Westend: June 2015

PLACES TO EAT: OVER 200 RESTAURANTS • J. MARCH: THE TRIPLE NICKEL JUNE 2015

THE INTERVIEW:

JIM NASH BRINGING ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY TO WATER RESOURCES OFFICE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: LEGISLATIVE BATTLE AVOIDED IN LEGISLATURE HOMELESS IN OAKLAND: THE LATEST COUNT FOR THE COUNTY COP CAMERAS: COST, PRIVACY CONCERNS SLOW ADOPTION ECRWSS Postal Customer PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792

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2014

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WESTEND06.15

20

The interview: Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash Jim Nash took over the helm of the water resources department after the 2012 elections, and has brought his environmental leanings to the Oakland County department.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

8

The state’s most vulnerable citizens could once again be impacted as Michigan House leadership propose eliminating completely the Earned Income Tax Credit as part of the latest proposal to address funding for the poor roads now that voters have had their say.

CRIME LOCATOR

15 Police body cameras Aside from cost, there are a host of issues involved with the decision about equipping local police with body cameras any time soon.

RELIGI OUS FREED 39 OM Religious freedom fight Michigan will most likely not be put through the battle that has erupted in other states over religious freedom and the discrimination issue surrounding the topic.

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

46

Benstein Grille grapples with parking; developer given another extensions on land purchase in new downtown area; new DDA director approved; search starts for new planning director; Kroger acquires Hillers; plus more.

AT THE TABLE

51

The new Triple Nickel restaurant in Birmingham will most likely turn into a place to be seen, but will most likely not be sought out for its quality of dining, so says reviewer J. March after two visits to the establishment on S. Old Woodward.

THE COVER One of the first signs of summer – the swimming beach on Elizabeth Lake.

Westend photo: G. Lynn Barnett.

ENDNOTE

54

Our thoughts on the move to hire an in-house planning director in Commerce; and the recently granted extension once again to a developer who has offered to buy land in the new Commerce Towne Place project.

FACES 13 AnnieMarie Chiaverilla 27 Beth Rexroat 35 Suzi Coleman 45 David Furlong

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PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Katie Deska | Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf Sarah Kovan | J. March | Kathleen Meisner | Bill Seklar PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISTING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf 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

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Member of Downtown Publications DOWNTOWN | WESTEND | THE GUIDE

FROM THE PUBLISHER

pfront I need to explain that I have never been a fan of income redistribution, at the federal or state level, but I do feel that the the government has some responsibility to provide a safety net in society for those who legitimately attempt to make their way but simply can't earn enough to support themselves or their families.

U

In modern day parlance, those who are employed yet continue to struggle are often referred to as the 'working poor' among us.

It is estimated that nearly 32 percent of Michigan low-income families that work are considered part of the 'working poor' class that struggles to meet basic needs. This might also start to explain the 25 percent child poverty rate in this state.

That’s why I found it particularly offensive that this group of Michigan residents could find themselves targeted in the latest proposal coming out of the Michigan House of Representatives where GOP House Speaker Kevin Cotter has put forth a plan to address the deteriorating state road conditions by eliminating the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

The Michigan EITC was cut severely in 2011 when Governor Rick Snyder attempted to balance the budget following tax cuts issued to the business community under the guise of creating jobs – the results of which are subject to debate.

The federal government allows for an EITC and the state plan up until 2011 allowed for 20 percent of the value of the federal EITC to be recognized on state income tax returns. It was cut to six percent in the budget balancing act.

Of course, the EITC would have been returned to a higher level had the state income tax proposal on the May 5 ballot not failed so miserably, a bone thrown to legislative Democrats in late 2014 to gain votes when it came time to put the income tax hike for “roads” on the ballot.

As part of Cotter's plan, the EITC would be eliminated entirely, which would affect individuals making below $14,800 annually and families earning less than $47,747. On average, the annual average Michigan EITC amounts to $140 for families, not a great amount but at that level everything counts.

What is the driving philosophy behind the House Speaker’s plan? In large part, the make up of the Michigan House – growing more

conservative with each election – and the long-term impact of term limits both contribute to off-the-wall ideology like we are seeing in the Cotter plan.

It's the same twisted logic that drove the Michigan House late in 2014 to adopt a notax-hike proposal for the roads which many critics said drained money from the education system and from local governments.

With lawmakers limited to only three twoyear terms in the House, and the growing cacophony from the far right fringes, our paid Lansing lawmakers are hesitant to make hard decisions that come with the job.

So you get plans like the Cotter proposal that would not only attack those with less political clout but would also tap restricted funds in Lansing, like those on the economic development front, including incentives for the film industry and the state’s tourism promotion. And then you get what is generally considered “fantom funding” ideas like capturing part of the projected growth in the general fund in coming years, even though Lansing does not have a good track record when it comes to accurately assessing what the future of funding holds.

The House Speaker's proposal does provide for some tax and fee increases at the pump, user fees on electric and alternative fuel vehicles and increasing the tax on diesel fuel. But on the whole, the latest proposal for fixing the roads falls short of a guarantee of a solid and steady stream of annual revenue into the future for assuring our road system is improved and then maintained beyond the short-term.

What's needed at this time is leadership in Lansing which involves making unpopular decisions when it comes to creating new revenue which most observers agree is needed if we are to get on top of the road problems in this state. We saw an inkling of leadership in the Michigan Senate last year when senators adopted a road plan that basically doubled the gas tax at the pump with increased revenues going strictly to road work, but then it moved nowhere in the Michigan House because of the political factors mentioned above.

It's time for both chambers in Lansing to bring forth a plan that would generate new revenue, without a vote of the people, to raise the estimated $1 billion needed annually to address the road problem. But that would require leadership unafraid to make tax and fee decisions without regard to the chances of re-election when their terms are up.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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CRIME LOCATOR

NORTH

Map key

Sexual assault

Assault

Murder

Robbery

Breaking/entering

Larceny

Larceny from vehicle

Vehicle theft

Vandalism

Drug offenses

Arson

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Commerce Township, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake Village through May 28, 2015.

Placement of codes is approximate.

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The Grape Escape SUMMER WINE TASTING

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Saturday, June 27 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

AT BYERS HOMESTEAD PARK Commerce Township

Enjoy an evening out with a few friends or a special someone.

Your ticket includes a sampling of Fine Wines and other libations, plus a delicious array of cheeses, appetizers and cuisine from such local spots as CAYA Smokehouse Grill, Commerce Bed & Breakfast and Jennifer’s CafÊ.

You’ll also enjoy: • Musical entertainment • Silent Auction and Door Prizes • Souvenir etched wine glass

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$25.00 Per Person (21 and up). All proceeds devoted to the structural repairs needed to preserve the Byers Farmhouse and reopen it to the public. Advance tickets required, by Tuesday, June 23. Tickets are limited - Contact Ellen Smith at (248) 462-9069 (ellen_smith2148@yahoo.com), online at byershomestead.org, or stop in at the Byers Barn on Sundays.

GODDARD-TALMAY Call or visit us today!AGENCY

AGENCY NAME 248-624-1531 347 N. Pontiac Trail • Walled Lake, MI 48390

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12

WESTEND

06.15

FACES

AnnieMarie Chiaverilla he Michigan artist who grew up traveling the Great Lakes State and once struggled as a student has ironically catapulted to success as a children’s book author.

“I had always wanted to illustrate children’s books,” AnnieMarie Chiaverilla noted.

As a young woman, Chiaverilla created a book she entitled “Twelve Days of Christmas.” She wrote and illustrated 50 copies by hand.

“That’s how it really started. I handed them out for Christmas and everybody loved them and wanted more, but I didn’t have the money.”

In the fall of 2012, the artist and budding author decided to write “The Twelve Months of Michigan,” a children’s book that features different scenes with inconspicuous drawings throughout the book that pays homage to Michigan.

“On the first page, it’s me skiing. I’m wearing a Stormy Kromer hat.

Those are made in Northern Michigan. The book is a love story of family, my faith and all the people in my life. There’s something very intimate on every page of that book. There’s a little bit of learning and a little bit of fun.”

Chiaverilla had the book printed and ordered 5,000 copies to sell.

“I actually made a profit and last September, I ordered 5,000 more,” she said. “I’ve sold 7,000 of the 10,000 I bought.”

Reading and learning weren’t always easy for the author/illustrator.

The West Bloomfield High School alumnus struggled in school until she met a teacher who gave her hope.

“I didn’t learn to learn until the 11th grade. Mr. Barriger from West Bloomfield High School was the art teacher there and he totally changed my life.”

T

Chiaverilla was on the basketball team and needed to maintain a good grade point average to play. Barriger instructed her to sit at the front of the classroom, write as many notes as she could and rewrite her notes when she got home.

“It changed my GPA from a 2.8 to a 3.4.”

The one-time C student graduated from Michigan State University with honors and a degree in graphic design.

“I did an internship at Channel 7 (WXYZ-TV) and they hired me fulltime,” she said. “I did graphics for them and I would come in on the weekends and work on my book. It was a great place to work.”

“The Twelve Months of Michigan,” won Book of the Year: by Creative Child Magazine in their Kid category for 2014. She also won the R.E.B.A. Children’s Picture Book in the All Ages category for the 2015 USA Regional Excellence Awards.

“I was really happy because they put the ‘all ages’ on it,” she said.

“People all over the country buy this book, (including) a lot of people who have lived here and moved away.”

The award-winning author now lives in Commerce with her two children, where she is currently working on her next book “The Twelve Months of America.” She is doing what she loves and living out her dream.

“If you’re passionate about something, it’s a driving force in your life.

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WEIR MANUEL

BODY CAMERAS HOST OF ISSUES INVOLVED WITH THE DECISION ABOUT EQUIPPING LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT lected officials, civil rights leaders and law enforcement agencies looking for ways to ease tensions between police officers and the public may have differing beliefs on the extent of police brutality occurring across the nation, but all of them agree that the use of bodymounted cameras could be part of a solution.

Law enforcement agencies in favor of adopting new video technology say body cameras provide an accurate record of their interaction with members of the public. For police, that means good cops are likely to be exonerated of wrongdoing. For individuals abused by police, the video may validate their claims and hold bad officers accountable. While both police and the public agree on the use of body cameras, specifics on when and where they should be used, as well as who should have access to footage, is hardly a black and white issue.

"We aren't opposed to body cameras. A lot of departments are in favor of them," said Robert Stevenson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs. "We've been used to having our actions recorded from in-car camera systems, and those have been very beneficial for police. But, the problem isn't as simple as people make it sound. There are a lot of unintended consequences that people don't think about."

Factors that law enforcement departments must consider before using body cameras include the cost of purchasing the equipment as well as storing the video. Likewise, the longer an agency is required to store video footage, the greater the need for storage will be, as well as the cost. Beyond the expenses, the use of body cameras raises serious questions about privacy.

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Ann Arbor Deputy Police Chief Greg Bazick said his department purchased about 86 body cameras in May, and has been testing them with about 20 officers and supervisors on each shift. Plans, he said, include eventually manning all officers with body cameras, bringing the total number closer to 140.

"The biggest expense is storage," Bazick said. "They are high-definition video. From what we can see (storage) is the biggest consideration for departments.

The cameras are relatively inexpensive, but the longterm storage is really the issue right now." azick said the body cameras being used by the department are able to use the same storage system as the department's in-car camera system. However, the amount of space used more than doubled, as the department added 25 Terabytes to its existing 17 Terabytes. The total cost for the body-camera system is nearly $175,000, with additional expenses expected as the system is expanded.

The city of Ann Arbor was able to receive a discounted purchase price for its initial body cameras, as it was able to secure a discount from the manufacturer. The Washtenaw Sheriff's Office and the Ypsilanti Police Department have also purchased body cameras from the same vendor.

In terms of how long to store the data, Bazick said the department is following the current 30-day requirement that applies to all police video taken in the state.

"What we are seeing, technically, to evaluate them in the field is the easy part," he said.

More difficult, Bazick said, is developing policy regarding what information is released to the public.

"We are interested to see the impact here," he said, "and finding the balance of providing the community with access to those well intended versus those who want to be voyeurs."

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard gives an example of potential privacy issues based on his experience in his early days as a police officer. A young woman, he said, was getting out of a shower when she slipped and fell on the floor, getting stuck between the bath tub and the toilet. When Bouchard arrived, the woman was injured and naked. Under current state law, such footage recorded by a body camera would be available to anyone in the public making a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

"The biggest concern I have is FOIA, and how do we protect the people we serve from being victimized by some reality TV wannabe," he said. "To be real clear, we want and expect complete accountability for law enforcement behavior. We want accountability, but we don't want to victimize people in doing that."

Skeptics may discount Bouchard's concern, but for law enforcement officers in the Seattle area, the number of FOIA requests coming into departments after the Seattle Police Department began using body cameras proved to be so overwhelming that some departments decided to forgo using them until additional protections have been made.

In Paulsbo, Washington, just outside of Seattle, police chief Al Townsend said a man identifying himself as "The Requestor" went to several area police departments and requested every video – whether recorded in-car or with a body camera – available. For the small 20-man police department of Paulsbo, that meant eight months of footage, and years to meet the request.

"It was a guy who was living in his mom's basement. He did it anonymously to start with, under the name ‘police-video-requests dot, whatever,’"

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Townsend said. "In Washington, you don't have to identify yourself, and you can make these requests anonymously, and we are required to comply with that.

"There are a couple issues. One, we have to redact certain pieces of information that we can't give out.

And, if we know who is in the video, we actually have to give the person in the video an opportunity to go to court and try to keep the video from being released, should they want to. We had to try and find, for eight months of video, all the people who would have been in these videos and give them the opportunity to seek injunction. Basically, we figured the redaction time alone was going to be about four or five years, just to provide those eight months of video."

In neighboring Bremerton, Washington, Police Chief Steve Strachan said the requests caused the department to halt plans to purchase body cameras.

"What it came down to was that we would be contributing to voyeurism and exploitation of people," he said. "They could request everything and put it on YouTube."

In Paulsbo, Chief Townsend said they started working with the man who made the requests, who eventually cancelled his efforts.

"When we told him we were going to have to identify everyone that we could identify in these videos and give them the opportunity to seek injunction, he stopped his requests," he said. "He said, 'that's what I wanted you to say. I wanted you to tell me you were going to try to protect the privacy of people in the videos.' It was very weird. But, it doesn't prevent the next guy from coming along and asking for the same thing for different reasons."

The man, a computer programer, ended up being hired by the Seattle Police Department and is working to help find ways to redact videos in order to protect individual privacy while still maintaining the public's right to police records, said Seattle Police Detective Patrick Michaud. He said the department is now helping other agencies across the nation in finding ways to meet the challenges that the use of body cameras pose.

Back in Oakland County, Bouchard said current state law allows any person to request police video and do with it what they please. In order to address the issue, White Lake Republican Jim Runestad has introduced legislation to address who may request footage, and how long is has to be retained.

The bill, HB 4234, was introduced in February and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

Committee members took testimony on the bill in April, after which several amendments were made. The bill has yet to be voted out of the committee and presented to the House for a vote.

Under its initial form, the bill would create the "Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Privacy Act." The act, if approved, would prohibit a recording taken in a private place from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, with some exceptions. The act would also specify under which a recording would be subject to FOIA; how long a recording must be kept by an agency; and stipulate that a recording must be held for up to three years if a complaint against a law enforcement officer was made after the retention period expired.

Under the initial bill, any video taken in a private place – or one where an individual may reasonably expect to be safe from casual or hostile intrusion or surveillance – is exempt from disclosure under the FOIA. Exceptions to disclosure would include a person who is the subject of the recording; an individual whose property has been seized or damaged in relation to, or is otherwise involved with a crime to which the

recording is related; or a parent or legal guardian or attorney for the individual in the video.

So far, Runestad said the bill has been amended to require agencies to retain initial video for 45 days, up from 30. That change, he said, was made at the request of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, which is also pushing for more openness in those who may request information.

"We are looking at different aspects to try to make sure that, as much as possible, we are keeping the balance between privacy and law enforcement doing its job," Runestad said. "Between the media associations and law enforcement and some other groups, it's a real balancing act.

"We probably aren't going to get everyone on board with something like this. It's a newer concept and has a lot of ramifications. I don't think there's an ability to make everyone happy with the bill, but we can make a vast improvement over what is currently there, which is nothing." equests for comment from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters weren't returned. According to a statement from the association, the first version of the bill prohibited disclosure in private places, such as a person's home. Working with Runestad, the association said it was able to come up with new wording in the bill.

Under a revision of the bill, the wording regarding prohibitions for FOIA requests is omitted, while language stating any FOIA request made would require the agency to hold the footage for up to three years.

The current changes, which haven't yet been approved by the committee, have been sharply criticized by law enforcement.

"I'm very disappointed with the direction, after working with (legislators) for months," Bouchard said of the current draft of the bill.

Stevenson, with the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs, said the association had originally supported the bill, but has withdrawn support of the latest version.

"We were in favor of that bill, until they gutted the FOIA protections in there," he said. "In the original version, there were limitations on who could FOIA what information. The way it is now, anyone is entitled to the records, so we don't think that's a good policy. In private practice, there are way to redact faces on video, but that's expensive and labor intensive. Who is going to pay for that?"

Rep. Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Township) who serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the committee is still holding hearings on the bill and isn't ready to vote it out of committee yet. He said FOIA and privacy issues are one of the issues that needs to be looked at as more agencies elect to use body cameras.

Dave LaMontaine of the Police Officer's Association of Michigan said the association doesn't support the current legislation because it doesn't provide adequate protection for officers.

"It's now on it’s seventh revision, or so. We were involved pretty late in the game. They finally figured out that maybe they should ask the people who have to wear these things if they have concerns about it," he said. "We are in support of body cameras, the concept itself, but this legislation is absent some critical concepts. It's been rushed."

Of main concern to officers, LaMontaine said, are protections from management and supervisors abusing the video to unjustly punish officers.

"We want there to be a ‘just cause’ protection in there when management is reviewing these situations,"

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he said. "Traditionally, what gets left behind is that people toting around the tin star or badge aren't treated like citizens. They are treated differently. We don't want (video) reviews for no apparent reason. This is a problem we have had in the industry. Someone could scrutinize them for not wearing a hat or something like that."

LaMontaine said officers know there will be situations where video is reviewed because of a complaint by a citizen, but they want to make sure management isn't taking liberties by reviewing entire shifts and picking out minor issues to arbitrarily punish officers.

"We recognize the value of body cameras. If a department doesn't have them, they are looking at getting them. We think body cameras are the way to go," he said. "We are nervous that the feds or state will mandate it and not fund it. This is a trend. We are at the table having these discussions. We think it will exonerate police officers, and if they don't, he has to take his medicine, and we aren't going to stand in the way of it."

Most local police departments in Oakland County are monitoring legislation before deciding to purchase body cameras. In addition to questions about FOIA, police chiefs throughout Oakland County are waiting to see whether any legislation will be approved, and how it will impact their budgets at agencies both small and large.

"We are waiting to see where the cards fall, and what's required and what will be available to us as far as funding goes," said Wolverine Lake Village Police Chief John Ellsworth. "We have very good in-car cameras and they serve their purpose, but with the national cry for body cameras... we don't want to take the lead in this fight."

Neighboring Walled Lake Police Chief Paul Shakinas said his department is also watching pending legislation at the state before moving on body camera use.

"Currently, we don't have plans on implementing body cameras," he said. "We're happy with the cameras in the cars for the time being."

Shakinas said the department has tested body cameras from different vendors, but that it is not yet ready to implement them. The issue, he said, has less to do with cost than it does finding an appropriate policy regarding their use.

"Nobody can agree on that yet," he said, citing issues with privacy, retention and litigation. "It's also another thing for myself and city administration to do for FOIA. We probably get an average of six to eight FOIA requests per week through the police department, and there will be much more if that is added." hakinas said the department would also have to redact any footage that reveals information relayed from the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN), such as license plate registration or other confidential information that isn't subject to FOIA. "I do like the concept of it, having an eye out there all the time," he said. "But it's a whole different thing when you have a camera on a medical (call) and they are naked. We aren't ready for that yet. There's not a solution.

"I'm a huge proponent of cameras, especially with the whole, 'we hate the police thing' right now."

Some larger departments echo the sentiments of the smaller police forces in Oakland County. In Birmingham, police Chief Don Studt said the department is looking at cameras in order to keep up on the technology and potential issues; however there are no plans to purchase them at the moment. Bloomfield Township Police Capt.

Scott McCanham also said the department is monitoring legislation, as well as the capability of body cameras.

S

"They will probably come in the future, but that's a big-ticket item," McCanham said. "It's not an easy deal."

Bloomfield Hills Police Chief David Hendrickson said while he is a proponent of the current in-car camera system that the department uses, he said he doesn't see a need for the use of body cameras in Bloomfield Hills, at the moment.

LaMontaine with the police officer's association, also said there are questions as to how often cameras should be recording during a shift. In addition to privacy concerns of the officer and individuals in embarrassing situation, he said constant recording could make people less willing to share information with officers if they believe someone will find out who provided confidential information.

"How is a citizen supposed to give information? All of that is subject to FOIA," he said. "People's lives are in the wind. We fish people's bodies out of the water. We see suicides and brains on the wall and on the ground. We see all of that. I'm not sure people are ready to see that, and it's all going to be out there."

Milford Police Chief Thomas Lindberg, who also serves as president of the Oakland County Police Chiefs Association, said the topic of body cameras is discussed each month amongst members of the association. So far, he said, he doesn't know of any departments in Oakland County that have department-wide use of body cameras. However, Milford has recently purchased two body cameras for testing. Those are being used for investigations and for special-events patrols, such as parades.

"We'll put them on patrol officers downtown if there's an event, especially if there's a beer tent," Lindberg said.

The cameras are "first generation," meaning they don't have the capability of recording through a full 12hour shift, nor can they perform remote uploads of video into the department's video system. Officers must plug the cameras directly into a computer and download the data. Newer cameras can be programmed to automatically download footage once in range of the department's wireless system.

"They are useful for investigations, but the ones we have aren't practical for all-day, everyday patrol use."

Sheriff Bouchard, however, disagrees with limiting the use of body cameras. Instead, he said, he would prefer to have them record during a deputy's entire shift, if they are used.

"Obviously, anybody doesn't like having a camera strapped to them all day at work. Any conversation of the day, any comment you make, or having lunch and making a silly joke, maybe not inappropriate, but silly, being recorded. But, with accountability comes some uncomfortable situations. It has to come with a balance," he said. "People say to turn it off at lunch, but there were three officers eating lunch in Washington state, and they were assassinated while eating that meal. I'm more of a fan to leave it on."

The Michigan State Police (MSP) Department has been utilizing body cameras for several months, with about two dozen units used by troopers in southeast Michigan, and by members of the Capitol Security Section.

"Utilizing these devices increases transparency and helps protect both law enforcement officers and citizens," said state police spokeswoman Tiffany Brown.

"We also want to be mindful of officer and citizen privacy concerns, ensure that officers are properly trained in the use of body cameras, and make certain that appropriate policies and procedures for use are in place."

Brown said the pilot period will help the department explore various capabilities and develop proper policies and procedures. While there is no set date as to when

the pilot program ends, she said the department will "proceed cautiously when considering any full deployments."

Currently, she said, troopers are required to activate the body cameras during any situation that may result in enforcement action.

Countywide, Lindberg said the Oakland County Police Chiefs Association is in favor of using body cameras, but take issue with any legislation that would require their use. urrently, one bill has been introduced into the Michigan House of Representatives that would require police departments to use body cameras. The bill, HB 4229, was introduced by Rep. Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit). Under the legislation, any law enforcement officer carrying a gun or a Tazer would be required to wear a body camera and record events that occur while on duty. The cameras would be required to be activated whenever the officer is on duty, with the exception of some personal matters, such as using the bathroom or having a private conversation. Under the bill, officers would also be required to notify people if they are being recorded, and ask for permission to record under certain circumstances, such as entering private residences.

Rep. Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth) who chairs the House Criminal Justice Committee where the legislation was referred in February, said he doesn't have any plans to move the legislation.

"It's a well-intentioned bill, but practically speaking, the cost of purchasing, maintaining and monitoring this equipment is cost prohibitive to the vast majority of municipalities in Michigan."

While Heise said it's fine if departments want to pick up the technology on their own, trying to mandate body camera use on the state level is an overburden to departments.

Michigan Senator Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) said he has mixed emotions about requiring body cameras.

From a purely physical standpoint, he said it's possible to overload officers with equipment.

"Think about what an officer is carrying – a Tazer, handcuffs, sidearm, a vest – we keep putting more and more weight onto these officers and we are expecting them to perform as an Olympian," he said. "Also, if we mandate something, we are going to be on the hook for paying for it. We would have to buy them, and train them, maintain them and conduct reports. Those are financial questions we have. The first question is: how much is this going to cost?"

On the federal level, president Obama has called for an increase in body camera use. While not going so far as to propose mandating camera use, the president in December proposed a three-year $263 million investment package to expand the use of body-worn cameras, as well as training for law enforcement officers. As part of the initiative, the Body Worn Camera Partnership Program would provide a 50 percent match to states and local units of government who purchase body cameras and associated equipment. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a $20 million grant program to help state and local departments purchase body cameras.

While the program may benefit some departments, Bouchard said it would be a drop in the bucket for a department the size of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

"Startup of a program for us would be about $2 million," he said. "There are 800,000 police officers in the state, so only about 19 departments would be able to do it. The bigger challenge is policy that goes with it, not just funding."

C

NASH OAKLAND COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COMMISSIONER

BY LISA BRODY

J

im Nash was elected as Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner in 2012 for a four-year term. Nash, a Democrat, was previously an Oakland County commissioner representing Farmington. Westend spoke to Nash in a one-on-one interview on what his job entails, his passions as an environmentalist and his efforts towards sustainability and his opposition to fracking.

Westend photos: Laurie Tennent

WESTEND: For the benefit of our readers who may not be as familiar with your name, can you give us some of your personal background, including your background in public service? What is the Water Resources Commissioner?

NASH: I was an Oakland County commissioner for eight years until I won election to this office.

I’ve been in politics for many, many years. I used to be in the Democratic Party in Florida, so I’ve been doing this kind of thing for a long time. I’m married – my 30th anniversary is in July. We have four kids, three grandkids, all living in Michigan.

My last youngest just graduated from high school last year, so she’s 19.

I’ve been an environmentalist my whole life.

My father, who would be 117 years old this year, personally heard Theodore Roosevelt speak about the environment when he was a child. He drilled it into me. I’ve been an environmentalist my whole life because of that. It means a lot. He used to repeat a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that “conservation is a great moral issue that involves a great patriotic duty for it involves ensuring the safety and continuance of the nation.” And I totally understand that. And I would say the world now, because we’re all interconnected. But it’s a moral issue because it’s our kids and our grandkids future that we hold in our hands.

As the Indians said, “You have to judge what you do by the next seven generations.” I’m a believer in that. It’s the basis of sustainability. It’s something that I live by. Every decision that we make has an impact on the future, and we have to understand that before we make a decision.

In this office, this is the environmental office of the county. The water resources commissioner used to be called the drain commissioner. It was changed in 2009. Ourselves, and Washtenaw County and Kent County, and a couple other counties use that title, and everybody else uses drain commissioner. Drain commissioner was the original title. It was started in 1911, because mostly it had to do with drains. Back in the beginning it had all to do with agriculture. Since we’re extremely flat county for our agriculture, we had to do something with water. Beginning at the turn of the 20th century, they developed the drain commissioner office in Michigan and it’s grown since then.

My office does way more than that. We do chapter 20, chapter 18 and chapter 4 drains, which basically channel water from where you don’t want it to places it’s okay to have it. My office operates 28 communities in Oakland County; we operate their systems. We do lake levels, we do lake maintenance, a lot of different things around water.

In a county like ours, it makes sense to be a water resources commissioner because we just do a lot more. Smaller counties basically, all they do is drains; it’s much more limited. We also work with our neighboring counties on inter-county drains; with Wayne and Macomb mostly. We also operate the sewage disposal systems for 47 communities in Oakland County – that’s storm water and sewage.

WESTEND: The Oakland County Water Resources Commission (WRC), formerly the Drain Commission, takes care of local communities’ water supply, drainage systems, sewage disposal systems, operates and maintains certain lake levels, reads meters, and deals with residents’ flooded basements after major storms and system failures. That’s a lot of

I'VE BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTALIST MY WHOLE LIFE. MY FATHER… PERSONALLY HEARD THEODORE ROOSEVELT SPEAK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN HE WAS A CHILD. HE DRILLED IT INTO ME. I'VE BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTALIST MY WHOLE LIFE BECAUSE OF THAT. responsibilities for you and your staff to oversee and monitor. How large of a staff do you manage and what is the annual budget for the WRC? NASH: We have just under 300 employees. When I came into office we had about 250. In September/October of 2014, we took over the Pontiac Sewage System, so we brought in a whole bunch of employees, some we transferred from the old system, because we run that now.

My total budget is around $400 million, of which we get about one percent from the county’s general fund. Very, very small amount. It’s my salary and a few of my top folks. The rest is from all our systems we operate. It’s all done by ratepayers.

We do major projects, we do bonding for those projects, so we do a lot of financial work. We work with communities on almost everything. It’s either done in collaboration with communities, or they request our help on things.

WESTEND: State law also outlines that you are tasked with legally establishing and maintaining normal lake levels for waterways in Oakland County, of which there are currently 54 that have a court-established level. What about all of the other lakes in the county, since there are 358 in Oakland? When the WRC talks about regulating lake levels, what does that specifically refer to? Why are lake levels important?

NASH: These are done through circuit court, and there’s a procedure that people have to go through to request it. This can be the most contentious issue my office deals with because when you’re dealing with lake levels, some people think lake levels should be higher, some people think lake levels should be lower, and some people can get quite exercised about these things. We have to be diplomatic when we’re dealing with groups and people who live around these lakes.

WESTEND: What are lake levels?

NASH: Citizens request a lake level and the courts

decide whether that’s rational through the process of deciding what the lake level should be, and then that lake level is set. By law, we can only go within a couple of inches in the summer and winter. In the winter, because water freezes, we wanted it lower, because when spring comes all the melt comes in there and that raises that up there, and if it raises it too much we would get in trouble. Once the thaw is over, we have the normal level for the rest of the year. We have a dam at the end of the lake, so if it gets too high, we let it out; sometimes, in very dry summers, we have pumps that pump water into a lake to bring the water up if it goes down too much. We haven’t had to worry about that too much. We’ve had way more rain than usual in the summers lately. They’re expecting that to continue.

Modeling shows that will continue the way climate is changing. The warmer the atmosphere is, the more water it held in the atmosphere. As it goes along, once it hits a cold place, which is usually the Great Lakes, it’ll let go of that water, because it can’t hold it anymore, if the water changes. That’s how you get thunderstorms. The data shows we are experiencing more strong storms than we ever have in the past. This storm we had last August in southeast Oakland County I see as an example of that. It fits in with the modeling – expecting more heavy downfall kind of rains, and the new data that we just got from the Oceanic and Atmospheric Association – we had been operating from data from 1950 – 1980. Now we have new data from 1980- 2010. And that data shows large increases in large storm events, very powerful storm events that travel fast. Those kind of storms, like we saw last year, are expected to be more frequent. So we have to be ready for that.

I’ll tell you that the Huron River Watershed that is based in Ann Arbor, but the Huron River starts in Oakland County, are very concerned about that.

They have a very active climate resiliency program.

It’s a newer concept of understanding the impacts of weather or whatever kind of event you’re looking at from a government agency, and paying more attention to what that means to now and the future. This is how we’re going to be looking at things now. The way models are changing, the way data is changing, we have to understand that there are going to be more of these kinds of storms and we have to build our infrastructure to accept that and not have the problems we had.

WESTEND: Maintaining lake levels has in the past been a labor intensive chore but there had been talk about attempting to modernize lake level control. Has much been done in the way of this or does it still remain a labor intensive task?

NASH: A lot of what we do is called SCADA, which is our system of data and control that we use for all of our systems and controls, and we’re really working hard right now to expand that in all our operations, but specifically for that.

WESTEND: Beyond lake levels, does the WCR involve itself with lake quality programs at all?

What role does your office have in meeting clean water regulations relative to discharges into surface waters – either point sources or non-point sources?

NASH: There are lake improvement boards, and members of my office sit on these boards, and they deal with weed controls, and we give them advice.

Once the Clean Water Act was passed in the ‘70s, they went after point sources, and why they really went after point sources, do you remember when

the Cuyahoga River caught fire in ‘69, ‘70. When the Clean Water Act came in, they said we have to stop the kind of pollution that allows rivers to catch on fire. So they went to point sources, meaning pipes that come out of the ground and dump right into a body of water, from a factory, that’s mostly what they went after, factories, chemical plants, things like that.

Then they went after wastewater treatment plants because they bring in waste water, they treat it, and then it still goes out a pipe.

The thing we’re going after right now, the last few years, are the non-point sources. That means anytime you have an impervious surface, like a roof, a parking lot, sidewalks, roads, that means for every drop of water that goes on it has to go down a drain. It’s either done separately or it’s done as a combined system. Most of our systems in Oakland County, southeast, are combined systems, so it’s sewage and storm water. Then what’s not captured by the storm water system just goes down, and it takes whatever chemicals off the road surface, the oil that’s trapped on there, all kinds of things that can sit on there. Once it’s washed down there it becomes part of the water, and that’s part of the point source pollution.

In terms of what we’re concerned about right now, it was shown in rather dramatic detail when Toledo didn’t have water to drink because there had been so much runoff, collected algae. That’s from non-point source pollution. The vast majority is just runoff. It’s runoff from agricultural land, from parking lots, roofs. We’re trying to steer that stuff to storm water systems so they’re treated or stop it where it is and let it infiltrate it into the ground where it is. A lot of it is going to be green infrastructure. We’re working on green infrastructure, the state is working on green infrastructure, and the federal government is working on it.

Green infrastructure is the option of other than gray infrastructure, which is concrete – the big giant pipes, culverts, the things that we use.

There’s two things about green infrastructure, it’s much cheaper to install, because you’re not building these giant concrete things and it’s much cheaper to maintain because you’re not worried about them collapsing. It’s much easier to use.

Green infrastructure is things like rain gardens, rain barrels, pervious surfaces like brick. If you can keep the water on the surface it falls in and let it go into the ground then that relieves all the storm drains of that water. That’s the theory behind green infrastructure. More and more communities are using it; more and more businesses are using it. It’s really inexpensive. We’re trying to encourage more people to use it, because then we’ll have less problems. If you can take that first inch of rain and infiltrate it on your property before it leaves your property, then that second inch runs off instead of the first, and you’ll stop a lot more water from getting into the system. That means you have to treat less.

WESTEND: Infrastructure, especially in older communities, is under increasing stress, with water mains and drains. How is the WRC working to check, rehabilitate and repair water mains, drains and other parts of the system?

NASH: We have a very strong asset management system here in Oakland County, and as an organized system is much more prevalent than just a five or six years ago. The state just

IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT RIGHT NOW, IT WAS SHOWN IN RATHER DRAMATIC DETAIL WHEN TOLEDO DIDN'T HAVE WATER TO DRINK BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN SO MUCH RUNOFF, COLLECTED ALGAE. THAT'S FROM NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION. authorized two years ago the SAW program, which is storm water, asset management, and wastewater. It’s a program of grants, a program of $400 million that was originally collected by Brownfield legislation that was a ballot initiative in 1996. It was never used. The governor and the legislature came up with this idea to get local governments to use asset management through grant loans. Oakland County got the most loans of any county in the state under that program, helping local governments with infrastructure with asset management. We’re doing a tremendous amount of work in Pontiac right now, all through our own system and systems we operate. We’re TV’ing these lines to check the conditions of these lines and when we find problems, we fix them on the spot, or we plan larger projects to fix them on a larger scale. It’s a very important part of what we do.

WESTEND: How would you assess the Water Resource Commission’s sewer and drain system’s capacity to handle a major rain event, as well as how well the retention treatment basins throughout the county perform? In the past, the county was working to meet a number of federal mandates relative to discharges – have all those issues been addressed or are you still working to meet federal standards?

NASH: The George W. Kuhn is the largest in Oakland County; we serve 14 communities. The facility itself was finished in 2004, and it has 125 million gallons of storage before it’s released treated or to the storage treatment plant in Detroit.

The infrastructure around that is very new. But a lot of the storm water drains and laterals, that are the responsibilities of the local governments, many of those are very old. They’re really in very good shape. We have not had any serious collapses.

Some of the lateral pipes have not been well maintained, because local communities just haven’t had much money. But they’re doing the best they can.

The storm that happened in August (2014) wasn’t an infrastructure failure, it was just that it was such an overwhelmingly large storm. No matter what we did it couldn’t have held it all. The George W. Kuhn, people think it’s a flood control system, but it’s not. It’s a water quality control system. It’s meant to trap and control storm water in basins so that doesn’t end up in the Clinton River. The Farmington/Evergreen, all that goes to the wastewater treatment plant in Detroit. That doesn’t have its own treatment. The GWK does.

The Evergreen/Farmington has several smaller basins – in Birmingham, there’s the Birmingham basin. We have three of them down there, they operate extremely well. We’re not having the same problems as the older infrastructures. That’s all collected and treated in the main wastewater treatment center in Detroit. In extreme storms we will treat some of that and release it into the local rivers, but it’s treated under state permit.

From our perspective, we’re all within permit, even that massive storm in August, the water we released was still within permit. The way the system works, we have weirs, it’s like a dam. Once it gets to the maximum level of 125 million gallons at the GWK, it treats it with sodium hypochlorite, which is like chlorine, to kill all the bacteria. Once we know it’s cleared, it goes over that last weir and goes into the Red Run River and the Red Run Drain and then the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair. If that storm stops before it’s full, that water sits there and slowly drains out into the big wastewater treatment plant in Detroit. If it goes past that, it goes over that last weir and goes into the Red Run and goes into the Clinton River eventually.

What happened with this storm was there was so much water that the outtake of the George W. Kuhn was going into the river, but the river was higher than the intake of the system. It was over Dequindre Road – so the water couldn’t go anywhere. It was trapped there. That’s why everything backed up behind that and people’s basements flooded. We got about $1.75 million worth of damage to the George W. Kuhn itself.

Once the water stopped in Warren, everything started receding from there. Once it got below that weir – Bang! – everything starting flowing again.

Right around 10 that night, everybody said the water started going down, they must’ve opened a gate. There was no gate to open. It’s just that super pushback of water opened. When that water went down, all the water went down. It had had time to treat it, so what was released was not contaminated water. It was very clean water that was released. If it hadn’t been for that backup, we might have released something else. But we released so much water, it just totally overwhelmed the system, all the way to Lake St. Clair basically.

We’re designed to take care of a 10-year, one hour storm, meaning you’re not likely to get a storm of that much magnitude except for one every 10 years. We’re designed for that. That’s what the federal and state regulators say we have to be designed for. So we design for that. This was a 320year storm. There’s no system that could hold that kind of storm back. The modeling shows these kinds of storms are going to become more common, so we have to be more prepared for that, and that’s what we’re working to do. Long-term, we’re working with the communities of encouraging green infrastructure and starting to have people understand that we can’t stop these kinds of storms but we can deal with them better.

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WESTEND

06.15

WESTEND: In late 2014, Oakland County joined with other counties to approve the Great Lakes Water Authority, which heralds a regional approach to managing what was the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

Many have credited your predecessor, John McCulloch, with helping pave the way for the regional system, with his detailed monitoring of the Detroit system and his willingness to fight against rate increases he felt were unfair.

Noticeably absent during the debate on the new Regional Authority was the WRC. What role, if any, does the WRC have in the regional system?

NASH: Well, I was in the negotiations from the beginning all the way through, working with Judge (Sean) Cox. My office, two of my top assistants, Sue Coffey and Jody Caldwell, are really driving the due diligence for Oakland County. We’re working with the executive (L. Brooks Patterson) very closely. We’re under a federal gag order by Judge Cox so we really can’t go into any detail.

Historically, I can say, within a few months of coming into office I was approached with a plan that really mirrors the plan we came up with under Judge Cox, which was to regionalize the system, to pay the city a $50 million a year fee.

They approached us very early because they had an emergency manager and bankruptcy breathing down their neck and they wanted to get ahead of it. Within a couple of weeks of them coming to us with this proposal, the emergency manager came in and took over. It kinda died for a while. A couple of months later, the emergency manager brought up the proposal again. We worked with his law firm, Conway McKenzie was one. They had come up with an initial proposal for the suburbs to pay the city $9 billion over 40 years, which would have been starting at $94 million a year and increase to $250 million a year as payment to the city, and nobody could deal with that. Everybody said, “That’s crazy.” You can’t take that much out of the system without bankrupting the whole system. The negotiations fell apart, nobody was talking. Wayne County suggested we have mediation. That’s when Judge Cox was brought in as mediator and immediately a gag order was put in place.

There were several months under a gag order before an original memorandum of understanding was done. Once we did that, we went public and it was signed on by the three executives and the governor and the boards of commissioners of all the counties passed a resolution supporting the memorandum and due diligence that has to be done. Since then, my office has been working very hard on this. We’ve had a huge amount of input.

All the sides have been getting along better than we have in decades. It feels good. On the staff level, we get along extremely well. We’ve started the authority now, we’ve had some meetings. They don’t have the power yet to do much. We’re working in the right direction. It’s a complicated thing. We have a deadline – it’s supposed to be working on the 9th of July.

WESTEND: You have long had an interest in the environment and sustainability. How does your position at the Water Resources Commission gel with that? How do you feel you are able to make a difference in maintaining Oakland County’s water, lakes and the environment?

NASH: Very well. We’re not the regulatory agency;

A STUDY IN PENNSYLVANIA (IN 2014) SHOWED THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CONTAMINATION IN WATER WELLS BY LARGE SCALE FRACKING, AND YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT…WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER STATES THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONTAMINATION ISSUES. we’re the enforcement arm of the regulatory agencies. In Michigan, a lot of the rules of the regulatory agencies, the EPA, are enforced by the DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality). We answer to the DEQ on most issues. We have a very good relationship with them. We have a very good reputation as a well-run county, and that shows.

They’re very interested in the George W. Kuhn. The DEQ has come to us with a proposal to develop green infrastructure for the DEQ for the George W. Kuhn because it’s a very important product, and if we can do it here, they can take it statewide.

We’re very interested in helping with that.

I get along well with people as a rule. Every other year I go to all of the communities. This year I will; I did it year before last, just so we have a relationship. In the past, there’s been some frustrations, some clashes between my office and some of the local communities. Some of them, and Birmingham is one – we kind of demand things without explaining them, and I think we’ve changed that attitude. I hope. We’re really working together better than we have in the past. I’m very conscious of personalities, of how people perceive me, this office, that we’re a regulator, that we make demands on people and we don’t really care what you think. I’m totally not that way. For a long-term, sustainable program, you have to have the collaboration and cooperation. You can’t just demand from people because people chafe under that. If we have to do something because the DEQ tells us to, we’re going to go to that community and explain why it has to be done and how we may be able to do it better, and if you have some ideas we might be able to use.

WESTEND: You’ve said that hydraulic fracturing – fracking – isn’t a personal crusade, but a part of your mission as Water Resources Commissioner. Fracking is certainly a contentious issue, with the MDEQ in 2013 noting that over the last 50 years, about 12,000 wells have been drilled and fracked for oil and

gas. You’re fervently opposed to it. How does fracking imperil drinking water, lakes and rivers in the county? How can it potentially contaminate wells and groundwater?

NASH: I’m opposed to a few things. I’m opposed to the large-scale horizontal programs that have just started in Michigan in the last few years.

There have been 12 wells altogether drilled that way; one of them took 21 million gallons of water, which is destroyed – the water can never be used again. The water has to be deep water injected.

When you’re drilling several miles underground, it is briny water, it’s salt water and it has chemicals in it and it has radioactive isotopes in it.

When it comes out of the ground, when it has been used that way, it goes into the ground with chemicals in it, fracking chemicals, those chemicals under the heat, pressure, and other chemicals underground can change. When they come back above ground, they have heavy metals in them, they have radioactive chemicals in them, they can never be used again. The water cannot be put through a wastewater treatment plant because it’s not going to clean it out of them.

That’s why we have deep water injection well treatment disposal. Right now, Oklahoma saw their earthquake rate go from one or two a year to one or two a day – and they’re all in places where they’re doing these injection wells.

In terms of water wells and potential for leakage, the large scale horizontal fracturing has no place in Michigan. It’s too dangerous for our water.

The kind of fracking that’s been going on for 50 years is shallow fracking uses about a thousandth as much water, but it uses the same chemicals, so the water still has to be disposed of, but it doesn’t use anywhere near as much. But conventional fracking and conventional drilling, I’m not opposed to that at all in Michigan as a rule, but they need better regulation and they should not be in very heavily populated areas. That’s the new thing.

Now they’re doing them in the middle of developments, in the middle of subdivisions – and that’s not right.

Until very recently, there was no law that required any testing of any aquifer. If you don’t know what’s there before you drilled, and the great majority were never tested after they drilled, if there’s no data, you can’t say it never happened.

(A) study in Pennsylvania (in 2014) showed there was significant contamination in water wells by large scale fracking, and you can’t argue with that.

The data here is not enough to show that, so we can’t say yet in Michigan. But when you look at other states where there has been a lot of fracking, yes, there has been a lot of contamination issues.

The University of Missouri Law SCAN TO LISTEN School did a study in Colorado, TO THE INTERVIEW that every county that had fracking, when they tested the surface waters, they found those fracking chemicals. In all the counties where they didn’t do fracking, they didn’t find those chemicals.

I would say unless you have real proof, I wouldn’t chance it if you have people around. I’m here to protect the water, and we have the headwaters of five rivers, so what happens here goes into those rivers. Then we could contaminate other counties from what happens here. We have to be very careful with what we do here.

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FACES

Beth Rexroat enowned theater teacher for Walled Lake Central High School, Beth Rexroat, will accompany six students to Scotland this August where they will perform for the coveted Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

“It’s the oldest worldwide art festival. It would be like being in the Olympics (for actors) in a way. If you are in the arts, you know this festival.”

Rexroat’s drama department was anonymously nominated to participate at the event in Edinburgh where, essentially, the whole city is a stage.

“Streets are closed so you can mill about. You might (perform) in the lobby of a hotel. Pubs rent out their places and there are street performers” The group will depart August 1 and return August 14. Actors will be responsible for recruiting their own audience to the Churchill Studio Theater.

“The kids are really excited. We’ve done all kinds of fundraising throughout the year. Even kids who aren’t going have chipped in.”

An alumni concert is planned for the first weekend of June featuring Broadway tunes to raise more money for the trip. Interested donors can visit their Go Fund Me page under Walled Lake Central Drama to the Fringe.

Rexroat, who has coached thousands of students over nearly three decades, was drawn to the arts as a young girl.

“My mom made dress-up boxes and (the stage) was like home,” she said. “I love literature and I told my mom and dad I really wanted to go for drama.”

Rexroat attended Ohio State University and Denison University as a

R

theater major but she first took the stage at her alma mater, Walled Lake Western High School.

“I did plays and musicals in high school. I played everything from lead to supporting characters.”

Rexroat made certain her two children had an early appreciation for the theater. “They grew up in the Walled Lake (Central) auditorium. We knew music had to be a part of their lives,” she said. “Walled Lake has always supported their students, academically, in the fine arts and the athletics. I wanted (the district) to educate my own children.”

Happily married for 30 years to her husband, Ralph Rexroat, she is very family-oriented.

“We’re a very faithful family. I was baptized, confirmed and married all at St. Matthew Lutheran here in Walled Lake and I owe everything to my parents, (retired Judge) Gene and Betty Schnelz.”

Rexroat’s dreams for her future are quite clear. “I hope to someday become a grandma so I can spoil my grandchildren.”

As for Rexroat’s theater family, she is intently focused on raising money for the trip to Edinburgh.

“It’s a very expensive trip. If anyone is interested in donating, we’ll take even five dollars.”

Although many of her students have gone on to gain notoriety in the arts, she takes no credit for their success.

“I’m very proud of all my kids who have gone on to become happy, productive adults. I would like to be remembered as (a teacher) who respected every kid and saw each as an individual.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Jean Lannen

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Before she came to the Pontiac Shelter Grace Centers of Hope eight months ago, Carrie said she was living with her husband and children, and holding onto a job cleaning houses. “I was trying to hold onto my life,” she explained. “But due to the pain and drug abuse in my life, I eventually gave my kids to my parents, so that I could get my life straight. Without recovery, I wouldn’t be any good to anybody. I was left with nothing else but to find help.”

Carrie is just one of the thousands of people in Oakland County who find themselves without a home each year.

“A lot of people think homelessness stems from an inner city life,” said Megan Gillesby, communications and special events coordinator at Grace Centers of Hope. “But homelessness can happen to anyone. It’s becoming more suburban and it is prevalent here in Oakland County. We receive an average of 23 phone calls a day.”

Each year in late January, Oakland County tallies the number of homeless individuals living within the county's 910 square miles. The Alliance for Housing of Oakland County, a 501(c)(3) made up of organizations from both the private and public sectors with a common goal to “end homelessness and increase affordable housing opportunities in Oakland County,” is responsible for coordinating and reporting all data used to calculate annual homeless counts, but the legwork is done by groups of partner agencies, college interns, and community volunteers.

“Each group leader – there are teams of four – go to a safety and information-gathering training. They then train their other team members.

We have two deployment centers, one in Pontiac and one in Royal Oak. Teams meet up and leave from each area depending on what map of an area they cover,” explained executive director of Alliance for Housing Leah McCall.

This street count conducted by the volunteers is used to determine the point in time, or PIT count, which the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires of all communities seeking federal grants to assist in the fight against homelessness. The PIT count serves as a snapshot of homelessness in Oakland County on a single night and therefore serves as an estimate of the average number of homeless people in the county at any given time.

he groups bring along care packages and provide information regarding housing and food services in order to engage the homeless individuals they encounter. “The PIT count is tied to the federal dollars that our community receives so it is very important to really try to connect with everyone we can,” said McCall. “If someone is willing to talk to them, they complete a sheet that asks for demographic data as well as other questions. If they won’t speak to a volunteer team, they try to offer them the items they have brought and write a descriptive statement to be used in the total numbers.

We have also added a service count the next day. (That is where we) send out volunteers to a day shelter and soup kitchens, asking where they spent the night last night.”

While the street count takes into account only unsheltered individuals – those sleeping outdoors or in cars or other places unfit for residence – shelters provide their housing inventory counts, or their numbers of inhabitants, from the night of the PIT count. The totaled counts are then analyzed and reported by the Alliance for Housing.

The 2015 PIT count, conducted on January 28, was 486 people, with 96 unsheltered individuals and 360 individuals in emergency shelters and transitional housing. The figures show a slight rise in the number of homeless people since 2014, when the Oakland County PIT count was 457.

However, the counts have dropped significantly since 2013, when the PIT count was 698 – up 192 from 2012's PIT count.

The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a web-based database, collects information regarding unduplicated counts of homeless persons assisted by the Alliance for Housing service providers in a given year and their basic demographics. The data is used to create an annual state of homelessness report, which computes the total number of homeless people served on any of the 365 days that year – not just on a single night in January. The data provided by the HMIS report is used for

T

congressional reporting and to inform the community, assist in writing grants, report to funders, track outcomes, and update the Continuum of Care’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.

The most recent report available is from 2013, when approximately 3,503 homeless individuals were served – 133 more than the 3,370 served in 2012.

ccording to the report, of the 3,503 served in Oakland County in 2013, approximately 62 percent were African American, approximately 34 percent were white, and approximately 5 percent were Hispanic.

Forty-three percent had high school diplomas – indeed 22 percent had some college education as well – and 10 percent had earned GEDs. Six percent were veterans. Forty-one percent of those counted were homeless for the first time.

Among the most frequently reported reasons for homelessness were eviction, job loss, mental health, and domestic violence.

While the 2014 report has not yet been released, numbers are expected to show a slight decrease in the number of homeless people served.

Perhaps the overall decrease in the estimated number of homeless people within the county since 2013 has been due to the solution-based actions taken by Alliance for Housing and local shelters.

“In Oakland County, we believe in collaboration as a way to maximize our resources,” said McCall.“[For example,] we rely on our street outreach teams through Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH). This program focuses on outreach for those who are homeless and have severe and persistent mental illness and are engaged in mental health services. Staff routinely visit the shelters and warming centers, canvass streets, parks and other areas to outreach those in need. Staff practice engagement, provide housing case management and assist in linking with services while still employing housing-first practices. Program participants are assisted with applying for Social Security as applicable, using the SOAR approach which provides an expedited process for applying for entitlements.”

Elizabeth Kelly, executive director at HOPE, reported that, “In 2014, [HOPE] added a navigator position to our staffing so that shelter guests have the opportunity to better connect with services that are a pathway out of homelessness – community mental health services, medical services, and housing. All of these combined serve to make for a stronger transition out of homelessness for the guest. Additionally, we've identified that there is nowhere for a homeless individual to go when discharged from the hospital to recuperate at home, so we are launching a specialty shelter called HOPE Recuperative Care to help people recover from illness, surgery, or chronic condition in safety and connect them with resources to secure stable housing.”

Ryan Hertz, CEO and president of South Oakland Shelter (SOS), which provides temporary lodging and supportive services to the homeless, said SOS has focused on “expanding [its] housing solutions to reduce shelter length-of-stay and continue freeing up existing shelter beds. We believe that this is a more sustainable solutions-oriented approach than seeking resources to increase our number of shelter beds.”

At Grace Centers of Hope, where its mission is to assist homeless and disadvantaged individuals and families, individuals like Carrie can participate in the one-year Life Skills Program. Participants are given the Test of Adult Education so that the staff can create individualized programs based on their needs. Nine months into the program, participants attend resume writing and career search workshops so that they can begin looking for jobs.

“My main focus now is to seek employment and to get my high school diploma,” Carrie said, noting she now sees her children once a week. “I want to get my high school diploma and go to college and get an MSW (masters in social work) and be a caseworker here at Grace Centers of Hope. I was spiritually bankrupt before, but, here, I have developed a relationship with God through prayer and mediation. What I find will be most important for my future is to give back the kind of help that was so freely given to me at Grace Centers of Hope.”

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Time to start planning for your spring move.

Call Jennifer for your free market analysis today!

Oakland County's Lakefront Specialist

Jennifer Wrobleski 248-854-3100 Office: 248-360-2900 jwrobleski@kw.com www.MichiganHomeMarketPlace.com

#1 Agent at Keller Williams - Commerce Stunning beachfront luxury home on all sports Williams Lake.

Quality custom construction automated home. Beautifully maintained stone/brick exterior. Inviting 2 story entry with custom front door. Grand 2 story foyer with custom staircase. Hardwoods throughout main level. Formal dining with built in buffet. Kitchen with custom cabinets, granite, dual stainless farmhouse sinks and dishwashers, gourmet appliances, and skylights.2 generous sized bedrooms and 2 full baths on main level. Gorgeous office/library with built-ins and spectacular lake views. Master suite every owner deserves….private balcony, sitting area w/FP, private laundry, beautiful bath w/custom dual sinks, jetted tub, water closer, and oversized shower. Finished walk-out LL w/full kitchen and bath.Lakeside garage 750 sq ft for all of your lake toys. Pristine sandy beach and frontage with lighthouse and spectacular landscaping. $949,900.

PRICE REDUCED!!! Enjoy this summer at this Upper Straits Lakefront home in Shady Beach, one of Upper Straits prestigious subdivisions which hosts multiple family events throughout the year. Completely rebuilt in 1994.

Meticulously maintained home w/open floor plan perfect for entertaining. Great room w/soaring ceilings and beautiful brick fireplace. Formal dining area. Island kitchen w/stunning lakeviews. Cozy family room w/doorwall to deck. 2 generous sized bedrooms on entry level w/newly remodeled bath. Master suite w/wood burning fireplace, fabulous two story lake views from private balcony, large WIC, and private bath w/Jacuzzi. Additional room off master suite perfect for workout area/nursery. Finished walk-out lower level w/rec area, family room, and plenty of additional storage. New HWH and furnace. Heated 3 car garage w/additional overhead storage. Association includes boat launch, common beach area, and park. $649,900

Panoramic views on one of all-sports Cedar Island's premier lakefront lots. Vacation at home and enjoy the beautifully manicured lot w/stone seawall and sandy beach with 257 ft of frontage on peninsula. This stunning brick ranch boasts an open floor plan. Living area with brick fireplace and built-ins, formal dining area, kitchen with breakfast nook and door wall to sun room with spectacular lake views and access to tiered deck w/built in seating. Generous sized master suite with full bath and door wall to private deck area. $550,000

PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful waterfront home with spectacular all-sports lake frontage. Inviting entry to 2 story foyer. Hardwoods and upgraded trim/crown throughout main level. Private office/den and formal dining. Great room with floor to ceiling natural stone fireplace and a wall of windows with breathtaking lake views. Stunning island kitchen w/granite, beautiful cabinets and backsplash, undermount lighting, stainless appliances, bar area, and desk area.

Breakfast nook with door wall to deck. First floor master suite w/cathedral ceilings and plenty of windows to capture lake views, WIC, and private bath with his/hers sinks, jetted tub, shower, and water closet. Generous sized bedrooms upstairs.

Jack and jill and a main bath for remaining bedrooms. Large bonus room w/additional bedroom and room for a possible 6th bedroom. Finished walkout lower level w/gas FP, large family room/rec area, and powder room. Awesome mudroom entry off 3 car attached garage. Clarkston schools! Walk or bike to Indian Springs. $614,900

Keller Williams Realty

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2730 Union Lake Road

PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful all-sports lake front situated on a premier lot with 103’ of frontage. This beautifully maintained 3 bedroom/3 bath ranch has an inviting entry and 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. Lakeside master suite w/full bath. Finished walkout lower level with family room w/door wall to lake, rec area, full bath, and plenty of storage. Kitchen area in lower level opens up to sunroom w/slate floors and door to beautifully maintained deck with built in seating. Pristine landscaping. 2 car detached garage. CLARKSTON SCHOOLS! Walk/bike to Indian Springs.

Big Lake…Oakland County’s best kept secret! $379,900

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Commerce Twp, MI 48382

FACES

Suzi Coleman efore Nepal was hit by catastrophic earthquakes, Commerce Township's Suzi Coleman was raising money for Nepalese people to receive eye care through her charity Eyes on Everest, which she started after traveling to the country and learning about the lack of care.

“I've always been fascinated by Sherpa culture. They're almost superhuman, climbing Mt. Everest. They're the only ethnic group allowed to climb the mountain, others can only go up to the base camp. I wanted to meet Sherpas and be able to see Mt. Everest,” she said.

Two years ago, Coleman volunteered to travel to Nepal by herself for two weeks, and lived in a Sherpa home off the Everest trail, and going on a four-day trek to 12,000 foot vertical altitude.

“When I was there, I became close with village people, and I saw what they were lacking, one of which was eyecare,” Coleman said. “To get it, they had to walk seven days to get to a road, and then take a 10hour bus ride and then back to have an eye exam.”

Upon her return, she researched and found an eye organization she teamed up with at Bosch Southeast. She held fundraisers here in order to provide for cataract surgery for those who would need it in Nepal.

“In October 2014, I took a mission of 26 people, including eye doctors, optometrists, assistants, and volunteers back to the village, Ghat, and we treated 2,000 people up and down the Mt. Everest Trail. It was really amazing.”

In addition, Coleman sponsored four optometrists from Kathmandu to join their group in order to provide continuing care for the villagers.

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During this trip, Coleman also recognized other needs in Ghat, and has another project she is passionate about.

“I'm collecting iPads and iPhones with apps and programmed computers for children K-8 to donate to schools,” she said. “I gave one to a school, one to the monastery, and one to the boarding house there to help students. I want to collect more.”

Teaming up with the Himalaya Trust, a foundation created by Sir Edmund Hilary, which started a school which is a two to three day walk from the village, she believes if she gets iPads and iPhones there, “it will get them access up and down the trail to this school.”

She later took an additional trip back to the country, traveling to Kathmandu. “I met people in Kathmandu and went to two orphanages, and sent them to the optometrists for eye exams.”

Since the earthquakes, she said the country, is “horrible, horrible, horrible. The boarding house survived, but the monastery, which was 500 years old, was totally destroyed. I talk to people daily in the village.

I'm raising money to try to help them rebuild.”

When Coleman isn't traveling to Nepal, she and her husband Jon enjoy their blended family of four children, two grandsons, “and two more on the way. We each have two children, so now we have four.”

She and Jon have lived in Commerce for 18 years. “We live on Commerce Lake. The lake brought us out here. We love it.”

Story: Lisa Brody

Photo: Jean Lannen

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CENTURY 21 TODAY AGENTS SMARTER. BOLDER. FASTER. MORE INNOVATIVE.速 CENTURY 21 Today, Inc. | 6611 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48324 | 248-360-9100 (0) 息2015 Century 21 Today, Inc. All rights reserved. CENTURY 21速 is a registered trademark owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An equal opportunity company.

Equal housing opportunity. Each office is independently owned and operated. Property information deemed accurate but not guaranteed.Subject to prior sale.

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Spacious And Well Kept Colonial Home In Quiet Neighborhood. Home Has Stunning, Wooded Private Yard With Lovely Landscaping. Includes 4 Beds, 3 Full And 1 Half Baths, Bay Windows, Tall Ceilings, And Lots Of Sunny Space. 215030752 $265,000

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CENTURY 21 TODAY AGENTS SMARTER. BOLDER. FASTER. MORE INNOVATIVE.速 CENTURY 21 Today, Inc. | 6611 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48324 | 248-360-9100 (0) 息2015 Century 21 Today, Inc. All rights reserved. CENTURY 21速 is a registered trademark owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An equal opportunity company.

Equal housing opportunity. Each office is independently owned and operated. Property information deemed accurate but not guaranteed.Subject to prior sale.

The Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Presents...

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 6:00 pm - Gates Open

Rockin’

6:15 pm - Power Play performs

Under

The Stars

8:00 pm - Fifty Amp Fuse performs Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of musical entertainment with your family, friends and neighbors. Food , beer, wine and soft drink concessions available throughout the event. No coolers or carry-ins permitted.

$5 per person 12 & under FREE Multi Lakes Conservation Association 3860 Newton Road, Commerce

with music by

FR PARKEE ING

6-11pm

FRANKLIN TAX & ACCOUNTING, P.C.

SUPPORT OPEN DOOR OUTREACH CENTER FOOD DRIVE

HELP FEED THE LESS FORTUNATE IN OUR COMMUNITY. NON-PERISHABLE FOOD & PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE CONCERT. OPEN DOOR IS A 501 (C)(3) TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. #MISC7533

…and Power Play!

Saturday - July 25

38

WESTEND

06.15

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM STATE AVOIDS BRUISING BATTLE

BY LISA BRODY reedom is an important and significant word. It's the basis for the first three articles of our Bill of Rights. According to the dictionary, one meaning is “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint”; another definition states freedom is “the power of self-determination attributed to the will, the quality of being independent of fate or necessity.” Yet those definitions of freedom can simultaneously be interpreted from opposite sides of the same coin, forcing conflicting groups to have divergent understandings of what freedom is, and who should enjoy which freedoms.

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Religious freedom, an issue currently being played out and debated across the country, including Michigan, is a prime example of that differing of opinion, and a principle upon which the United States was first established.

The freedom of religion is one that supports the freedom of an individual or community, whether in public or private, to practice their religion or beliefs, in practice, worship, teachings, and observance. Many consider the freedom of religion a fundamental human right.

The dispute in modern day America centers around how, in efforts to either support or stifle another group’s pursuit of religious freedom, another entity can be hurt, marginalized or potentially discriminated against.

That is the tango of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, federally enacted to protect the free exercise of religion in November of 1993 under President Bill Clinton, but resurrecting its head in several states, such as Indiana and Michigan, in efforts to “protect” businesses from having to perform professional duties at gay weddings.

Others wonder if the state acts are just an excuse to legislate and legitimize discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender individuals.

“The bill has been purely defined, both independently and nationally. It is what it is.

Everyone has an opinion. But we've seen what has happened (in Indiana),” said Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake). “There are some people adamantly opposed to baking a cake with a serpent on it. And then you get into gay rights.”

The national Religious Freedom Restoration Act, known as RFRA, was introduced by Democrats Sen. Ted Kennedy and Rep. Chuck Schumer in March 1993, in order to “ensure that interests in religious freedom are protected,” with only three senators voting against the bill. While it was meant to, and does, apply to all religions, it was actually designed towards Native American religions that feel burdened by increased expansion of government lands onto their sacred lands. The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment states that Congress shall not pass laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

However, RFRA was held to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1997 in the case City of Boerne v. Flores, where the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio wanted to enlarge a church in Boerne, Texas. A Boerne ordinance protected the church as a historic landmark. The church sued, citing RFRA, and the Supreme Court struck it down, stating that Congress had stepped beyond their permitted power provided in the Fourteenth Amendment (which addresses citizens' rights).

In 2003, the federal Act was amended to only include the federal government. It was successfully utilized in the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby Decision involving Obamacare, which permitted the company to not provide birth control to its employees as a health care expense, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act, stating it conflicted with the religious beliefs of the company's owners.

Since, individual states have turned to RFRA as a tool.

Yet according to cases which continue to come before the U.S. Supreme Court, it's constitutionality continues to be tested, with the government having to show compelling state interest in restricting religious conduct. For an example, in 2013, the Arizona legislature created their own act after a New Mexico photographer who refused to document a same-sex couple's commitment ceremony was determined to have violated New Mexico's public accommodation laws. After public outcry, former Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed the bill.

In December 2014, the Michigan House of Representatives passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act on straight party lines, by a vote of 59-50. However, the state Senate declined at the time to put the bill up for a vote. It was sponsored by former Speaker of the House Jase Bolger (R-Marshall), who said the goal was to merely protect people and their beliefs and practice of religion. At the time, they used differing examples, such as the baker who didn't want to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, as well as a Jewish mother who didn't want an autopsy for her son who died in a car crash, or a pediatrician who doesn't want the child of a lesbian couple as a patient. ep. Mike McCready (R-Birmingham) said he voted for the bill in 2014. Today, he's unsure if he would be as supportive, as a new Senate bill heard in committee in late April 2015, Senate Bill 4, is designed to be expanded to the private sector as well as public sector. Sponsored by state Sen. Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), wrote recently regarding his proposed RFRA bill, “Why is Michigan looking to pass its own RFRA and why have so many other states done so?

A Supreme Court ruling said that states would need to pass their own state version of RFRA if it wanted its citizens to be protected by overzealous governmental laws or actions...Many states, including our neighbors such as Illinois, started passing state level RFRAs to fully restore the First Amendment rights of their citizens...Far from being a 'license to discriminate,' both the federal RFRA and the proposed Michigan RFRA are a shield to make sure people retain their full First Amendment rights and have an opportunity to defend themselves if governmental laws or actions unfairly impinge upon their sincerely held religious beliefs.”

“Bolger was lining it up with the federal bill that was approved. It was just for government workers. It didn't involve private workers,” McCready said.

McCready did note that “we have a diverse community that we live in, especially here in the district.

I don't know how the government should or shouldn't be involved.”

“I allowed the bill to have a hearing. I thought it was very educational. Everyone got to have their say, and now we can move on to other issues,” said Sen. Rick Jones (RGrand Ledge) and chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, who said in early May he did not intend to bring the bill before the Senate committee for a vote. “The Governor is opposed based on Elliott-Larsen, and I don't have any say in bringing that before the full Senate. But more importantly, businesses have said that they don't want to have any backlash like they had in other states.”

Shirkey's Senate office said he would not comment further on his own bill.

Numerous businesses, large and small, object to a Michigan RFRA and to the concurrent lack of expansion of civil rights to the gay community, as evidenced by

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testimony not only during this Senate hearing, but more notably in 2014.

Simultaneous to the introduction to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2014 and as a companion to the bill, former state Rep. Frank Foster (R- Petoskey) introduced an expansion to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include the LGBT community.

The goal was to amend the state's civil rights act to provide protection to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected from employment discrimination. Businesses around the state strongly supported the expansion of Elliott-Larsen, as does the governor. But not only did the legislation fail because Republican leadership would not include the transgender community in the bill, but it also ended up costing Foster his seat in the state House.

“Two years ago, a Democrat from Ann Arbor, Jeff Irwin, came to me and said, 'You probably don't know this, but there's no protection from gender orientation and identity.'

I said I didn't know that,” said the 28-year-old Foster.

“Irwin told me he wanted to sponsor a bill to include it, but that would be better coming from a Republican. I understood and agreed. Probably in February (2014), I understood the implications this would have for me, as well. The polling numbers in my district were terrible, but I felt we in Michigan were on the wrong side of history.”

Foster said that the previous fall, he met Lee Chatfield, who would go on to unseat him, in the district. Chatfield told him straight out that he didn't like the expansion of the Elliott-Larsen bill, and that if Foster didn't give it up, he would be forced to run against him.

“I understood what he was saying. But, think about this, it's only one bill,” Foster said. “He gave me a deadline of December 21 (2013), and then he filed to run against me. The rest is documented. He ran, and it was the highest primary turnout the district had ever seen.

“It was a campaign against gay rights.”

Foster said he has no regrets. He disagreed with Chatfield, now the state representative for the district, on the issue, “and it's a socially conservative district. I knew what I was walking into. I told my staff, at the end of the day, all we've lost is our jobs. We've kept our ethics.”

Despite losing the primary campaign, Foster stuck to his principles and pushed the amendment to the ElliottLarsen bill during his last months in the state House.

What is the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and why has it become such a political hot potato? Also known as Public Act 453 of 1976, the law is named after its two primary sponsors, Daisy Elliott (D-Detroit) and Melvin Larsen (R-Oxford). It prohibits discrimination on the basis of “religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status” in employment, housing, education, and access to public accommodations.

It passed in 1976 with 25 votes in the Michigan Senate, and 79 votes in the Michigan House, and was signed into law by Governor William Milliken. It has been in effect in Michigan since March 31, 1977.

According to interviews with Elliott and Larsen at the time, and written about in 2014 in MLive by Tim Skubick, the original legislation was meant to focus on African Americans, and it was believed that adding “sexual orientation” would prevent the bill from passing, so it was left out at the time. Many issues raised at the time by the disabled community were subsequently addressed with the passage of the Michigan's Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act in 1976.

Actual legislation to include the LGBT community wasn't introduced until 2005. Since, there have been several bills introduced to add protections for the LGBT community. Foster's bill, ultimately did not receive support from the LGBT community because the final draft only included sexual orientation and not gender identity; it was

supported in hearing but did not receive a committee vote.

“We are actively seeking to achieve an (inclusive) Elliott-Larsen Act,” said Cassandra Varner, communications and development director for Affirmations in Ferndale. “Last year it was modified to not include gender identity, and we feel very strongly that gender identity must be included as a recognized, protected class.”

Seeking to create and maintain a vibrant and healthy business environment, executives from AT&T Michigan, Fiat Chrysler, Dow Chemical, Whirlpool, Herman Miller, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Steelcase, Henry Ford Health Systems, Cook Investments, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Warner Norcross & Judd, Cascade Engineering, Area Agency on Aging, and Production Tool Supply, among others, spoke in October and November 2014 to the House's Commerce committee urging the amended adoption of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Michigan is in a global war for talent,” said Brad Williams, vice president, global relations for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the annual Mackinac Policy Conference. The Detroit Chamber supported the Elliott-Larson bill last year, which they announced at the 2014 Mackinac conference. “Anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, we felt, were welcome to come to Michigan and utilize their talents here.”

Williams said after they announced their support of Elliott-Larsen, there was talk that the House was going to run a Religious Freedom Restoration Act bill with it. “They felt the Elliott-Larsen bill would neutralize the RFRA, and the civil rights act would have protections from that RFRA bill, unlike in Indiana, where even the revised bill did not explicitly prohibit discrimination. Elliott-Larsen would prohibit discrimination.” he Michigan Chamber of Commerce said they have not yet taken a position on either ElliottLarsen or Religious Freedom. Wendy Brock of the Michigan Chamber said, “We're currently listening to our members to see how they feel it impacts their businesses. We're hopeful we can learn from what's going on in other states.”

Dr. Gary Rudgers, global regulatory leader for new business within Dow AgroSciences, told the Commerce committee during hearings, “In a highly competitive world where innovation is the key to securing competitive advantage, we know that it is our employees that are key to our success...With a shrinking and every more diverse talent pool, it is essential for us to actively include everyone to ensure we attract, develop and advance the very best talent. At Dow, we are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce across all spectrums: race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sex, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, mental or physical ability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Specifically, our LGBT policies have been good for our workplace for two main reasons: 1) retention of our employees has been enhanced, because they know they can perform their jobs openly and with full support of their personal and family situation without fear of repercussion and therefore have more reason to be committed to the company in return, and 2) better recruitment of allies and younger workers, who often gauge inclusive policies as a litmus test for prospective employers.”

Brian Walker, CEO of Herman Miller, explained to the committee, “Embracing the unique talents and perspectives of all our employees is an integral part of our business strategy. By doing so, we create more innovative solutions for our customers, develop stronger community and supplier relationships, and provide a supportive environment where all employees feel welcome and able to bring their whole selves to work. Unfortunately, our own

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workplace practices come up against the statewide reality that it is still legal in Michigan to fire someone, refuse housing, or refuse service to this community, all things that directly undermine our own efforts in the workplace.”

The sentiment was heard by the committee repeatedly.

“For Michigan to drive further growth, the legislature must act to expand the protections in the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect current and future residents from discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as gender identity,” Cynthia Pasky, CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions, said. “It is time to modernize the law and do the right thing for our community, the right thing for our economy, and the right thing for Michigan.”

“It's definitely great that it's gotten so much support from the business community and large corporations,” said Affirmations' Varner. “Diversity and equality are at the top of their priorities at the Big Three.”

The requested civil rights non-discrimination protections covering sexual orientation and gender identity are guaranteed to citizens in 19 other states, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), from states as diverse as California and Massachusetts to Idaho, New Mexico, Illinois and Washington state. Three other states, New York, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin, offer protections based upon sexual orientation only. espite demands by Michigan House Democrats and the LGBT community, sources said there was not support within the Republican caucus for gender identity to be included in the 2014 bill. While many Republicans across the state could accept inclusion of sexual orientation in the bill, that was their line in the sand. For the transgender community, as well as the greater LGBT community as a whole, that was a non-negotiable item.

Some working both in the legislature, and behind the scenes, felt it may have been in the LGBT community's best interest to meet Republicans half-way, and get the amendment with sexual orientation approved, and then move it forward for the transgender community at a later date.

“It's a debate between pragmatism and ideology,” said one individual who declined to be named. “Take half a loaf, and work on the rest of the loaf.”

Ironically, Foster said, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder supported a lower court ruling “that transgender would be covered under sex. So it was covered already under Elliott-Larsen legally. But we need to show the business community and the state, and people outside the state, that Michigan is tolerant, and at the end of the day, I couldn't move the bill without transgender in it through the House because Republicans wouldn't support it, and I couldn't move a bill which just included sexual orientation in it, because the Democrats wouldn't support it.

“The Religious Freedom bill was important to a number of people in the House from all over the state, and I knew that to get my bill moving, it was necessary to make it mesh or make it move in tangent with RFRA, and I made that happen with Speaker of the House Bolger. He was supportive of what I was doing but wanted to know that there would be protections for the religious with this,” Foster explained. “I was trying to accomplish more tolerance with my bill, and I didn't want the Religious Freedom bill to go through without the Elliott-Larson changes, because I didn't want the bigots of the world to prevail, to have an excuse to discriminate.”

The Elliott-Larsen bill was not brought before the full House for a vote.

Former Sen. Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) chose not to put the Religious Freedom bill on the lame duck agenda, noting he did not have enough votes, 20, to have it pass, although several Republican senators did request it at the time.

Governor Rick Snyder stated in 2014, and again today, he would veto any RFRA bill that came before him, as long as it was not coupled with an expansion of the ElliottLarsen Civil Rights Act, to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“The Governor has said he would veto the Religious Freedom bill if it came to his desk unless it was accompanied by an expansion of the Michigan Civil Rights Act,” said Dave Murray, deputy press secretary for Governor Snyder. “He has numerous concerns without the added protections.”

Williams of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce was pleased that a few weeks ago Sen. Jones did not bring the recent RFRA up for a vote. “I came up for the hearing because I wanted the business community's voice to be heard,” he said. “Because I didn't want silence to insinuate consent. At the same time, I'm glad wiser heads prevailed. The Governor's opposition is a road block to the legislation.”

“My stance is there's a federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” said Rep. Klint Kesto (R-Commerce, West Bloomfield). “As a Catholic, the Pope mentioned treating everyone fairly and equally. At the same time, no one's religion should be burdened by the government. But it must be some sincerely held religious belief, not just an excuse that is discriminatory.”

“I just keep going back to the Constitution, that all people are created equally, and if we just go back to what our forefathers wrote, we'd all be just fine,” said Sen. Kowall.

“Our rights are pretty well-defined, and the Michigan Constitution is even clearer than the federal Constitution, that everyone is equal.”

On May 7, 2015, state Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) introduced Senate Bill 315, to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include the LGBT community.

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MLS 215036992 – $339,900 This house isn’t just a home for its owner, it is a sanctuary – you will be drawn away from your busy life by the private, tree-lined, nearly 2 acre lot, spacious colonial features a generous amount of upper and lower level space for you to entertain friends and family, use the second home as a guest home for visitors or as your private retreat or den, garage is a mechanic’s dream. 248.363.8300

MLS 215035588 – $319,000 Spectacular Lakefront Home on very private, All Sports Scott Lake! Each level offers lake views and door walls to a multiple deck system that leads down to this jewel of a lake, home features 120’ of lake frontage with a sandy bottom, lower level master bedroom features a huge walk in closet, new furnace (2014), new A/C and water softener (2015) and updated kitchen (2013). 248.363.8300

MLS 215049068 – $414,900 Absolutely Gorgeous Home with upgrades galore! Dramatic foyer with custom limestone, granite flooring leads to beautiful great room with soaring ceilings and two sided fireplace, all trim work upgraded including crown molding throughout home and baseboards, kitchen and butler’s pantry offer granite counters and glass back splash, located on cul-de-sac featuring professionally landscaped private yard with brick paver patio, oversized 3 car finished/heated garage. 248.363.8300

MLS 215038708 – $300,000 Striking colonial with 3 fireplaces and an in-ground pool, stunning master suite with a dual fireplace, huge family room with vaulted ceiling and fireplace opens to kitchen with granite counters, lots of cabinetry and beautiful back splash, formal living room and dining room provide lots of room for family gatherings, this home has it all, immediate occupancy just in time for summer! 248.363.8300

MLS 215037174 – $339,900 Four bedroom 3.5 bath colonial on 1.66 acres with finished basement, 3 car side entry garage, move in condition, 2 story foyer with window and hardwood floors, natural fireplace in family room, crown molding throughout, large covered porch, 4 bedrooms upstairs, master suite with gas fireplace, separate dressing area, professionally finished basement, new water heater and softener. 248.363.8300

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MLS 215023117 – $829,000 Stately, yet comfortable Tudor Home in acclaimed Trillium of Farmington Hills, multi-functional floor plan with first floor in-law suite, with full bath, kitchenette, living room, both interior and separate exterior accesses, impressive two story foyer, dual staircases, master and princess suites, two story great room with floor to ceiling windows, large kitchen with beautiful hardwood floors. 248.363.8300

MLS 215022377 – $354,000 Pride of ownership! Tasteful and rich describe this beautiful colonial, immaculate, original owner, updated kitchen with granite, newer appliances including double oven, new roof, furnace, HWH, new carpet throughout, built in bookcases in upstairs foyer, bay window in living room, family room has hardwood with warm inviting fireplace. 248.363.8300

MLS 215049596 – $399,000 Looking for peace and tranquility with room to roam? This spacious home offers very flexible floor plan, large 4 bedroom home on 16+ picturesque wooded acres. Light bright great room with doorwall to inviting screened porch overlooking pond and nature, kitchen with island, pantry with rolling storage, loft area with skylights works well for office, library. 248.363.8300

MLS 215034162 – $419,000 Popular Pine Cove Sub! Beautiful well maintained 4 bedroom 3.5 bath home with first floor master suite with private bath, walk in closet, separate door wall leads to the beautiful Trex deck that overlooks serene backyard setting, large open great room with gas fireplace, vaulted ceilings and skylights, spacious updated kitchen has cherry wood cabinets, granite counters, hardwood flooring, Pine Cove Association offers lake privileges on All Sports Lower Straits Lake. 248.363.8300

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FACES David Furlong ath teacher and past contestant on Country Music Television’s “Broken Skull Challenge” David Furlong can both teach a student how to solve linear equations and bench press 310 pounds.

In 2014, the avid CrossFit enthusiast tried out for the “Broken Skull Challenge”, hosted by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. From thousands of potential contestants across the country, he was chosen to compete.

“It was very mentally challenging. The first event I did was a tug of war,” he said. “We were going at it for 30 minutes.”

Furlong prevailed in the first challenge, but was knocked out on the second event which entailed a hill climb with 155 pounds attached to his back.

“They pair people against each other in a tournament.

They put you through physically and mentally challenging (situations) and see who ends up on top,” he said. “I felt very blessed just to have the chance to do it. It was a tremendous opportunity and experience.”

Furlong’s interest in athletics began as a boy when he would play football with his brother, Mike. He went on to participate in high school football as a Waterford Kettering student and discovered CrossFit years later.

“I’ve always been into exercising per se,” he said. “I’d go to World Gym or Planet Fitness and lift weights. That’s when I discovered CrossFit and that type of training.”

Furlong defines CrossFit as training through functional movements that incorporate strength, endurance, ability and coordination. “In competitive CrossFit, we see who can do them the fastest or can do the most reps.”

Back home, Furlong competes in local CrossFit challenges through the representation of CrossFit Maven, a gym in Rochester.

“The owner of Maven (Brad Berlin) does our programming for us,” he said. “We have an outline for what we need to do to train and we focus on sending a team to CrossFit Regionals.”

In 2014, Furlong was one of three male athletes sent to compete in Cincinnati, Ohio for the regionals. He calls that achievement the biggest accomplishment of his athletic life.

By day, Furlong teaches mathematics at Detroit Country Day, a private school in Beverly Hills, Michigan.

He also coaches football, bowling and lacrosse for the prestigious establishment. Furlong often looks to a fellow Country Day educator for guidance.

“John Williams is someone I look up to,” he said. “I can go to him for advice on education, students or life. I really admire his philosophy. He’s a mentor and he teaches (students) how to be lifelong learners.”

At 30-years-old, the mathematician with muscles aims to teach his students more than just algebra or geometry.

“You see the satisfaction of when they ‘get it,’” he said. “My story is not just about me. I feel like I am making a difference in these kids’ lives.”

The Waterford resident is hoping to implement a cross training program at Detroit Country Day. “It’s important to teach lifelong health and fitness,” he said. “I always say that if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.”

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Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Jean Lannen

MUNICIPAL Developer receives extension from DDA

By Kevin Elliott

A Farmington Hills developer who in 2013 agreed to purchase about 60 acres of land inside Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) project area was granted its fifth extension to finalize their $5.15 million purchase at the DDA's monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 20.

In June of 2013, M. Shapiro Development Company entered a purchase agreement with the DDA to buy about 60 acres of land in the 330acre project area now known as Commerce Towne Place. At the time, Shapiro had proposed building about 400 “stacked ranch” homes and townhouses, as well as some mixed use development, which could include restaurants, senior living, banks and other hospitality uses.

The parcels are located between Welch Road and Martin Parkway, along a portion of Pontiac Trail and the area to the west.

At the time, the purchase agreement signified the first potential finalized sale of property in the DDA project area since its inception more than 10 years ago. However, multiple delays stemming from wetland environmental issues and the permitting process with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) have put site plans and a final sale of the property on hold for nearly two years.

The delay raised concerns earlier in May among some members of the Commerce Township Board of Trustees, who said the land has since increased in value and is costing the DDA and township potential profits.

“We announced we sold the property years ago, and we don’t see anything going on it. We keep passing the due diligence period down the line,” trustee Robert Berkheiser said at the May 12 meeting. “It will probably be three years-plus before they are ready to write a check on it.”

Trustee Robert Long agreed, saying that the DDA should think about entertaining new offers on the land.

“Sell it to someone else,” he said.

“There’s no way he has paid in due diligence what that property has gone up in value.”

Jim Galbraith, of M. Shapiro Development, said on May 20 while the 46

Hiller's sold; one location to close iller's Markets, with locations in Commerce and West Bloomfield, will be acquired by the Kroger Company, it was announced on Friday, May 1, and they will be rebranded as Kroger stores after the sale is completed this summer, with one location in Commerce slated for closure.

All seven of the Hiller's Markets will be acquired by Kroger's Novibased Michigan Division under an agreement between the two companies, said Kroger spokesman Ken McClure. Hiller's operates two locations in Commerce, including a store at 3010 Union Lake Road and another at 39950 W. 14 Mile Road, at Haggerty. Other locations include a Hiller's at 6433 Orchard Lake Road, in West Bloomfield Township, as well as locations in Ann Arbor, Northville, Plymouth, South Lyon.

The Hiller's Market on Union Lake Road in Commerce Township will be closed this summer and the other locations in Commerce and West Bloomfield will be converted into Kroger locations, along with all of their other locations, McClure confirmed.

McClure said Kroger will assume the lease for the Union Lake location, but will be closing the store due to its close proximity to a recently constructed 99,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace at 2905 Union Lake Road. Other west Oakland County locations in Commerce and West Bloomfield will be converted into Kroger stores. McClure said the acquisition is expected to be finalized in July, at which point the Union Lake location would be closed and the other stores will be rebranded.

McClure said the acquisitions aren't included in Kroger's "incredibly aggressive expansion in southeast Michigan" taking place in 2015 and 2016. The company announced last year an investment of about $100 million in the area.

In January, Kroger announced plans to build a 113,000 square-foot Kroger Marketplace and fuel center on a vacant piece of property on 14 Mile Road, near Haggerty. While Kroger said it would rebrand the Hiller's Market location on 14 Mile Road, it wasn't immediately known if it would be closed after the Kroger Marketplace location is opened.

That location is currently in the planning stages. Kroger also announced plans recently to expand its Commerce Township location at Pontiac Trail and Beck roads.

H

project “has taken an inordinate amount of time,” recent draft permits were issued by the MDEQ and RCOC, and he expects to close on the final agreement by early September.

The DDA board unanimously agreed to extend the contract through July 22.

Under the agreement, Shapiro may terminate the contract if the MDEQ refuses to issue a final permit on or before July 22. The DDA also has the right to extend or terminate the contract if Shapiro’s site plan isn’t approved by July 1.

While Galbraith said engineers have worked to resolve the permit issues stemming from the wetlands in “very creative” ways, the total number of proposed units has been reduced by about 100.

The reduction in the number of units may also mean fewer dollars in tax revenue when the project is finalized, as well as an incentive from

the developer that the DDA is set to receive amounting to $2,000 per unit that is constructed in the development.

Despite the issues, Insite Commercial president Randy Thomas, who has been retained by the DDA to market the property, said the two parties are nearing a final agreement.

“It has taken a long time to get here, but it will take a longer time if we go backward or start over again,” he said.

Wolverine Lake police join OAK-TAC The Wolverine Lake Village Council unanimously approved a request by the Wolverine Lake Village Police Department to join the Oakland County Law Enforcement Tactical Response Coordinating Group (OAK-TAC) in order to better respond to emergency

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situations in the village and throughout the county at their meeting on Wednesday, May 13.

“We are one of the last departments in the county that isn’t part of it,” Wolverine Lake Police Chief John Ellsworth said prior to village council approving his request for the department to join the countywide group. “It will allow for training that is currently outside our realm, and it will get all of our officers trained for about $250 a year.”

The group dates back to 2009 when Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard hosted a meeting that spurred a discussion over the need for a more regional response to large scale incidents.

The purpose of the group is to provide coordination of resources and training, and to position Oakland County to effectively and efficiently respond to major incidents requiring mutual aid.

Ellsworth said members are required to attend monthly meetings.

Search for planner likely to take months At least two to three months is the estimated amount of time that Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said it will be before the township hires a planning director to replace former planning consultant Kathleen Jackson, who resigned effective Friday, May 22.

“I just wrote a job description. At the last meeting, the board (of trustees) said the (description) was 10 years old. It was just updated and has to go back to the board (for approval),” Zoner said of where the township is at in the search for a new planning director.

In late April, township planning consultant Kathleen Jackson announced she would be resigning from the position effective May 22. On April 28, the board approved hiring a full-time planning director to replace Jackson.

Township board member Robert Berkheiser asked Zoner on May 12 at the Commerce Board of Trustees meeting to draft a new description for the job.

“That job description is 10 years old.

I don’t know how much it’s changed, but my profession has changed in 10 years,” Berkheiser, a pharmacist by trade, said. “I ask that you pass it on to Kathleen (Jackson) and ask for recommendations.”

At a special meeting in April, the 06.15

board approved contracting with McKenna Associates while the township works to replace Jackson with an in-house planner who would be a direct employee of the township, rather than a contract employee, as Jackson was.

Zoner said the salary range for a full-time planning director would be between $60,000 and $70,000 annually.

The township board is expected to approve an updated job description at their June 8 meeting, and begin advertising for the new position. Zoner said the search and hiring process will ultimately depend on the number of applicants the township receives during the process.

New director for rails-to-trail sought The final acquisition of an abandoned stretch of railway between West Bloomfield and Wixom by the Commerce, Walled Lake, Wixom Trailway Management Council is expected in mid-June, but the search for a new director will likely take months, since director Kathleen Jackson resigned, said Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner, who serves as chair of the council.

“We must have an administrator under contract (with the Michigan Department of Transportation),” Zoner said. “It would be 20 to 30 hours per month at the moment, but once we own a property, there are signs that have to go up, discussions with contractors, and work with the cities involved. It’s not a sit-down gravy job.”

Current council director Kathleen Jackson announced in late April that she would be leaving the position effective May 22.

Member communities in February approved a five-year plan outlining the acquisition and development of the rails-to-trails program, which will link a stretch of former Michigan Air-Line Railway between West Bloomfield and Wixom. The project has been in the works since the council was created in 2009.

Zoner said he will be working to write a job description and begin the search process for a new director.

Meanwhile, he and other representatives from other member communities are working to handle operations until a director can be found.

“I doubt it will be too easy to find someone,” Zoner said.

DDA nominates new part-time director

By Kevin Elliott

The Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board on Monday, May 4, nominated board member Mark Stacey to serve as the DDA's new director, contingent upon final approval by the Commerce Township Board of Trustees.

The nomination came about a week after current DDA director Kathleen Jackson announced her resignation from the authority, effective May 22. The board on Monday also accepted Jackson's official resignation.

"The decision to resign wasn't one that came easy," Jackson said.

"My husband and I thought it was one that was best for our family. I enjoyed five years here, and feel we are on good ground, largely in part to my predecessor, Wynn Berry."

Jackson, who also served as the township's planning consultant and director of the Commerce, Walled Lake and Wixom Trailways Management Council, announced she would leave all of her positions effective on May 22.

"It's with great regret that we accept this resignation," DDA Chairman Jim Gotts said. "It will be nearly impossible to find someone that has the credentials and global understanding of what the issues are in trying to replace you.

Someone from the outside looking in will have a substantial learning curve."

Gotts recommended the authority hire DDA board member Mark Stacey to fill the job after Jackson vacates the director's position. The board then approved a motion for the DDA's attorney to work with Stacey to negotiate a contract for director services as an independent contractor. The motion was unanimously approved, with Stacey recused from voting and board member Jose Mirkin absent.

Stacey was appointed to the DDA board about 2009 and has served as chairman of the authority's finance committee for the past five years. Stacey is a longtime resident of Commerce Township, graduating from Walled Lake Central High School before earning a degree in finance from Oakland University. He worked in

finance for more than two decades as a licensed stock broker and was one of the first in the state to change defined benefits into 401k funds. He is currently involved in the rental property business.

Township board approves director

By Kevin Elliott

The Commerce Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) appointment of Mark Stacey as the authority’s new director, effective May 22, was approved by the township board of trustees on Tuesday, May 12..

Stacey, who has served on the DDA for the past five years, will replace outgoing DDA director Kathleen Jackson.

Stacey was nominated by DDA board chairman Jim Gotts during the authority’s May 4 special meeting. The township board of trustees unanimously approved the DDA’s nomination, with board member Rick Sovel absent.

Under the contract agreement between Stacey and the DDA, Stacey will be compensated at a flat rate of $50 per hour. No business or travel expenses are to be reimbursed without approval by the DDA, and services must be invoiced monthly and submitted to the DDA. The length is specified until Dec. 31, 2015. The contract may then be extended on a month-to-month basis until terminated by the DDA or Stacey.

The number of hours Stacey is required to work aren’t specified in the contract, but the agreement limits the work to a part-time commitment, stating: “Neither the contractor nor contractor’s employees or contract personnel shall be required by the DDA to devote full time to the performance of services required by this agreement.”

In addition to Stacey’s contract, the DDA authorized an exit contract with former DDA director Kathleen Jackson at the rate of $75 per hour, on an as needed basis as Stacey transitions into the position. Jackson’s previous contract as director included the same compensation as Stacey’s.

Stacey said he was approached by Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner about five years ago to join the DDA after attending meetings on his own as a member of the public for about five years.

“For the first five years, I was there

to complain about the budget,” said Stacey, whose residence abuts one of the former golf courses purchased by the DDA for development.

Stacey, a licensed stock broker who holds a degree in finance from Oakland University, spent about 20 years in the finance industry before focusing on rental properties and managing his own investments. He said he had initially opposed the DDA’s development plan to develop the land.

“I didn’t think it was something the DDA should be participating in,” he said.

After several years of expressing his opposition, and following the real estate collapse, Stacey was asked by Zoner to join the DDA board and offer his insights.

“We worked through the (economic) downturn for over three years to really just stabilize the DDA. We knew we didn’t have any options. There weren’t any purchasers for property,” Stacey said.

With land now being sold to developers, including plans for a major commercial development, Stacey said he is pleased and excited with the direction of the DDA. “I’m extremely excited now,” he said. “We have houses going up, purchase options on significant portions of land, and a competent developer that will bring in a retail center that is as nice as anything on this side of town.

“I come now as a taxpayer and resident of Commerce Township for a long time, and someone who wants to be proud of this project when we are done so that future generations can enjoy it.”

Stacey said he hopes to ease tensions between the DDA board and the township board of trustees.

He said he hopes to plan on doing that by holding additional meetings between the two boards. He said doing so will also help to accommodate some potential businesses looking to locate to the DDA area.

As for the length of his commitment to the DDA, Stacey said he expects to dedicate the next five years for directing the authority.

“I think we are all on the same page, but we aren’t always doing it correctly,” he said. “I would like to have more meetings with the other boards, such as the planning commission, so that we can finish this in a fashion that everyone is happy. I think that’s a key issue.”

Benstein Grille now struggles with parking

By Kevin Elliott

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48

Business is booming at the recently opened Benstein Grille, so much so that the restaurant is hoping to find additional parking locations for employees and some customers during peak hours, but they did not find success at the Wolverine Lake Village Council meeting on Wednesday, May 13.

“We knew there was going to be issues with parking,” co-owner Glenn Kaplan told members of the village council. “We tried to secure parking, but those efforts fell through.”

Kaplan said the restaurant, which opened in April, has a parking lot with about 42 spaces. While he said he and co-owner Mike Richardson have been working to find additional parking, locating parking that is in a close, safe proximity has been challenging. In order to accommodate customers, the restaurant has been offering valet parking services. On May 13, Kaplan asked the village council for permission to use some parking spaces at the nearby Clara Miller Park.

“We’ve brought in valet parking, and the daycare (business) allows us to use some spots in the evening, but we’ve been scrambling for the past six weeks. We want to avoid people going to the park and having them cross the road.”

Additionally, Kaplan said he has secured some spots as far away as Maple and Benstein for employees to park, but is forced to shuttle them back and forth because of the distance.

To help solve the problem, Kaplan asked council if there were any way for the village to permit some spaces to be used at Clara Miller Park.

However, village attorney Jennifer Elowsky said there were several issues that would need to be addressed in order to allow such an agreement to take place.

The first issue, Elowsky said, is that the restaurant is actually located in Commerce Township, rather than the village, which is part of the township. Even so, she said the village’s ordinances only allow for off-site parking at businesses to be permitted within the village’s commercial district, thus requiring

Wolverine Lake clarifies ordinances olverine Lake Village Council members on Wednesday, May 13, made changes to four municipal ordinances in order to clarify several portions of rules and regulations governing some buildings and fences.

The changes, which were recommended by the village’s planning commission, were described by the council as “incidental” modifications.

Changes to the village’s planning and zoning ordinance regarding height limitations on residential accessory buildings, such as sheds, were changed to a limitation of 14 feet tall, from 18 feet tall.

Changes to the landscape portion of the village’s fence ordinance indicate that the purpose of the ordinance is to maintain a “parklike atmosphere” around the lake. The changes to the ordinance also specify that a row of bushes or trellises don’t qualify as a fence, under the ordinance.

Finally, the council approved an amendment to the village’s planning and zoning ordinance regarding residential yards. Under the amendment, the definitions of plot layouts would include pictures in the definitions of required and unrequired yards within the village.

Each of the ordinance amendments were unanimously approved.

They will be presented and expected to be formally adopted at the council’s June 10 meeting.

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an ordinance change, which couldn’t apply because the restaurant is in Commerce Township.

Secondly, the village parks and recreation isn’t able to permit any uses at the park other than those for park uses. Additionally, even if those legal challenges were overcome, the rules for the park would have to be changed in order to accommodate the hours of parking being requested.

Finally, the village’s insurance carrier wouldn’t include coverage under the current policy that would extend to private parking on a public lot.

“It would become a private use of a public property, and that would change whether there is governmental immunity (from liability),” Elowsky said. “(The village) only gets protection of immunity if you’re using it for a public purpose.”

Kaplan said he appreciated the village’s time and consideration, and that they would continue to look for alternatives.

“I understand it’s not the village’s problem,” he said. “I was just hoping to see if there was a solution. The last thing we want to do is park on the street and we want to avoid people from crossing Benstein Road.

We will continue to work and will figure out a way to make it work.”

WESTEND

Traffic delays in West Bloomfield A road construction project that was scheduled to begin May 18, is causing traffic delays along Maple Road at Apple Blossom Trail/Wyndham Boulevard, east of Haggerty Road, the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) said.

The $780,000 upgrade to the intersection includes milling and resurfacing the area; the addition of leftturn lanes on Maple; concrete curb work; sidewalk improvements; improved drainage; and an upgraded traffic signal.

The intersection will remain open during the project, which is expected to be complete by the end of September.

The project is funded with federal road funds and matching dollars from the RCOC. Motorists intending to travel along Green Lake Road, between Commerce and Richardson, will need to use an alternate route, as the roadway is currently closed to through traffic for a road project there. Access is being maintained for local businesses and residents within the closure area.

Through traffic should use Richardson to Union Lake Road to Commerce Road, and vice versa.

That project, which started in late 2014, involves replacing bad sections of asphalt that were laid in late 2014. The entire project includes asphalt paving with drainage and other improvements.

06.15

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

248.669.7555.

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248.438.6741 • www.cayagrill.com 1403 S. Commerce Rd., Wolverine Lake

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 Keenan Crow for advertising rate information.

O: 248.792.6464 Ext. 602 C: 248.207.8007 KeenanCrow@downtownpublications.com

49

VE SA

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,

E TH TE DA

Taste of the Lakes Day New Date d n a

Tuesday, September 29 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm JOIN US AT

Edgewood Country Club 8399 Commerce Rd. Commerce, MI 48382 - CASH BAR -

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

RAFFLE SILENT AUCTION DOOR PRIZE

$25 Per Ticket in advance $30 At The Door TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED AFTER AUGUST 1, 2015 AT: CASH & CHECK ONLY

LAYA (Lakes Area Youth Assistance) 248-956-5070 - 615 N. Pontiac Trail Commerce Twp 248-624-0110 - 2009 Township Village of Wolverine Lake 248-624-1710 - 425 Glengary SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE 50 06.15

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.

Socialight Cigar Bar & Bistro: American.

Lunch & 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

WESTEND

AT THE TABLE Triple Nickel: place to be seen, but not for dining

By J. March

hat better name for a restaurant in the 555 building on Old Woodward than the Triple Nickel? The original name of Crush was nixed after owners and designers decided it was too "dated".

Upon overhearing the construction crew refer to the location as the Triple Nickel, a name was born and soon after, this American Style Bistro opened on April 6th.

Owners Marc and Trina Blancke have been in the game for awhile as the duo behind Sinbad's in Detroit, along with Executive Chef John Fleming.

According to the Triple Nickel web page, the idea behind their newest venture is an "American Style restaurant that reaches deep into the culinary pantry of America and delivers an experience unlike any other." Well, I can't support the first part of that, but I can say that it was most certainly a unique experience.

I made two visits to the Triple Nickel – once on a weekend; once during a weekday. The weekend visit entailed me sitting upstairs in a room that can only be compared to an echo chamber and the other was downstairs and altogether confusing as the whole buffalo/canoe theme had me thinking more of American Indians then good old America. You can't imagine my surprise when I discovered the design firm responsible was Ron & Roman. I have known both to be thoughtful, imaginative and tasteful. Not so much with the Triple Nickel. Between the cavernous upstairs with its cheap furniture and haphazard design and the bawdy coin/animal/boat kitsch downstairs, it read more Trading Spaces meets Trading Places than Ron & Roman.

Wanting desperately to get over the décor, I decided a drink might be a good start. The 20-minute wait for one of two oblivious bartenders to greet us didn't help. Eventually I got a drink. Not the drink I ordered mind you, but the 21-year-old bartender's version of a Negroni that included Vanilla Vodka in the place of gin. Though that sin is one that I was not willing to forgive, I wanted to keep an open mind regarding the food so, fearful that we may not see her again for 20 more minutes, we ordered appetizers. And this is the story all about how food gets turned upside down.

BBQ buffalo meatballs that, excepting size, were the texture and flavor of what accompanies Spaghettios in a can. Smoked Whitefish Spread that not only was plated cafeteria style in the form of a huge ice cream scoop in a lettuce leaf, but had the texture and flavor that could only be pleasing to those in need of soft, bland food. It was only when the stuffed calamari came did I realize that I may have to abort my mission. Two squid stuffed and baked to a point that the bodies where so expanded it looked like two huge maggots on a plate. Based on appearance alone, my guests refused to even try them. In the name of duty I cut into the drum tight skin and took a bite that included Maryland lump crab stuffing and a lemon caper sauce. Oh boy, how I've considered the words to explain the taste and texture. After many thoughtful examples (some more rated R than PG), I have decided that the best explanation would be to say that it was like eating a

W

Seared Atlantic Salmon with Spicy Mango Glaze. Westend photo: Laurie Tennent

two-inch thick finger stuffed with tuna fish. That is the nicest thing I could come up with.

We forged on into salads and ordered the Caesar and Chopped Salad. The Caesar was unremarkable (thankful for that after the appetizers) and the Chopped was bland, lacking anything but a lot of bruised greens and a balsamic that oddly, had zero acid which is an amazing feat for vinegar. We also had the Indian Chile that was thankfully delicious and quite near the catalyst for a fist fight as we were all starving.

With a heavy sigh, we ordered entrees. First pasta with seasonal vegetables described as rigatoni, parmesan, basil and a light veggie based sauce. The rigatoni was so overcooked that it broke upon contact with a fork, the basil was nowhere to be found, the 'light' veggie based sauce was five parts butter, one part stock and, unless I missed the inception of a season called Jolly Green Giant, were most certainly not seasonal.

Hoping the perch might have translated nicely as one of Sinbad's signature dishes, we ordered it.

At the very least I was hoping I could scavenge up a few capers in the lemon caper sauce. Nope. Not a caper in sight yet an acid free lemon sauce underneath perch that had zero taste and the texture that once again would please the masses at Shady Acres retirement home.

We moved onto the Tomahawk Pork Chop with chimichurri sauce, just hoping for a hint of smoke or acid or heat or flavor. Instead we were treated to a dry, overcooked, tough chop with chimichurri that may have quite possibly undergone flavor re-assignment surgery and was waiting to come into its own taste.

Dessert was offered but passed on immediately as not only did I have zero desire to slam yet another course, but my co-diners wanted to go get some food somewhere.

Before you say that I’ve been too harsh, let me clear up a few things. This isn't about the lack of fanfare over a chef or owners. I do often write about trendy, highly publicized openings, chefs and restau-

rants. However, I am just as happy to go somewhere the concept is simple, the line cooks make the magic and the service is prompt without the 'flair'. Good food can be appreciated at any price point, made by those remiss of a title and not always served on china. I'm a slob for food, not a food snob. The difference is that integrity in product and good intentions in service supersede an off night or an overwhelmed bartender who is unintentionally neglectful.

The Triple Nickel's web page states the following: “We harvest the richness of America's farms, fields and ranges...To the extent possible the Triple Nickel will “buy American, and source locally”...Regardless of your menu selection, all our offerings start with the highest quality meat, seafood, chicken and produce.” This is a clear rip off of the farm to table movement and a way of attracting those who are restaurant savvy. To use this in its loosest translation and count on an address alone to float your establishment is a slap in the face to those who operate other restaurants and those who frequent them.

Though we clearly did not enjoy our meal, I was not surprised. Money is the name of the game at the Triple Nickel. That is empirically clear from the décor and the service to the menu and the ingredients. I've no doubt that, much like Sinbad's, Triple Nickel will become more a place to be seen than a part of the dining scene. Don't believe me? Take my ten cents to the Triple Nickel. My guess is you'll want half of it back.

Triple Nickel, 555 South Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.480.4951. Hours are listed as Monday through Sunday starting at 4 p.m. Street and valet parking available. Prices vary from $11$29. Wheelchair accessible.

J. March has 25 years experience in the restaurant industry in southeast Michigan, including certification as a sommelier. If you have short restaurant items for our Quick Bites section, e-mail to QuickBites@downtownpublications.com.

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-

52

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.

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.

248.203.6600.

The Franklin Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, 48025. 248.865.6600.

WESTEND

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. 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.

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.

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

06.15

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.

Torino: American. Dinner, WednesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 201 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.247.1370.

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 Brookshire: American. Breakfast, daily.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Liquor.

Reservations. Liquor. Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Dr., Rochester, 48307.

248.453.8732.

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.

westendmonthly.com

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. Dinner, MondaySaturday. 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. 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.

53

ENDNOTE

Commerce deserves full-time planner he decision by the Commerce Township Board of Trustees to focus on hiring a planning director who will work as a fulltime employee of the township is the right choice for future development in the municipality.

Kathleen Jackson, who worked with the township for nearly two decades, announced in late April that she would resign from her position, effective May 22, as well as the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director. Although it's unfortunate the township has lost a well-qualified and experienced planner with Jackson's departure, the township for too long has attempted to find piecemeal answers to issues that require dedicated solutions.

It was two years ago that Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner first pitched combining the township's planning department with the building, water, and sewer department.

The idea, which the board of trustees later approved, was to provide efficiencies by crosstraining staff at the two departments.

Specifically, the merger was to help meet the growing demands at the planning department as development in the township picked up in recent years.

Overseeing the new department was a community development director, who was to oversee activities in the new department, including coordinating activities for building inspectors, planning consultants and engineering consultants. The director was also to

T

oversee and manage day-to-day operations at the new department, something that Jackson, as a contract employee, wasn't permitted to do.

A year after hiring Terry Carroll as director to oversee the new department and work with Jackson on planning issues, Carroll resigned from the job and Zoner recommended doing away with the position all together. In February of this year, Zoner said he would oversee the dayto-day operations of the community development department, while Jackson would direct staff on technical issues and development. At the time, Zoner said the department would theoretically go back to operating the way it had prior to before Carroll was hired. And it did.

Yet within weeks of the change, Zoner indicated he would be asking trustees for additional staff in the department to keep up with the increased workload.

As the economy has rebounded and Commerce Township, with the DDA property known as Commerce Towne Place, poised for lift off, it has increasingly become clear that a fulltime planning director and a separate, dedicated DDA director are required to allow the community to respond to its potential growth.

Commerce Township is no longer a small Oakland County backwater, but can be a major player in expansion and development.

No doubt, Jackson's plate was full with her combined positions as planning consultant, DDA director and other contracted projects, such as

serving as the director of the Rails-to-Trails project with Commerce, Walled Lake and Wixom.

The recent appointment of former DDA member Mark Stacey as the new DDA director will also settle any concerns among board members who questioned whether there was a conflict of interest with Jackson serving as both DDA director and planning consultant to the township. Trustees for more than a year had questioned whether Jackson could represent both the DDA and the township in matters where the two positions would increasingly overlap.

In response to the concerns, Jackson said that when she represented the DDA board on a matter before the township, she recused herself from her role as the township's planning consultant. While we feel Jackson handled those rare instances appropriately, such instances will only become more commonplace in the future as development is expected to explode in the DDA project area in upcoming calendar years.

Our initial reaction to the DDA and township board decision to fill Jackson's shoes as the director of DDA with Stacey is positive. He has a a background in finance, has served as the chair of the DDA's finance committee for the past five years and has a firm grasp of the issues facing the DDA. The board was also wise to retain the position as a contracted position, rather than bring on an employee working for the DDA. The township, however, is in need of a fulltime planner now.

DDA, developer agreement not far off ommerce Township Board of Trustee members growing anxious about a $5.15 million purchase agreement between the township's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and M. Shapiro Development Company that has yet to be finalized after two years need to learn the art of patience.

Shapiro plans on developing some 60 acres of land west of Martin Parkway, north of Pontiac Trail. The Farmington Hills-based developer has said plans will include some retail, mixed use and residential development, including about 300 stacked ranch or townhouse units, as well as some hospitality and other uses. Yet, two years after entering a purchase agreement with the DDA in 2013, Shapiro has yet to finalize the deal or even submit site plans for the development. Last month, the DDA extended their agreement for the fifth time since June of 2013.

The delay, which has been attributed primarily to the permitting process with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), caused some township trustees to voice their concerns at a township board

C

meeting in May, some going so far as to recommend terminating the deal and putting the property back on the market.

We understand the frustration of some trustees â&#x20AC;&#x201C; land values are increasing in the DDA area and without a finalized sale and funding, it is tempting to think that the acreage should go back on the market. But we must caution that turning their back on the deal now would be a mistake by trustees.

First, trustees should consider the cause of the delay. As explained by newly appointed DDA Director Mark Stacey and Shapiro spokesman Jim Galbraith, the delays have involved plans to build near environmentally sensitive wetlands located on the property.

While the DDA, prior to offering the land for sale, could have taken steps to quicken the permitting process, it elected to forgo any such measures in order to not spend additional money. Therefore, Shapiro during its due diligence period, has been responsible for obtaining the appropriate clearances to build on the land without destroying associated wetlands. Without such approvals from the

state, any sale with Shapiro is unlikely.

Another reason for the delay involves permits from the Road Commission for Oakland County, as Shapiro plans to install additional traffic controls near the proposed development in order to reduce motorists using it as a cut-through on Welch Road, thus reducing traffic near pedestrians and increasing safety.

Both measures, we believe, represent the quality of Shapiro's developments and concern for the community in which they choose to bring their projects. Shapiro also has a solid history in working with the township in the past, which should count for something, as well.

While two years may seem like an unreasonable amount of time, the current timeframe is typical for real estate developments under such circumstances. All told, the project is likely 60 to 90 days behind schedule, not much time considering the challenges faced by the developer. Terminating the project now would only serve to cause additional years of delay, and turn away a high caliber developer who should be welcomed by the township.

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