With another year of challenges come and gone, local government officials are quick to start work on another list as 2007 begins.
One task on Oxford Village Manager Joe Young’s list is to hire a new director for the Oxford Downtown Development Authority (DDA). Previous director, Amanda Cassidy, stepped down the end of August last year.
Young said there have been more than 40 applicants for the position and that the DDA’s narrowed it down to three individuals, which will be interviewed again on Jan. 8.
‘Hopefully, they’ll find the right one this time,? he said.
Also on the DDA front is a possible market study to determine what businesses ‘complement? the downtown Oxford area.
‘We know we need some lodging, clothing stores, shoe stores (and) office products,? Young said.
New developments, like the Centennial Commerce Center and Broadway Plaza, are well under way, and Young said he believes both will be open by this spring.
The Centennial Commerce Center will feature a steakhouse restaurant and ice cream parlor on the first floor, and office space on the second floor.
Young said he is not sure what tenants the Broadway Plaza will house.
The village is also working on making pedestrian crossings safer in the downtown area.
‘Zebra striping,? or yellow hash marks, will be painted across Washington St. at East and Stanton streets by the Michigan Department of Transportation sometime this spring.
Young said the village is thinking of possibly getting traffic signals put in at those streets as well, depending on the traffic flow the new developments will produce.
Of course, budgets are always a big concern for government officials, but Young said they’re getting a head start.
‘We’re doing early budget preparations starting in January of this year, as council’s requested, so we can get an earlier handle on where we stand financially going into this year,? he said.
Oxford Township Supervisor Bill Dunn is hoping to see the completion of their $12 million in municipal water projects started last year to remove arsenic and iron from the groundwater supply.
Now that the 1 million-gallon water tower on N. Oxford Rd. is completed, Dunn said the next step is to finish the booster station on the east side of M-24 just south of Meijer, which will allow them to fill up the new 1-million gallon water tower.
‘Without that, we can’t even use it,? he said.
They’ve also completed a 3,600-square-foot water treatment plant in the Oxford Woods subdivision and are in the process of completing a new 5,700-square-foot water treatment plant located at the southern end of the township’s 28-acre parcel at Seymour Lake and Dunlap roads.
Dunn said development in the township has been ‘real slow? as of late because of the poor economy in Michigan. ‘That’s what’s hurt us in our ability to pay back some of the bonds for all these water projects,? the supervisor said. ‘We were anticipating new development coming in, getting new water taps and using that money to pay off the water bond.?
The township was originally scheduled to do $17.7 million worth of projects, but officials decided to shelve plans for approximately $5 million worth of improvements until the state economy and local development pick up.
On the bright side, Dunn said the new township hall on Dunlap Road is ‘working just fine? and they are looking forward to hosting an Open House on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Budget-wise, Dunn said the township is ‘always looking where we can save money? and that he expects less to come from the state government in the form revenue sharing this year.
Addison Township officials are also anticipating revenue sharing cuts. That could be bad news for a township that already had to cut back on spending in 2006.
‘One way or another we’ve got to maintain a balanced budget,? Addison Township Supervisor Bob Koski said. ‘If they cut it again, it’s going to be tough.?
Aside from budget concerns, Koski said the township is making it a high priority to get Rochester Road resurfaced from 32 Mile Road north to Lakeville Road.
‘It’s getting to the point where it’s almost dangerous (to drive),? the supervisor said.
Koski said the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has been ‘putting it off for years? due to lack of money, but now that Koski is a member of the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force Funding Committee for the RCOC, he believes he’ll have more of a ‘bite? when it comes to the issue of paving the road.
The supervisor said their third goal for 2007 is to keep ‘our township as beautiful as it is now? by possibly purchasing some property for recreational purposes using grant money. Oxing just fine? and that they are looking forward to hosting an Open House on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Budget-wise, Dunn said the township is ‘always looking where we can save money? and that he expects less to come from state government for revenue sharing this year.
Addison Township officials, like Oxford Township, are anticipating revenue sharing cuts. That could be bad news for a township that already had to cut back on spending in 2006.
‘One way or another we’ve got to maintain a balanced budget,? Addison Township Supervisor Bob Koski said. ‘If they cut it again, it’s going to be tough.?
Aside from budget concerns, Koski said the township is making it a high priority to get Rochester Road resurfaced from 32 Mile Road north to Lakeville Road.
‘It’s getting to the point where it’s almost dangerous (to drive),? the supervisor said.
Koski said the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has been ‘putting it off for years? due to lack of money, but now that Koski is a member of the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force Funding Committee for the RCOC, he believes he’ll have more of a ‘bite? when it comes to the issue of paving the road.
The supervisor said their third goal for 2007 is to keep ‘our township as beautiful as it is now? by possibly purchasing some property for recreational purposes using grant money.