see a make-over. ‘We’re looking to break ground and get that building under construction,? he said. Plans call for a two-story, 13,610-square-foot, L-shaped building with mixed uses.
Young said the most significant project to be finished ‘visually? in the New Year will be the Polly Ann Trail pedestrian bridge over M-24.
Oxford Township is looking to continue working on improvements to its municipal water system.
Bill Dunn, supervisor for Oxford Township, said the water improvements will cost nearly $18 million, which will be paid for with bonds issued through Oakland County.
Plans call for a 1 million-gallon elevated water storage tank on N. Oxford Road (across from OHS), up to four treatment plants to remove arsenic and iron from the groundwater, eight new water mains and a raw water line to the planned treatment plant at Seymour Lake and Granger roads.
Dunn said the second project the township is excited to get started on is the construction of a new township hall, which will be located on a 27.9-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Seymour Lake and Granger roads.
The project will cost the township $2 million or more and is projected to be completed by mid-August.
‘We can’t wait to get out of the cramped quarters we’re in,? Dunn said.
Running the fire department with the same level of service as when it was jointly-owned with the village is also a township priority for the upcoming year.
Addison officials are looking forward to the New Year as a year that ‘everybody has to be very conscious of the cost of everything? so as not to raise taxes.
Addison Supervisor Bob Koski said the township’s main challenge for the New Year is to reduce its litigation ‘significantly.?
The township is also looking forward to creating better access and additional parking at the Watershed Preserve park between Rochester and Haven roads in Leonard. ‘We’re going to change the entrance point so it’s safer…and so it can be used more effectively,? Koski said.
Koski said officials are hoping to get additional gravel on the roads in Addison and restore the appropriate amount of revenue sharing from the state. ‘That could be more of a wish list.?