Westend: August 2015

PLACES TO EAT: OVER 200 RESTAURANTS • J. MARCH: DETROIT ANTIETAM AUGUST 2015

TAX FREE PROPERTY HOW MUCH OF LAKES AREA LAND GENERATES NO REVENUE ANNUALLY HOME SCHOOLING: A DIFFERENT SCHOOL OF CHOICE ALTERNATIVE COMMERCE DOWNTOWN: HIGH WATER TABLES WON'T IMPACT DEAL BEACH TESTING: OAKLAND COUNTY CHANGING TECHNOLOGY ECRWSS Postal Customer PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE & RESULTS SINCE 1977

248-366-7200

Janet Steve

Lakes Area’s #1 Team!

248.505.5600 248.755.7500 steve@TheStocktonTeam.com

800-396-5204 + Ext. # for recorded message

janet@TheStocktonTeam.com WP DT FOR R E T WA

WP DT OR F R TE WA

$1,288,000

E AK DL AR H C OR

$635,000

Zillow/Trulia/Realtor.com - Preferred Agents TON IGH BR

D FOR MIL

$899,900

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ONE OF A KIND-CUSTOM BUILT-BLAIN ISLAND RESORT- 490' OF SHORLINE-MACEDAY/LOTUS LAKES

DESIGNER HOME WITH FINISHED WALK-OUT 100’ OF SHORELINE ON ALL SPORTS SCOTT LAKE

BEST VALUE ON ORCHARD LAKE! SPECTACULAR 1 ACRE LOT WITH SANDY SHORELINE

STONE HOLLOW CUSTOM BUILT ON 2.62 ACRES FINISHED WALK-OUT, 3 CAR + 2 CAR GARAGES

LUXURIOUS BRICK & CEDAR COLONIAL-PRIVATE CLUBHOUSE, BEACH & BOATING ON BRIGHTON LAKE

#215058106 EXT. 192

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#215041126 EXT. 157

•6009 SF, 4Bed, 3.5Bath, Florida Rm, Paver Patio-Grill Station •Great Room-Fireplace, Rec Room-Wet Bar, Library, Theatre •Granite Kitchen-SS Appl, Master-Fireplace-Wet Bar-Jet Tub

•3199+1100 SF, 4Bed, 3.5Bath, Dining, Great Room-Fireplace •Granite Isle Kitchen-SS Appl-hardwood, Rec Room-Wet Bar •Master Ste-Fireplace, 2 Car + 1 Car Garage, Composite Decks

• Open & Flowing Plan, 3800+ Living SF, 4Bed, 2.5Bath • 3 Fireplaces, Wet Bar, Finished Daylight Basement • Master Suite-Jet Tub, 3 Car Volume Garage, Deck, Dock

•3044+ 1075 SF, 4Bed, 3.5Bath, Vaulted Great RmlDining-fireplace •Granite Kitchen! Nook-Viking & Thermador, Master Suite- Jet Tub •Rec Room-Wet Bar, 1st1st FI Laundry, 3 Car Garage, Elevated Deck

•5,762 LSF, 4Bed, 3.5Bath, 2 Story Great Rm-Fireplace-Buffet •Dining Rm, Library, Granite Kitchen/Nook-Premium SS App •1st FI Master Ste-Jet Tub Bath, LL Family Rm & 2nd Kitchen

P TW ND HLA G I H

WP NT RIO MA

$549,900

$599,900

LARGE CONTEMPORARY WITH FINISHED WALK-OUT BEAUTIUFL (2.7 ACRE) ALL SPORTS LAKEFRONT LOT

GORGEOUS HOME WITH LOWER LEVEL WALK-OUT ON PRESTWICK VILLAGE GOLF COURSE

#215041084 EXT. 163

#215049395 EXT. 101

•2,406 SF+ Fin W/O, 3 Bed, 3.5 Bath, 3 Car Garage + Pole Barn •Vaulted Great Rm-Fireplace, Dining Rm, Kit/Nook-Appliances •1st Floor Master Suite, LL Family Rm-Wet Bar-4th Bed-Bath

•3,834SF, 4Bed, 3.2BA, 3 car garage, Striking Florida Rm •2-Story Great Rm-Stunning Fireplace, Dining Rm, Library •Isle Kitchen/Nook -Granite & SS, Huge Master Ste-jet tub

E LAK ITE WH

P TW SE RO

$479,900

$489,900

BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED LAKEFRONT RANCH WITH FINISHED WALK-OUT ON TULL LAKE

2014 CUSTOM BUILT RANCH-WALK-OUT BASEMENT GORGEOUS VERANDA - VIEWS OF WOODS & POND

•2241+1260 SF, 3Bed, 3.5Bath, Decks, Patio, 3Fireplaces •Living Rm, Kitchen/Nook-Granite, SS Appl, Hardwood •Family Rm, Rec Rm, Master Suite- Bath & 2 W.I.Cs

•2,050 SF, 3Bed, 2.5Bath, 12’ Ceilings, Rich Crown/Base Molding •Granite Kitchen/Nook-SS Appl, Great Rm-Fireplace-Hardwood •Master Suite-Bath & Deck, 1st Floor Laundry, 3 Car Garage

#215069249 EXT. 124

E ERC MM CO

ITE WH

$319,900

#215051113 EXT. 158

P E TW LAK

E LAK ITE WH

$324,900

E LAK ITE WH

D AN RTL HA

$279,900

$279,900

$216,900

BEAUTIFUL COLONIAL WITH LARGE DECK ON BEACON HILL GOLF COURSE & POND

BEAUTIFUL BRICK RANCH WITH FINISHED WALK-OUT LARGE DECK WITH VIEWS OF WOODS & POND

FANTASTIC MAIN LAKEFRONT HOME WITH SANDY SHORELINE- ALL SPORTS OXBOW LAKE

GORGEOUS COLONIAL-SUB PUTTING GREEN, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL & TENNIS COURTS

METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED COLONIAL TWIN LAKES SUB PARK, BEACH & BOATING

#215067076 EXT. 182

#215071336 EXT. 129

#215062241 EXT. 108

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#215073655 EXT. 119

•2,479SF, 4Bed, 2.5Bath, Finished Daylight Basement •Formal Living & Dining Rooms, Family Room-Fireplace •Granite Kitchen-SS Appliances, Vaulted Master-Bath

ITE WH

P E TW LAK

•2,383+1370 SF, 3/4Bed, 3.5Bath, Vaulted Foyer, Library/Study •Vaulted Great Rm-Fireplace, Granite Kitchen/Nook- Appl •Master Ste-Bath & W.I.C., 1st Floor Laun, Huge Rec Room

$374,900

•2618 SF, 4Bed, 2.5Bath, Deck, 1st Floor Laundry, Library •Formal Dining, 2 Story Great Rm-Fireplace & Overlook •Granite Kitchen/Nook, Master- Bath & Walk-in Closet

E LAK ITE WH

E LAK ITE WH

D FOR TER WA

$399,900

•1,492 SF, 2/3Bed, 2.5Bath, Part Finished Daylight Basement •Great Room-Fireplace, Granite Kitchen-App-Ceramic Floor •Dining with Door-wall to Large Deck, 2nd Floor Laundry

$349,900

•1,804 SF, 4 Bed, 2.5 Bath, Part Fin Bsmnt, 2 Car Garage •Living/Dining, Cathedral Great Room-Brick Fireplace •Snack-bar Kitchen/Nook-Appliances-Doorwall to Deck

E ERC MM CO

$319,900

$299,900

NATURE LOVER’S RETREAT! - 4 STALL HORSE BARN- 3+ ACRES - NEAR STATE RIDING TRAILS

BEST LOCATION-ALL SPORTS ELIZABETH LAKE CHARMING FENCED LOT & INCREDIBLE VIEWS

ALL SPORTS SUGDEN LAKEFRONT HOME SANDY SHORELINE- ALL SPORTS OXBOW LAKE

UPDATED LAKEFRONT RANCH WITH FINISHED WALK-OUT - LAKE NEVA & BRENDEL LAKES

WATERFRONT HOME WITH 60’ OF SHORELINE DECK/DOCK ON ALL SPORTS COMMERCE LAKE

#215078176 EXT. 112

#215075303 EXT. 132

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#215077918 EXT. 107

•3,390 SF, 3 Car Garage, 4Covered Decks, Bonus Rm •Great Rm-Stone Fireplace, Dining Rm, French Dr Study •Isle Kit/Nook-Appliances, Master Ste -Fireplace-Jet Tub

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

•50’ of Sandy Shoreline, 3Bed, 2 Updated Baths, Garage •Great Room -Fireplace, Granite Kitchen-SS Appliances •Large Master Bedroom, Maintenance Free Deck, Garage

All Star

•2,666 SF, 4Bed, 3Bath, 2 Car Garage, Deck, Dock, Seawall •Granite Kitchen-Ceramic Backsplash, Appl, Hardwood Flr •Great Room-Fireplace, Master - Fireplace & Jet Tub Bath

•Open Floor Plan, 2Bed, 2 Bath, Foyer, Dining-Deck •Cathedral Great Rm-Fireplace, Snack-bar Kitchen-Appliances •Master Ste-W.I.C. & Bath, Laundry Rm-Washer & Dryer

TheStocktonTeam.com

•1,744+357 SF, 3 Bed, 2.5 Bath, Finished Basement-Rec Rm •Great Rm, Dining/Family Rm-Fireplace-Doorwall to Yard •Kitchen-Appliances & New Hardwood Flr, Master Ste-Bath

MOBILE

2014

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICE & RESULTS SINCE 1977

248-366-7200 Zillow/Trulia/Realtor.com - Preferred Agents P E TW ERC M M CO

Lakes Area’s #1 Team!

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800-396-5204 + Ext. # for recorded message

P TW ND HLA G I H

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Janet Steve

janet@TheStocktonTeam.com

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SHORES OF GLENWOOD - ELEGANT COLONIAL BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED, BACKS TO WOOD

ELEGANT HOME ON A BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED LOT IN PRESTIGIOUS COBBLESTONE COMMUNITY

ONE OF A KIND - CUSTOM BUILT RANCH ON BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED (2.2 ACRE) LOT

INCREDIBLE LAKEFRONT CONTEMPORARY

BY AZD DESIGN-ALL SPORTS WALLED LAKE!

AMAZING VIEWS FROM EVERY WINDOW OF 22+ ROLLING PARK LIKE ACRES WITH POND

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#215039066 EXT. 121

•3,379 SF, 3Bed, 2.5Bath, 11’Ceilings, Brazilian Cherry Flrs •Great Room-Fireplace, Dining, Kitchen/Nook- Granite & SS •Huge Master-Fireplace-2 W.I.C-Jet Tub Bath, 3 Car Garage

LD FIE OM BLO T S WE

•6009 SF, 4Bed, 3.5Bath, Florida Rm, Paver Patio-Grill Station •Great Room-Fireplace, Rec Room-Wet Bar, Library, Theatre •Granite Kitchen-SS Appl, Master-Fireplace-Wet Bar-Jet Tub

$425,000

•Custom Built in 2004, 3,742 Living Square Feet •One of a Kind Masterpiece, Must See to Appreciate •Extensive use of Glass, Hardwood, Granite, Ceramic

•3,390 SF +1800 SF in Fin Walk-out, 5Bed, 3.5 Bath, Deck •3 Fireplaces, Cathedral Master -Jet Tub Bath, Walk-in Closet •Living-Dining-Family Rms,3 Car Att + 2 Car Det, Pole Barn

LD FIE OM BLO T S WE

E LAK ITE WH

E ERC MM CO

$539,900

•5,300 LSF, Luxurious Appointments Thru-out, Library •Great Rm-Fireplace, Formal Dining, Library, Rec Rm •Isle Granite Kitchen/Nook-Deck, Rec Rm, Florida Rm

$229,900

E LAK ITE WH

$449,900

$254,900

NEWER-CUSTOM BUILT- 1ST FLOOR MASTER STE PLEASANT LAKE BEACH-BOATING PRIVILEGES

CRANBERRRY LAKEFRONT ON PRIVATE (5+ACRE) WOODED LOT WITH IN-GROUND POOL

NICELY UPDATED WATERFRONT HOME 116’ OF SHORELINE ON PRISTINE LAKE ONA

GORGEOUS WOODED LOT – GAZEBO & DECK CUSTOM COLONIAL WITH FINISHED BASEMENT

CHARMING CAPE COD WITH FIRST FLOOR MASTER SUITE ON LARGE, NICELY TREED LOT

#215043479 EXT. 105

#215049339 EXT. 179

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#215061072 EXT. 168

•3,572 SF+ Fin Walk-Out, 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath, Dining/Library •Vaulted Great Rm-Stone Fireplace, Guest Suite-Bath •Granite isle Kitchen-SS Appliances, Huge Rec Room

•2,491 SF + Fin Walk-Out, 3Bed, 3.5Bath, Dining Room •2 Story Great Rm-Stone FP, 1st Floor Master-Jet Tub Bath • Granite Isle Kit/Nook, LL Rec Room, 1st Floor Laundry

E ERC MM CO

$439,900

•3671+1092 SF, 4Bed, 4.2Bath, Living &Dining, Library •Granite Kitchen-SS Appl, Cathedral Family Rm-Fireplace •Master Ste- Jet Tub, Rec Room, 1st Fl Laun, 3 Car Garage

E LAK ITE WH

E ERC MM CO

VI NO

$459,900

•2,657 Living SF, 4 Bed, 2 Bath, Family Rm-Fireplace •Snack-bar Kitchen/Nook-Appliances, Jet Tub Bath •Laundry Rm-Appl, Deck, Patio, 2 Car Garage, Shed

$439,900

•2,063 SF, 3Bed, 3Bath, Great Rm-Fireplace, French Dr to Deck •Snack-bar Kitchen-Corian Counters, Dining-Door-wall to Deck •Library-Fireplace, 1st Floor Laundry, Basement, 2 Car Garage

E ERC MM CO

$409,900

$349,900

METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED HOME WITH BOAT DOCK ON ALL SPORTS COMMERCE LAKE

LARGE COLONIAL IN WINDRIDGE PLACE OF NOVI FINISHED BASEMENT AND PAVER PATIO

CUSTOM COLONIAL WITH FINISHED WALK-OUT GORGEOUS LANDSCAPE - WATERFALL & POND

NEW CONSTRUCTION BY CUSTOM CREATIONS FIRST FLOOR MASTER SUITE & 3 CAR GARAGE

6 BEDROOM - FANTASTIC FLORIDA ROOM GORGEOUS IN-GROUND POOL & 1.75 ACRE LOT!

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#215070318 EXT. 190

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#215028434 EXT. 136

•3,053SF, 4Bed, 3.5Bath, Deck, Formal Living & Dining •Island Kitchen/Nook- Granite, SS Appliances, Hardwood •Master Ste-2 WI.C. & Bath, Family Rm-Fireplace, Rec Rm

•2,289SF, 4Bed, 2.2Bath, Formal Living & Dining Rooms •Kitchen & Nook-Granite, SS Appliances, Hardwood Floor •Family Room-Fireplace, Master Suite -Jet Tub Bath

E LAK ITE WH

E LAK ITE WH

E ERC MM CO

$349,900

MAIN LAKEFRONT ON PRISTINE TWIN SUN LAKE SPACIOUS COLONIAL WITH WALK-OUT BASEMENT •3,032 SF, 4 Bed, 2.5 Bath, Large Master Suite-Jet Tub Bath •Great Rm-Fireplace, Dining-Butler’s Pantry, Library •Kitchen/Nook, 1st Fl Laundry, All Appliances, 3 Car Garage

#215043575 EXT. 161

E ERC MM CO

$374,900

•3000 SF, 4/5Bed, 4.5 Bath, 2 Story Great Rm-Fireplace •Dining, Isle Kit/Nook-Granite-Hardwood-Door-wall •Guest Ste-Bath, Bonus Rm,1st Flr Laun, 9’2” Basement

E LAK ITE WH

OM WIX

$299,900

•3,804 SF, 6 Bed, 3.5Bath, Living & Dining, Family Rm-Fireplace •Granite Kitchen/Nook-SS Appliances, Library, 1st Fl Laundry •1st & 2nd floor Master Suites-W.I.C & Baths, 3 Car Garage

$388,900

$339,900

BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED COLONIAL 1.29 ACRE LOT IN QUIET WOODED SETTING

SPACIOUS HOME WITH SUNROOM OVERLOOKS PRIVATE (2+ACRE) WOODED LOT AND POND

METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED COLONIAL WITH RAISED PAVER PATIO, IN-GROUND POOL & SPA

LAKEFRONT HOME WITH SANDY SHORELINE ON ALL SPORTS SUGDEN LAKE

#215049271 EXT. 153

#215073217 EXT. 143

#215080826 EXT. 170

#215080949 EXT. 114

•2,824SF, 4/5Bed, 3Bath, Cathedral Living & Dining, Library •Granite Kitchen/BayNook-SS Appliances, Family Rm-Fireplace •Cathedral Master- Bath & 2 WICs, 1st Floor Laundry, 3 Car Garage

•1,833 SF, 3 Bed, 2 Bath, Vaulted Living/Dining Room •Snack-bar Kitchen-Appliances & Door-wall to Yard •Family Rm-Fireplace, 2 Car Garage, Covered RV Parking

E ERC MM CO

D FOR TER WA

$199,900

•3044+1075 SF, 4Bed, 3.5Bath, Vaulted Great Rm/Dining-fireplace •Granite Kitchen/Nook-Viking & Thermador, Master Suite- Jet Tub •Rec Room-Wet Bar, 1st Fl Laundry, 3 Car Garage, Elevated Deck

$149,900

•2,824SF, 5Bed, 3.5Bath, Fin Basement, Living, Dining, Library •Granite Isle Kitchen/Nook-SS Appliances, Family Rm-Fireplace •Cathedral Master- Bath & 2 WICs, 1st Flr Laundry, 3 Car Garage

E LAK ITE WH

D FOR TER WA

$139,900

•1,912 SF, 3Bed, 2Bath, Large Deck with Retractable Awning •Great Room-Wood Laminate Floor - 2 Door-walls to Deck •Kitchen-Appliances, Dining Room, Library, 2 Car Garage

$149,900

$349,900

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY WITH LOTS OF POSSIBILITIES

CRANBERRRY LAKEFRONT WITH IN-GROUND POOL ON PRIVATE (5+ACRE) WOODED LOT

UPPER RANCH CONDO-ATTACHED GARAGE MAPLE CROSSING WITH POOL & HOT TUB

GREAT VALUE-SPACIOUS RANCH HOME WITH ALL SPORTS ELIZABETH LAKE BEACH PRIVILEGES

ALL SPORTS SUGDEN LAKEFRONT HOME NICELY TREED LOT ON QUIET DEAD END STREET

#215058762 EXT. 159

#215071758 EXT.127

#215054628 EXT. 103

#215036600 EXT. 199

#215079296 EXT. 146

•1,392+876 SF, 3Bed, 2Bath, Part Fin Basement-Rec Room •Living/Dining Rm, Family Rm-Brick Fireplace &Door-wall •Kitchen & Laundry-Appliances, Hardwood Flooring

•5456 SF, 2Bath, Currently Masonic Temple Assembly •Zoned R1-D, Suitable for Foster Care, DayCare, Church •Full Kitchen with Appliances, Newer Metal Roof, Shed

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

All Star

•Open Floor Plan, 2Bed, 2 Bath, Foyer, Dining-Deck •Cathedral Great Rm-Fireplace, Snack-bar Kitchen-Appliances •Master Ste-W.I.C. & Bath, Laundry Rm-Washer & Dryer

•1,465 SF, 3Bed, 1.5Bath, 2 Car Detached Garage, Car Port •Great Room-Fireplace & Hardwood Floor, Family Room •Snack-bar Kitchen with Appliances, Laundry-Appliances

TheStocktonTeam.com

2,666 SF, 4Bed, 3Bath, 2 Car Garage, Deck, Dock, Seawall •Granite Kitchen-Ceramic Backsplash, Appl, Hardwood Flr •Great Room-Fireplace, Master - Fireplace & Jet Tub Bath

MOBILE

2014

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WESTEND08.15

21

New technology on beach testing Oakland County next year will start to use a new method for testing for contamination at area beaches, one that gives same-day results to health department officials.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

8

David Hohendorf shares some parting thoughts about an iconic figure, his Wheaten Terrier Sasha, who was part of the founding group of Downtown Publications, and recollects some memories on her recent passing.

CRIME LOCATOR

15 Homeschooling trend Michigan is one of 11 states that does not monitor its homeschooled students, nor does it have any requirements, something which may change.

11

A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Commerce, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake and the Union Lake area, presented in map format.

MUNICIPAL

41

Command structure in township fire department; five file for council; Commerce interviews planners; Walled Lake sued on apartment project rejection; water increases coming.

AT THE TABLE

55 27 Local tax free land Every community has its parcels of property that don't generate revenue for the government, so here's a look at what is tax free locally.

The restaurant scene in Detroit is 'booming heavy' with a number of new spots, including the much talked about Antietam restaurant where J. March visited for our August issue.

THE COVER Apple Island in the center of Orchard Lake.

Westend photo.

ENDNOTE

58

Commerce officials should put extra emphasis on experience with downtowns and downtown development when selecting a planner; Walled Lake should not postpone passing on increases in water rates to its residents.

FACES 13 Dave Martin 24 Travis Waynick 39 Gary Waymire 47 Scott Emert 49 Steve Wilson

PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Katie Deska | Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf J. March | Kathleen Meisner | Bill Seklar PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISING MANAGER James Bishop ADVERTISING SALES Keenan Crow Heather Marquis GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to most homes in the Commerce, Wolverine Lake, Walled Lake and Union Lake area. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in west Oakland.

For those not receiving a free mail copy, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual charge. To secure a paid subscription, go to our website (westendmonthly.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order online or scan the QR Code here.

INCOMING/READER FEEDBACK We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Commerce/Union Lake community. The traditional “letters to the editor” in Westend are published in our Incoming section and can include written letters or electronic communication.

Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 W. Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009.

WEBSITE westendmonthly.com

FACEBOOK facebook.com/westendmonthly TWITTER twitter.com/downtownpubs

Member of Downtown Publications DOWNTOWN | WESTEND | THE GUIDE

IT’S TIME FOR LAKEFRONT! THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING A LAKEFRONT HOME? THE TIME IS NOW! Call me today for up to the moment sales and value information. I have helped many happy buyers and sellers of lakefront homes and I can help you too.

LAKEFRONT ON ALL-SPORTS CEDAR ISLAND LAKE! WHITE LAKE | $688,000

LAKE ENVY! There is a house on every lake that stands out from the others. Boaters linger & wonder “what’s it like inside?”…neighbors say “let me know if you ever decide to sell”… On Cedar Island Lake… “That House” is now for sale. This lovely lake cottage enjoys over 240 feet of frontage & a 1st floor master suite.

Spectacular main lake views from nearly every room & additional river views too. Host a party from your perfect spot for the annual fireworks display, or enjoy them from your private perch w/stunning views from the upper level hot tub room. Visitors can stay as long as they like, in the separate "Bed & Breakfast" room.

A studio apartment w/private entry, atop attached garage. Ready for your lakefront dream...call me, let’s find it together!

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ALL-SPORTS LAKEFRONT RANCH WITH 3-CAR GARAGE! WHITE LAKE | $442,900

RARE FIND ON AN ALL SPORTS LAKE: Ranch w/daylight basement & 3 car attached garage. Lots of updates in this lovely home on Cedar Island Lake w/nearly 50 feet of frontage & beautiful sandy beach! Maintenance free exterior, plus newer maintenance free deck. Many updates including windows, roof & furnace plus kitchen w/high end cabinets, granite & stainless appliances. Master w/private bath, bedrooms 2 & 3 share hall bath on main. Possible 4th in lower level is adjacent to full bath (great guest suite). Beautifully finished daylight lower level w/great storage, large family room, full bath & library/home office too. This home also equipped w/automatic generator. Up-dated in '01 & '13. Summer is here...Hurry on this one!

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Celebrating Home

248-694-9371 248-387-6049 | cbwm.com Locally Owned and Operated Since 1950.

WEIR MANUEL

FROM THE PUBLISHER

y column this month is more of a personal note – a departure from the normal political/ government topics I focus on in this space, which means that I do not have to wade through the monthly emails and letters from my critics (some of whom have yet to learn to turn off their all-CAPS key when venting). I welcome you to “bring it on” next month.

M

This month's narrative was prompted

by John Percival, a Birmingham resident who stopped by our offices in mid-May of this year to discuss a hot local issue (the possible narrowing of West Maple Road) that was on everyone's radar. It was not the first time he had been to the offices of Downtown Publications.

On this visit, however, John also inquired about the cost of advertising for a tribute to his 15-yearold dog, Katie, a Jack Russell Terrier who had just passed – certainly a loving gesture.

Just prior to this issue going to press, John contacted me by email. He had also lost his 12-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Macey, and wanted to run another ad marking the passing of this friend. John gave me permission to share his loss with our readers, responding that “they both LOVED to be involved in anything. Everything.

Including some things they shouldn't have! So, for them to participate would/will delight them.”

I can identify with John's situation because we suffered the loss of our Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Sasha, just before the Fourth of July holiday this summer, which is why this will be the last issue you will see her in the picture with me that runs each month with this column.

In some respects, I considered Sasha one of the founding members of this publishing group, which maintains a dog-friendly office. Up until the most recent Christmas holiday period, when her personal health started to decline and I could no longer carry her up the two dozen steps into our second floor offices above Astrein's Jewelry in downtown Birmingham, Sasha came to work with me each day, something she had done at a previous publishing group for a couple of years before I launched Downtown Publications.

Technically, as many dog owners can relate, Sasha was the pet/best friend of our two sons, starting about 15 years ago when we agreed to buy her from a breeder in Port Huron on the condition the boys would assume all duties related to house training her

when she was a puppy – an agreement I reminded myself of each morning at 1-2 a.m. during the first winter when I – alone – would take their dog out when nature called while everyone else slept.

Sasha was an iconic figure of sorts in the Birmingham area. If there was a month I failed to run a picture of her with me at some familiar local spot, or I did not bring her to the office on a given day, I would receive e-mails or be stopped on the streets of Birmingham by inquiring local residents or business people who assumed something had happened to my best friend.

She was certainly known in the downtown area, where she mastered which retail businesses had a steady supply of treats, her favorites being at Suhm-thing, thanks to Jackie Kreger Assaf; or Shades Optical where Dr. Bill's right-hand person, Marcia Polselli, always made time to satisfy Sasha's cravings.

We had our favorite routines in Birmingham – early Sunday morning or late night walks through Booth Park (no, the groups of teenagers in the park did not bother her; she actually relished their attention); movie nights at the park; our one-mile walking route through the neighborhoods and downtown area during the evening hours after the stores had closed; or our occasional lunch at the Brooklyn Pizza outdoor tables (wood-fired crust was her favorite).

And, as Cranbrook Kingswood graduate George Post recently noted on my youngest son's Facebook page, Sasha was the “biggest CK (lacrosse) cheerleader and always ready to give out kisses.”

But Sasha was not always a “city” dog, so to speak. Until a few years ago we maintained a home on White Lake in the west Oakland lakes area, so she was a country dog who loved the water, so much in fact that she would charge through and take the hit from the electric fence on the hillside and race down the winding 30-step staircase to the lake and wade or jump in. She was also known to jump off our anchored boat in the middle of the lake and swim to shore if she recognized a visitor on our beach area. Just one of the many humorous memories we all shared when our boys came home from Manhattan to visit her just prior to her passing.

So this is a notation of our loss of Sasha and a celebration of the years during which she led a good life and brought so much joy, love and loyal attention to the members of our family.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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FACES

Dave Martin n July 10 2014, paramedics worked tirelessly to revive Dave Martin’s daughter, Angie, from the final dose of heroin that would claim her life.

“To be woken up by (my wife) Liz who said, ‘She’s unresponsive,’” Martin said, “Words do not do it justice.”

Martin, who later co-founded the non-profit organization Angel Wings for Angie, spent the better part of Angie’s life raising her and her three sisters with his wife, Liz, at their home on Wolverine Lake. “All the girls went through Walled Lake Central. (My daughters) are literally four angels,” he said. “Angie was beautiful, friendly and popular. It wouldn’t be uncommon to have 10 or 12 girls over.”

Things took a bad turn when Angie began spending time with some new friends. She later confessed to her mother that she was battling a heroin addiction.

“Pay very close attention to your kids’ friends when they become teenagers,” Martin cautions. “Do not have blinders on. Be willing to make tough decisions by removing them from their environment.”

In response to Angie’s admission, the Martins sent their daughter to a rehabilitation facility in California. “She came back and the same bad friends tried to contact her,” he said. “So, she went back to California. She actually had a lot of moments of sobriety. We were very hopeful we could put the dark world behind us.”

Angie returned to Michigan, and again came in contact with friends who use.

According to her final text messages, Angie was offered heroin three times by an acquaintance. After the fourth text, Angie agreed. That text would lead to the dose of heroin that would end her life.

O

“(Heroin) is a really hard problem to fix. We know at least four people from Walled Lake Central who are dead from that crap,” Martin said.

“We could offer Angie help, family and support. We had all of that and we still lost.”

A couple months after Angie died, Martin, along with family and friends, created Angel Wings for Angie to raise money to educate, prevent and end opiate addiction. Additionally, they raise money to help rehabilitate people who are recovering and transitioning back into a healthy lifestyle.

The group organized a benefit concert at Uptown Grille in Commerce in May 2015 to raise money. Martin, the lead singer of a classic rock cover band called Happy Stix, served as entertainment alongside his bandmates.

“The event was very well attended,” Martin said. “Altogether, we raised between $31,000 and $32,000.” Funds raised were donated to The Endeavor House, a rehabilitation facility in Lansing, and FAN (Families Against Narcotics).

Angel Wings for Angie aims to host a benefit concert each year on the weekend following Memorial Day. They are also working on putting together an annual golfing event to raise money.

“It is important that we educate enough people. People think, ‘Just one more time. It won’t happen to me,’” Martin wept. “You better hope those dice that you roll don’t come up like Angie’s did.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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Three percent of student population educated through this school of choice alternative

HOMESCHOOLING

BY LISA BRODY

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One day in the near future, all four of Bethann Bayne's children will be of school age, and ready to take their place at her kitchen table, where she currently teaches the older two, 9 and 7, a full curriculum of English literature, science, Bible, American history, geography, and math. In September, Bayne's five year old will join his older siblings, and a couple of years later, the three year old will pull her chair up to the table as well.

This all occurs because Bayne homeschools her children, one of a growing number of parents who are both parent and educator to their children. Around the United States, it is estimated that over 2.04 million students are now learning at home, which is a 75 percent increase from 1999.

Homeschooling is an alternative form of education where parents or guardians bypass the public school system to teach their children at home.

The only requirements – a bachelor's degree or teacher's certificate, or you can claim a religious exemption.

Some frequently cited reasons for homeschooling include opposition to the public school curriculum, a desire to add a religious perspective to their child's curriculum, wanting to increase the amount of individual attention given to a particular child, that their child is a student athlete and needs a great deal of time away from traditional school to train, parents who travel a lot for work and want their children to travel with them, and children who are ill and need to be educated at home.

Homeschooling was determined to be a legitimate and legal form of education in 1972, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Wisconsin v. Yoder that Amish children could not be placed in compulsory education past the eighth grade, and parents' fundamental right to freedom of religion outweighed the state's interest in educating its children.

“Initially, when our oldest son was approaching kindergarten, a lot of the districts, including ours, in Southfield, didn't have parttime kindergarten. They were all full day kindergarten, and personally, my feeling was, for my child, at age 5, to be gone from 8:30 to 4, to me, that was too extreme, too much time away from parental supervision,” Bayne said. “For us, for our budget, we couldn't consider private school education. That was the original reason we considered homeschooling.

“As time went on – our kids are all two years apart – the schools in our area are not that great, and we would have chosen schools of choice. But I would have been responsible for getting them back and forth with younger children, and homeschooling was going well. As they've continued homeschooling, they've continued to learn and grow.”

Bayne utilizes an online curriculum called My Father's World, recommended by her sister who had homeschooled her niece, which provides a structured and organized 34-week curriculum in English literature, science, Bible, American history, and geography. “We supplement with a math program, and an art program and music. You can do as much or as little outside of that.”

She said going forward, “they do much more independent work, on their own. So my son could be in the kitchen working on math, while I'm in the dining room working on reading with my daughter or the younger kids. I basically schedule our day based on our needs.”

Bayne said her only preparation was speaking with other homeschooling parents, reading online curriculums, and “checking the state regulations, which were nothing. I don't need to be certified to be a homeschool teacher. The only requirements are a bachelor's degree or a teacher's certificate, or if you don't have either, you can claim a religious exemption. I have a bachelor's degree (in business management from Wayne State University), so that's good enough for me.”

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education, there were approximately 885,000 homeschooled students in the U.S. in 1999, the first year the center collected data on homeschooled students, representing about 1.7 percent of the school age population. By 2001, the National Household Educational Surveys Program (NHES) saw an increase to 1.1 million in 2003, and a further leap to 1.5 million students by their 2007 survey. By the end of the 2014 school year, estimates place it at over 2.04 million students ages 5 to 17, who are being homeschooled, or approximately 3 percent of the population of school age children in the country. All numbers are estimates, because many states do not require notification.

Like anything, there are pros and cons to homeschooling. From an instructional point of view, Educational Commission of the States (ECS) notes that homeschooling allows for the adjustment of an educational curriculum to meet the individual needs of each student. Parents also have the freedom to incorporate their religious beliefs into their homeschool curriculum. And, according to some research, students who are homeschooled have higher SAT and ACT scores than those who have attended public schools.

According to collegeathome.com, homeschooled students test in the 84th to 89th percentile on reading, language, math, science, social studies, and combination of all subtests when it comes to test taking, consistently out-performing public schools on a national basis, who test at the 50th percentile in all areas. Brian Ray, PhD, of the National Home Education Research Institute, described a nationwide cross-sectional study where almost 12,000 homeschooled students and their families were studied, and they scored, on average, at the 84th to 89th percentile in all subtests.

Michigan, with no requirements for homeschooled students, does not have any statistics or studies to corroborate or negate this information, and local school districts see little evidence of the homeschool movement.

Judy Evola, director, community relations and marketing, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, said that homeschooling is an uncommon occurrence in the district. In the past, one or two students may have taken the MEAP test, and no homeschooled students have requested nor taken M-STEP testing.

“There is no relationship between the degree of state regulation of homeschooling and student achieving,” Ray said.

Once they reach college, according to the website, homeschooled students continue to succeed, on average attaining a 3.41 GPA as freshman compared to 3.12 for other students, and 3.46 GPA as seniors versus 3.16 GPA for all other students.

Collegeathome.com also asserts that homeschooled students graduate from college at a higher rate than their peers, with 67 percent of homeschooled students graduating, while only 58 percent of the general student population graduates.

So why aren't there more than 3 percent of students nationwide that are homeschooled?

There can be negatives to homeschooling, according to ECS, noting that since each homeschool is different, and each state has individual requirements for homeschooling, there isn't a consistent method to assess or ensure the quality of a student's homeschool education. Many parents worry about socialization of their children amongst their fellow peers if they are educated at home, although Ray refutes that.

“It assumes the essential aspects of social development happen in school, and not in home-based education,” Ray said.

“Historically, for thousands of years, people were educated in home-based education. Maybe they had tutors, mentorships, apprenticeships. It was just like homeschooling. The key difference is that children who attend schools clearly tend to be peer-oriented while children who are home educated tend to be adult-oriented.”

While a majority of states – 39 – regulate in some way homeschooling curriculum, individual instruction, or parent qualifications, Michigan is one of only 11 states that does not monitor its homeschooled students, nor does it have any requirements or guidelines for parents who homeschool their children. The state views homeschool education as the

Michigan is one of 11 states that does not monitor its homeschooled students, nor does it have any requirements.

responsibility of the parent or guardian, and if the child continues to be homeschooled through 12th grade, it is the parent who can issue the diploma to their child by merely printing one off of a computer.

“We rely on self-reporting. It's voluntary,” said Bill DiSessa, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education. Because it's voluntary, the number of Michigan parents homeschooling their offspring are unknown, with just 646 students reported in 2014, compared to 1,266 in 2009. It is considered very likely there are thousands more, but statistically indeterminate after the Michigan Legislature amended the Compulsory School Attendance Law in July 1996 to read: “A child shall not be required to attend the public schools in the follow cases: (f) The child is being educated at the child's home by his or her parent or legal guardian in an organized educational program in the subject areas of reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar.”

“Michigan does have certain requirements that are in the school code, speaking to homeschooling,” DiSessa said. “Parents have the right to homeschool their children for any reason. It's totally voluntary. For ages 6 – 16, it's up to the parent or guardian as to who may be homeschooled, who assigns the assignments, what they learn. It's based on their own internal standards. Nor is the parent required to inform their home district if they've decided to homeschool. It's suggested they do that, but it's not required.”

Special needs students, who may require assistance from their local school district, are required to register with their district to access programming and assistance. “There are guidelines if special education is involved,” DiSessa said.

For some students, depending on the curriculum their parents have designed or accessed, some homeschoolers have less opportunity to interact with a diverse population. And educational advocates note that the rising number of homeschoolers detract from the amount of per-pupil funding that school districts receive from the state.

“Michigan is a local control state. Michigan is required to provide a public education,” DiSessa said, but not every parent or student has to access it. He said Michigan does not have any specific homeschool curriculum or requirements. “These families are allowed to do whatever they want. There are some parameters of what we want, math, English, reading, science, social studies, Constitution, Michigan Constitution, history, in each grade.”

But by Michigan law, parents are not required to teach a set curriculum in any specific order or way, nor do they have to offer any required tests to their children. If they do, DiSessa said, they must administer the MSTEP and MME tests themselves, or make their children available to take them at their local school. If so, the family must register the student with their local school district.

ECS notes that 20 states require testing and evaluation requirements of its homeschooled students, including Colorado, Iowa, Georgia, Maine, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Tennessee and Washington.

Michigan state Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) is concerned about Michigan's lack of monitoring and oversight of its homeschooled students, especially in light of the discovery of Detroiters Stoni Blair and Stephen Berry's remains in the freezer of their mother Mitchelle Blair, who had told neighbors she had been homeschooling her children for the last two years. In April, in an effort to forestall other tragedies, Chang and a group of legislators introduced House Bill 4498 to require notification of

homeschooling to a student's local school district at the beginning of the school year, as well as documentation, twice a year, that the student had seen a physician, counselor, social worker or clergy.

“It's pretty minimal requirements. For most people who homeschool, they shouldn't feel this is intrusive,” Chang said. “It's all pretty basic stuff – name, age, grade, address.

“Back in April, we introduced this bill as a response to the tragedy (in Detroit). How can it be that no one followed up on these kids? I researched this and realized that Michigan had nothing in place how other states do. We can do much better,” she noted.

Chang said that when the bill was initially introduced, there were many misconceptions, including that home inspections would be required, as many other states demand, along with test scores.

“To me, this is very basic accountability. It's not about any kind of judgement about homeschooling. There are many who do an excellent job. It's for those who are hiding behind the homeschool shield,” Chang said.

The bill is currently in the house education committee, and it is unknown if it will have a hearing before the committee, much less come before the full Michigan House.

In a letter to members of the Michigan State Board of Education in April 2015, Mike Winter, executive director of the Information Network for Christian Homes, wrote, “Home schooling does not need greater regulation. Home schooling is a proven educational success for producing healthy, productive, contributing members of society who provide benefit to the state and society as a whole. Home schooling is successful because it is supported by committed parents who believe it their responsibility to train their children intellectually and morally. Regrettably, the issues regarding education in the public schools are not a result of bad teachers but of broken families...Seeking to regulate home schooling will not address the issues being faced in the public schools, nor of poor parenting, broken families, and the immorality rampant in our society.”

Ray, of the National Home Education Research Institute, headquartered in Salem, Oregon, said regarding state oversight of homeschooling, “That's a philosophical question. If a person believes that children are first and foremost under the authority of parents, the answer will be one way. On the other hand, if they think children are under the care of the state, the answer will be the other way. When children are in state-run schools, their education is accountable to the state and the taxpayers. When children are in private schools, such as Catholic schools and home schools, they're accountable to the parents and the chosen school.

It's that simple.”

Ray and National Home Education Research Institute have done a lot of research into homeschooling and its rise nationally, and he said the reasons have changed in the last 30 years of what he calls “the modern homeschool movement.”

Today, Ray said, “The reasons for homeschooling are for customization and individualization of a child's dream, to make the curriculum fit the individual student. Some want to create more family time. Others want flexibility or safety. For others, we want to be the one to teach values, beliefs and world views to our children. That is all different religions. Twenty years ago, that was right wing Bible-believing fundamentalists or left wing Libertarians moving to the country raising goats. People have

Homeschooled students also are entitled to auxiliary services such as speech or special education at local public schools.

always tried to stereotype homeschoolers.

Stereotypes were never great, but now they're even less so. Homeschool parents are just mom and pops. Dad is a middle income guy with a year of college; mom is a stay-at-home parent who home educates. You may also have a single parent with a high school degree. Or there may be two parents with doctorates.”

Ray emphasized that while there are strong Bible believing people, there are also “New Agers, atheists, Jews, Muslims, and people with no religion” homeschooling their kids.

“There's this huge variety of parents homeschooling,” Ray said.

“It's a little bit of everything.”

He believes it continues to grow because parents are increasingly unhappy with centralized testing in education, with Common Core, and with the number of male students medicated with ADHD medications.

While school shootings receive a great deal of publicity, he said, “thankfully, they are rare. It's the everyday bullying and violence that grinds on parents, as well as sexual abuse by teachers and staff in online news articles all the time.”

All of this is combining to turn parents towards homeschooling, experts contend, along with greater available of better resource materials.

Oakland Schools, the intermediate school district for Oakland County schools, provides educational programs and services to students, as well. Danelle Gittus, spokesperson for Oakland Schools, said, “We have our online Virtual Learning Academy Consortium that's accessed by many homeschooled students. It's blended learning for homeschooled students.”

Gittus explained that families seeking access to Virtual Learning Academy Consortium enroll in their local home district, and then enroll in the Virtual Learning Academy, at no cost to families in Oakland County with students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The Virtual Learning Academy Consortium provides a homebased virtual learning option where students can receive their primary instruction in math, reading, writing, history, science, geography, technology, and the arts, based on the Calvert curriculum. According to Oakland Schools website, “The curriculum is rigorous and highly engaging and is aligned to Michigan content expectations and the Common Core state standards.”

“An interesting sea change is happening. Local districts are looking at how students learning at home can still be engaged with a vigorous curriculum and still be engaged with their peers at school,” said Dr. Carol Klenow, Virtual Learning Academy Consortium and Graduation Alliance, Oakland Schools. “As the state keeps raising the standards as to what the rigors and educational standards are to meet the needs of the changing work place, how do we, as public schools, meet the needs of students being educated at home?”

Klenow said in setting up the Virtual Learning Academy, they were working to help families homeschool some elite athletes and dancers; some parents where travel is involved, “so they can travel with mom and dad;” parents whose schedules require a great deal of flexibility; and where there are student health issues.

Klenow said there are currently 60 schools in the consortium from several area counties, with Oakland Schools managing them and providing individual teachers as mentors to homeschooled students. Annually, they reach a target number of about 325 students from all of the counties they work with.

They just completed the third year as a pilot program. “The

state will now permit more counties. We have shown this works in the age group with parent involvement,” she said. “We have shown this model works for families and students. It is a big commitment. We have a start of the school year and an end of the school year. You need a touchstone. It gives pacing. But the individual day (for homeschool families) has flexibility. We're available online all of the time. The teachers are available Monday through Fridays, and some are on Saturday. We try to be as accommodating as possible. The program is so well done, that especially in younger grades, teachers do not need to be available all of the time.”

“It's the best of both worlds. A fair number of families have enrolled. We have the curriculum from Calvert, the provider, and provide supplemental resources. We are able to provide a good home school experience while being in line with the state standards,” Klenow said. “The parent provides the day-to-day education, while the teacher provides the oversight, can help the parent with any roadblocks, and help keep the student motivated.

It works out very well.”

She said the virtual academy provides the rigor many homeschool families are seeking, meets the state educational standards, as well as providing support to parents in a changing educational world, so that homeschooled students are not at an educational disadvantage. “The teacher providing the oversight once or twice a week – it's like having an outside quality assurance person,” Klenow said.

Families and students can access certain non-core enrichment classes from their local district, such as art and music, but only if they are enrolled in the district.

Homeschool students wanting to participate in any academic programs are required to complete the same enrollment process as a fully enrolled student. Walled Lake Schools' Evola said homeschool students may only enroll in “non-core” classes, and in the past year, homeschooled students have taken art, physical education and music classes.

Homeschooled students also are entitled to auxiliary services such as speech or special education at local public schools.

For student athletes, however, it's not as flexible. While the supervision and control of interscholastic athletics are the responsibility of each local board of education, DiSessa of the Michigan Department of Education notes that most local boards have adopted the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) policies, which state that “Students must have received credit for at least the equivalent of 66 percent of full credit load potential for a full student in the previous semester/trimester of enrollment, and must be currently receiving credit toward graduation or a certificate of completion.”

All local Oakland County districts seem to follow this the MHSAA dictum of requiring a student to take 66 percent of his or her classes at a school to be eligible to participate in sports for that school, precluding involvement of homeschooled students.

Bayne, currently homeschooling her young children, said she doesn't know if she'll educate her children through high school.

“I'm of the mindset, I take every year as they come,” she said. “I am doing it for now.”

Klenow recognizes that homeschooling does not work for everyone.

“Families who take this on have to decide if they have the time to take this on. Every family is different,” she noted. “Students have to have an internal motivation. Families have to set up a set routine, or it can get away from you quickly.”

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BEACH TESTING NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN COUNTY METHODS

BY KATIE DESKA

M

onitoring the water at local lakes and swimming beaches is a crucial part of keeping beach-going families healthy and protected. The goal of beach monitoring is to protect the public when there’s a surge in bacteria. To determine this, every summer the Oakland County Health Division conducts weekly tests on water samples drawn at all 45 public beaches, like parks and camps, plus some select semi-private beaches.

Michigan is first in the nation to rollout a statewide initiative to put into action a new rapid-test method for beach monitoring that will make water recreation safer. The Oakland County Health Division Laboratory is one of 11 labs in the state that received equipment from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to begin working with a new method, known as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR), which has not yet been approved as the standard testing method.

Next summer, Oakland County will use both the current, approved culture-based method they have been using, and the new QPCR method, comparing findings that will be shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mark Hansell, chief of environmental health programs for Oakland County, said, “We’re very excited about the new method. There’s tremendous benefit to it, (in) having same day sample results, for example.”

The current testing method was approved by the U.S. EPA in 1986, and takes 18 to 24 hours to get test results. In June of 2015, the EPA released an updated draft of the new QPCR method, which targets the DNA of cells and provides results in approximately three hours. Select communities, including Cleveland, Ohio, Orange County, California, and Racine, Wisconsin have used QPCR. However, Michigan’s statewide approach is designed to be comprehensive and generate data that will help the EPA refine the method, if necessary.

MDEQ toxicologist Shannon Briggs said, “This is an exciting moment.

The EPA is helping the state of Michigan, and the state of Michigan is taking a lead in making this available for all of our beaches, and the health departments are really moving forward using this new technology, this new approach, to make everything better for all of us who want to go swimming. This is exciting for Oakland County.”

Both the QPCR and culture-based method test for Escherichia coli (E.

draft method was released for QPCR testing using E. coli. In order to accurately compare results between the standard method and QPCR, the tests must rely upon the same indicator bacteria. In the summer of 2014, the MDEQ awarded $100,000 for QPCR lab equipment and testing to be conducted at Lake St. Clair Metropark Beach, in collaboration with the Huron to Erie Alliance for Research and Training (HEART), Wayne State University and Oakland University. Carole Miller, Director of the HEART initiative for WSU expressed enthusiasm for the new testing, “It’s really exciting the additional focus that the state is putting on water resources,” she said.

This year, MDEQ awarded $500,000 in grants to local health departments, including Oakland County, earmarked for QPCR testing.

Laboratory staff in health departments across the state will be instructed on the QPCR method by staff of the Center for Water Resources at Michigan State University, which was awarded $30,000 from MDEQ to conduct specialized training. Showing support for Michigan’s groundbreaking QPCR initiative, the EPA awarded $83,000 to the state to conduct rapid-response testing at Great Lakes beaches.

“The EPA is developing the method that we’re going to be using, and the best way to see if this method is working across a lot of different beaches is to use it, test it,“ Briggs said.

This summer, Oakland County staff supervised six interns as they conducted beach testing at local swimming holes from June 8 through July 31. Each year, college students, typically studying environmental science or environmental health, are hired to take water samples to monitor E. coli levels. The interns complete an initial sanitary survey of the beach as a preventative measure, and conduct weekly water testing.

“At each sampling event, everyday they show up at the beach, do a truncated version of the sanitary survey, looking for things like number

MICHIGAN IS FIRST IN THE NATION TO ROLLOUT A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO PUT INTO ACTION A NEW RAPID-TEST METHOD FOR BEACH MONITORING THAT WILL MAKE WATER RECREATION SAFER. coli), a bacterium commonly found in the digestive systems of humans and other warm-blooded animals. An elevated level of E. coli in swimming water indicates the likelihood of fecal contamination at the beach, and suggests that other harmful pathogens found in feces may be present as well. Usually, the organism is not harmful; however, there are particular strains that can cause sometime severe illnesses in humans.

Often E. coli colonies will drastically decrease within a matter of hours. MDEQ stated that E. coli counts typically decrease to a suitable level in less than 48 hours. The short-lived peak of E. coli colonies in lake water is why most Oakland County beach closures last only a day or two. With the QPCR rapid-test method, beaches can be closed faster and reopen sooner.

The current culture-based method delays test results until the following day, and limits testing to Monday through Thursday, because Oakland County Health Division staff aren’t available on Saturdays to read Friday’s results. Because QPCR generates results the same day they’re taken, it permits the health department to respond faster to an outbreak and close the beach sooner. While MDEQ and Oakland County public health officials recognize the flaws in the culture-based method, they note it still provides meaningful information that helps prevent the spread of waterborne diseases.

Briggs said, “The whole point of us monitoring is to look for any problems, so even though the results are a day late, whenever we see consistent problems we go in and correct them, because the goal is that beaches will be open all the time.”

In 2012, the EPA provided criteria for QPCR testing using an alternate indicator bacteria, enterococci, but it wasn’t until March 2014 that a

of people currently using the water; waterfowl activity; aquatic weed activity; weather, was it raining or not; to help us correlate different closings to possible reasons for that closure,” said Oakland County’s Hansell. Every beach on a current year’s list is tested at least once a week, and three or more samples are taken at each sampling event.

Water is scooped in a particular fashion 6 inches to 1 foot below the surface of water that is 3 to 6 feet deep. Samples are taken back to the lab in Pontiac for testing to ensure Oakland County beach water is in accordance with the Michigan Public Health Code.

If the water samples are found to exceed the limits of E. coli, then the beach is closed until the levels decrease to a safe level, as determined by additional tests. When these standards are met, it indicates the water is safe for total body contact and the beach can reopen for swimming.

Water samples are drawn close to the shore because that’s where contamination occurs. The most common source of contamination that causes beach closings is storm water pollution. Often, after heavy rains the sewer systems are inundated with more water and waste than they can effectively handle. Pathogens may enter the lake directly, or be washed into streams and rivers connected to the lake.

“Whenever we start seeing a trend (consistent spikes in E. coli), we’ll try to manage the storm water better. None of us can prevent the rain, but we can manage where the rain flows and how it transports everything from the land into the water,” Briggs said. Septic tanks that are improperly cared for also contribute to contamination. Other causes include waste from excess waterfowl, as well as agricultural and roadside runoff, or runoff from areas contaminated with pet waste. Algal blooms may also contribute, though that hasn’t appeared to be a problem for Oakland County this summer.

A promising aspect of the new DNA-based QPCR method is the potential to enable health departments to identify the cause of outbreaks, a capability the culture-based method does not have. The hope is that the DNA can link the waste to its culprit.

“When we have continuing issues where a swim area has been closed for multiple days, and we don’t see any visible reasons, we don’t know if it’s wildlife or storm water runoff,” Hansell explained. “QPCR has the potential to identify the source of the DNA as being waterfowl, versus human, versus other mammals. From an investigation standpoint, it would tremendously help with what recommendations we could make to the beach owner, what they could do to help eliminate the issue.”

According to the EPA, gastroenteritis is the most common illness contacted from swimming in water contaminated with sewage. The severity of gastroenteritis depends on which pathogen a person is exposed to. According to the Centers for Disease Control, other common causes of waterborne illness, in addition to E. coli, include shigella, noroviruses, cryptosporidium, avian schistosomes and giardia. People typically contract waterborne illness by swallowing water. Ear, eye and nose infections are also possible.

For the last 15 years, local governments and select non-profits have received funds from the state to conduct inland beach testing due to the Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI), which voters overwhelmingly approved in 1998. The CMI gave $675 million in state bond monies to fund natural resource protection programs, including a $90 million Clean Water Fund (CWF) for water quality monitoring.

There is no fee to the beach owner for monitoring; it is a service that the county provides. State and local parks, camps, homeowners association beaches and country club beaches, among others, are all

when it’s over depends on what monitoring programs will serve our water resources and the citizens of Michigan best. This is not an easy decision because the monitoring that is possible each year through our CMI-CWF dollars is extensive.”

The funds from the CMI-CWF were intended to last through 2015, and the MDEQ has stretched them out over an additional couple years, but the money is running out. The MDEQ will provide grant funds for beach monitoring in Oakland County and other areas through 2018, but just how much won’t be established until the end of next year or early 2017. Funding for beach monitoring programs beyond 2018 remains unclear.

In 2013, Oakland County monitored 65 beaches, and had closures on 13, two of which were closed for extended periods. In 2014, of the 74 beaches tested in the county, nine beaches were closed, two for extended periods. This year, the Oakland County Health Division tested 100 beaches on 61 lakes between June 8 through July 15, a solid increase from recent years.

In the lakes area of western Oakland, the following beaches were tested in 2015: Commerce Hawk: Hill n’ Dale Park; Hawk Lk. Apartments. Commerce: Log Cabin Sub.; Oakley Park; Van Stone #1. Proud: Proud Lake Rec. Area Campground.

Walled Lake Walled Lake: E.V. Mercer City Beach.

Waterford Williams: Bayside/Island Beach; Crest Beach – Landsdowne; Hartford

IN ADDITION TO THE 45 PUBLIC BEACHES TESTED EVERY YEAR, OAKLAND COUNTY’S 200-SOME SEMI-PUBLIC BEACHES ARE SAMPLED APPROXIMATELY EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS, IN A ROTATING FASHION. eligible for free testing. “We think it’s an important enough program that we hope to continue providing the service, and we’re able to provide it to a greater extent with the grant money we get from MDEQ. We would love to sample all 250 of our beaches every year, we just don’t have the manpower to do that many,” Hansell said.

Referring to next year’s monitoring, Hansell stated, “We will sample the standard method and the PCR. We’ll be limited to 60 or 64 beaches through PCR because of the number of samples you can run through it at a time. The remaining beaches would continue to be sampled under standard methods.” In addition to the 45 public beaches tested every year, Oakland County’s 200-some semi-public beaches are sampled approximately every three to five years, in a rotating fashion. However, Hansell noted that “any beach that was closed this year automatically goes onto the list for next year for us to continue to monitor.”

Since 2000, MDEQ has awarded over $1.5 million in grants to local governments and select non-profit organizations from the CMI-CWF for beach monitoring, which supplemented local funds and enabled Oakland County to test more beaches.

MDEQ reports that the Oakland County Health Department received $40,430 from the CMI-CWF to be used for beach testing during the summers of 2013 and 2014. Oakland County received $45,079 of $200,000 for the summers of 2015 and 2016. MDEQ requires a 25 percent fund match from the county; Oakland County contributed approximately $15,000 to beach testing for 2015 and 2016. With over 250 public or semi-public beaches, Oakland County Health Division received more funding than any other district.

Dawn Roush, aquatic biologist and monitoring coordinator for MDEQ said, “Now we are coming to the end of a very good thing, and exactly

Beach; Ideal Country Club Homeowners Assoc. Cass: Dodge Park #4.

Eagle: Eagle Lk. Road. Schoolhouse: Indian Manor Sub. Loon: Indianwood. Wormer: Lk. Angelus – Golfview Estates. Woodhull: Major. Upper Silver: Oakwood Manor; Silver Lake Assoc. Williams: Overridge; Paulsen. Silver: Silver Hill Road. Woodhull: Woodhull Lk. Civic Assoc.

West Bloomfield Walnut: Bloomfield Parks & Rec./West Hills Middle School; Finnish American Club of Detroit; Lone Pine Assoc.; Shenandoah Farms Assoc.; Walnut Lk. Prop. Owners Sub. #1; Walnut Lk. Park. Upper Long: Long Lk. Prop. Owners – A. Pine: North Pine Center; Pine Lk. Country Club.

Scotch: Scotch Lk. Residents.

White Lake Pontiac: Pontiac Rec. Area. Teeple: Teeple Lk. Rec. Area – Highland State Park.

Wolverine Lake Wolverine: Nantucket Village; Spring Lk. Heights; Spring Lk. Heights Annex I; Wolverine Lk. Manor.

By late July of this year, 17 different beaches on 16 lakes were closed.

Lakeland Estates on Eagle Lake in Waterford was closed three times – once for three weeks. Woodhull Lake’s Civic Association beach in Waterford was closed twice, once for two days and once for one day.

“The heavy rains (in June and early July) have caused a little more prolonged closures than we like,” said Hansell.

FACES Travis Waynick ccomplished culinary master and co-owner of the Rochester Tap Room, Travis Waynick ascended from washing dishes at the old Key Largo restaurant in Walled Lake to cooking for the governor of Michigan.

“I started dishwashing when I was 15-years-old,” Waynick said. “Someone didn’t show up so I had to make salads and desserts and I just fell in love with (cooking).”

With no formal training, the Walled Lake Central alumnus realized his future was in culinary arts.

“I started working at the No.VI Chophouse,” he said. “It was a high-end and fast-paced restaurant in Novi. At the chophouse, the chef taught butchering and how to make stocks. I basically learned how to turn the raw ingredients into the food. That was my school.”

While working under the Matt Prentice Group, Waynick cooked for the North American Auto Show and would help cater for hundreds of people a day for Ford Motor Company.

Waynick also worked the Red Bull Air Races in Detroit and catered for Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. “We did bat mitzvahs that would blow your mind and hundred thousand dollar weddings.”

The Walled Lake native’s skills as a chef earned him some recognition, as well, from affluent clients like the late A. Alfred Taubman and the current governor of Michigan. “When Rick Snyder was starting to run (for governor) we worked at a fundraiser he had at a home in the West Bloomfield area.”

Waynick also was a private chef at a high-end house party for a well-known Michigan singer. He signed a confidentiality agreement so he is unable to name the superstar. “It was a Halloween party for (the client’s) daughter.”

Although Waynick got a glimpse into the lives of his prominent clients, he said his focus is completely on the food.

“I’ve never been a star chaser,” he said. “They’re normal people to me. I’d cook for the governor the exact same way I’d cook for you.”

In March 2015, Waynick opened the Rochester Tap Room, a craft beer house featuring American fare. “We have 60 taps. All our cocktails are handmade.”

Waynick spends 12 to 14 hours a day at the restaurant. “I’m ordering, sanitizing and preparing the food,” he said. “I’m dealing with issues in the front of the house, which I never dealt with before. I do whatever I need to do to make sure the entire operation runs seamlessly.”

Recently, Waynick was asked to be a guest chef for Dining in the Dark, a charity event held at Menagerie in Pontiac.

“The party helps raise money for the Lions Club,” he said. “We served a four-course meal where (guests) are completely blindfolded. It was exciting to be a part of.”

At home, Waynick spends time with his wife, Rachel, and two children. Although he cooks for a living, his wife does the cooking at home.

“She’s amazing and very supportive,” he said. “She understands that this is what makes me tick. There’s nothing else I could do or want to do.”

A

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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6611 Commerce Road

TAX FREE PROPERTY VARIETY OF EXEMPTIONS ALLOW FOR LAND NOT GENERATING REVENUE

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

About 13 percent of land in Commerce, West Bloomfield area not subject to local and state property levies

It has been said that nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes, but for some property owners in western Oakland County, there is no requirement to pay property taxes.

While the vast majority of property owners in the nearly 40,670-acre area that makes up Commerce, Walled Lake, West Bloomfield and Wolverine Lake must pay property taxes, about 12.9 percent of property in the area is exempt from taxes.

“Take a suburban community…and there is an expectation that the city will be fundamentally supported by primarily residential property taxes along with some commercial tax, but in that mix will be a range of buildings that won’t be tax generating,” said professor Robin Boyle with the urban studies and planning department at Wayne State University.

Communities such as Commerce Township have thousands of acres of land that are exempt from tax, including nine township-owned parks and a large state park. Of the some 19,142.39 acres of land that make up Commerce Township, about 16.8 percent is exempt from property taxes. That land includes more than 4,000 acres of parkland, government owned properties, school property that is exempt from tax, as well as land owned by religious organizations and the township’s downtown development authority.

In West Bloomfield Township, nearly 225 acres of land are exempt for religious exemptions. In total, about 9.3 percent of the township’s total acreage (20,014 acres) falls under tax exemptions. In neighboring Walled Lake, about 10.8 percent of the city’s land receives tax exemptions.

Religious institutions, schools and government facilities are often considered the cornerstones of a suburban community, and as such the owners of such properties qualify for various tax exemptions.

In total, there are more than three dozen real property tax exemptions available in the Michigan General Property Tax Act, which offer partial or full tax exemptions to religious entities, various non-profit organizations, governmental entities, educational facilities, parks, disabled veterans and others.

“It’s sort of a cost of creating a community,” Boyle said. “Parks, high schools, elementary schools and more facilities that would be seen as the precursor of today’s not-for-profits, like community-based elderly facilities. That was very much the calculus of a suburban community, but that is shifting because we are seeing far more non-profits and an expansion of the religious base.”

For communities with a large number of nonprofits, educational facilities and government buildings, the expansion of tax-exempt lands can pose problems with revenue. A national report on tax-exempt lands published in 2012 by Governing magazine found about 30 percent of Baltimore’s entire assessed value — about $15.1 billion — is made up by property owned by governments, non-profits and other tax-exempt

organizations. Tax-exempt lands may also pose a problem for university towns and some state capitals that have a higher percent of government-owned property.

The Oakland County Equalization office, which conducts property assessments for Commerce Township, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake Village, said it doesn’t provide assessments on tax-exempt properties.

Despite impacting revenue in some communities, the amount of tax-exempt land in an area isn’t an immediate concern, said Dan Hunter, with the Oakland County Economic Development Office.

“The north end of the county has some concern because they have a whole lot of state or local parkland as a percentage of their land, so they try to generate as much revenue as possible with their land.”

In Commerce Township, which consists of thousands of acres of local and state parkland

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENT FACILITIES ARE OFTEN CONSIDERED THE CORNERSTONES OF A SUBURBAN COMMUNITY, AND AS SUCH THE OWNERS OF SUCH PROPERTIES QUALIFY FOR VARIOUS TAX EXEMPTIONS.

and inland lakes in the west Oakland area, the township’s downtown development authority (DDA) has prohibited non-profit organizations from purchasing land in the DDA’s tax increment financing area where the township is developing a new downtown. The measure, which was created through a deed restriction on land currently owned by the DDA, is one way that some communities have addressed the issue of potential losses of revenue due to tax exemptions.

Hunter said the restriction on tax-exempt organizations in Commerce makes sense, however, he said there isn’t a major concern about tax-free land at the county level.

“From an economic development perspective, we don’t really see it as an issue,” he said. “We encourage redevelopment projects and others on a case-by-case basis. We advocate case-by-case for tax incentives.”

Other communities across the nation are stepping up efforts to collect voluntary payments in lieu of taxes (PILT). However, such payments are voluntary and, in the case of many Michigan communities, have historically gone underfunded.

“Payment in lieu of taxes is a mechanism that is being reviewed and considered in many areas, but they tend to be used in bigger communities where there are large communities that take up a lot of space, particularly large, not-for-profit hospitals and universities,” Boyle said.

Wolverine Lake Village Treasurer Mike Kondek said the village receives about $1,100 in PILT annually from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which owns the boat launch behind Village Hall, as well as the property surrounding grounds.

Richard Banks, chief appraiser for West Bloomfield Township, said the township doesn’t receive any PILT payments.

“We do have a kind of deal with the Senior Center, where the taxable value was frozen in 2010, which is a little different than PILT,” he said.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the township receives about $60,000 to $70,000 annually from the state for PILT on payment for parkland at Proud Lake Recreation Area, which consists of just under 2,000 acres of land.

Walled Lake Finance Director Colleen Coogan said the city receives about $52,000 in PILT annually, all of which are made by the Villas of Walled Lake senior housing facility, which receives a private exemption from the city.

“Most of that doesn’t go to the city,” she said.

“The city gets about $12,000 of that. The rest goes to schools and the county.”

Real property tax exemptions may be granted under the law to private corporations for various reasons. Under state tax law, tracks, right-of-way, depot grounds and buildings, machine shops, rolling stock and all other property necessarily used in operating any railroad shall be exempt from taxation for any purposes. The law also offers multiple tax exemptions for special housing, such as those owned by non-profit organizations, economic development groups, or those designated for elderly or disabled families.

Housing owned and operated by a non-profit corporation or association, the state or subdivision of the state, which is used solely for elderly or disabled families is exempt from collection of taxes, under the law. The owner of the property must apply for an exemption with the state’s department of treasury, with the state having the authority to approve or disapprove the exemption. If granted, the exemption is active until the property is no longer used for occupancy by elderly or disabled families.

Non-profit organizations and private exemptions make up a small portion of taxexempt lands. Records obtained by Downtown Publications from the West Bloomfield Township assessor’s office indicate that there are multiple non-profit exemptions listed in the township.

While the majority of the businesses are listed because they are located within a larger nonprofit land, such as the Henry Ford Hospital

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grounds, private and non-profit exemptions total more than 92 acres in West Bloomfield.

The following is a list of all non-profit and private exemptions in each community: • Private, Michigan Bell, unspecified address, Walled Lake, 2.26 acres.

• Private, Villa Apartments, 1035 Walled Lake Villa, Walled Lake, 6.19 acres.

• Private, MI Bell, 7020 Middlebelt, West Bloomfield, 1.033 acres.

• Private, Mi Bell, unspecified address, West Bloomfield, 1.004 acres.

• Non-profit, Civic Welfare Club, 207 Liberty, Walled Lake, .12 acres.

• Non-profit, Angel’s Place, 3655 S. Commerce, Commerce, .82 acres.

• Non-profit, Judson Center, 1046 Benstein, Commerce, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Henry Ford Hospital, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, 76.3 acres.

• Non-profit, Syrian American Council, 2430 Hiller, West Bloomfield, .874 acres.

• Non-profit, Angels Place, 2809 Saddlewood, West Bloomfield, 1.681 acres.

• Non-profit, JARC, 5425 Pond Bluff, West Bloomfield, .341 acres.

• Non-profit, JARC, 4008 Foxpointe, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Judson Center, 6110 St. James, West Bloomfield, .836 acres.

• Non-profit, Shuv A Michigan, 6191 Farmington, West Bloomfield, 2.39 acres.

• Non-profit, Friendship Circle, 5586 Drake, West Bloomfield, 1.94 acres.

• Non-profit, JARC, 7340 Verona, West Bloomfield, .778 acres.

• Non-profit, JARC, 7372 Katrin, West Bloomfield, .505 acres.

• Non-profit, Kadima Housing, 7004 Heather Heath, West Bloomfield, .314 acres.

• Non-profit, Angels Place, 6724 Post Oak, West Bloomfield, .377 acres.

• Non-profit, The Friendship Circle, 7085 Beverly Crest, West Bloomfield, 5 acres.

• Non-profit, Judson Center, 7473 Coach Ln., West Bloomfield, .318 acres.

• Non-profit, St. John Clinical, 2300 Haggerty, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Henry Ford, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Henry Ford, 6530 Farmington, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Detroit Medical Center, 6600 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, DK Demonstration Kitchen, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Live Well, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Vita Hair Salon, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Henry’s Cafe, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Caribou Coffee, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, HF Pharmacy, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Vita Wellness, 6777 W. Maple,

West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Great Lakes Tea, 6777 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, William Beaumont Hospital, 6900 Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield, • unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, New Life Services, 7246 Westbury, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, New Getaways, 5642 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, St. Joe’s Imaging, 2300 Haggerty, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Botsford Laboratory, 2300 Haggerty, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, William Beaumont Home Care, 6900 Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Franny Strong Foundation, 5767 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION ARE STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO COLLECT VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES. HOWEVER, SUCH PAYMENTS, IN THE CASE OF MANY MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES, HAVE HISTORICALLY GONE UNDERFUNDED.

• Non-profit, Beaumont Northpointe, 33200 W. 14 Mile, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Richard Gordon DO, 33200 W. 14 Mile, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Beaumont Hospital, 6900 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

• Non-profit, Henry Ford Maple Grove, 6773 W. Maple, West Bloomfield, unspecified acreage.

Of the more than 40 different exemptions available to property owners under the state tax law, only eight are subject to state approval, which include the Industrial Facilities Exemption; the Water Pollution Control Exemption; the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Act; the Air Pollution Control Exemption; the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act; Commercial Rehabilitation Act; the New Personal Property Exemption; and the Commercial Facilities Exemption. The majority of tax exemptions are initiated and approved at the local level, with final approval from the Michigan State Tax Commission required for some. Michigan State Treasurer spokesman Terry Stanton said religious, non-profit and

disabled veteran’s exemptions are all approved at the local level, only.

None of the communities included in Westend’s list of tax-exempt properties offer any special districts or zones that provide tax exemptions. However, each community surveyed does provide some exemptions to veterans.

The exemption, which falls under the category of local government exemptions, is available for homestead property owned by a disabled veteran who has been honorably discharged from the armed forces. To qualify for the exemption, applicants must be determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be permanently disabled as a result of military service and entitled to benefits at a 100-percent rate. The exemption must be approved by the county treasurer’s office each year.

EDUCATIONAL EXEMPTIONS Under state tax law, property which is leased, loaned or otherwise made available to a school district, community college or other state supported educational institution or non profit educational institution, is exempt from taxation while used by the institution. The exemption also applies to preschool education programs.

Real estate owned and occupied by a non-profit theater, library, educational or scientific institution is also exempt from taxation, under the law.

Commerce Township (113.6 acres) • Walled Lake Schools, 6000 Bogie Lake, unspecified acreage.

• Huron Valley Schools, 5070 S. Duck Lake Road, 1 acre.

• Walled Lake Schools, 704 Farr St., .56 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 520 Farr St., 1 acre.

• Federal Home Loan Mortgage, unspecified address, .52 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 610 Farr St., .39 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, unspecified address, 1 acre.

• Walled Lake Schools, 660 Farr St., .56 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, unspecified address, 2 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, Commerce Elementary, 520 Farr St., 1 acre.

• Walled Lake Schools, unspecified address, 83.24 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 8500 Commerce, 2 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, unspecified address, 1 acre.

• Walled Lake Schools, 3070 Woodbury, 1 acre.

• Walled Lake Schools, unspecified addresses, 6 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 2896 S. Commerce, .8 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 2450 Welch, 9.53 acres.

• Oakland Schools, 1000 Beck, 1 acre.

• Walled Lake Schools, 46720 W. Pontiac Trail, 1 acre.

Walled Lake (22.25 acres) • Walled Lake Schools, unspecified address, .15 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 850 Ladd, 5.24 acres.

• Walled acres.

• Walled acres.

• Walled acres.

• Walled acres.

Lake Schools, 695 N. Pontiac Trail, 1.03 Lake Schools, unspecified address, 6.45

associations, burial grounds and other similar uses. Religious exemptions remain in effect until the property is used for a different, unqualified purpose.

Lake Schools, 1193 W. West Maple, .65 Lake Schools, unspecified address, 8.73

West Bloomfield (358.28 acres) • West Bloomfield Schools, 5300 Greer, 14.991 acres.

• University of Michigan, Scotch Lake, .092 acres.

• University of Michigan, Scotch Lake, .121 acres.

• Waterford Schools, unspecified address, 12 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 2800 Keith, 9.94 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, unspecified address, 5.53 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, 5959 Commerce, 17.5 acres.

• Bloomfield Hills Schools, 3100 Lone Pine, 18.62 acres.

• Bloomfield Hills Schools, 3333 W. Long Lake, 21.34 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 7149 Oakley Park, 10 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 4900 Halstead, 41.22 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, 4500 Walnut Lake, 16.5 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, 4857 Orchard Lake, 51.47 acres.

• Bloomfield Hills Schools, 2605 Lone Pine, 41.606 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, 3575 Walnut Lake, 13 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, unspecified address, .579 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, unspecified address, .791 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, vacant property, .114 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, 6000 Orchard Lake, 26.39 acres.

• West Bloomfield, vacant, unspecified address, .211 acres.

• Walled Lake Schools, 7601 Walnut Lake, 44.9 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, 5475 W. Maple, 11.31 acres.

• West Bloomfield Schools, 7071 Orchard Lake, unspecified acreage.

Wolverine Lake (1 acres) • Walled Lake Schools, unspecified address, 1 acre.

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS Religious exemptions are also a common exemption in the west Oakland area. Under state law, houses of public worship are specifically addressed as tax-exempt real estate.

In addition to houses of workshop, Michigan tax law allows for exemptions of memorial homes or posts, young men’s or women’s Christian

Commerce (47.05 acres) • Church of the Nazarene, 145 Wise, 5 acres.

• Commerce Methodist Church, 1155 N. Commerce, 1 acre.

• Commerce Methodist Parsonage, 840 Morella, 1 acres.

• Chabad Jewish Center, 810 Sleeth, .24 acres.

• Union Lake Baptist, 8390 Commerce, 1. acre; 21.42 acres.

• Milford Congregation of Jehovah’s Witness, 2453 Wixom, 1 acres.

• Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, 2800 Fisher, .23 acres; .67 acres.

• Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, 2730 Fisher, .29 acres.

• Faith Community Church, 2852 S.

RELIGIOUS TAX EXEMPTIONS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON EXEMPTIONS IN THE COMMERCE AND SURROUNDING AREAS. UNDER STATE LAW, HOUSES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP ARE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED AS TAX-EXEMPT REAL ESTATE.

Commerce, 1 acre.

• Hyderi Foundation, 2230 Crumb, 2.38 acres.

• Amen Korean United Methodist, 1870 Decker, .11 acres.

• United Missionary, 1795 N. Pontiac Trail, 1 acre.

• Walled Lake Missionary, unlisted address, 3.7 acres.

• Presbyterian Church USA, 1445 Welch, 1 acre.

• Shepherd of Lakes, 2905 S. Commerce, 7.01 acres.

Walled Lake (72.73 acres) • St. Matthews, 1970 S. Commerce, 10.7 acres.

• Assembly of God, 1816 S. Commerce, .01 acres.

• Missionary Church, 1741 Ashstan, .28 acres.

• Amen Korean United Methodist, 1870 Decker, .97 acres.

• Missionary Church, 1795 N. Pontiac Trail, 3.47 acres.

• Church of Christ, 1403 N. Pontiac Trail, 1.92 acres.

• Church of Christ, 1415 N. Pontiac Trail, .57 acres.

• Amen Korean United Methodist, 1375 Decker, 1.39 acres.

• Archdiocese of Detroit, 850 Ladd, 6.81 acres.

• Orchard Grove Community Church, 850 Ladd, 16.85 acres.

• Archdiocese of Detroit, unlisted address, 3.73 acres.

• Archdiocese of Detroit, 531 Common, 3.56 acres.

• Archdiocese of Detroit, 405 N. Pontiac Trail, .98 acres.

• St. Williams, 534 Common, .24 acres.

• Archdiocese of Detroit, unlisted address, 5.05 acres.

• Walled Lake Methodist, 313 Northport, .4 acres.

• St. Anne’s, 430 Nicolet, 1.1 acres.

• Walled Lake Methodist, 313 Northport, .5 acres.

• First Baptist, 309 Market, .93 acres.

• Walled Lake Methodist, unlisted address, .45 acres.

• First Baptist, 309 Market, .45 acres.

• Lakes Baptist, 347 Decker, 3.98 acres.

• Lakes Baptist, 309 Decker, 4.79 acres.

West Bloomfield (224.847 acres) • Sylvan Lake Lutheran, 2399 Figa, 2.368 acres.

• Church of the Nazarene, 2478 Horace, .324 acres.

• St. Mark’s, 7979 Commerce, 7.441 acres.

• B’nai Horashba, 4230 Middlebelt, 5 acres.

• Pine Hill Congregational, 4160 Middlebelt, 3.09 acres.

• West Bloomfield Bible Church, 4900 Orchard Lake Road, 1.38 acres.

• West Bloomfield Baptist, vacant site, 4900 Orchard Lake, 1.34 acres.

• Holy Spirit, 4800 Orchard Lake Road, 3.97 acres.

• Hadassah House, 5030 Orchard LakeRoad, 1.62 acres.

• Archdiocese of Detroit, 4341 Savoie Trail, .321 acres.

• Archdiocese of Detroit, 4300 Walnut Lake Road, 8.2 acres.

• Mesivta of Toledo, 4200 Walnut Lake Road, 5.481 acres.

• United Methodist, 4100 Walnut Road, 4.76 acres.

• Keter Torah Synagogue, 5480 Orchard Lake Road, 1.96 acres.

• Village Educational Center, unspecified address, 4.15 acres.

• Village Educational Center, 2075 Walnut Lake Road, 3.5 acres.

• Temple Shir Shalom, 3999 Walnut Lake Road, 7.39 acres.

• JARC, 6078 Ledgeway Drive, .352 acres.

• Shepherd King Lutheran, 5300 W. Maple, 5.45 acres.

• Methodist Union, 5553 Fox Hunt, .345 acres.

• Mesivta of Toledo, 5784 Plum Crest Drive, .357 acres.

• Covenant Baptist, 5800 W. Maple, 10 acres.

• Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, 23 acres.

• New Temple of Oakland, 5085 Walnut Lake Road, 5 acres.

• Chaldean Catholic, 6900 W. Maple, 10 acres.

• Chaldean Catholic, 6886 W. Maple, 3.43 acres.

• Beth Chabad, 6890 W. Maple, 41.57 acres.

• United Jewish Charities of Detroit, unspecified address, 19.2 acres.

• B Nai Moshe, 6840 Drake, 15.55 acres.

• UJF-Maple Road LLC, 6555 W. Maple, 3.480 acres.

• Beth Chabad, 6211 Quaker Hill, .277 acres.

• Bais Chabad, 5595 W. Maple, 1.664 Acres.

• Bais Chabad, 6605 Alderley Way, .344 acres.

• Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center, 6705 Cottonwood Knoll, .439 acres.

• Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center, 5453 Claridge Lane, .344 acres.

• Metro Detroit Christian Church, 6655 Middlebelt, 11.97 acres.

• Beth Abraham, 5075 W. Maple, 9.8 acres.

• Jewish Ensemble Theater, 6600 W. Maple, unspecified acreage.

• Jewish Community Center, 6600 W. Maple, unspecified acreage.

• Jewish Family Service, 6555 W. Maple., unspecified acreage.

Wolverine Lake (.86 acres) • Church of God, 876 Amenia, .42 acres.

• Church of God, 689 Lucille, .44 acres.

GOVERNMENT EXEMPTIONS One of the most common exemptions in the area comes in the form of government exemptions. The state tax code allows for tax exemptions on land owned by the federal, state, county and local governments. Such exemptions include road easements, monitoring wells, government owned buildings, parks and other land.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said about 10 square miles of Commerce’s 28square miles is reserved for open space, including parks and lakes. About 2,000 acres of the parkland in Commerce Township is owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Commerce also owns and operates nine of its own parks, totaling about 1,250 acres. *Much of that parkland isn’t specifically listed in the tax exempt land list provided to Westend by Oakland County.

“You can’t control the amount of tax exempt land because the township board wants to preserve open space. If you want to control it, don’t buy it,” Zoner said. “But people move to Commerce Township for a reason. You wouldn’t have the development we are having here without the open space. That’s what people move to Commerce Township for. There’s a draw to the open space, and a certain amount of quality of life.”

Commerce (778.41*/3,038 estimated including parkland) • Commerce, 24 unspecified addresses, 17.42 acres.

• Commerce, unspecified address, 171.41 acres.

• Commerce DDA, 17 unspecified addresses, 389.36 acres.

• MDOT, 23 unspecified addresses, 16.18 acres • Russell Beach Sub, unspecified address, .17 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 1686 Union, .19 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 8080 Flagstaff, .22 acres.

• Commerce, unspecified address, 32 acres.

• Union Lake Sub, unspecified address, .03 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 317 Annison, .34 acres.

• Michigan DNR, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Carroll Lake Heights Sub, unspecified addresses, unspecified acreage.

• State of Michigan, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Boulevard Sub, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Michigan Land Bank, unspecified address, 1 acre.

ONE OF THE MORE ROUTINE EXEMPTIONS IN THE WEST OAKLAND AREA COMES IN THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT EXEMPTIONS. TAX CODE ALLOWS FOR TAX EXEMPTIONS ON LAND OWNED BY FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

• Veteran exemption, 5690 Blackmoor, .15 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 8990 Wise Road, .61 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, 4.19 acres.

• Oakland County Treasurer, unspecified address, .02 acres.

• Carroll Lake Heights Sub, 220 Keewenaw, 1 acre.

• Carroll Lake Heights Sub, 485 W. Beechdale, 1 acre.

• Oakland County, unspecified address, 1 acre.

• Veteran exemption, 1976 Jason, 1.07 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 3415 E. Commerce, .43 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 4820 Wavewood, 1.11 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 3157 Pikewood, .44 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, 1 acre.

• Village of Commerce Assoc., unspecified addresses, unspecified acreage.

• Village of Commerce Assoc., unspecified addresses, 1.17 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 1190 Penarth, .23 acres.

• Commerce, 4635 Tamworth, 1 acre.

• Village of Commerce Assoc., 4635 Tamworth, 1 acre.

• Village of Commerce Assoc., 115 W. Commerce, .64 acres.

• Mt. Royal Country Club, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Cemetery, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Commerce, 180 W. Commerce, 1 acre.

• Cemetery, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Water Resource Commissioner, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Veteran exemption, 9199 Commerce, .22 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 9075 Marilyn, .29 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 2564 Watonga, .29 acres.

• Golf Manor Sub, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Veteran exemption, 2523 Watonga, .26 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Oakland County, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Veteran exemption, 8765 Edgewood Park Dr., 1.17 acres.

• Michigan Bell, 3020 Massena, .16 acres.

• Michigan Bell, unspecified address, .32 acres.

• Michigan Bell, 3022 Massena, .16 acres.

• Michigan Bell, 3022 Massena, .16 acres.

• Michigan Bell, 3070 Massena, .16 acres • Ameritech, unspecified address, .84 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 3114 Greenlawn, .16 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, .17 acres.

• Lakeside Sub, 3490 Union Lake, .13 acres.

• Dr. Jane Segal, 4212 Haggerty, 3.21 acres.

• Commerce, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Veteran exemption, 3915 Loch Bend, .48 acres.

• Commerce, 1485 W. Oakley Park, unspecified acreage.

• Wenonah Hills Assoc., unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Supervisor’s Plat 11 Assoc.,, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Log Cab Beach Sub, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Veteran exemption, 3357 Timerlake, .4 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 3898 Cheryl, .37 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 1920 Bass Lake, .21 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Oakland Road Commission, 3255 Benstein Road, .41 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Supervisor’s Plat 12 Assoc., unspecified address, .06 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, 3195 Benstein, .4 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• State of Michigan, unspecified address, .17 acres.

• Oakland County, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Commerce, unspecified address, 17.1 acres.

• Michigan DNR, unspecified address, 6.51 acres.

• Commerce, 2552 Wixom Road, 10.07 acres.

• Commerce, unspecified address, 34.41 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, .26 acres.

• Commerce, 2355 Glengary, unspecified acreage.

• Commerce, 420 Glengary, unspecified acreage.

• Commerce, 740 Glengary, 2.51 acres.

• Glengary Golf Sub Assoc., unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Commerce DDA, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Marble Acres Assoc., unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Oakley Acres Assoc., unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Commerce DDA, 2009 Township Dr., 7.62 acres.

• Commerce DDA, 2009 Township Dr., 7.4 acres.

• Unspecified cemetery, unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, .28 acres.

• Commerce Township, 2301 Library Ln., 1.5 acres.

• Oakland County Treasurer, 8959 Clubwood, .3 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, .33 acres.

• Commerce, 2301 Library Ln., 2.39 acres.

• Commerce DDA, 8670 PGA Dr., unspecified acreage.

• Pontiac Trail Acres Assoc., 2150 Welch, unspecified acreages.

• Commerce DDA, 2681 N. Pontiac Trail, 2.37 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 2572 N. Trail Rd, .29 acres.

• Michigan Air-Line Railway, unspecified address, 2.66 acres.

• Michigan Air-Line Railway, 4.21 acres.

• Michigan Air-Line Railway, unspecified address, 1.57 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 1228 Andover, unspecified acreage.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, .39 acreage.

• Michigan Air-Line Railway, unspecified address, 7.5 acres.

• Commerce, 620 Decker, .46 acres.

• Commerce, 600 Decker, 9.2 acres.

• Commerce, 610 Decker, .46 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, 3.04 acres.

Walled Lake (60.51 acres) • Walled Lake, 52 unspecified addresses, 33.3 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 1454 S. Commerce, .45 acres.

• Michigan Air-Line Railway, unspecified address, 3.35 acres.

• US Postal Service, 995 N. Pontiac Trail, 4.35 acres.

• Michigan Air-Line Railway, unspecified address, 3.9 acres.

• Walled Lake, 745 N. Pontiac trail, .01 acres.

• Walled Lake, two unspecified address, unspecified acreage.

• US Postal Service, 995 N. Pontiac Trail, .05 acres.

• US Postal Service, .995 N. Pontiac Trail, .24 acres.

• Walled Lake DDA, unspecified address, .32 acres.

• Walled Lake, 192 Angle, 1 acre.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, .82 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, .28 acres.

PEOPLE MOVE TO COMMERCE TOWNSHIP FOR A REASON. YOU WOULDN’T HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT WE ARE HAVING HERE WITHOUT THE OPEN SPACE. THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE MOVE TO COMMERCE TOWNSHIP FOR. THERE’S A DRAW TO THE OPEN SPACE.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Walled Lake, 239 Common, .84 acres.

Walled Lake, 310 E. Walled Lake, .18 acres.

Walled Lake, 1499 E. West Maple, .09 acres.

Walled Lake, 1275 E. West Maple, 1.02 acres.

Walled Lake, 1275 E. West Maple, 2.09 acres.

Michigan Air-Line Railway, unspecified address, 3.42 acres.

Walled Lake, 1499. E. West Maple, 4.34 acres.

Veteran exemption, 1198 Sigma, .28 acres.

Oakland County, unspecified address, .01 acres.

Walled Lake, unspecified address, .01 acres.

Veteran exemption, 745 Woods, .16 acres.

West Bloomfield (1,194.7 acres) • State of Michigan, 80 unspecified addresses, .948 acres.

•West Bloomfield, 43 unspecified addresses, 32.29 acres.

• West Bloomfield, park, 2.755 acres.

• Sylvan Lake, park, .61 acres.

• West Bloomfield, bike path, 2.917 acres.

• West Bloomfield, unspecified park, 7.721 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 5824 Greer, 1.199 acres.

• State of Michigan, unspecified address, .166 acres.

• West Bloomfield, park, 31.36 acres.

• West Bloomfield, park, 1.965 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 6497 Odessa, .324 acres.

• West Bloomfield, Union Lake (under water), 28.221 acres.

• West Bloomfield, Keith Park, 14.83 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 7366 Commere, .74 acres.

• West Bloomfield Library, 7321 Commerce, 1.703 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 3340 Green Lake, .421 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, 2805 Hiller, 98.6 acres.

• Community Service Center, 5810 Commerce, 6.7 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 10.33 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 1.611 acres.

• Oakland County, Fortina Drain, .573 acres.

• US Government, Pine Lake (under water), 392.784 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 3.23 acres.

• West Bloomfield, bike path, 1.088 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 8.85 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 0.76 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, Walnut Ave ROW, .088 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, 4102 Haggerty, .457 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, Richardson ROW, .195 acres.

• West Bloomfield, Bloomer Park, 36 acres.

• MDOT, Pontiac Trail ROW, .7 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 7850 Walnut Lake, 10.134 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .31 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .22 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .33 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .39 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .19 acres.

• West Bloomfield Water Dept., 2400 Haggerty, 8.49 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .02 acres.

• West Bloomfield Water Dept., unspecified address, 1.57 acres.

• West Bloomfield, Leytonstone ROW, .21 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 24.29 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 23.63 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 12.89 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 15.06 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 106.04 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 14.22 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 5.42 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 4832 Panorama, .395 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 4550 Walnut Lake, 99 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 4727 South Knoll, .313 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, Orchard Lake ROW, 2.4 ares.

• West Bloomfield, 4601 Orchard Lake, 1.331 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, 2215 Walnut Lake, .84 acres.

• City of Detroit, Walnut Lake ROW, .26 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, Tamerlane ROW, .301 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, 6200 Farmington, 5.24 acres.

• State of Michigan, unspecified address, .06 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, 5911 Halsted, 17.71 acres.

• State of Michigan, unspecified address, .069 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, 6889 W. Maple, 4.32 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 6925 W. Maple, 4.19 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, 6821 Drake, 35 acres.

• West Bloomfield Parks, unspecified address, 18.83 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, 7.85 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, 6.25 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, unspecified address, .24 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .06 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, 4.818 acres.

• West Bloomfield, Hosner Cemetery, .68 acres.

westendmonthly.com

• US Postal Service, 6725 Daly, 4.46 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, Powers ROW, .36 acres.

• MDNR, unspecified address, .58 acres.

• MDNR, unspecified address, .418 acres.

• MDNR, unspecified address, .448 acres.

• MDNR, unspecified address, .45 acres.

• Oakland Road Commission, Orchard Lake ROW, 2.59 acres.

• West Bloomfield, 5425 W. Maple, 2.03 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, 1.34 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, 1.36 acres.

• Jacobs Drain District, unspecified address, 21.1 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .33 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .36 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .34 acres.

• MDOT, unspecified address, .47 acres.

• City of Detroit, Inkster & 14 Mile, 31 acres.

Wolverine Lake Village (23.76 acres) • Wolverine Lake, 19 unspecified addresses, 16.86 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 753 Laguna, .64 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 687 Los Arboles, .28 acres.

• Wolverine Lake/MDNR, 425 Glengary, 1.87 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 2631 Oakview, .2 acres.

• Wolverine Lake, 151 Glengary, 3.68 acres.

• Veteran exemption, 900 Lucille, .23 acres.

A review of tax-exempt properties in west Oakland County area supports the notion that the majority of tax-exempt land is simply the cost of

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building a community, as Wayne State’s Robin Boyle stated. However, as more communities struggle with revenue sources, it may be wise for municipalities to review their tax policies on a regular basis, according to Wayne State University Law Professor John Mogk.

“That is something to take a look at,” he said.

They might conclude that tax-exempt status is in the best interest and not change anything, but it’s a good idea for municipalities to examine their tax policies from time to time.”

Mogk, who serves as the Chair of the Michigan Council on Labor and Economic Growth, recently stated in a column in the Detroit News that the city of Detroit may want to look at tax-exempt properties as a way of bolstering revenue.

“That was in the context of eliminating real property tax in Detroit because residents have such a low median income that they can’t afford to pay for all the general life expenses, such as home maintenance and property tax,” Mogk said. “If you eliminate residential real property tax, you have to find new revenue.”

Mogk said such a plan may help to reduce foreclosures and associated blight in Detroit.

However, doing so may require looking at reducing current tax-exempt properties.

“I would say that if there weren’t the amount of tax foreclosures that are going on in Detroit, there’s most likely not a need to reassess tax exempt properties. The reason they receive an exemption is that there is a public service to be served.”

37

COLDWELL BANKER WEIR MANUEL

WHITE LAKE TWP | $599,000

NOVI | $479,000

COMMERCE TWP | $314,999

This all brick custom lake front home boasts floor to ceiling windows to let in breathtaking views & an abundance of natural light, solid oak doors remind you this home was built w/quality materials.

5 Bedrooms | 4 Full and 1 Half Baths | 215068130

Pure elegance w/high quality features: open floor plan accented w/soaring foyer, wood floors, granite, 42 inch cherry cabinets, custom built-ins, stainless steel appliances. Finished lower level.

4 Bedrooms | 3 Full and 1 Half Baths | 215078092

Move in time for school - award winning Walled Lake Schools! This beautiful 4 bedroom home is turn-key and ready for you to call home! Freshly painted inside and out. New carpet and refinished hard wood floors.

4 Bedrooms | 2 Full and 1 Half Baths | 215075891

FARMINGTON HILLS | $285,000

FARMINGTON HILLS | $264,900

COMMERCE TWP | $260,000

Welcome to this absolutely mint condition spacious home with bay windows. High ceilings on upper level. Free flowing floor plan. Master bedroom (25X15). Family room has a natural fireplace.

4 Bedrooms | 2 Full and 1 Half Baths | 215059402

This home has been lovingly cared for. Updated windows, entry level library or 4th bedroom, formal living room has space for a baby grand piano, family room w/fireplace, & door wall to the private patio.

4 Bedrooms | 2 Full and 1 Half Baths | 215077803

Awesome contemporary home in the desirable High Pointe Subdivision. Open and flowing floor plan.

Vaulted ceilings. Spacious entry level master with walk-in closet. Stunning fieldstone fireplace.

4 Bedrooms | 3 Full and 0 Half Baths | 215078815

COMMERCE TWP | $234,500

COMMERCE TWP | $229,900

NOVI | $223,900

This traditional Colonial style home captures the simple charms of a beautiful park-like setting in the Venice of the Woods subdivision. Family room w/ brick natural fireplace. Amazing screened-in porch.

3 Bedrooms | 1 Full and 1 Half Baths | 215065200

Lake access. Meticulously maintained home with versatile, attached 4+car tandem garage! Spacious great room perfect for entertaining. Convenient 1st floor bedroom. Just a short walk to Fox Lake.

4 Bedrooms | 2 Full and 0 Half Baths | 215076055

Tired of trailering your boat? You can dock all summer long on Walled Lake! Delightful, like-new, cape cod home located in a quiet lake community, just steps from Walled Lake! Renovated throughout.

3 Bedrooms | 2 Full and 0 Half Baths | 215065904

COLDWELL BANKER IS THE #1 REAL ESTATE BRAND ONLINE! WEIR MANUEL

248-694-9371 | cbwm.com Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel: Locally Owned and Operated Since 1950.

FACES Gary Waymire ne of the brilliant minds of Silicon Valley, Gary Waymire designed Huggies Pull-Ups and the fridge pack carton used by Coca-Cola to make it possible to fit cartons into the average refrigerator.

“What we do is study consumers and their behaviors,” said Waymire, a graduate of Walled Lake Northern High School and the founder of Point Forward. “People would have cases of Coke stacked up in their garages and none in their fridge.”

Point Forward collaborated with Alcoa Aluminum to design a shorter, deeper carton. The convenient design allowed consumers to store cartons in their refrigerators.

Kimberly Clark, a parent company to Huggies, offered another opportunity for Point Forward to design a product for consumers, while presenting an opportunity to Kimberly Clark.

“Potty training is stressful enough. We want parents and toddlers to be successful.”

Waymire and Point Forward presented a transitional option for parents who have children between infancy and kindergarten-age. The Pull-Ups training pants provide toddlers a step-up in the toilet training process and parents a safety net in the event of a mishap.

Waymire knew early on he wanted to make use of his math and science skills. “In high school, I thought I was probably going to be an engineer. My career has taken some twisting turns to say the least. (By college) I wanted to be what they call a ‘starchitect.’ I wanted to move to the West Coast and become famous for designing houses and buildings.”

With a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Michigan, Waymire got his start at Herman Miller, the Michigan-based modern office furniture company. “I was struck by this idea of doing research and design for something other than buildings. It was very appealing to me,” he said.

Waymire’s aspirations have catapulted him to the pinnacle of his career where he, and an office of 10, operate Point Forward out of Redwood City, California.

“It has been an amazing 25 years out here. (Silicon Valley) is a special place when it comes to innovation.

We’re two miles away from the Facebook campus.” The thriving business is also in close proximity to Google and LinkedIn. “We’re all very driven.”

Point Forward has taken him, and much of his staff, to 26 countries around the world from India to Russia. “It’s one of the perks of the job.”

In an area of the U.S. where the top innovative minds make visions a reality, Waymire recently co-founded Freewheel Brewing Company with friends and fellow fathers. “We started brewing in the garage. All great Silicon Valley innovations start in a garage,” he chuckled.

“We decided to take the step and now we have a brewery.

People seem to love it and its growing.”

Waymire has achieved “starchitect” status and personal fulfillment completes his remarkable journey.

Waymire has two sons and a wife who makes balancing family and work possible. “My wife, Karen, holds our household together. She’s an architect and manages the logistics of keeping our house together, where I would be an utter failure. There’s no way I could’ve done this without her.”

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Story: Katey Meisner

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MUNICIPAL Developer sues city on apartment plan

By Kevin Elliott

A Birmingham developer, who in April was denied approval of constructing a 71-unit apartment complex near the shores of Walled Lake, has filed a $2 million suit in federal court against the city.

Foremost Development owner Terry Bailey approached the city in March 2014 with plans to construct an apartment complex on a two-acre parcel located across the street from Mercer Beach. The proposed development included plans for a three-story, 55,000 square-foot complex named Lighthouse Villas at Mercer Beach, on E. Walled Lake Drive, east of Pontiac Trail.

The land, which is privately owned, consists of about two acres of land that is split by Witherall Street.

In February, Foremost received conditional approval from the Walled Lake Planning Commission for commercial planned development (CPD). The conditions required Foremost to consider the proposed density and parking issues. Walled Lake City Council in March again instructed Foremost to address density and parking issues. In April, council denied the project by a vote of 4-3, with members Tamra Loch, John Owsinek, Bill Sturgeon and mayor Linda Ackley voting to deny the application.

According to court documents filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Bailey contends the city acted arbitrarily and unlawfully by denying the project, as Foremost's CPD application satisfied all of the requirements and conditions of the application. Further, the suit claims the proposed development met all of the objectives of the city's master plan.

For the development to move forward, the city would have had to close Witherall Street to connect the two parcels. However, the suit states the city wasn't willing to abandon the portion of Witherall because it would create traffic issues in the area, according to opponents.

The suit, which claims damages in excess of $2 million, also claims that councilman Sturgeon, who serves as president of the nearby Winwood Homeowners Association, was an outspoken opponent of the project and urged members of the homeowners association to oppose the project. The westendmonthly.com

Five running for Walled Lake city council

By Kevin Elliott

wo incumbents and three newcomers are running for three open seats on the Walled Lake City Council available on November 3 in this year's general election.

City council incumbents Casey Ambrose and Tamra Loch will be running to retain their seats, while residents Frank Christopher, Susan Helke and Bennet Lublin will be seeking positions on the governing board. Councilman William Sturgeon will not be seeking a third term on the council.

Sturgeon has been a resident of Walled Lake since 1995. He is a retired public works superintendent and combat veteran. He is a former member of the Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and is currently serving his second term on council.

Loch was appointed to the city council in 2014 to serve the remainder of mayor Linda Ackley's term, who vacated her seat after being elected mayor in November 2013. Loch was one of three residents who applied for the seat, including DDA member Bennet Lublin. She is now running for her first elected term on council.

Council members Robert Robertson, John Owsinek and Dennis Yezbick ran unopposed in the 2014 general election.

Council members are elected for four-year terms and receive $35 per meeting. There are two scheduled meetings per month, however, council has limited meetings to once a month since mid-2013.

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suit also states that the city's denial of the project was predicated on hesitation to abandon a portion of Witherall Street in order to accommodate the project. However, the city had already permitted abandoning a portion of the same street for the Winwood housing complex, a previous project, thus violating Foremost's rights to equal protection under the law, according to the lawsuit.

"There existed no rational basis for the unlawful and discriminatory treatment which would justify denial of the proposed development based wholly or partly on the abandonment of Witherall Street," the suite claims.

The suit includes a total of five counts against the city, as well as one count of defamation by 50 unnamed individuals who are comprised of residents of Walled Lake. According to the suit, those people, who opposed the project and allegedly made false statements concerning Foremost's business practices and capabilities, were made maliciously and with the intent to "tarnish Foremost's reputation" and persuade the city to reject the project.

"Statements circulated by DOES 150 in written or electronic format and/or made verbally were defamatory per se under Michigan law because the statements on their face describe Foremost as lacking honesty, integrity and the capacity to develop the Villas in accordance with the specifications stated in the CPD application, making

Foremost an entity to be shunned or excluded by the city and other municipalities on future projects."

At the Walled Lake city council meeting on Tuesday, July 21, members met in closed executive session regarding the lawsuit, but declined to discuss the lawsuit as it is pending litigation.

Commerce board tables grievances The Commerce Board of Trustees on Tuesday, July 14, put off making any final decisions on how to handle grievances made by township union employees that stem from the departure of the township's community development director in January.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the first grievance was made when an employee claimed that a job in the community development department wasn't posted correctly.

However, Zoner contends that a new job wasn't posted, but instead a position had a redefined job description. Under union terms, new jobs must be posted as such.

"The job description was changed due to bringing on the director," Zoner said about the hiring of former community development director Terry Carroll.

Carroll, who was hired at the start of 2014, left the community development

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position in January of 2015. Carroll was hired to oversee the recently established community development department, which was created by combining the township's planning department and building, water and sewer department.

Upon Carroll's leaving, Zoner recommended to the board of trustees that they not hire a replacement, instead expanding the range of responsibilities for the consultants and township employees to include the duties previously performed by the director. However, the township planning consultant left her position in May. At least one employee who had taken reductions in pay and workload now says she is performing the same job she was prior to Carroll's hiring, and now doing it for a lower wage.

Zoner said he has been unable to remedy the situation because he doesn't have the sole authority to increase pay rates without board approval. He recommended denying the grievance and allowing it to be sent to arbitration for a final resolution.

Trustee Rob Long criticized Zoner for spending nearly two years orchestrating the merging of the two departments and hiring a director to over see it, but failing to oversee a smooth transition.

However, Zoner said the board was unwilling to take appropriate actions in order to bring on adequate staff. Zoner further said his original intention was to bring the township into compliance with the Internal Revenue Service code.

Specifically at issue was the lack of a director to directly manage township employees.

Prior to Carroll's hiring, employees were taking direction from contract employees, which isn't permitted under federal codes.

"We had an organization that wasn't being run by anyone and a department that wasn't doing anything," Zoner said.

"I provided information to the board and (Bob) Berkheiser, and they said it wasn't enough information, and there wasn't enough resources to change it. That's what I fixed. I lived under the umbrella of the Internal Revenue code saying that we had to fix it for two years. Don't rub something into me that is abrasive that says I caused it."

The board voted 5-1 to table the grievances, with Zoner voting against the measure and Berkheiser not in attendance. The issue may be reconsidered next month, at which point the board may resolve the grievances itself or deny the grievance, causing it to be resolved by a thirdparty arbitrator.

41

Water table won't hamper land sale

By Kevin Elliott

Higher than expected ground water tables discovered on a 43-acre parcel of land within the Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) district won't lower the price that a Novi-based homebuilder will pay for the land, it was determined at the monthly DDA board meeting on Tuesday, July 14.

Hunter Pasteur Homes and the DDA signed a $2.65 million purchase agreement in September 2014 for 43 acres of land adjacent to Haggerty Road, west of Martin Parkway, to construct a residential development consisting of about 100 single-family homes and a seven-acre park. The homes are expected to average about 2,500 square feet and are priced between $375,000 and $400,000.

However, high ground water levels were discovered at the site late last year, stalling the deal while a hydrological study was performed to determine whether additional soil would be needed to mitigate potential flooding problems.

Results from the study determined about 60,000 yards of soil would be needed to fill portions of the site. The fill work is expected to cost about $700,000, said Randy Wertheimer, of Hunter Pasteur homes.

Randy Thomas, of Insite Commercial, which is responsible for marketing the property, said Wertheimer initially proposed splitting the cost of the fill work with the DDA, thus cutting the purchase price by about $350,000.

"I told him that wasn't an option," Thomas said.

Rather than trimming the purchase price, Wertheimer and the DDA agreed to defer $600,000 of the purchase price for no longer than 51 months after the closing of the purchase agreement.

Hunter Pasteur also agreed to pay the DDA a $100,000 deferral fee under the agreement. The total cost of the fill work is estimated to be between $646,000 and $766,000. Under the agreement, Hunter Pasteur will pay the DDA a portion of the deferred amount plus a portion of the deferral fee upon the sale of each unit to a third party.

The agreement also ensures the DDA will have the first right of recovery should Hunter Pasteur fail to develop the land or fall into bankruptcy, thereby ensuring the DDA could foreclose on a portion of the property equal to or 42

DDA, developer reach agreement on trees

By Kevin Elliott

n agreement between the Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and a developer responsible for the accidental clearing of more than a dozen pine trees along Martin Parkway will result in the relocation of about 50 trees in the area.

Commerce DDA Director Mark Stacey, at the DDA board meeting on Tuesday, July 21, told DDA members that discussions with Granger Group, of Wyoming, Michigan, have been focused on finding a solution that will benefit the entire DDA area, rather than just replacing trees that were accidentally removed by a third-party contractor. That resolution, Stacey said, will involve relocating trees expected to be cut at the site of a planned 300-condominium development.

"We told them that if they are willing to pay for the transplant of 50 trees, we might call it even for the removal of 14 large trees," Stacey said. "Their stance is that they want to do what is right, within reason. I think 50 is reasonable."

Granger in August 2014 entered into a $3 million purchase agreement with the DDA for about 15 acres of land inside the Commerce Towne Place development area, north of M-5 and Pontiac Trail, between Welch and Haggerty Roads. The Granger property, south of Martin Parkway, will consist of an assisted living facility, memory care and independent senior living facilities. An independent contractor hired by Granger to clear trees on the Granger property mistakenly cut about 14 trees along Martin Parkway, some as tall as 40 feet. Those trees had been relocated by the DDA several years ago, at the cost of $200 to $300 per tree. However, the value of the trees has grown in connection with their age and size.

Stacey said trees will be relocated in accordance with a landscape architect plan that is being created by Grissim Metz Andriese Associates of Northville. That plan will establish guidelines and standards to be used by the township staff and design consultants in the development of new projects along Martin Parkway. Stacey said M. Shapiro Development, which is planning a 299-unit condominium development at Martin Parkway near Pontiac Trail, has agreed to allow trees on the parcel they own to be relocated, rather than clear cutting them.

"I don't know where those 50 trees will go because we are working with Grissim Metz on the landscape architecture plan, so we don't want to place those just yet, but I think the timing will work out," Stacey said. "We should be able to move the trees at the end of September or the start of October, which is prime tree-moving season."

Stacey said the cost of relocating the trees is estimated to be between $200 and $300 per tree. He said the trees could include a mix of pine trees and other species.

Board members on July 14 unanimously approved the agreement, with DDA members Jose Mirkin and Dave Smith absent.

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greater to the deferred amount and fee.

The DDA board unanimously approved the agreement, with members Jose Mirkin and Dave Smith absent.

Commerce DDA board member Susan Averbuch said she had concerns about the agreement, as it appears to be setting a precedence that the DDA is financing the project. However, Averbuch said she has "faith in the quality of the product presented."

DDA president Jim Gotts said while he shares the same concerns, he said the situation is highly irregular and

won't open the door for similar deals in the future.

"I don't want to convey innuendo that we are in a joint venture with developers, but the alternative is going back to the marketplace, and we have already cast dispersions on the integrity of the property," Gotts said.

"Given everything that has been going on, at this venture, particularly with the timing, this is the most practical course of action, in my view."

The development schedule for the project estimates that mass grading and dewatering on the property will

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occur in the spring of 2016, pending site plan approval and permitting in late 2015 and early 2016.

"We have every intention to develop this site by next April, and to start constructing houses," Wertheimer said.

"We need to develop it by next year."

City finally approves water rate increases The Walled Lake City Council on Tuesday, July 21, approved delaying water and sewer rate increases for two months in order to give customers notice of the change.

Walled Lake Finance Director Colleen Coogan said the city, which receives water service from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), has incurred increases of about 25 percent over the past five years, but has yet to pass any of those increases along to customers in Walled Lake. At their July meeting, city council approved phasing in water increases over the next four years.

"We have repeatedly gotten hammered by the DWSD over the years, but council held off on passing increases," Coogan said. "This July 1, we received another 14 percent increase, plus about 14 percent over the past five years. We are over 20 percent more than we were paying five years ago, so we are phasing in the water increases."

Council voted 5-1 to begin the first of the increases in October 2015, with councilman John Owsinek opposing the delay in increases and councilman Dennis Yezbick absent from the meeting.

Mayor Linda Ackley said she wanted to delay the increase in order to give customers adequate notice. The last increase that was passed along to customers was approved in 2010.

"We've carried this burden for so many years, I don't see what a couple more months is going to hurt, to let people know," Ackley said.

Coogan said the delay would mean the city would absorb about $125,000 more than if the increases were made immediately.

"We aren't talking chicken feed," councilman Casey Ambrose said of the cost to the city.

Coogan said the council had delayed putting off the increases for two main reasons. One, she said, was that there was a discrepancy in usage amounts concerning what the city was using and the amount DWSD charged 08.15

Firefighters get command structure

By Kevin Elliott

staff ranking system will be put into place at the Commerce Township Fire Department following a letter of agreement between the township and the firefighters union that was approved by the township board of trustees on Tuesday, July 14.

Union members representing the township's firefighters in July of 2014 formally approached the board of trustees in hopes of establishing a ranking system within the department. Currently, ranks within the department include the fire chief, a fire marshal and the rank of firefighter. The lack of additional command ranks poses problems within the department, both in terms of operations and morale, according to firefighters.

Firefighter James Liker said in July 2014 that a lack of rank confuses who should be in command at a fire or accident scene.

Currently, the first firefighter at the scene is the incident commander, regardless of seniority or experience. Additionally, Liker said a lack of rank may limit the efficiency and effectiveness in the department. In terms of morale, a ranking system offers firefighters opportunity to advance their careers within the department, which helps to retain new officers.

Trustee Rick Sovel, who worked with members of the department for nearly a year on the agreement, said the agreement will help resolve issues at the department.

"It was brought up for a number of years, and I was against the idea because it seemed to be working well," Sovel said about the desire for a command structure at the department. "Now, I've learned there's basically no department our size that doesn't have a command structure...and we've seen over the past few years that people are hired by the Commerce Township Fire Department, and they are trained up and end up leaving after a couple of years, it turns out because of lack of opportunity."

Under the agreement, the department will establish and maintain three captain and three lieutenant positions, with one captain and one lieutenant assigned to each shift. Firefighters must have 10 years of full-time seniority to be eligible for the initial promotional process, with an additional five years of seniority to be required for potential lieutenant candidacy. Promotions will be granted based on written exam, oral interview, department involvement and seniority as a full-time firefighter with the department.

Captains will receive an annual stipend of $3,000 per year, and lieutenants will receive $1,500 each year. All newly promoted officers will be placed on a 12-month probation period. Stipends are to be paid on the firefighter's anniversary date. Additional duties in the positions will be assigned and assessed by the fire chief based on the needs of the department.

Under the agreement, the board agrees to fill the officer positions within six months.

The agreement also approves the current firefighters contract for an additional two years. Under the agreement, the union agrees they won't renegotiate the new ranks or pay for five years.

"We met several times and we've been talking about some kind of position for a long time within the department," Liker said. "We feel what we are proposing, or agreed to here, is a very good start and a foundation that will benefit the day-to-day operations of the department and will be a great benefit to the citizens that we serve."

The board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-1, with township supervisor Tom Zoner voting against the agreement.

Trustee Robert Berkheiser was absent at the meeting.

Zoner said he was concerned that the added ranks could be a budget issue in the future. The department is currently funded by a special assessment district fee that pays for fire services. That SAD is set to expire in 2022. However, Zoner said he questioned whether additional pay increases in the future could raise the fire budget beyond what's feasible under the SAD. "There is nothing in there that says how they are going to pay for it," Zoner said, adding that he would like to see budget projections through 2022 before he approves the measure.

A

it for using. Coogan said the board also delayed increases in the past as the city was restructuring its staff, which provided a benefit to the water and sewer fund.

"Council spent about $100,000 repairing and fixing a backup meter where we check what we are purchasing, and the usage amounts (between the city and DWSD) were very different," she said. "They replaced the meter and found they were overcharging."

Coogan said the meters are now within the "standard deviation," or have a difference of no more than 4 percent.

The city in April of 2014 had estimated a difference of about 20.2 percent, due to meter malfunctions or water loss in the system.

Initial increases in water charges are expected to be between 15 percent and 35 percent, Coogan said, depending on water usage. “With the new Great Lakes Water Authority formation, the city is confident in the change in methodology in determining costs to the suburbs," Coogan said about future increases to the city. "We don't think we'll get hit again with another large increase."

Despite estimates that future increases will be limited to 4 percent or less, Coogan said the future increase to customers will be substantial.

"It will be a huge increase," she said. "That 15-to-35 percent is immediate, if (total increases) weren't being phased in, it would be more than that. The city has absorbed over 20 percent cost increases without passing it through. Now we are passing onefifth of the water increase."

Wolverine to hold annual garage sale Wolverine Lake Village on Thursday, August 6, will kick off its communitywide garage sale where village residents are welcome to offer up their goods for sale in conjunction with others throughout the community.

The annual event will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for three days, August 6 through August 8. Residents participating in the event may register their sale with village hall so that their address is listed on a village-wide map provided to garage sale shoppers. The map will be available on the Wolverine Lake Village website, wolverinelake.com. Advertisement of the event will be sent on the e-mail

subscriber list, Craigslist and on village signs.

For more information, residents can phone 248.624.1710.

Permitting of storage structures approved A moratorium on the permitting of temporary storage structures in Wolverine Lake Village was lifted at the village council meeting on Wednesday, July 8, as council members unanimously approved a new permitting process for the structures.

"When we put our temporary storage structure ordinance in place, we found it was going to be difficult to enforce because we didn't have a good inventory of what's out there, and how long it's been out there," council president John Magee said about the ordinance and the reason for the new permitting process.

Residents who wish to set up a temporary storage structure, such as a tent or other temporary, covered storage facility, must receive a permit with the village. Permits are available free of charge, but will serve as a registration system of sorts for village administration so that they can monitor such structures.

"It would more or less be a registration," said village council member Brian Nedrow. "If you are going to put a storage facility out there, you have to let the village know.

That way our ordinance enforcement officer has something to check with down the road."

Nedrow said those seeking permits may check a box that indicates they plan to place and remove the temporary storage facility during the same dates each year. They may also register for a permit online at the village's website, wolverinelake.com.

Village council in December of 2014 amended its ordinance regarding temporary storage facilities to limit them to a 180-day period, and to require residents to apply for a permit.

However, an official procedure for permitting hadn't been established prior to the meeting.

Magee said some temporary structures have been in place on property in the township for several years. The new permitting process, he said, would allow for administration to track the facilities and determine if they are being maintained in accordance with the village ordinance.

"I think this addresses the concerns we had," Magee said.

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PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful allsports lake front situated on a premier lot with 103’ of frontage. This D E beautifully maintained 3 bedroom/3 R CE bath ranch has an inviting entry and I PR foyer that leads to open floor plan and updates. Maple kitchen w/island and all appliances stay. Door to side porch area. Dining area and great room with stunning panoramic lake views. Great room w/natural fireplace and a wall of windows.

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Township board approves 56 condos The Commerce Township Board of Trustees on Tuesday, July 14, unanimously approved a 24-acre site plan for a 56-unit condominium complex located south of Richardson Road and east of Newton.

Board members approved the site plan, 6-0, with trustee Robert Berkheiser absent, proposed by E.R. Thomas Development, of Walled Lake. The approval is contingent on several conditions recommended by the township planning commission, which reviewed the plan on June 8 and recommended trustees approve the site plan, subject to the conditions.

Those conditions included providing a sidewalk along the site's entire Newton Road and Richardson frontage, including in front of two newly created parcels; reviewing building elevations for compliance with ordinance requirements at the time of the building permit application; special stipulations recommended by the township engineer, fire marshal, attorney and traffic engineer; creating a tree preservation plan and having it approved by the planning department; obtaining a conservation easement along the site's Richardson Road frontage to preserve existing vegetation; and addressing stipulations and recommendations cited in a June 4 planner's report.

The Ashton Park development will consist of 56 single-family condominium units starting at a price point of $350,000, according to the developer.

Floor plans include three and four bedroom layouts with three or more bathrooms.

Commerce interviews applicants for planner

By Kevin Elliott

The Commerce Township Board of Trustees on Tuesday, July 28, interviewed seven people for the planning director position that was made available this May following the departure of consultant Kathleen Jackson, but deferred making a decision until August at the earliest.

A total of 17 people applied for the full-time position, which will oversee the planning department and staff. The township is currently contracting with McKenna Associates for planning consulting services. That contract will be terminated when the board westendmonthly.com

eventually hires an in-house planning director, which could be as soon as the board's next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 11.

"We won't be making a decision tonight, and we won't be meeting again until August 11," trustee Rick Sovel told those being interviewed on July 28.

While August 11 is the soonest the board could make a decision on the position, Sovel told Westend the board is still working on a possible reorganization of the planning and building departments, which were merged last year. The board met the morning of July 28, prior to conducting the interviews, to discuss separating the departments. Sovel said no decision was made on the reorganization, but indicated that a planning director probably won't be brought on until those plans are finalized. He said he didn't want to rush the department reorganization in order to make sure it was done properly.

Applicants on July 28 were interviewed for about 45 minutes each.

Those candidates included Royal Oak resident Barry Hicks, who most recently served as a city planner for the city of Sterling Heights and previously served as planning director for the cities of Jackson and Albion; Madu Oberoi, of Farmington Hills, who currently works as executive director of the Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority, and previously served as planning director for the city of Pontiac; Michael Campbell, of Northville, who has served as principal planner of Campbell Planning since 2003, and is an adjunct professor at the Lawrence Institute of Technology and the Art Institute of Michigan; former Almont Village Manager Michael Deem, who previously served as a planner in Grand Blanc and Cascade Township; Hartland Township planning director David Campbell; DeWitt attorney Troy Langer, who served as a senior planner for Meridian Township; and Michigan State graduate Kristen Gundersen, of Niles, Michigan, who previously worked as a planner for several years in Illinois for the municipalities of Joliet, Hinsdale, Bensenville, and Naperville.

The salary range for the new position will be between $60,000 and $70,000 annually.

Commerce working to expand capture area

By Kevin Elliott

Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director

Mark Stacey said he plans to work with tax consultants and Oakland County officials to increase the ability to collect tax revenue from future commercial developments in the DDA's Commerce Towne Place project area.

"It's on my list of things to do," Stacey said, adding that the DDA will be working with consultants from Plante Moran to discuss expanding the boundaries of the DDA's tax increment financing (TIF) area, or capturable tax area.

Under state law, a DDA may collect taxes that would otherwise be paid to local entities, such as the county, through tax increment financing. The process allows areas, after years of declining property values or when new downtowns are being created, to establish a Tax Increment Financing Authority, which is how the DDA will operate in the case of Commerce Township. When property values rise above the appraised value of the land when the DDA was established in 1984, it then captures the part of the taxes above the initial amount.

The Commerce DDA began years ago when the township needed to bring Detroit water to the township for various reasons, including to halt a potential annexation of the township by the city of Walled Lake. Besides development, a focus of the DDA, starting in 1998, turned to township concerns for ways to improve traffic congestion around Pontiac Trail, Haggerty Road, 14 Mile Road and Maple, where M-5 terminated.

Currently, in the case of Commerce Towne Place, a portion of a major planned commercial development falls partially outside of the DDA's tax capture boundaries. Stacey said the DDA is working to have the boundaries changed, but must receive approval from the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. However, he said the county has already issued a document summarizing its stance on enlarging those boundaries, which, he said, isn't supportive of expanding or redrawing the boundaries by trading certain areas.

The DDA initially raised the issue with the county earlier this year after plans for a major commercial development and a portion of some 300 townhomes was discovered to fall partially outside of the current tax capture boundaries.

Stacey said Plante Moran is working with the DDA to present a proposal to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. He said it's still too early to establish a time frame of if or when the issue will be resolved.

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FACES

Scott Emert hen Scott Emert started kicking a soccer ball around at fiveyears-old, he never could have imagined that one day he would be inducted into the Madonna University Sports Hall of Fame.

“I was a pretty energetic kid who needed to run around,” he said.

“My brother, Christian, played soccer and I wanted to be just like him. I would tag along on his games and everything he learned. My sister, Stephanie, and I would be practicing on the side.”

As a Walled Lake Central alumnus, Emert was a soccer star and basketball player for the high school. During his senior year, he broke his leg in a game and was benched with the injury for the remainder of the year. Recruiters who had been watching Emert backed away, but Madonna University in Livonia saw something in the young athlete.

“Christian actually played with me at Madonna. We got to play together for a couple years at Walled Lake Central and for three years at Madonna.”

While playing for the university, Emert held the record for the number of goals in a season, number of goals in a career, assists in a season and total assists in a career. “I did alright,” he said humbly.

In May 2015, Emert was invited to a swanky affair where he was inducted into the Madonna University Sports Hall of Fame.

“I was pretty excited. It hit me that I was the first men’s soccer player to get in,” he said. “When I found out, I called my wife right away.”

W

Emert earned his English Journalism degree from Madonna and played professionally for the Detroit Rockers and the Mid-Michigan Bucks. Later, he moved to Delaware to get his teaching certificate.

There, he played soccer for the Delaware Wizards.

“When soccer took me to the East Coast to play, I met my wife (Kate), who also played soccer,” he said. “Kate was just as much a competitor as I was. We’re constantly pushing each other to do better at what we do. I live everyday figuring out another way to impress her.”

Emert taught and coached at A.I. du Pont High School in Delaware before moving back to his hometown of West Bloomfield.

“I’ve been coaching for the Michigan Jaguars for five years now,” said Emert, who has taken teams to the State Cup Finals twice.

“I don’t like to bank a lot of success on where we end up. I like to make it more about learning and developing.”

While Emert is “addicted” to soccer, he is a family man first.

“Half the reason I took the (coaching) job instead of teaching is because we had children day care age,” he said. “I was able to be home with the kids during the day and Kate would be home at night.”

Emert’s greatest professional goal is continuing to develop and learn more in a career he is so passionate about. “This is my dream job,” he said. “I’ve been able to do what I love.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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08.15

FACES

Steve Wilson ith a brilliant mind and impressive athletic skills, Steve Wilson has worked in the cancer center at the University of Michigan and experienced the overwhelming immensity of Michigan Stadium as a Wolverine quarterback.

“It’s hard to put into words how it feels to play at the ‘Big House’ – the goosebumps you have in the tunnel on the way out,” he said. “The band would start playing the fight song and we’d run out and touch the banner.

There is no feeling like it that I’ve ever experienced before.”

Wilson walked on as a quarterback and practiced alongside Michigan’s much-celebrated quarterback Denard Robinson. “(Robinson) was the nicest, most humble guy you’d ever meet. He took time to take me aside and give me little tips to help me out.”

Wilson learned much from his three years as a Michigan Wolverine, but his first coach and personal inspiration was his father. “My dad taught me how to play football. We’d always be in the backyard throwing the football around.”

As a Lakeland High School student, Wilson was the captain of the football team and he excelled academically. “I took advanced placement chemistry and biology classes. That’s where I really learned to love science,” he said. “I knew I wanted to go to Michigan. I knew about the medical reputation Michigan has.”

Coaches from division three programs visited Lakeland’s football team, but Wilson was not recruited.

“I thought that I was done playing football after high school,” he said. “I

W

just went to Michigan for the academic reputation they have. I didn’t know what was going to happen was even possible.”

Coach Rich Rodriguez had team tryouts and Wilson tried out his sophomore year. “I was actually cut.”

Wilson asked one of the coaches why he was cut. He took the constructive criticism home with him and trained at Lakeland the summer before his junior year. “I went back junior year, tried out and made it. It changed my life. I realized I can do whatever I want to do.”

Today, he is a third year medical student with a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology. Wilson worked under Dr. Mark Day, a professor of urology at the university.

“I did prostate and bladder cancer research at the cancer center,” he said. “It taught me about the basic science of medicine as well as some of the clinical aspects. I’d do a lot of the basic lab work and looking under the microscopes. I got to talk to and meet with a lot of doctors with patients who have what we were studying.”

Wilson has ambitions of pursuing emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery or a field related to pediatrics.

“I could potentially see myself working with teenage athletes.”

Both scholastically and athletically, Wilson has made impressive gains.

He credits his perseverance to his parents. “My parents always told me I could do what I want to do, but also never let me settle. They made me want to be better and strive for something greater.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

VE SA

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Enjoy Great Food From Local Restaurants & Help Our Communities Youth & Families

Chef Stand Summer/Harvest Series Chef Paul will source local Ingredients and present 4 courses with two wine paired courses for $50.00. Chef Paul will take this welcomed opportunity to display local ingredients with his classic methods for a wonderful experience. Each week will feature a new menu.

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08.15

PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Westend is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The listings contain many dining establishments with seating in the west Oakland lakes area and then select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Westend. From outside the area, we have attempted to compile more noted eating establishments.

West Oakland Alex's Pizzeria and Bar: American. Lunch, Monday - Friday; Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 49000 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.926.1700.

Anaam’s Palate: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2534 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.242.6326.

Applebees Neighborhood Grill: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 9100 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386. 248.698.0901.

Backyard Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 49378 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.926.9508.

Bayside Sports Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 142 E. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.3322.

Benstein Grille: American. Weekend Brunch & Lunch. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2435 Benstein Road, Commerce, 48390.

248.624.4100.

Biffs Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

3050 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.366.7400.

Big Boy Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 5834 Highland Road, Waterford, 48328. 248.674.4631.

Big Boy Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

800 N. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.624.2323.

Big Boy Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 7726 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.363.1573.

Billy’s Tip N Inn: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

6707 Highland Road, White Lake Township, 48383. 248.889.7885.

Blu Nectar: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

1050 Benstein Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.859.5506.

Boon Kai Restaurant: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1257 S. Commerce Road, Commerce, 48390.

248.624.5353.

Buffalo Wild Wings: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

5223 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.674.9464.

Carino’s Italian Restaurant: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 500 Loop Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.926.5300.

Carrie Lee’s of Waterford: Chinese.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 7890 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.666.9045.

Casey’s Sports Pub & Grill: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1003 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.5200.

westendmonthly.com

CAYA Smokehouse Grille: Barbeque.

Dinner, Tuesday - Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 1403 S. Commerce Road, Wolverine Lake, 48390.

248.438.6741.

China Garden: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. 49414 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.960.8877.

China House: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 901 Nordic Drive, White Lake Township, 48386.

248.889.2880.

China King: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 4785 Carroll Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48390.

248.363.9966.

CJ’s Brewing Company: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

8115 Richardson Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.366.7979.

Coffee Time Café: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1001 Welch Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.624.0097.

Coyote Grille: American. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 1990 Hiller Road, West Bloomfield, 48324.

248.681.6195.

Dairy Queen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 10531 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386.

248.698.2899.

Daniel’s Pizza Bistro: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2510 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.363.7000.

Dave and Amy’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

9595 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386. 248.698.2010.

Dave’s Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. 901 Nordick Drive, White Lake, 48383. 248.889.3600.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: Barbecue. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 4825 Carroll Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.360.4055.

Dobski’s: American, Polish. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6565 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.363.6565.

Eddie’s Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1749 Haggerty Road, Commerce Township, 48390.

248.960.1430.

El Nibble Nook: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations for 6 or more. Liquor.

2750 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48323. 248.669.3344.

El Patio Mexican Restaurant: Mexican.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

7622 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.5231.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

5134 Highland Road, 48327.

248.673.5557.

Gest Omelets: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily until 4 p.m. No reservations.

39560 W. 14 Mile Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.926.0717.

Golden Chop Sticks: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 47516 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.3888.

Grand Azteca: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6041 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322.

248.669.7555.

WESTEND

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The west Oakland area is filled with discriminating diners and an array of dining establishments. Make sure the message for your restaurant reaches the right market in the right publication—Westend.

Contact James Bishop for advertising rate information.

O: 248.792.6464 Ext. 600 C: 248.709.0442 JamesBishop@downtownpublications.com

51

FRONT/BACK Front/Back is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening in both the front of the house and back of the house in the restaurants in the metro Detroit area.

Restaurateur expands Aaron F. Belen, owner of popular Bistro 82 and Sabrage in Royal Oak, has purchased the building at 511 Main Street in Royal Oak and is creating an approachable, unique restaurant featuring American fare, tentatively to be called 511. The 6,500 square foot space will have about 250 seats, as well as outdoor seating, and offer live entertainment Thursday through Sundays, from rock and country to pop. “Royal Oak has proven to be a fantastic location for Bistro 82 and Sabrage, and we are excited to create another unique and dynamic restaurant experience here in Michigan,” Belen, principal of AFB Hospitality Group, said. Bistro 82’s Executive Chef Derik Watson is designing the menu, with sous chef Brandon James expected to helm the kitchen. An added amenity to the new location is the property has its own private parking lot next door; 511 also plans to have valet parking. Belen is currently projecting an early second quarter 2016 opening.

Café Via sports changes Café Via, 310 E. Maple Road in Birmingham, has undergone management, chef and menu changes. Carole Cahalan, previous manager, has left, while Nick Lekas and Pete Walkowiak from Oak Management have come aboard. Connor Walling, of The Rugby Grille and Marais, is now executive chef, and Marko Armour, of Ronin and The Lark, has joined as sous chef. Café Via has new salads, appetizers and small plates, as well as a larger selection of fish, including salmon, halibut and trout.

Food truck gets permanent Followers of Katoi, a Detroit-based food truck, can make their way to Ann Arbor for a Thai-inspired meal at “Katoi in Exile,” being held this summer at 307 S. 5th Avenue. The restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Partners Brad Greenhill, Courtney Henriette and Philip Kafka plan to open a permanent location in Detroit late this summer or early fall, at 2520 Michigan Avenue. Henriette says, “Buildings like people – and art projects – don’t like to be bossed around. We’re waiting for the space to tell us when it’s ready.”

Chef Welch expands Executive Chef Sarah Welch, of Republic, is now sharing her time and skill at a second restaurant in Detroit’s G.A.R. Building, Parks and Rec Diner, which opened at the end of July. Located at 1942 Grand River Avenue, Welch says Parks and Rec Diner focuses on “a simple breakfast menu,” with specialties like the Dutch Boy Pancake, a giant crepe baked in a cast iron skillet, and the Liege Waffle. Welch says, “I’m looking for breakfasts that I used to eat growing up that nobody’s doing down here, like the corn pancakes my Dad used to make.” Breakfast sausages and bacon will be made in house.

Chef moves on Partner Eli Boyer, of Gold Cash Gold, 2100 Michigan Avenue in Detroit, has left the business, seeking to open another restaurant. No locations have been revealed at this time.

Vegan café opens Co-owned by Daniel Kahn and his father, Dr. Joel Khan, a

cardiologist, GreenSpace Café is slated to open in September at 215 W. Nine Mile Road. This Ferndale vegan café will offer entrees, salads and wraps. Chef George Vutetakis, former chef and proprietor of Inn Season Café, said “Green Space will serve dishes under the dietary recommendations of Dr. Joel Kahn,” and source “locallycrafted ingredients.” Indoor and outdoor seating will be available, along with alcoholic beverages.

BBQ Shack opening This August, Scott Maloney, owner of Treat Dreams, and partner Zac Idzikowski, will be opening Woodpile BBQ Shack in Clawson at 303 S. Main Street. The general manager is Pitmaster Steve Coddington, who earned BBQ Person of the Year in 2013 by the National Barbeque Association.

Unique Detroit locale Standby, a restaurant/cocktail lounge, and the Skip, an outdoor alley bar, are set to open in Detroit by the first of September as part of the Belt Project, a venture to transform the Belt Alley into pedestrian-friendly artsshopping-entertainment destination. Standby and the Skip are a collaboration between Anthony Curis, vice president of Curis Enterprises and a partner in the Library Street Gallery; Executive Chef Brendon Edwards; Hospitality and Beverage Director Joe Robinson; David Goldman and Bedrock Real Estate Services. Standby, which has been under construction, is on the corner of Belt Alley and Gratiot. Chef Edwards will be focusing on “progressive American food,” Curis says, and the beverage menu will host an array of cocktails. The Skip will be a 1,500-foot space indented into the back of the Z Parking Garage, leaving the front of the bar open. For now, Curis says, the Skip will be a three-season operation serving beverages only, at least through 2015, until the group brings in food carts.

Banquet space opens C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse Grill, located at 1403 S. Commerce Road in Wolverine Lake, now offers a banquet room for occasions hosting 20 to 140 people, and recently planted a vegetable garden to add a hyper-local element to their farm-to-table approach. C.A.Y.A., which stands for Come As You Are, is co-owned by Executive Chef Jeff Rose and Rachel Mandell.

Italian brunch offerings Due Venti, a Northern Italian restaurant located at 220 S. Main Street in Clawson, has unveiled their Sunday Brunch Series. Served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can try items like the Shrimp Polenta and Eva’s Benedict with cauliflower fritters in place of an English muffin. Upcoming brunch dates are August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8 and December 13. The seasonal menu is curated by husband and wife chef duo David and Nicole Seals. Dinner is offered Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 5 p.m.

Restaurant changes Forest Grill, located at 735 Forest Street in Birmingham, is undergoing a change of ownership and moderate remodeling. Founding owner Chef Brian Polcyn has left the restaurant to pursue other endeavors. Nick Janutol, now executive chef, will remain with the restaurant.

During the time of closure, they’re constructing a wine cellar, adding folding glass walls to create an al fresco feel and making changes to the kitchen.

Gravity Bar & Grill: Mediterranean.

Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday, Dinner. Reservations. Liquor.

340 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381.

248.684.4223.

Greek Jalapeno: Greek, Mexican.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6636 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.363.3322.

Green Apple Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 7156 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.366.9100.

Haang's Bistro: Chinese/Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 225 E. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.926.1100.

Highland Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 7265 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.8830.

Highland House: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2630 E. Highland Road, Highland, 48356.

248.887.4161.

Highland House Café: American, Pizza.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

10719 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386. 248.698.4100.

Hong Kong Express: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 5158 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.673.7200.

It’s a Matter of Taste: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce, 48390.

248.360.4150.

Jennifer’s Café: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 4052 Haggerty Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.360.0190.

Jenni’s Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1186 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.8240.

Jeff's Kitchen: Asian. Lunch & Dinner daily.

Reservations. 1130 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.8896.

Kennedy’s Irish Pub: Irish/American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 1055 W. Huron Street, Waterford, 48328. 248.681.1050.

L George’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1203 S. Commerce Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.960.5700.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6845 Highland Road, White Lake, 484386. 248.889.5361.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 4895 Carroll Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382.

248.366.8360.

Leon’s Food & Spirits: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 29710 S. Wixom Road, Wixom, 48393. 248.926.5880.

Lion’s Den: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4444 Highland Road, Waterford, 48328.

248.674.2251.

Lulu’s Coney Island: Greek. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1001 Welch Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.1937.

Mexico Lindo: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6225 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.3460.

Mezza Mediterranean Grille: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1001 Welch Road, Commerce Township, 48390.

248.926.2190.

Moonlight Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1123 E. West Maple Road,

Walled Lake, 48390. 248.859.5352.

Nick & Toney’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday; Sunday until 3 p.m. No reservations.

9260 Cooley Lake Road, White Lake, 48386. 248.363.1162.

North Szechuan Empire: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39450 W. 14 Mile Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.960.7666.

On The Waterfront: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 8635 Cooley Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.363.9469.

Panera Bread: Bakery, Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

5175 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.618.0617.

Pepino’s Restaurant & Lounge: Italian.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations.

Liquor. 118 W. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.624.1033.

Red Lobster: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 479 N. Telegraph Road, Waterford, 48328.

248.682.5146.

Red Robin: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 3003 Commerce Crossing, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.926.2990.

Rudy’s Waffle House: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 674 N. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.7550.

Samuri Steakhouse: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7390 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322.

248.661.8898.

Shark Club: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6665 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.4161.

SIAM Fushion: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6845 Highland Road, White Lake Township, 48386. 248.887.1300.

Siegel’s Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3426 E. West Maple Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.926.9555.

Sizzl in Subs & Salads: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2051 N. Wixom Road, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.0009.

Social House: American. Lunch, FridaySunday, & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 6139 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.669.0777.

Swasdee Thai Restaurant: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6175 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322.

248.926.1012.

Sweet Water Bar & Grille: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 7760 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.363.0400.

Taqueria La Casita: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 49070 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.926.1980.

Thai Kitchen: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 7108 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.886.0397.

The Lake’s Bar & Grill: American. Lunch, Tuesday - Sunday; Dinner daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2528 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382.

248.366.3311.

The Library Pub: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

6363 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.896.0333.

The Root Restaurant & Bar: American.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48390.

248.698.2400.

TJ’s Sushi & Chinese Restaurant: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No

Eve to reopen

Townhouse 2.0 opening

Ann Arbor’s eve, which closed in 2011, will re-open in September in the Bell Tower Hotel, 200 S. Thayer Street.

Chef Eve Aronoff, owner of Frita Batidos and a 2009 Top Chef contestant, said, “The food at eve is really my own personal style, which has a foundation of French philosophy and technique but many influences from West African to North African to Cuban to Vietnamese.” Aronoff is also incorporating a new dining style, “a very convivial, ‘feasting’ style of dining – I have so many memories of eating and visiting this way and (it) has been very influential in developing my personal philosophy with food.”

Townhouse Detroit, located at One Detroit Center, 500 Woodward Avenue, is scheduled to open late July. Lunch and dinner is served 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday. Brunch is offered Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Detroit location is an outreach by Jeremy Sasson, owner of the successful Birmingham Townhouse.

Menu changes at Stand In response to the bounty of seasonal produce from Michigan farms, The Stand Gastro Bistro, 34977 Woodward Avenue, Suite 100, in Birmingham, has added new items to the menu. For example, The Stand now serves Lavender Corn, fresh sweet corn prepared with candied almonds. The bistro is also rolling out a new dinner program, held on Fridays and Saturdays with seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. For $50, a patron will be one of 10 seated at the Chef’s Stand, a table amongst the bustle of the kitchen, and will be served two drinks to go with an experimental three-course meal prepared

by Chef Paul Grosz.

New restaurant at Royal Park Brookshire Restaurant, within the Royal Park Hotel at 600 E. University Drive in Rochester, is closing and being replaced by Park 600 Bar + Restaurant, set to open in early September. The reimagined restaurant space will have a modern ambiance; demolition and remodeling are in progress.

Root expansion with Mabel Gray Chef James Rigato and partner Ed Mamou, who co-own the Root Restaurant and Bar in White Lake, are opening Mabel Gray at 23825 John R. Road in Hazel Park. The team is aiming to open in September. Rigato describes Mabel Gray’s offerings as “thoughtful and adventurous food and beverage that we create on a daily basis.” He says it will not have a fixed menu, and diners can expect the food to be “fun and fresh, more aggressive and a little louder with flavors, and hyper-rotating.”

Townsend cooking classes Rugby Grille, at the Townsend Hotel, 100 Townsend Street in Birmingham, now offers “Cooking with Style,” culinary classes held in the kitchen of the hotel. Each session includes a cooking demonstration, hosted by Executive Chef Drew Sayes, and a multi-course dinner of what was prepared. Jared Chorney, food and beverage director for the Townsend Hotel, says students will also learn “decorating and setting a proper table so guests can throw their own dinner party.” Classes are scheduled for August 10, September 28 and November 18, with plans to continue into 2016, said Chorney. The cost for the class and dinner is $125.

New Royal Oak taco spot Mesa Tacos and Tequila has joined the Royal Oak restaurant scene, taking over the space that was once Monterrey Cantina, 312 S. Main Street. In addition to tacos and infused tequila, Mesa serves a variety of entrees, salads and soups.

Andiamo expansions Andiamo has recently expanded with a restaurant in the McNamara Terminal of the Detroit Metro Airport, and a new rolling food truck. Midfield Concession Enterprises, which operates a number of airport restaurants, is the franchisee of Andiamo at the airport. The food truck has select restaurant dishes, and new recipes with Italian street food charm, like the meatball sub and eggplant rollatini.

Find the truck at events, or call for catering.

Gastropub and games Bobcat Bonnie’s, a new gastropub equipped with arcade games, is opening this August at 1800 Michigan Avenue in Detroit. Owner Matt Buskard, the opening general manager at Gold Cash Gold said, “We‘re going for a fun, hip atmosphere that’s also relaxed and laid back.” The menu, brainchild of Buskard and chefs Michael Lloyd and Beren Ekine-Hewitt, both of Gold Cash Gold, is seasonal and suitable for lunch or a night out. With fresh ground burgers, salads and a variety of small plates, such as the fondue-style Rare Bit, Buskard says Bobcat Bonnie’s aims to “keep food quality high, but keep it so people can really access it.”

Pop-Up Intel Yemans Street, 2995 Yemans Street in Hamtramck: Matt Tulpa of Salt & Saffron, August 1. Vera Devera and Peter Jackson, Mexican and Mezcal meal, August 7.

Dorothy Hernandez and Jake Williams of Sarap, Filipinoinspired cuisine, August 8. Sean Force of Ocean Prime and Roberts Restaurant Group, August 14. Joseph Van Wagner, executive sous chef at Bacco Ristorante, August 23. Mike and Matt Romine of Mulefoot Gastropub, date TBD. yemansstreet.com Revolver, 9737 Joseph Campau Avenue in Hamtramck: James Rigato, of The Root Restaurant and Bar, presents Mabel Gray August 1. revolverhamtramck.com The Menagerie, 31 N. Saginaw Street in Pontiac: As its name suggests, The Menagerie is home to an assortment of activities. Co-owners April and James Forbes host pop-up dinners, serve Sunday brunch, teach cooking classes, and offer an incubator kitchen for chefs without a brick and mortar space.

Pop-up dinners start at 6 p.m. and require advance tickets; call 248.648.1505 to purchase. Select pop-up dinners are followed by a 9 p.m. Bonus Mixer, in which cocktails and ala-cart small plates are available. Jared Bobkin of Local Kitchen & Bar and 220 Merrill, August 7. Jeremy Kalmus, previous Executive Chef at Local Kitchen & Bar and Novi Chophouse, August 15. Erin Lee, August 27, and a-la-cart brunch August 30. menageriekitchen.com Front/Back is reported each month by Katie Deska.

KatieDeska@DowntownPublications.com. We welcome news items or tips, on or off the record, about what's happening in the front or back of the house at metro area restaurants.

reservations. 8143 Commerce Road, Commerce Township, 48382.

248.363.3388.

Uptown Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

3100 W. Maple Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.960.3344.

Village Bar and Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381.

248.529.3859.

Village Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1243 N. Commerce Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.366.3290.

Volare Risorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.7771.

VR Famous Fried Chicken: American, Cajun. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 47520 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.926.6620.

White Palace: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6123 Haggerty Restaurant, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.313.9656.

Wilson’s Pub n Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2256 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.363.1849.

Wixom Station Food and Drink: American Contemporary. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 49115 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.859.2882.

Wonton Palace: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 5562 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.683.5073.

Woody’s Café: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

235 N. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.624.4379.

North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.620.6100.

Holly Hotel: American. Afternoon Tea, Monday – Saturday, Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 110 Battle Alley, Holly, 48442.

248.634.5208.

Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346.

248.795.2077.

Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston. 48346. 248.620.8500.

Union Woodshop: BBQ. Dinner, Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday – Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.625.5660

West Bloomfield/Southfield Bacco: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 29410 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.356.6600.

Beans and Cornbread: Southern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680.

Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield, 48034.

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2080 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323.

248.851.2500.

Mene Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine.

6239 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.538.7081.

Meriwether’s: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-

54

Saturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 25485 Telegraph Rd, Southfield, 48034. 248.358.1310.

Pickles & Rye: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6724 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.737.3890.

Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6545 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.7463.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.865.0500.

Shangri-La: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.626.8585.

Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 33210 W. Fourteen Mile Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.

538.8954.

Stage Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

6873 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.855.6622.

Sweet Lorraine’s Café & Bar: American.

Weekend Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29101 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, 48076.

248.559.5985.

The Bombay Grille: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 29200 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, 48334. 248.626.2982.

The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 6676 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.851.8782.

The Lark: American. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6430 Farmington Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.661.4466.

Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7365 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, 48322.

248.737.8282.

Birmingham/Bloomfield 220: American. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.646.2220.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.865.9300.

Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.792.3579.

Beau's: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.626.2630.

Bella Piatti: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110.

Big Rock Chophouse: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 245 South Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774.

Bill's: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Daily. Reservations, lunch only.

Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.646.9000.

Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Liquor.

Reservations. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.0984.

Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily.

Liquor. Call ahead. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township.

248.642.4000.

Cafe Via: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 310 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.8800.

Cameron’s Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.723.1700.

Churchill's Bistro & Cigar Bar: Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.4555.

Eddie Merlot's: Steak & seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095.

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations.

Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420.

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 323 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0134.

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. No Reservations.

Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham.

248.712.4050.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.4369.

Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing.

No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6051.

Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 30100 Telegraph Rd., Suite 130, Bingham Farms, 48025.

248.723.7960.

MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.723.0800.

Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.646.3663.

Peabody’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 34965 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.5222.

Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.3122.

Roadside B & G: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270.

Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8977.

Social Kitchen & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, parties of 5 or more. Liquor. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200.

Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations, Lunch only. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.9123.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American.

Dinner. Monday-Saturday. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.731.7066.

The Bird & The Bread: Brasserie. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodard, Birmingham, 48009.

WESTEND

248.203.6600.

The Franklin Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, 48025. 248.865.6600.

The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999.

The Stand: Euro-American. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

34977 Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.220.4237.

Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278.

Townhouse: American. Brunch, Saturday, Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5241.

Triple Nickel Restaurant and Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 555 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.480.4951.

Royal Oak/Ferndale Ale Mary's: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 316 South Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.268.1917 Anita’s Kitchen: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.548.0680.

Andiamo Restaurants: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 129 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.582.0999.

Assaggi Bistro: Italian. Lunch, TuesdayFriday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.584.3499.

Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 711 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067.

Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.542.0082.

The Blue Nile: Ethiopian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 545 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.547.6699.

Bspot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 310 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.268.1621.

Cafe Muse: French. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 418 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.4749.

Cork Wine Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 23810 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, 48069.

248.544.2675.

D’Amato’s: Italian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 222 Sherman Dr., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.584.7400.

Due Venti: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017.

248.288.0220.

The Fly Trap: Diner. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 22950 Woodward Ave., 48220. 248.399.5150.

Howe’s Bayou: Cajun. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 22949 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.691.7145.

Inn Season Cafe: Vegetarian. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. 500 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.547.7916.

08.15

AT THE TABLE Much-talked about Antietam deserves second visit

By J. March

he restaurant scene in Detroit has been what you call "boomin’ heavy" for the last three years, if not more. Though I'm not sure what came first, the foodies or those who feed, dining out has become an event rather then something that is simply about sustenance. Thankfully, or my audience would consist of Facebook and the few friends I have left who are willing to suffer through three-hour long dinners that entail Archie Bunkerlike diatribes on how much I despise molecular gastronomy and the term mixologist.

The buzz about a new restaurant starts months before its actual opening – sometimes even before construction. Food blogs like Eater and Hungry Dudes regularly talk about ventures from local chefs who are leaving large restaurant groups or established places in light of a making a name for themselves. Antietam in Detroit was one of the first.

The combination of Brendan Edwards from Michael Minna’s Roast, Joe Robinson from The Sugar House and artist/photographer Greg Holm from New York (originally from Michigan) had the Geek Eaters all abuzz about the art deco space next to the long popular Eastern Market.

Sadly, 11 days after opening, Edwards and Robinson packed up their tongs and muddler and walked out the door. Holm put on his best Gloria Gaynor face and re-opened with Kate Williams and Johnathan Kung as stand-in chefs in late November of 2014. What's most noteworthy about this is the way in which Edwards, Robinson and Holm handled it. Though I'm familiar with the workings of the industry and the Daytime Emmy potential, most of what was published regarding the split was respectful, thoughtful and mature.

Yes, I said mature. Holm even went so far as to say that the experience gave him the chance to "reflect and consider the mistakes that were made." The only way I can put this into perspective is to liken it to your child/significant other/boss stopping midbattle, apologizing and then thanking you for reminding them how much they have to learn. Yup, it's that huge. Eventually Holm called on beverage director Albert Depompeis who signed up and brought along fellow New Yorkers Brion Wong and Justin Jones Feggan (Mt. Clemens native) to nicely round out front and back of the house responsibilities at Antietam.

Located on Gratiot, Antietam is now what used to be a confectioner's showroom. I can't speak as to what it looked like before, but the space is glorious now. Holm has used local artists, leftovers (the ladies room sign is from the beloved J.L Hudson's) and historical pieces to create what I can only explain as what would be the love child of a speakeasy and a french bistro. Comfortable, eclectic, interesting and tight. Very, very tight. No space is wasted, including at the elbow to elbow bar, which is, of course, where I started.

Obviously, beverage is a large part of Antietam with draft cocktails, a thoughtful wine list and the obligatory house made/crafted/mixed/stirred drink list. Feeling like I had to, I skipped the usual and

T

Antietam desserts, including lemon custard with mint. Westend photo.

asked for bartender's choice that included pink grapefruit, Aperol and Yucca. It was bitter and refreshing which ironically are qualities I find most bartenders lean towards. Happily this one was three parts refreshing, and bitter free. Happy Hour offerings were pointed out ($6 cocktails, wine and small plates that give you zero excuse to not check out the place at least from 5-7 p.m. or 10-12 p.m.), sincere conversation was initiated and not a mention of Sommelier, Master Mixology or Cicerone status.

My guest arrived and we were seated at a table so close to another that I felt like we needed to be on a first name basis with those next to us. We asked to be moved and were happily obliged.

Though we were not rubbing elbows with our neighbors, I was pretty sure that at some point all four legs on my chair were going to collapse if I loaded my fork with anything other than...well, anything. However the Marcona Almonds in Duck Fat that I brought from the bar were whispering to me to go for it and happily the chair held and even had it not, the almonds were totally worth it.

At the suggestion of our server, we started with Burrata, Sweetbreads and the wildly popular Oxtail Terrine. This page has seen the mention of burrata more than once as it seems to be the progression of the caprese obsession. I'm not sure what the truest version should taste like, but in my opinion Antietam's version should be the only version emulated. The firm exterior and creamy center were unbelievably fresh and accompanied by the best tomatoes this year. Though the balsamic that came on the plate was good, it was the grapefruit segments that put this dish in a category of its own. If you're lucky enough to go and this is still on the ever-changing menu, order two. Unfortunately, the sweetbreads could have easily been comprised of almost anything underneath heavy breading and overly salty green beans. The oxtail terrine that the waiter insisted we try was nicely plated and had a beautifully caramelized exterior. We were more than disappointed at the the slightly dry inside with little flavor or seasoning that induced a flashback to my youth and the awful dread when "What's for dinner?" was answered with “Pot Roast.”

The crabapple jelly had no acid or crab-apply bitterness that may have just saved the bland oxtail.

Still open to the lamb that retrained my brain

from my recent visit to Revolver, I ordered the chops and my guest ordered the scallops. Both were what I like to call Lindsey Lohan dishes – full of such potential yet doomed by those who prepare them.

The lamb had great flavor, but was woefully overcooked, and the scallops were big and beautiful, but overly seared on one side and virtually raw on the other. The accompanying white bean puree was grainy and the pea puree was hopelessly bland.

Sad really because the components were all of great quality and the flavor combinations were simple but interesting.

Poor execution killed any chance of a completely favorable review, however, I stand by my prior claims of off nights being forgivable and will likely return in hopes that it was a fluke. What is not forgivable, however, is listing morels and serving chanterelles. Inexcusable. Even if the menus are printed and they ran out seconds before, it's an oversight that is as unforgivable as serving liverwurst for foie gras.

Our server was personable and engaging. In doing some homework I heard/read several complaints about service and poor front of the house management and in observing the dining room, ticket times and the overlooked glass of wine I ordered, I can see where there may be some legitimacy to it. However, good things take time. If you patronize a place with intricate cocktails, expect to wait. If you are a fan of quaint spaces, know the kitchen is probably a tenth of the size of that space.

Antietam is something to take in slowly. The intricate decor lends to lengthy observation of the nuances and classic art deco designs scattered about. And if worse comes to worse, there are bound to be one or two juicy conversations within earshot, just don't lean back in your chair to get a closer listen.

Antietam, 1428 Gratiot, Detroit 48207.

323.782.4378. Reservations accepted. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 5 – 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. – midnight; Sundays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Handicap access. Street parking available.

Dress is casual.

J. March has 25 years experience in the restaurant industry in southeast Michigan, including certification as a sommelier.

Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 22871 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220.

248.543.9500.

KouZina: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 121 N. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.629.6500.

Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 410 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.591.5459.

Local Kitchen and Bar: American.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 344 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.291.5650.

Lockhart’s BBQ: Barbeque. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.584.4227.

Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 212 W. 6th St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.556.0947.

One-Eyed Betty: American. Weekend Breakfast. Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale, 48220. 248.808.6633.

Pronto!: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7900.

Public House: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.850.7420.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073. 248.549.0300.

Ronin: Japanese. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 326 W. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.546.0888.

Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.1141.

Toast, A Breakfast and Lunch Joint: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.398.0444.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 318 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.541.1186.

Town Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.7300/ Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 415 S, Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.542.4444.

Vinsetta Garage: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 48072.

248.548.7711.

Troy/Rochester Bspot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 176 N. Adams Rd, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.218.6001.

Capital Grille: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2800 West Big Beaver Rd., Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084. 248.649.5300.

Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1933 W. Maple Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.280.1831.

Ganbei Chinese Restaurant and Bar: Chinese. Lunch, Monday-Saturday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 227 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307.

248.266.6687.

O’Connor’s Irish Public House: Irish.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

56

Liquor. 324 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537.

Kona Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48083.

248.619.9060.

Kruse & Muer on Main: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 327 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.652.9400.

Lakes: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 5500 Crooks Rd., Troy, 48098.

248.646.7900.

McCormick & Schmick’s: Steak & Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2850 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, 48084. 248.637.6400.

Miguel’s Cantina: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 870 S. Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.453.5371.

Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, MondayFriday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083.

248.689.2332.

Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.404.9845.

NM Café: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2705 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084.

248.816.3424.

Oceania Inn: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 3176 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.9200.

Ocean Prime: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.458.0500.

Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. 3303 Rochester Rd., Troy, 48085. 248.524.1944.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084.

248.816.8000.

Rochester Chop House: Steak & Seafood.

Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.269.8424.

Silver Spoon: Italian. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6830 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester, 48306.

248.652.4500.

Steelhouse Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1129 E. Long Lake Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.817.2980.

The Meeting House: American. Weekend Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307. 248.759.4825.

Tre Monti Ristorante: Italian. Lunch, Thursdays. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 1695 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48083. 248.680.1100.

Detroit Angelina Italian Bistro: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor.

1565 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.1355.

Antietam: French. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

1428 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, 48207.

313.782.4378.

Bucharest Grill: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2040 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.965.3111.

Cliff Bell’s: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.961.2543.

Coach Insignia: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.2622.

Craft Work: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit, 48214.

313.469.0976.

Cuisine: French. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit, 48202. 313.872.5110.

El Barzon: Mexican. Lunch, TuesdayFriday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 3710 Junction St., Detroit, 48210. 313.894.2070.

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café: Cajun.

Breakfast, daily. Sunday Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 400 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.965.4600.

Giovanni’s Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, 48217. 313.841.0122.

Green Dot Stables: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.5588.

The Grille Midtown: Steak & Seafood.

Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 3919 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.0892.

Jefferson House: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 48226. 313.782.4318.

Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Sunday Brunch. Lunch, Monday- Friday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243.

313.567.6837.

Johnny Noodle King: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2601 W. Fort St., Detroit, 48216.

313.309.7946.

Maccabees at Midtown: American.

Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202.

313.831.9311.

Mario’s: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 4222 2nd Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.1616.

Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 4710 Cass Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.974.7669.

Motor City Brewing Works: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700.

1917 American Bistro: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 19416 Livernois Ave., Detroit, 48221.

313.863.1917.

Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 E. Lafayette St, Detroit, 48226.

313.309.2499.

Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.2100.

Roma Café: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

3401 Riopelle St., Detroit, 48207.

313.831.5940.

Russell Street Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 2465 Russell St, Detroit, 48207. 313.567.2900.

Santorini Estiatorio: Greek. Lunch &

WESTEND

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 501 Monroe Ave, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.9366.

Selden Standard: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.438.5055.

Sinbad’s: Seafood. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

100 St Clair St., Detroit, 48214.

313.822.8000.

Slows Bar BQ: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.9828.

Small Plates Detroit: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1521 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226. 313.963.0702.

St. CeCe’s Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1426 Bagley Ave., Detroit, 48216.

313.962.2121.

Tap at MGM Grand: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1234.

Taqueria Nuestra Familia: Mexican.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7620 Vernor Hwy., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.5668.

The Detroit Seafood Market: Seafood.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1435 Randolph St., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.4180.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 519 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.964.4010.

Top of the Pontch: American. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservation. Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.782.4313.

Traffic Jam & Snug: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

511 W. Canfield, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.9470.

24grille: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.964.3821.

Union Street: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.3965.

Vince’s: Italian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1341 Springwells St., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.4857.

Vivio’s Food & Spirits: American. Saturday Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2460 Market St., Detroit, 48207. 313.393.1711.

The Whitney: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & High Tea, Monday-Friday. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.5700.

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1646.

Wolfgang Puck Steak: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226.

313.465.1411.

Wright & Co.: American. Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1500 Woodward Ave Second Floor, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.7711.

08.15

ENDNOTE

A planner with strong experience, vision he Commerce Township Board of Trustees in July interviewed more than a half dozen applicants for the township's planning director position which recently became vacant.

While a decision won't be made until, at the earliest, later this month, board members are urged to choose a candidate with sufficient urban planning experience to balance the wants of developers against the needs of the township.

Further, Commerce Towne Place, the new downtown being developed for the community, requires a planner that is sensitive to the concept of not only downtown areas, but also to the concept of a “sense of place” for the new development, which demands someone who brings an up-to-date understanding of best modern day practices in a sustainable downtown area that can withstand challenges in the decades to come.

The township for the past 15 years has contracted with planning consultant Kathleen Jackson to essentially direct the department. In May, Jackson left her position, a real loss for Commerce, and the township has contracted with McKenna Associates as a planning consultant while a search for a full-time, in-house planner is conducted. Board members on Tuesday, July 28,

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interviewed seven applicants for the position after 17 applied.

As with any consideration of applicants, each board member may have varying impressions of the candidates, but initial impressions appeared to indicate no one candidate stood out among the crowd, with several showing solid potential. Board members ended the interview session without making a decision on the candidates, nor having any formal discussion of the applicants. A final decision could be made as early as their board meeting on August 11, however, hiring for the position could be delayed another month or more as the board considers reorganizing township departments.

A final decision on the position really must be made with careful consideration. Currently, the township is at a critical point regarding its development, both within its Downtown Development Authority (DDA) district, and in other areas of the township that are ripe for new projects or redevelopment.

Whoever is chosen to head up the planning department will need to bring a wealth of experience in downtown developments.

Additionally, the new planning director must have

the vision to lead the development of the new downtown against current-day concepts of a walkable community that can bring a “sense of place” to one of the more important projects that will help define Commerce of the future.

The right candidate should also have experience working with developers to ensure projects move forward smoothly, and within the requirements of the township's board and ordinances. That will require a planning director who is able to recognize and synchronize the visions of the township board, DDA and developers, all of which often express differing opinions on development densities and styles. Additionally, the board will need to select a planner that can direct a union staff that may have its own ideas about their role in the department.

We agree with board members who indicated on July 28 that a final decision on the position may need to wait until the department reorganization is complete. Doing so will provide clear expectations of the candidate, rather than shifting responsibilities after bringing on a new employee.

Vision and contemporary urban planning experience is a requisite for a township brimming with possibility, where foresight can impact Commerce for decades to come.

Poor governance: delayed rate increases he decision by Walled Lake City Council members on July 21 to pass along water rate increases from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to Walled Lake residents for the first time in five years is not only appropriate, but five years overdue.

As a wholesale customer of DWSD, Walled Lake purchases its water from DWSD and is supposed to bill local customers accordingly. Sewer services, which are provided by Oakland County, are billed to residents similarly. Fees are also charged for maintaining the water and sewer systems. Water rates are set by DWSD, with customers such as the city essentially acting as a pass-through to customers. But, while water rates to the city have been raised repeatedly over the past five years, the city's governing board has put off increasing rates to customers, in turn absorbing the cost of the increases.

Walled Lake Finance Director Colleen Coogan said the city absorbed increases of roughly 14 percent over the past five years, which has essentially amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past halfdecade for a city which has experienced financial difficulties during that time period. Another recent increase from DWSD has raised rates, in total, some 20 percent over what they were five years ago.

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Without raising rates to their retail customers, the increases are currently costing the city more than $40,000 per month, according to Coogan.

On July 21, city council finally realized it's time for their customers, the residents of Walled Lake who use the water, to pay their share of the city's water bill, agreeing to phase in the increases over a five-year period. In an attempt to lessen the shock of the increases, council also agreed to postpone the increases for two months so that extensive notice can be given to those receiving their bill from the city.

While we feel it's prudent for the city to give customers notice of the increases – which are expected to range from 15 percent to 35 percent, depending on water usage – we feel the problem is one that has been exacerbated by the city council's unfounded reluctance to pass on increases when they initially went into effect.

Coogan said the city had delayed the increases to customers for two main reasons: a discrepancy between the amount of water the city was receiving and what it was being billed as receiving; and a restructuring of staff within the city, which provided savings in the water department. However, we fail to see how either of those reasons give cause to absorb thousands of dollars each month by a city that has been struggling financially for several years.

While we commend the city officials for addressing water usage discrepancies, increases in rates should have been passed on directly to those who are using the services. The city and its governing board shouldn't feel obligated to absorb increases in which they have no real control. Walled Lake is not a social services board. It's a city government. No matter how well intentioned, the practice has been poor governance.

Council is also erring in its decision to delay the increases for two months. Certainly rate increases as high as 35 percent should come with some sort of warning before they take effect. However, a one-month notice seems more than fair, particularly considering the fact that the city has been absorbing these costs for years.

Coogan estimated the cost to the city for delaying the increases equates to about $125,000. That's not exactly "chicken feed," as once councilman put it. The amount seems even more substantial when considering the extensive cuts in city staff the city has made in recent years in attempts to balance its annual budget.

Moving forward, we hope the city will continue to pass on increases in water rates to customers in a more timely fashion. Failure to do so does not do the community, or its citizens, any favors in the long run.

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