Westend: November 2013

ENDNOTE: VIGILANCE KEY TO CONTROLLING STATE LAKE ACCESS PLAN NOVEMBER 2013

WESTENDMONTHLY.COM

WESTEND C O M M E R C E • WA L L E D L A K E • W O LV E R I N E L A K E • U N I O N L A K E

PREDICTIVE CRIME FIGHTING ANTICIPATING PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY OCCUR LAKE ACCESS: NEW SET OF CHALLENGES COULD BE BREWING GOVERNMENT ONLINE: MUNICIPAL, SCHOOL WEBSITE OFFERINGS

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Jennifer Wrobleski

Oakland County's Lakefront Specialist Jennifer Wrobleski 248-854-3100 jwrobleski@kw.com

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Beautiful Cape Cod on Green Lake. Enjoy the serene setting of this large lakefront lot with plenty of privacy. Look for 2 firepits and special seating areas as you make your way to the lake. Bright entryway, hardwood floors t/o, & original features. Kitchen w/ island, farmhouse sink, glass front cabinets. Natural stone fireplace in family room, formal dining room, library/office, large bedrooms upstairs. Loads of character and 95 ft of frontage. $399,900.

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WESTEND11.13

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Predictive crime fighting Some public safety departments are moving to anticipate where crimes might occur in the future based on data from the past.

15 33

Lake access threat

The Department of Natural Resources new land management plans calls for putting more access sites on local lakes.

Government online

Local municipalities and school districts have taken to the web to provide varying levels of information and service.

11 CRIME LOCATOR 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.

40 MUNICIPAL DDA change of meeting times; development direction on township land; Wolverine Lake fish stocking plan; school liaison officer costs; township annual budget; Orchards of Commerce development; plus more.

53 BUSINESS MATTERS Smoke Street Bar-B-Que; Commerce Super Kroger; Angel Lily Couture; Quest Automotive Products.

54 ENDNOTE Our thoughts on the Commerce DDA land development; the lake access challenge.

THE COVER

Wolverine Lake, created in the 1920s from six smaller lakes. Westend photo: Rachel Bechard

DISTRIBUTION: Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in the Commerce, Walled Lake and Union Lake area. Additional free copies are distributed at high foot-traffic locations.

For those not residing in the free mail distribution area, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual fee. Go to our website (westendmonthly.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order on-line or scan the QR Code here.

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FACES 13: Colleen Murray Fisher

31: Doug Corella

36: Benn Perry

47: Nicole Harris

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DOWNTOWN • WESTEND • BLACK BOOK • THE GUIDE 124 WEST MAPLE ROAD BIRMINGHAM MI 48009 P: 248.792.6464 downtownpublications.com facebook.com/downtownpublications • twitter.com/downtownpubs

Publisher: David Hohendorf Ad Manager: Jill Cesarz Ad Sales: Matthew Swigart Graphics/IT Manager: Chris Grammer News Editor: Lisa Brody

News Staff/Contributors: Allison Batdorff, Rachel Bechard, Hillary Brody, Kevin Elliott, Sally Gerak, Eleanor & Ray Heald, Austen Hohendorf, Garrett Hohendorf, Kathleen Meisner, Laurie Tennent

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INCOMING: 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 traditional letters or electronic communication. Your opinions can be sent to westend@downtownpublications.com; or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI, 48009. Letters must include your full name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

11.13

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

M

ichigan's 11th congressional district, which includes a large swath of the western Oakland County lakes area, along with Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, is finding itself in the spotlight after the shutdown of the federal government at the start of October.

That specific congressional district, along with one other in Michigan, will more than likely be the target of national business groups that will be intervening in Republican primary races here and in at least three to four other states when the 2014 election rolls around.

National business groups that traditionally have poured more of their political donations into support of GOP general election candidates are coming to the realization that the radical right fringe of the Republican party represents a threat to the functioning of the democracy itself as evidenced by the scorched earth tactics of the far right, which includes Tea Party members, in the recent national budget debate and no doubt a replay is expected in coming months on this same topic and the national debt ceiling.

Of course, these same business groups also realize that after donating millions into redistricting efforts following the last census to helped carve out Republican districts, these gerrymandered districts are relatively safe havens for GOP members, but the business groups hold less and less sway with some of the GOP victors. Then throw in the estimated impact of some $20 billion (that's right, billion) from the recent government shutdown, and the business groups, ranging from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to a slew of other national business and trade groups, now know that they must take the unprecedented step of taking sides in Republican primary elections if there is any chance of reducing the split within the Republican party and purging some of the more radical members who helped bring the government to its knees in the last month, and more than likely will employ this tactic in future disputes.

That brings us to the U.S. 11th Congressional District, considered to be about 55 percent Republican, held by Kerry Bentivolio. He's often referred to as the “Accidental Congressman� because he won this seat thanks to the fraudulent petition scandal that consumed Republican

congressman Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned before the end of his term, thereby leaving Bentivolio as the only GOP member on the primary ballot.

Bentivolio is certainly part of the radical right crowd in congress, one of those who in the final days of the recent budget battle refused to sign onto the budget resolution that passed congress to end the shutdown. Although I hesitate to label him as part of the tinfoil hat crowd in Washington, he definitely flirts with that description with his suggestion earlier this year at an Oakland County town hall meeting that perhaps hearings should be held in the district on the topic of chemtrails, the conspiracy theory that the federal government was intentionally dousing the population with drugs, some mind altering, from the vapor trails of jets flying overhead.

Already Bentivolio has one announced challenger for the primary battle, David Trott of Birmingham who has raised a reported $650,000 against a paltry sum donated so far to Bentivolio, some $150,000, which includes $12,000 raised at a Birmingham fundraiser earlier this year that featured U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, an event that noted Oakland Republicans avoided in droves.

As a Westend story in the September issue by News Editor Lisa Brody outlined, the Oakland County Republican party is already moving to right the ship, so to speak, by lining up behind what can only be assumed is a more reasoned conservative candidate in Trott. But now it looks like business group donations may also play a part as the national business community starts attempting to cleanse the party of a fringe element that may well sacrifice the well-being of the country by using the shutdown tactic in coming months and continue to make this part of their toolbox in the future, risking further damage to the economy and consumer confidence. The business community will no doubt have to wage war against the ultra conservative super PACs who will be backing the likes of Bentivolio.

So 2014 could prove an interesting year of reckoning for the GOP in Oakland County.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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INCOMING Preservation efforts Thank you so much for the photo of the Commerce Cemetery (Westend cover/October 2013).

Two of us on the cemetery committee raised $2,500 and the township board matched it. We hired a team to clean some stone and repair others. They managed to complete 40 for that amount of money.

We now want to raise more as the cemetery is part of the history of the community and the stones should be preserved.

Your photo helped me feel that what we're trying to do is worthwhile.

Barbara Garbutt, Commerce

Heavily biased article

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With respect to the story on the Common Core Curriculum State Standards (CCSS)(Westend/October 2013), here’s some critical thinking: The article is heavily biased in favor of CCSS to the point of being propaganda.

You only quote educators – and only superintendents, consultants and those in charge of curriculum at that – who support CCSS. Where are the dissenting educators and where especially are the teachers who have legitimate complaints about the new orthodoxy? Dig a little deeper and I believe you will find many of them.

As “consumers” of education, students and parents are a major part of the equation. Where are their voices and opinions? I’ve heard of parents pulling their children out of public schools because of CCSS. Through the second-hand attributions of a politician, your article implies that opposition to CCSS comes primarily from a fringe political movement. Didn’t anyone think of getting a response from the Tea Party to confirm or deny the allegations?

You claim that the initiator of CCSS was the National Governors’ Association, and that it was majority Republican. However, in 2009 – when CCSS was announced – there were 28 Democrat governors and 22 Republican governors. Other sources say the Association was merely a cover for corporate and government interests. For example, Peter Wood, President of the National Association of Scholars says, ”The standards in question were drawn up in 2008 and hustled into place in 2009 by a combination of financial support from the Gates Foundation, political WESTEND

SPEAK OUT We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Commerce, Walled Lake and Union Lake communities.

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

While we don’t have a specific word limitation, we reserve the right to edit for length.

muscle from the Obama administration, and window dressing by the National Governors’ Association, whose role was to make them seem to be a spontaneous (and simultaneous) set of state initiatives.

What the Common Core does is introduce something close to a national curriculum.”

I’m no journalist, but even a cursory search of “common core standards” on Google turns up a first page result from The Washington Post titled “Eight Problems with Common Core Standards” in which “a veteran educator lists eight things about the common core state standards that he thinks will damage public education.”

Most all decisions in life have upsides, downsides and unintended consequences. Your article utterly fails to elucidate the differing viewpoints on CCSS, and is thus a disservice to your readers.

Westend's dashboard score on this topic: RED. David Pennock, Birmingham

Devastating drug I want to thank you for the excellent, well-researched and detailed article on the increase in heroin use (Westend/October 2013).

This is such an important article, with so much important information, that it really should get much broader circulation than the local newsmagazine. I hope that other publications have a chance to pick it up.

Like Susan Gross, I am a parent who lost my "bonus son" (I was his legal guardian) due to heroin addiction. He died a year and a half ago at the age of 19.

11.13

Thought-provoking article I am writing in response to the article entitled “Heroin: The Shocking Rise In Teen Use” (Westend/October 2013). I wanted to point out a few aspects of this article which I found rather thought-provoking.

First of all, I liked that the author included prescription pill abuse as an important factor which can not only lead to hard drugs, but also as a separate issue in and of itself. I would like to add, though, that illegally obtained prescription medications are not the only medications that parents should be concerned about.

Legally obtained, prescribed pills such as Adderall and Ritalin, SSRIs, anti-anxiety, and anti-psychotic medications are very harmful to an adolescent's psyche. For one thing, nearly all psychiatric medications are not meant for, and are not tested on, people under the age of eighteen.

A bigger problem lies in the fact that psychiatric medications only provide temporary relief from some common symptoms of mental illness.

Without proper, effective psychotherapy, these symptoms will persist and unfortunately may progress to more severe levels over time. What this article failed to address is the fact that drug addiction is not a disease on it's own, it is a symptom of a deeper, psychological problem.

For example, Susie Gross (mentioned in the article) lost her son, not to drug addiction, but to suicide. Her son was most likely severely depressed, and this is no doubt why he turned to drugs in the first place.

Gross says, “It's not just heroin that is killing our adolescents– it's the denial of the parents.” I'd like to elaborate on this quote, and add that not only are many wealthy suburban parents in denial about their kids' drug use, they are ignorant of their kids' psychological needs.

Adolescence, as most of us know, can be a very uneasy period in a person's life; it is the transition between childhood and adulthood, between dependence and independence.

When a teenager experiences mental issues like depression and anxiety, drugs can look quite westendmonthly.com

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UP TO

appealing because they offer an escape from a disturbed and/or depressed state of mind. I personally experienced poor mental health during my own adolescent years. If my parents had been neglectful of my behavior and had not paid attention to how I was feeling on day-to-day basis, then I may eventually have turned to hard drugs to cope with my mental state. Because my parents were willing to talk to me, openly and without judgement, about the things that I was experiencing, I was able to work through my issues effectively.

Both mothers and fathers have to be willing to talk realistically and compassionately with their kids about things like drug use, sex, and psychological issues, rather than leaving it to impersonal, questionable school programs such as D.A.R.E. or health education classes. Parents must also have realistic expectations for their children, especially in (some) areas (of Oakland) where the standard of income and education is higher than many other areas; teenagers are having to take on responsibilities earlier and earlier in life.

Mental health is almost always disregarded in cases of drug addiction. If it is mentioned, drug addiction is treated as a mental illness on its own. People must begin to realize that problems such as drug dependence, criminal behavior, binge-drinking, and every other problem that teenagers can find themselves in, is a direct result of poor mental health. These behaviors are not standalone problems, they are the product of a troubled mind.

Name withheld upon request

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I am certain that I was not the only parent who found the article about rising heroin use (Westend/October 2013) a bit disturbing in that many of us know this to be true.

A child of ours was lost to this drug several years ago and I often wonder if somehow the warning signs were ignored by us. Once lost, it was apparent the signs had been there all along.

As we look around at our daughter's friends at the time, we find that she and her group lived a privileged life, as did we, without recognizing that this storied life could end at any time. In her case, far too early.

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WESTEND

11.13

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 Oct. 24, 2013.

Placement of codes is approximate.

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WEIR MANUEL

FACES

Colleen Murray Fisher

T

hrough tragedy, Colleen Murray Fisher discovered her purpose in life as an educator, children’s book author and an adoptive mother.

“Both my parents passed away before I was in high school,” Fisher said.

“I had a lot of teachers take me under their wing. They really looked out for me along the way.”

After her parents’ passing, Fisher lived with her aunt and uncle and later went on to study at Michigan State University. Following in the footsteps of her many mentors, she became a second grade teacher at Hayes Elementary in Westland and began writing and illustrating children’s books.

A self-trained artist, Fisher has illustrated the books, “Oh No! Ah Yes!”, “I Can Dance, Too!” and “I Am Stumped.” She is also the author and illustrator of “The One and Only Bernadette P. McMullen”, and the author of “Miss Martin is a Martian.”

“The One and Only Bernadette P. McMullen” tells the journey of a unique child. Having lost both her parents, Fisher related to the concept and mirrored the character after some of her own experiences.

“Miss Martin is a Martian” regales readers with the tale of a boy who believes his teacher is a Martian. Miss Martin appears to see through walls and has eyes in the back of her head. In conclusion, the boy realizes his teacher is really a super hero. The story is a tribute to all of Fisher’s former teachers.

Having attained her professional objectives, Fisher was determined to offer a better life to other children in need.

“We adopted biological siblings in 2009. It was something I always wanted to do. We traveled to Ethiopia over Christmas in 2008 and brought them home in January of 2009. I wanted to be able to give back to someone and we ended up getting these two wonderful kids.”

Sofanit, 15, and Samson, 7, did not speak any English when they arrived in the U.S., but Fisher and her husband delighted in observing the children transition into their new surroundings. Through illustration, Fisher has paid tribute to them as her most precious achievements.

“In the editing process, we changed one of the characters in ‘The One and Only Bernadette P. McMullen’ to look like a younger version of my daughter,” Fisher said. “Both of their names have been hidden in books and they both got to draw a tiny little picture in ‘I Am Stumped.’”

Among her many awards as a USA News Best Book Finalist, Mom’s Choice Gold and Silver Medal Award winner, and the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principal Association Children’s Book Award Winner, Fisher was honored with the Michigan Notable Book Award for “Miss Martin is a Martian.”

“The Michigan Notable Book Award is chosen by librarians who have seen endless numbers of books. That was really special,” she said. “As far as my books and teaching go, it’s amazing to me. But, having lost my parents and later providing Sofanit and Samson with a home feels extraordinary. It is my greatest accomplishment.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

Lakes Area Youth Assistance

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2013 “Taste of the Lakes” Because of your commitment, our mission to strengthen youth and families through volunteer involvement will continue to grow to meet our community’s needs. Thank You!

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LAKE ACCESS MICHIGAN DNR PUSHING FOR NEW SITES

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

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ny day, in any season, as the sun comes up on the horizon of one of the 350 lakes speckled throughout Oakland County, nature stops for just a minute to catch its breath. Exhaling, the sun rises, and residents begin their day.

For many of those who live in western Oakland County and Bloomfield Township, the view along the lakes are an exclusive experience, as most of the lakefront shoreline is privately owned.

That sunrise can be seen from a distance, but not from the shore of many of the lakes themselves.

Many of those beautiful lakes are but a short drive off any main traffic route which cuts across the area in an endless loop of twists and turns winding through neighborhoods, wooded areas, and plains. Each unique in their size and surroundings, the lakes in Commerce Township, Walled Lake, White Lake, other neighboring communities and Bloomfield Township are best known for their recreational opportunities, water quality and tranquility, as well as the number of privately owned docks, houses and estates that line the shores. Yet efforts are afoot to change that privacy provision, and to provide public access to some of the waterways that riparian owners believe are theirs alone.

Once considered a nearby vacation destination for metro Detroit residents spending their weekends around Walled Lake and many other inland lakes, western Oakland County's lakes area has become the permanent home to many people who once lived close to the city of Detroit. Property values for lakefront property echo

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the laws of supply and demand, and with a limited supply of lakes and lakefront land, values remain strong and expensive. Open shores have given way to massive structures, at times eclipsing the view of the lakes. And while access to the water is readily available to riparian property owners, the general public is regulated to less than a few dozen statemanaged sites in the area.

The public does have access to access sites owned and managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at Orchard Lake; Union Lake; Oakland Lake in Waterford Township; Pontiac Lake; Middle Straights Lake; Wolverine Lake; White Lake; Lake Orion; Big Lake; Long Lake; Crescent Lake, Maceday Lake and Loon Lake in Waterford Township; and Dodge Brothers State Park No. 4 at Cass Lake in Union Lake, among other sites in Oakland County. f the 55 lakes in Oakland County that are greater than 100 acres in size, only 18 have public access sites that are owned or managed by the Michigan DNR. Seventeen lakes with less than 100 acres of area have public access sites managed by the DNR Parks and Recreation division. All 35 of the DNR public access sites in Oakland County include access for boats, with seven of the sites limited to carry-down access for canoes, kayaks and carry-on vessels that don't require a ramp, including Pontiac Lake at Tackles Drive, which is about three miles north of Union Lake; Shoe Lake at the Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Lake Orion; Holdredge Lake at Holly Recreation Area; Alderman Lake and Moore Lake at Highland Recreation Area; and Chamberlain Lake and Hart Lake at Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Oakland Township.

Partnerships with local units of government, individual landowners, small businesses and other lakefront property owners are a key component of the DNR's plan to increase public access to the state's inland lakes. However, the idea of inviting more boats to some already crowded lakes doesn't typically sit well with riparians with a monopoly on lake access.

"It tends to be more controversial in Oakland County, and it has stopped access from happening," said DNR Policy Coordinator Donna Stine. "People are mostly concerned about the amount of usage a lake gets. That's the biggest problem."

"There are 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan, so there is plenty of lakefront available to be developed, but in our area where there's such high density and so many homes around the lakes, public access is very limited," said state Rep. Mike McCready (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills). "If there is going to be any further access to the lakes, I think they will have to work with the homeowners and local municipalities."

The DNR's intentions to increase public access to inland lakes is outlined in a proposed land management plan called the Managed Public Land Strategy, released by the department earlier this year. The Managed Public Land Strategy plan is the key component of a state law, Public Act 240, passed in July 2012, that placed a limit on the amount of property that can be owned and managed by the DNR. In order for the cap on property acquisitions to be lifted, the department must have a land strategy plan written and approved by the state legislature by Oct. 1, 2014. The plan sets goals for the DNR to reach with its publicly-owned land over the next six years, including the purchase and sale of state-owned land, and how current holdings and future transactions will help the department meet those goals.

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Currently, the DNR holds title to more than 4.6 million acres of land throughout Michigan. The department also owns another 31,700 acres which is used specifically for boating access. The DNR released a draft of its Managed Public Land Strategy plan, which has been approved by state lawmakers in recent days as Senate Bill 248, leaving the cap for state owned and managed land capped until May 2015.

In regards to the public's access to lakes in the state, DNR staff included a justification statement in the plan to lay out the reasoning for the document's push for increased access: "All Michigan residents and visitors should have easy, convenient access to all the state's lakes, rivers and streams through public facilities. Boating access sites provide the legal and safe means for the public to access the waters of Michigan for recreational boating, fishing and hunting. Michigan is a national and international resource for boaters and others seeking water-related recreational opportunities, and continued development is necessary to meet demand."

Meeting the public's demand for lake access is also about money. Licensing fees tied to more than 800,000 boat registrations contribute to the state's waterway funding each year. Consider also the state's $4 billion boating industry, which is partially supported by 1,300 public access sites and 80 harbors throughout Michigan.

Under the plan, the DNR would work with local governments to provide public access on all "priority lakes over 100 acres" in the area; provide access to 25 percent of lakes smaller than 100 acres that have "important recreational opportunity" for the public; and provide 100 new public access sites on inland lakes, rivers, the Great Lakes and connecting waters.

Looking to future goals, the land management plan calls for 1,025 boating access sites on inland lakes and streams, placing priority on lakes over 100 acres, as well as a 25 percent increase on smaller lakes that don't currently have any means for the general public to access the water. Increased access, under the plan, isn't limited to traditional boat launches. Carry-down access for small vessels, such as kayaks, canoes and other lightweight boats, is a desired goal on lakes smaller than 100 acres where the state determines a need and opportunity.

That means purchasing land on currently privately-owned lakes and creating public access sites.

The DNR completed the public review process of the Land Strategy plan in April. However, lawmakers from the Birmingham/Bloomfield and west Oakland County areas haven't reviewed the plan in its entirety, which includes the management of more than 4 million acres of land beyond water access sites. Local lawmakers, like McCready, have concerns and are reserving judgement until more is known on how it will affect their constituents.

State Rep. Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake), said she has some concerns about increasing public access to lakes in Oakland County.

"If you have people living on a lake that is a private lake, who are paying taxes and you open it up to the public, that can create a whole new situation with lake use and noise," Kowall said.

"That was a hot issue for a time, particularly on Cedar Lake. We don't want to create any more of those situations."

In addition to noise, Kowall said public access at Cedar Lake in Highland in the Highland Recreation Area led to a wake of complaints about safety, as many boaters entering from the public access site

weren't aware of the lake's slow-speed restriction.

Members of the Cedar Lake Lake Association requested the Oakland County Sheriff's Office conduct additional patrols on the lake to ensure safety rules and property rights were being followed.

Kowall said she had spoken with the DNR director and plans to discuss the issue again to ensure that the plan allows for an adequate level of local controls, particularly in relation to law enforcement.

"We have had issues on our lakes and it could create huge issues for us," Kowall said about the push for increased public access.

Whether a lake is considered private or public usually depends on an individual's perspective; most often from the water for lakefront property owners, or from the roadway for much of the general public.

Which gets to the heart of the issue confronting both riparian owners and those seeking public access.

"A lot of people that live on those lakes think they are private, but they are only private in that they don't have public lake access. The water and fish belong to the people of Michigan," said Scott Brown, executive director of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association. "If you had a sea plane or helicopter with pontoons on it, you could land in there and fish. For practical purposes, if there isn't a boat launch, it's a private lake. But that is a misunderstanding on the part of some property owners."

The issue of lake ownership, who has rights to access the water, what activities can be conducted and by whom, is further complicated by the state's riparian rights, or the rights of lakefront property owners whose land reaches a waterbody. In general, riparians can't unreasonably restrict the use of the surface of a lake by members of the public.

Michigan courts have determined that riparian property rights on the state's inland lakes, rivers and streams extend beyond the shoreline to include bottomlands. So, while the public owns the water in a lake, use of inland lake bottomlands without permission of the property owner is considered trespassing. Ownership of bottomlands in the Great Lakes is yet another story. Additionally, riparian rights may be limited by boat docking and launching regulations enacted by local units of government, as the State Supreme Court determined in a 1991 case involving the Square Lake Hills Condominium Association and Bloomfield Township. he case involved land adjacent to a home on Square Lake in Bloomfield Township which in the 1960s was zoned singlefamily. The homeowners, Milton and Barbara Sloban, requested and were denied a variance to build apartments on their property, challenging the township's zoning classification. The trial judge invalidated the township's zoning, and permitted the multiplefamily residential use. The Slobans then split their property in two, retaining the front lot on Square Lake, and conveying the back lot portion and a 160foot easement to the Square Lake Apartments, a 78 apartment complex. A second phase was later built, with a total of 152 units with access to Square Lake.

Later the Slobans were bought out, and the apartments were converted to condominiums.

In 1974, Bloomfield Township passed an ordinance restricting inland lake access to riparian lake owners or occupants, and the township sued the current and former owners of Square Lake Hills Condominium Associations.

The State Supreme Court held that "the legislature has placed with townships the power to

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adopt regulations, purely local in nature, to enhance the health and safety within its community by the regulation of boat docking and launching," thus answering the questions as to whether local governments may limit riparian rights, specifically the launching and docking of boats on private shoreline property.

"As you look at this over the next 10 years, I see many, many court battles over this issue. It's going to be a contentious issue," Brown said, regarding public versus private lake access. "I have nothing but respect for the men and women of the DNR. I have worked with them on different projects, but this is one issue where we happen to disagree."

State Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake, Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake Village, West Bloomfield) said the state needs to consider whether it can afford to manage additional property before the land strategy is considered and the cap on the amount of land the DNR can own is lifted.

"In 1997, there was a big push to close some of these launch sites because they didn't have enough manpower to staff them and provide lake patrols.

They still don't have enough to take care of all of them – there are 28 lakes in White Lake alone that are all-sports lakes.

"If the DNR wants a piece of property, they are going to buy it," Kowall said. "They get their money from the oil and natural gas reserve. They have a substantial amount of money in that reserve, to the tune of well over $100 million. They own over four million acres of land. Does it make sense to buy more when we can't take care of what we have?

These are questions that have to be asked."

While no specific entities have been identified, the draft plan stresses the importance of partnering with other agencies and local units of government to purchase and/or manage potential public access sites.

"This is a process we are doing with partners, so it's not something we would try to do alone. We have always looked for partners," Stine said, adding that the department looks to the Natural Resources Trust Fund (NRTF) waterways funding to attain land and works with local entities to manage potential sites. "We haven't started looking for those partners, but this isn't a new priority." ocal municipal leaders in Walled Lake, Bloomfield Township, and Commerce Township said they aren't aware of any plans by the DNR to increase public lake access in their communities. However, establishing local partnerships in western Oakland County may be difficult, as public lake access hasn't traditionally been well received on lakes considered to be private by local property owners.

Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said the issue of public lake access hasn't been raised currently among any of the lake boards in the township, nor is he aware of the DNR seeking to establish any local sites.

"Every lake in Bloomfield Township is (considered) a private lake," he said of the 29 lakes located in the township. "They either have lake frontage or riparian interests, like a deeded boat dock."

Brown, at the Lakes and Stream Association, said while the association supports the DNR's view on lake access and the thrust behind the land management strategy, there are still some questions about operational issues.

"They have got a plan. It's a pretty well researched plan. It has flaws from a legal and operational standpoint, but we absolutely support

L

generous public lake access to inland lakes," Brown said.

A source of contention for those who live on the lakes is more than just privacy; it's also maintaining the condition of the lakes and preventing the influx of predators into the lakes which can come into the lakes via outside vessels. Brown recognizes that potential problem. The main problem with the plan, he said, is that it places an increased burden on riparians and lakes associations in the state, which pay for the majority of the upkeep of lakes. Invasive aquatic species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil, which have wreaked havoc on some lake's ecosystems, including the Great Lakes, are brought into a lake by clinging to the bottoms of boats. Individual riparians and lake associations in the area often spend their own money to take actions to control against invasive species.

"The $24 million statewide burden for invasive aquatic species is falling on lake associations, when the majority of those species are brought in at public boat launches," Brown asserted. "The DNR is planning on bringing in more boaters, but the state isn't asking them to share in the burden of aquatic invasive species management, so the the lake communities and associations are left holding the bag."

Brown said the MLSA recommends adding a fee on boat registrations in the state that could be used to assist lake associations and riparians with the burden of invasive species management.

"People living on lakes understand they have a heavy personal investment in maintaining the quality of a lake, and they don't mind paying," he said, "but the recreational boating community also needs to pay their fair share."

Funding for lake access at the state level will be a determining factor as to how much public lake access is increased on the local level. Additionally, when it comes to inland lakes, size does matter.

Mary Nardo, manager of the DNR Parks and Recreation Development Unit, said "priority lakes" mentioned in the land strategy could apply to any lake over 100 acres which doesn't currently have public lake access. Criteria on which smaller lakes are ripe for increased access hasn't been developed, she said, but availability of land and the willingness of local governments and other riparian property owners to work with the DNR typically guides development of sites on smaller lakes.

"It goes back 60 years or more. The priority started with larger lakes, and within that there isn't an established priority of those," Nardo said. "There are some (lakes) where people would like more access, but a lot of the priority has to do with size, and where we have access that is insufficient and can be expanded. That gets harder and harder as the price of lakefront property increases."

The lack of available funds, combined with high property values, essentially limits any expansion of public lake access sites in Oakland County, according to the DNR. Statewide, the department's proposed plan would be to increase the number of sites by five per year. Nardo said she isn't aware of any potential sites in west Oakland County or the Bloomfield area that they are considering.

"We aren't looking in Oakland County that I'm aware of," Nardo said, of plans to expand public lake access in the state. "With the amount of dwindling state dollars, it's a very small handful of locations where we are looking."

Efforts by the DNR to improve existing lake access to Union Lake which began several years ago have since stalled, as the availability of riparian property changed.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said there are only a few lakes in the township where the DNR maintains public access sites. The most recent attempt by the DNR to improve public access to waterways in the township involved the purchase of the former Aggressive Marine property, 2265 Union Lake Road, near Wise Road.

"They do own the old Aggressive Marine. That's about three acres, two of which are underwater," Zoner said. "There is a parcel and building across the street that the DNR was going to buy, but I believe that property was sold."

Currently, public access to Union Lake consists of a boat ramp on the east side of Union Lake Road, south of Cooley Lake Road, and a parking lot for vehicles on the west side of the roadway. The DNR had planned to relocate public access facilities to the former marina location, which provided docking for about 100 boats while under private operation, which is the same number of vessels the department estimates enter the water at the current site. ardo said acquiring new property for public access usually takes several years. Often, she said, the department isn't able to acquire property because funding for purchasing sites has been reduced. The majority of funding approved for public access sites approved by the state's Waterways Commission is geared toward sites that will be able to provide access to motor boats up to 26 feet long.

"Even when the housing market was down, waterfront property wasn't that far down. It's still a very high-dollar purchase," she said. "Typically, funding is geared toward motor (boats). There are carry-down access sites where you could bring a small boat or kayak, but the focus of the waterways funding comes from boat registration, and carrydown vessels aren't registered, nor required to be registered in the state."

Walled Lake, the third largest in the county, does provide beach access to all of the public, but boat access to the lake is limited to private sites available only to those who own property on its shores. And while the notion of creating a public access site has come up in the past, Walled Lake Mayor William Roberts said there's hasn't been any support.

"If Walled Lake had a DNR boat launch, I think it would change the atmosphere of the lake." Roberts said, adding that past studies of boat traffic indicated the lake is already busy from the current users. "I would hate to see Walled Lake become Union Lake.�

In terms of the overall boating use a lake receives, Nardo said the DNR doesn't make any effort to limit the number of boats that have access, as the number of vessels coming from public access sites is very small compared to the number of crafts already accessing the water. In general, Nardo said lake capacity is a matter of personal opinion, based on an individual's experience and environment.

"The challenge you have in southeast Michigan is that half the population of the state lives in southeast Michigan. So, that's a challenge for any of the counties there because there is such a demand for lake access," Nardo said. "Many people will transport themselves further north, but the challenging part is that many people live in southeast Michigan and want to access water that is close to them.

"From the riparian standpoint, and what they may consider is a lot of public lake access, from the public standpoint, probably isn't enough."

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out of a science fiction novel or a Hollywood movie studio, like the film “Minority Report”, the science fiction thriller set in the year 2054, where PreCrime, a specialized police department, apprehends criminals based on what they call in the movie foreknowledge, based on three psychics called “precogs”, in reality actual predictions are being done by law enforcement, not psychics, across the country based upon past criminal history, time crimes were committed, and locations of the criminal activity. Based upon statistics and crime prevention implementation, researchers and law enforcement officials are working to determine and deter future offenses.

W

hether it's Washington D.C., as it was in “Minority Report”, or Detroit, Birmingham, White Lake or Commerce Township in 2013, law enforcement departments are being forced to work harder than ever before, facing increasing social, criminal, and mental health issues with less funding. Often, innovative departments are turning to data-driven technology to assist them with their experience-based knowledge and intuitive hunches. Predicting where, and when, crimes are likely to occur is more than preventative crime fighting; it is the ability to actually foretell criminal activities by utilizing the latest available technology.

Innovations like crime mapping are actively being used by analysts in law enforcement to map, visualize, and analyze various criminal activities. CompStat, for Computer Statistics or Comparative Statistics, is the name given to New York City's Police Department's accountability process, replicated in many other locations, which is an organizational management tool for police departments utilizing a multilayered dynamic approach to crime reduction, quality of life improvement, and personnel and resource management. It utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and maps crime and identifies problem areas. The model is a management process within a performance management framework that synthesizes the analysis of crime and disorder data, strategic problem solving, and a clear accountability structure. Contrary to typical reactive policing, the CompStat model works to deploy police resources to where there is a problem as a means of heading off the dilemma before it continues or escalates. The system provides for relentless follow up and assessment of whether or not it's working.

CompStat was adopted in 1995 in New York City under then-mayor Rudolph Giuliani and then police commissioner William Bratton, and it was credited with a 60 percent drop in crime. The New York City Police Department instituted a mandatory CompStat meeting every month which every police official had to attend, and the year after it was adopted, the city saw a drop in murder rates. In 1999 and 2000, over a third of police agencies around the country with 100 or more officers reported implementing a “CompStat-like” program.

New York City utilizes CompStat on a weekly basis, where personnel from all of the precincts compile a statistical summary of the week's crime complaints, arrests and summons activities, as well as a written report of significant cases, crime patterns and police activities. This data, with specific enforcement locations and times, is then forwarded to the chief of the department's CompStat Unit, where the information is then collated and loaded into a citywide database. The unit then runs computer analysis of the data and generates a weekly CompStat report, which captures the crime complaints and arrest activities at the precinct level, with summaries and other important performance indicators.

Precinct commanders and top level brass then can analyze emerging and established crime trends, as well as deviations and anomalies.

CompStat analyzes both the major crimes of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson, but also simple assaults, forgery and counterfeiting, fraud, embezzlement, buying, receiving or possessing stolen property, vandalism, prostitution, sex offenses, drug abuse violations, offenses against family and children, driving under the influence, liquor law violations, drunkenness, disorderly conduct, vagrancy, curfew violations and loitering, and running away. The system also captures data on the number of shooting incidents and shooting victims, as well as gun arrests.

The reason CompStat holds information on some of what are considered more minor violations is what law enforcement calls the “broken windows theory” – which is that aggressive enforcement of all statutes and ordinances results in a greater sense of order, and as those behaviors are deterred, worse crimes have a greater chance of being forestalled.

The University of Maryland looked at CompStat to examine it's usefulness and success. “Problem-focused strategies are normally judged a success by a reduction in or absence of the initial crime problem. This success or lack thereof, provides knowledge of how to improve current and future planning and deployment of resources,” researchers wrote. “Current research on CompStat suggests that the four principles of CompStat are often not implemented as originally intended. Many law enforcement agencies use CompStat to merely reinforce traditional features of the police bureaucracy, including authoritarianism, hierarchy, and control. Agencies simultaneously neglect the collaboration, coordination, problem solving, and leadership components of CompStat. Others say that CompStat, as it has been practiced, has been a 'review of the numbers,' but that a successful model requires the reengineering of police processes, central data collection, and an understanding of performance management.”

The Detroit Police Department uses CompStat as a convincing crime fighting tool. Sgt. Michael Woody, public information officer for the department said, “CompStat and crime mapping are not new, but the chief (Detroit Police Chief James Craig) has put a new emphasis on them, looking at how crimes are occurring, where they occurring, when they are occurring, and trying to dissect them, as well as looking at what other crimes are occurring around the city. Using CompStat, we can zero right in and put a pin on where a crime is occurring. For example, if there were a carjacking in a neighborhood, it puts a pin on the map in that area. If there are a rash of carjackings in that area, it can help us deploy personnel trained to that kind of crime to quell it in that area.”

Woody noted that the Detroit Police Department does not believe the city is overrun with tons of criminals, despite rising crime figures. “Our belief is there are X amount of criminals committing numerous crimes, and if you shut down those criminals, you shut down a lot of the crime around the city,” he explained. For example, there may be only four or five burglars committing 18 or 20 breaking and enterings in an area.

“That's been our contention for some time, and it's been proving true.

“It puts us in line with the data that comes out from these crimes, and it provides us with the ability to quell more crimes from happening, not just in that area, but citywide, because we're taking out those criminals,” Woody said.

U

niversity of Chicago economist Steven Levitt similarly has argued that CompStat is not responsible for many of the benefits it claims; rather, CompStat occurred at the same time as training and deployment of about 5,000 new and better educated police officers in New York City; police decision making was moved to the precinct level; a backlog of 50,000 unserved warrants was cleared; programs moved over 500,000 people into jobs from welfare; the end of the crack epidemic in the 1990s; a robust “zero tolerance” campaign against petty crime and antisocial behavior by Mayor Giuliani and then police commissioner William Bratton; among other social factors. Others, such as Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, assistant law professor at the University of the District of Columbia, are concerned that predictive policing can be used dishonestly, with officers misapplying data to run minorities out of neighborhoods or to question people without good reason. Ferguson's other concern is that computer-generated crime forecasts will lower the threshold for reasonable suspicion, leading to increased racial and class profiling as well as a rash of pat downs and arrests that in other circumstances would be considered unwarranted. Others are concerned that statistics can be manipulated to report crimes the way a department wants them to.

Woody disagrees. “It is working. Our overall crime (in Detroit) is trending down – not as quickly as we would hope, but it is working.”

But preventative and predictive crime fighting continues, and

continues to evolve, from the basic, such as the use of a search warrant, which is an educated guess that police will find something, to sophisticated computer technology. IBM has created PredPol, which applies advanced mathematics and adaptive computer learning that works beyond simple mapping crime data. PredPol is based on models for predicting aftershocks from earthquakes, and it forecasts the highest risk times and places for future crimes. IBM asserts that PredPol has resulted in predictions twice as accurate as those made through existing best practices by building on knowledge and experience that already exists.

PredPol was designed over a period of six years by a team of PhD mathematicians and social scientists working together from UCLA, Santa Clara University, and UC Irvine, along with crime analysts and line level police officers in the Los Angeles and Santa Cruz, California police departments. The goal of predictive policing, as PredPol was designed, is not to merely map past crimes or to create profiles of individuals, nor is it a replacement of veteran law enforcement agents' intuition and experience. PredPol is clear that it is a tool for police departments to increase their odds of stopping crimes, both before they happen as well as those in progress, and it is applicable for any size police jurisdiction. It provides participating agencies with available information to officers in the field immediately.

The mission given to PredPol creators was to be able to place police officers at the right time and location to give them the best chance of preventing crime from occurring in the first place.

In order to accomplish that, PredPol created a way to process crime data to assign probabilities of future crime events to regions of space and time; present the estimated crime risk in a framework that is useable to those in law enforcement who make the final decisions; which then can, and will, lead to more efficient and accurate deployment of resources by local law enforcement agencies. “It's about predicting where, and when, future gun crimes are most likely to occur so patrol offices can complete their most important mission,” PredPol literature asserts. They claim that the mathematical accuracy of their gun violence, burglaries and auto theft crimes is so good that PredPol is “anticipating twice as many crimes as traditional hotspot mapping.

That's giving police twice as many opportunities to deter and reduce.”

“I'm not going to get more money. I'm not going to get more cops. I have to be better at using what I have, and that's what predictive policing is about,” Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said. “If this old street cop can change the way that he thinks about this stuff, then I know that my officers can do the same.”

Former New York Police Department Commissioner and Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton concurred. “This is the next era of policing,” he said. “Very soon, we will be using a predictive policing model where, by studying real-time crime patterns, we can anticipate where a crime is likely to occur.”

L

ocal police departments utilize a variety of preventative and predictive measures to assist them with their crime fighting and analysis. While the West Bloomfield Police Department said predictive crime fighting is not something they are doing, and Birmingham Police Chief Don Studt said, “We're a very small organization. We (himself, the assistant police chief and commander) read every run sheet every day and can keep a handle on every case ourselves and martial our resources accordingly. We have the capability and would use (crime) mapping if necessary, but day-to-day, no, it's not worthwhile,” other police and public safety departments are recognizing more and more the value of predictive crime fighting apparatus.

“Some call it predictive crime fighting, and some call it crime mapping, but either way it helps determine patterns and areas where various crimes are occurring, which allows us to provide better areas to deploy resources,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “It's based on metrics, and using some of the crime mapping can put together quantifiable data.”

For example, Bouchard said that if they are seeing a great deal of drug overdoses in a certain area of Pontiac, this information will permit them to redeploy their resources to that area.

“We track our crime data to try to see if we can get out ahead of them. We follow the patterns,” he said. The sheriff's department provides law enforcement services to Commerce Township, along with about 20 Oakland County communities.

Bouchard said there's nothing really new about crime mapping, but that “with computer-aided analytics, it has become much more sophisticated today, and much more about metrics.”

“We're using a number of different things, a lot of which is mapping based,” said Dave Wurtz, intelligence analyst at the Oakland County Sheriff's Department. Oakland County primarily utilizes tools taken from CLEMIS, which is Oakland County's Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System, a consortium of over 100 public safety agencies in southeast Michigan which share reporting information and use innovative computer technology for criminal justice and public safety applications. “With CLEMIS, we can look at home invasions in an area, and look at the day of the week, the time of the day, other similarities, including methods of operations. Then we can begin targeting cars, groups of people, or have deputy cars saturate an area. We can do that with virtually any kind of crimes we have a rash of.”

Bouchard said that one of the things he likes about CLEMIS is that they build their own software. “It's invaluable,” he noted. “We're able to ask for, and get, what we need within the system. That in house aspect is extremely cost effective.”

W

urtz noted that recently there were a rash of burglaries at phone stores. “We didn't know why they were targeting them, or where they were going once they got the phones,” Wurtz said. “But with these tools, we were able to figure it out. If you identify the characters and get them out of commission, you've solved a problem. Or, if you saturate an area with police cars, and you talk to local homeowners about what is going on (for any type of crime) and what to look at and for to create awareness by them, as well as homeowner associations, it's very worthwhile and very effective. It makes the criminals less welcome and desirable in the area, and can have an impact.”

Wurtz said the sheriff's department has been increasing their communications within the agency and between their substations in a comprehensive effort to presage criminal activity and forestall it. “The bad guys don't respect boundaries,” he explained. “We issue intel bulletins, which creates awareness. We find it's much more effective than just driving around. We have something to look for. You see, criminals are just like us.

They continue to do something because it works. They create their patterns.

A lot of stuff is so cyclical. Our job, and the job of crime mapping, is figuring out patterns of behavior, which could evolve into profiling. We're seeking the behavior and techniques that make crimes similar.”

White Lake Township has begun to utilize CLEMIS' crime mapping service after being part of the consortium for 30 years. “It's very beneficial and all very helpful, from their crime mapping service to their mug shots, bookings, accident logs, car logs, accident reports, E-tickets, everything,” said White Lake Police Chief Ed Harris. “We don't have a crime analyst per se, and we look at patterns, and do a lot of directed patrols in efforts to prevent crimes from taking place. The costs of the products available through CLEMIS would be out of our reach without them.”

Harris said White Lake is using crime mapping to pin point exactly where crimes are taking place, which then allows them to review patterns of crimes in the township. The township also appreciates the collaborative nature of the service, the fact that CLEMIS is a resource across the county.

“We use the crime mapping service to locate crimes in other areas, so we can see the evolution of crime not just in White Lake, but as it is coming across the county,” said Lt. Daniel Keller.

Lt. Adam Kline agreed. “I tell our residents that if they think about where we live, in White Lake Township, we're just six miles from one of the most dangerous cities in Michigan (Pontiac). We're very aggressive in our traffic enforcement because of that. The more they see you, the more they know we're going to see them and catch them.”

“We're omnipresent,” Keller said.

White Lake police officers saturate areas that see upticks of not only

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crime, but intersections which have high incidents of accidents. “Accidents have decreased 27 percent this year at M-59 and Teggerdine because we have two or four officers working throughout a shift, sitting at that intersection,” Keller said. “We have a very high rate of traffic at that intersection. Having that police presence reduces people going through red lights, as well as bad guys going through neighborhoods will avoid the area because the cops are there.”

He said the purpose is not necessarily for writing tickets, but to act as a deterrent. “We do it all over the township, along with crime mapping, to locate where there are problems,” he said. “We're not a reactive department, we're a proactive department. Part of our training is to work on predicting.”

The department regularly sends high level officers to crime analyst school at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, with Kline next to attend.

“The technology hasn't quite caught up with the ability to predict. I don't think all of the pieces quite fit in place,” Keller said. “But I don't think it's far off. The greater the population, the greater the ability. Further, we can't do it alone. It takes a partnership between the community and the police. Their knowledge and commitment to the community helps us.”

C

hief David Hendrickson of Bloomfield Hills agrees that a partnership between the public safety department and the community is critical. “We call it intelligence gathering,” he said. “For example, if someone saw and reported a blue Ford in their neighborhood that didn't belong with partial plates, rather than our dismissing that, we're now trying to gather as much information as possible. We're talking to witnesses. Residents may have seen that car, or a guy with a hoodie on another day. It's amazing how much sharing of that intelligence helps.”

While Bloomfield Hills is a low crime city, Hendrickson said his focus is on record keeping and information sharing as a part of CLEMIS, as well as putting marked police cars in residential neighborhoods to prevent crimes of opportunities. “There are a lot of contractors working in neighborhoods, and

we don't know if they're all legitimate,” he said. “There have been incidents of thefts. By keeping our presence out there, we can deter any opportunities.”

The Bloomfield Township Police Department has long worked to prepare their higher level officers with the best possible resources by offering them training at Quantico. Like other mid-size to larger departments, they believe in predictive crime fighting, and utilize crimemapping.com, which individuals can access as well. Additionally, the department is in the midst of training a crime analyst for their investigations division.

“It's been around a long time and we are now dedicating more time to crime analysis to look at trending patterns in the community,” said Sgt. Timothy Abbo.

“If there are a number of burglaries, for example, it can determine our asset allocations,” Abbo said. “We'll put out directed patrols, and saturate the area with a number of cars working certain areas for visibility, or we'll station undercover vehicles or officers to look for perpetrators or crimes in process.

We are just coming up with this now, so we don't have data or results yet.”

The crime analyst officer is currently undergoing training. All aspects of the criminal analysis will be fully operational in Bloomfield Township by this winter.

Compared to instinctual crime fighting by experienced cops, Abbo said, “Experience can only take you so far. It can't predict where the next home invasion will take place – but you can look at spots on a map and see similar incidents nearby. You can't tell from a gut instinct where a home invasion is going to take place. Gut instinct can only take you so far.”

Crimemapping.com has 15 different categories, and visitors to the site can click on any to see the date, case number, and similar number of crimes in that category in recent history in the area. “It creates awareness, and I think it's one of the best tools we have,” Abbo said. “In the past, police work was reactive. This, and other crime mapping tools, are ways to look ahead to stem off crimes or catch those involved in the act. And there is no picking and choosing of the reports. They are generated as they happen.”

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FACES Doug Corella

L

ong before rock star Doug Corella was the percussionist and keyboard player for the popular '90s alternative band The Verve Pipe, he was just a Walled Lake Central student who played in the school band.

“I was in choir, marching band, jazz band and concert band,” he said. “I got involved in as many activities as I could. I always wanted to play in a rock and roll band as a kid, but you don’t really plan that out. I always thought there would be a place for me in music; I just didn’t know where that would be.”

Corella studied music education at Central Michigan University and played in a band within the college confines.

“I was involved with a really great percussion ensemble called Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble at Central (Michigan University),” he said. “It was really eclectic and such a rush. All the concerts were packed and sold out. I felt like a rock star. I had a love for it and wanted to continue doing it.”

While freelancing with some local talent, Corella met the band The Verve Pipe. “(Band member) Donny Brown saw me at the Aquinas College Jazz Festival and we became friends after that,” he said. “They asked me if I wanted to come in and play percussion on their second record. I graduated from college, did my senior recital and the next day I hopped on the tour bus and took off.”

Corella’s career skyrocketed and the unassuming, yet musically brilliant, Michigan native was touring 28 countries with Kiss.

The Verve Pipe’s hit song “The Freshmen” went to number one on the U.S. Billboard charts and their album, Villains, went platinum.

“It was really exciting,” he said. “The band has always had a smart business sense and good work ethic. They had a strong musical show and a great reputation. I was fortunate to get with a bunch of people who felt the same way about music as I do.”

Although Corella performed in monumental venues and played alongside legendary musicians, the pinnacle of his career was reached in the very state he was raised.

“Playing the Michigan State Fair was a high point,” he said. “Michigan fans were our greatest fans. Bringing music to the home state was really the highlight for me.”

Today, Corella is a music director at Rowe Clark Math and Science Academy in Chicago. He directs his own band of students.

“I moved to Chicago about 13 years ago. I always wanted to get back into education and work with inner city children.

These kids have some grit to them. There’s an unspoken soul to it all.”

Corella has reached unprecedented musical success, but at the utterance of his home state, a nostalgic calm shines through in his words.

“I loved Michigan. I loved growing up on Bass Lake. We would go to the Commerce Drive-In to see movies and just goof off. I have a lot of great memories from that area. I’ve been really very fortunate.”

Story: Katey Meisner

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BY LISA BRODY & KEVIN ELLIOTT

H

ard to remember the old days, isn't it – those slower, quieter days before computers, before the World Wide Web, better known to everyone today as the Internet. For those of us who are post-pubescent, we can recall what it was like to have numerous thick, large yellow telephone books stashed in a drawer or closet somewhere, and how we would actually pull them out and look through them, alphabetically and by category, when we needed to look up a phone number or an address. It didn't seem then to take too long to find someone's digits. Maybe five or ten minutes. Fifteen minutes total, max.

And when we needed information about something or someone, we could always drive to the local library. Librarians have always been great resources. They help us access information in all sorts of ways, in those days from microfiche to books that we would have to find through the card catalog. Sometimes we would go into city or township halls, or drive somewhere to read the particulars of whatever we needed at the actual source. It might take a while to accumulate all of the details, but we didn't know any different at the time.

Today, nobody has time, and no one likes to leave their computer – that invaluable resource at our fingertips, when it's usually the easiest, and best, way to access information. The Internet is both the cure for our time-attenuated lifestyles, and possibly one of the causes. After all, we can find just about anything with a quick search.

To help ease this plight, states, counties, cities, townships, villages and school districts, as well as most businesses, have created state-ofthe art websites to enhance the levels of service offered to local citizens. Information galore is now available to all of us with access to a computer and the Internet, the ability to navigate their sites, pay taxes and utility bills, register to vote, even watch local municipal meetings, either live or from their site archives. For each municipal organization, the goal is to reach out to their constituents and provide the services they recognize are most requested and needed, and that they can offer without residents needing to call or come into their offices.

Some of the websites are simple, with easy-to-find and navigate pages. Others are more intricate and complex, with not only more information but private access pages directed to specific groups of users, such as students or teachers on school district websites. But they all have public pages that are geared to simplify our lives, and work at the rapid speed our lives operate.

Ben Sebrowski, technology manager for Commerce Township, said the municipality updated to the current version of its community website about two years ago, but that the township has had a dedicated website up and running for about a decade. All operations to develop and maintain the site are conducted internally by the township.

The township's home page – www.commercetwp.com – serves as both a directory to all the township departments, boards and commissions, as well as an actively updated source for meetings, events and other information relevant to the community. Keeping information on the home page up to date was one of the main goals the township set out to accomplish when the site was revamped from its original static format.

"Basically, we wanted the front page to have some fresh and timely information, hoping that if people see that, they will come back regularly," Sebrowski said. "One of the things we started doing, which is required by law, is providing links to public meetings on the front page, hoping to get the word out about what is going on."

Brief news and informational updates, such as staff openings, meeting notices and minutes, community events, newsletters and videos link out from the website's main home page, which serves to keep the flow of information moving. The format makes the site easy to navigate and allows for a clean, quick view on most web browsers and mobile devices. The site also provides an RSS feed, or Rich Site Summary, that makes it capable for users to get web feeds and updates through an RSS reader, or aggregator.

Sebrowski said while there isn't a specific schedule for updating the website and social media posts, new information is typically posted several times a week. The responsibility of keeping the site updated with new content and removing old information is shared by Sebrowski and a few others at the township, including the township clerk, parks and recreation director, the senior activity director and some clerical staff. However, he said, updates are done quickly and easily, with about an hour of total staff time a week utilized for posting updates to the website.

The township has also embraced social media as a way to provide information to the community. On March 12, Commerce Township officially joined Facebook. As of October 23, the township had 254 likes.

"That has almost started as the best way to get word out in the township," Sebrowski said of the township's use of social media.

While Facebook may be helpful in reaching members of the community, the township's website is still the key destination online for those living, working or doing business in the township. It is from the main page where users can access dozens of applications and forms, find contact numbers and e-mail addresses, locate informational resources, review local ordinances and meeting minutes, download a digital book or pay their taxes.

In terms of conducting business with the township, Sebrowski said the only transactions currently available on the website is the ability to pay property taxes. That service is available on the township treasurer's page through software the municipality purchased and runs in collaboration with BS&A Software. The service allows users to search property data, find comparable records and pay taxes. The page also includes forms that can be printed and returned to the township for property owners seeking tax exemptions, deferments and other actions.

"That's the only online service we currently provide. Some people have been leery of using credit cards, mostly because they have to pay a credit card fee," Sebrowski said, indicating that online services offered to the public will likely expand in Commerce Township and other municipalities in the near future. "That's where things are going and a lot of communities already are offering more services. We are hoping to get permits for building and burning leaves and yard waste online, but we aren't there yet. We do have printable copies of forms, which need to be filled out offline."

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Applications and forms available on the Commerce Township Clerk's page that are available to download and print include banner permits; solicitor licenses; charitable solicitor licenses; fireworks permits; massage licenses; Class "C" liquor licenses; liquor licenses for special events; fertilizer licenses; special sale licenses; transient merchant licenses; alarm system registrations; Freedom of Information Act requests; and election inspector applications. The clerk's page also includes a link to the Michigan Secretary of State website, www.michigan.gov/sos, for absentee ballot applications.

The Commerce Township Building, Water and Sewer Department's page offers forms for residential and business permits, as well as building permit applications, such as electrical, plumbing permits, and other documents that can be downloaded or printed. Information and applications related to additional development, such as site plans, rezoning and other actions, are available at the township's planning department's webpage.

The township's home page also links to the Commerce Township Community Library website, which is maintained by the township.

Visitors to the library site may use their library card to log into their library accounts, reserve books; check due dates; access databases and online reference sources. The site also includes a link to "The Library Network," an online resource that allows library card holders from several area libraries to borrow e-books, which are available for download.

Sebrowski said expanding services on the municipal side of the website involves purchasing additional software and support from service providers. However, additional services may provide a savings to the township in terms of streamlining operations.

"It would cost us more money to have a company provide credit card processing. The database software we use in the building department has an online payment service, but that would cost money upfront," he said. "Now that we are moving ahead with reorganizing our building department, (additional online services) may be something that someone pushes for."

The need for an improved municipal website in Walled Lake has been an issue brought up by several residents visiting city hall and attending city council meetings. Walled Lake resident Susan Helke vocalized her complaints about the website at an August 20 city council meeting at which she said the site is difficult to find, and that information is disorganized and outdated. alled Lake City Manager Dennis Whitt said at the time that city council did approve the establishment of a new website, but efforts to do so were delayed by labor negotiations and budget preparations. However, addressing the website remained a "priority," he said.

Tamara Williams, assistant to the city manager, said the city has since met with Revize Software Systems of Troy, which has been contracted to build and maintain a new website for the city. While an exact launch date hasn't yet been established, Williams said the site will be redesigned and reorganized to make it easy to use and easy to find, and offer many online services, such as the ability to file various permits, pay bills and conduct other online transactions.

"The website is really the face of the city to

W

those looking online," Williams said. "We want something more attractive and user friendly, and that can provide better services."

Currently, the city's website -www.walledlake.com -- doesn't appear in the results of most web searches, and much of the information and online services that the website does provide are difficult to find. As such, the site is often underutilized, despite efforts to provide information and services.

Users navigating the existing website, which was created in 2009, will find a number of news and information items on the main page of the site, with a menu of links on the left side of the page, including a downloadable information packet containing the Walled Lake City Council agenda, meeting minutes and related information that is updated prior to each council meeting, although many of the existing links aren't up to date. Using the search option on the main page may provide quick access to some information, with more than two dozen forms and applications available for download and print on the website's "document center," which brings all of the available items together on one page.

The Walled Lake Fire Department's webpage offers the ability for users to apply for burning permits by using an online form that can be submitted through the website. The police department also allows users to sign up for the department's "Vacation House Watch" program, which can also be submitted through the site.

Both services can be accessed at www.walledlake.com/NewFire/FireIndex.htm.

Library services, including the ability to log into user accounts, place a hold on titles, or access shared library networks is also available at the library's site. However, while police, fire and library sites are linked to the city's home page, the sites operate independently from the city's main website.

"We are usually putting up clerical things, like meeting minutes," Williams said of the current website operations and capabilities. "As a whole, the site is managed by an outside company.

There were some internal discussions here about the site, and we felt like there were some improvements that need to be made, and we wanted to do them in house. Currently, we have to send everything out when we want them added to the site."

In launching a new website, the city intends to present information in a more organized format making more services available and easier to use.

"We know that our residents are interested in accessing services online, and we want to provide a better experience for them," Williams said. "We are excited about the changes coming."

The Village of Wolverine Lake updated its municipal website more than two years ago with the help of Oakland County's G2G Cloud Solutions. The service, which was developed by the Oakland County government, works to share resources with other governments in hopes of lowering cost to agencies that work with the program.

Wolverine Lake Village Administrative Assistant Tabitha Linsenmeyer said while the village's website – www.wolverinelake.com – was built and is maintained through the county, she has the ability to edit and post information on the site as needed.

"We edit and put things up as needed," she said. "I can change out content for more current events, and we have the ability to make some

new pages, like we did when the riverboat was here, and then take them down."

In addition to various forms and applications available on the village's website, users are able to pay taxes and utilities online through Oakland County's software services incorporated into the site. Users may also purchase or pay fees to park and recreation events in the village, as well as make donations to the village's fireworks fund.

Recently, the village has added the ability to watch village council meetings as they are broadcast live on the website, as well as archived meeting videos.

"The council meetings are available for viewing, both recorded and live broadcasts," Linsenmeyer said. "We also post the minutes of meetings that are held, as well as agendas prior to the meetings." he site is clear of clutter, making it easy to navigate and locate information.

Linsenmeyer said calls from the public about the website usually have to do with finding specific information.

"We don't have too many questions or requests," she said. "Finding ordinances. That's the most common question, and navigating through the links."

Information and services available to residents is of utmost importance to staff at the Walled Lake Consolidated School District, where updating the district's website – www.wlcsd.org – is done each day in coordination with the flow of news and information made available via social media, e-mail and print.

"Customer ease of use and quality customer service are very important things for us as we work with parents and the community," said Judy Evola, director of marketing and community relations for the school district.

Parents may access the "web store" on the district's website to make payments for food services, Prime Time Care, summer classes and camps, all Community Education Classes, and other fees. Ticket sales for concerts, plays, and other events can be done on the district's website, as well as donations to special funds.

"It makes it easier for parents if they don't have to come into the school for every transaction," Evola said. "Parents today don't really have to pack a lunch, they can load their food service accounts online and get reminders sent to them for fees. All ticket sales can also be done online."

Virtually any fee that the district assesses can be paid through the website, reducing the need to travel to schools for most transactions, since they may be done online. Web services also help to streamline other processes, such as student enrollment.

"Enrollment is available online, but parents must come in for verification purposes, such as bringing in personal documents like a birth certificate," Evola said.

Dan Durkin, the district's print and video technician, serves as the district's webmaster.

Both he and Evola work to update the website daily by adding, changing or deleting old information. They also do the same with the district's Twitter and Facebook accounts.

"The whole idea is to have an accurate and consistent message to our parents and the community," she said. "We try not to duplicate efforts and use the same information in different formats. We are both constantly taking photos with the iPhone and other cameras – there's always something to cover."

T

FACES

Benn Perry

B

enn Perry, a credit counselor turned author and screenwriter, has applied his vast knowledge of the credit industry and poured it into his inaugural feature film “PAST DUE!” The psychological thriller takes audiences on the suspenseful exploits of a renegade bill collector who goes to great lengths to collect from debtors.

The movie will be filmed entirely in southeast Michigan and will employ more than 150 local artists and film crew members.

“I moved on from the credit counseling industry in 2002,” Perry said.

“Around then is when I started writing the screenplay for ‘PAST DUE!’ This is being made on a Hollywood scale and it is tackling an issue that is so topical right now.”

The cast includes such talent as veteran actor Eric Roberts, and is a Laguna Films and Firefly Films production. The legendary Robert Conrad, who acted in the 1960s series “The Wild Wild West,” will direct, and world-renowned Ronald Vidor has signed on as director of photography. Vidor counts “Lethal Weapon”, “Stand by Me” and “Rocky III” among some of his past works.

Perry credits the societal relevance of the material to captivate the interest of several revered Hollywood talents.

“Debt is something that can happen to anyone for any reason. It’s a very serious problem.”

Perry, a Detroit native, and his family moved to south Florida in 1974.

There, they ran a successful credit counseling business for over 30 years.

From his experience and empathetic understanding of debtors, Perry wrote “Escape from the Plastic Prison.” The widely acclaimed publication and guide

to getting out of debt won the best how-to book at the San Francisco Book Festival in 2011.

Acknowledged nationally for his financial prowess, Perry appeared as an expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1987.

“Everyone, at one point in their life, has had to deal with a bill collector.

That is why I wrote this movie. I don’t want to ever hear again of someone killing themselves because of their debt.”

Following retirement from the family business, Perry returned to Michigan, where he now resides in Commerce Township with his wife, Judy.

“I missed that Midwest attitude so much. So, we moved back in 2005 and we love every minute of it, even the cold weather.”

No amount of commendation has changed Perry’s humble allegiance to his current project. His devotion translates onto every page of the screenplay, and his hope is to impact debtors who have endured mercenary provocation from overzealous debt collectors.

“I want to do whatever I can to help people. I think that’s my real calling. I sat across the desk from thousands of individuals having trouble paying their bills. I was in the fire with them. I understand the financial woes that people are facing every day.”

“PAST DUE!” is slated to premiere in late 2014 and Perry is anticipating a strong release.

“It’s a locomotive going down the track and picking up steam. We’re going to pull into the station with a big success.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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Commerce boards differ on development

MUNICIPAL

By Kevin Elliott

T

he potential for nearly 1,000 multiple-family residential units, including apartments and town homes, to be constructed in Commerce Township over the next few years raised concern among some board of trustee members during the October 21 joint meeting with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board, the township board of trustees and the planning commission..

"To me, there are too many (apartment) units and it's too dense," said Commerce Township Trustee Rick Sovel about potential developments in the township's DDA Commerce Towne Place project area, north of M-5 and Pontiac Trail between Welch and Haggerty Roads. "To me, this is too much. We have too many units in here that are multiple family, whether they are owneroccupied or rentals, there are too many."

Sovel said he's concerned that the high number of apartments in a small location will lead to increased traffic in the area, as well as more calls to police and fire departments for service. "We have to have a balance," he said. "I think the scale is tipping too far toward the multiple side, rather than other options."

DDA Director Kathleen Jackson said the meeting was intended, in part, for the boards to discuss zoning issues of multiple-family housing projects in the community as it works to update the township's master plan.

Several multiple-family housing developments have recently been discussed in the township, but so far only one has recently made it through the all aspects of the planning process and been approved for construction. That project, located at Maple and Beck Roads, includes the construction of about 225 apartment units by Farmington Hills-based developer M. Shapiro Development. The project went before the township's board of trustees and planning commission for about two years before finally being approved in August.

The DDA also is in negotiations with Bloomfield Hills-based developer Edward Rose & Sons for the possible purchase of land in the project area that likely include about 390 apartments, which would range from one to threebedrooms and have an average rent of $1,200 to $1,500 per month.

The purchase agreements come nearly a decade after the DDA purchased two golf courses and 50 acres of parkland to develop a 330-acre project area that is intended to consist of business and commercial developments, residential housing and park land. Debt incurred by the DDA is placed at $73 million, which was to be repaid by the sale of land to developers. However, current projections estimate sales may amount to about half as much as originally believed.

"I don't think that, whatever we sell this property for, we will ever make our money back," said trustee Robert Berkheiser, who said he prefers to have fewer multiple-family developments in the project area. "Because we made a bad decision – it looks bad now – we don't have to make a bad decision to get out of it."

While the DDA is ultimately responsible for repaying the $73 million of debt accumulated to purchase and develop some of the property, the township has contributed about $2 million from its general fund each year to subsidize the DDA and assist in the repayment of its bonds. The DDA debt is expected to mature through 2034. In planning for the DDA's financial obligation, the township requested additional funding from residents for police and fire, with voters approving special assessments of 2.7 mills for police and 2 mills for fire.

That revenue began with the 2011 budget.

DDA board member Dan Lublin said the original idea behind the DDA project was to create a town center that would incorporate all the various land uses and housing densities.

"You can't have only single family homes. Many of these apartments will be filled with people that work in the town center we are hoping to develop. Keep your eye on the bigger picture," Lublin said. "If we don't take these developers that are reputable and capable of doing what we want in this center, we may lose the opportunity. And what comes later may not be as good as what you have now.

"Things change. Plans change. The idea of single-family homes was planned many years ago, and that was changed. Mistakes were made, and in the time period we chose to develop the area, the cost rose to an astronomical level, but personally, I can't see this working without all of these aspects. It wasn't what was originally planned, but we have a viable option in front of us.

If we fail to take it, all of us in the community may see services suffer. You may feel you can wait five or 10 years, but that won't change the complexity of what we are trying to do. Keep that in mind when making your final choice."

Trustees, DDA review land offer

By Kevin Elliott

A $4.5 million offer from a Bloomfield Hills developer proposing to build nearly 400 apartments and a senior-housing facility in Commerce Township is being considered by the community's Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

The offer was discussed at a Tuesday, October 22, joint meeting with the Commerce Township Board of Trustees, the township planning commission and the DDA at which officials updated the boards on the overall development of the 330-acre Commerce Towne Place project, located north of M-5 and Pontiac Trail, between Haggerty and Welch Roads. Site plans will need to still go before before the DDA and planning commission, before receiving final approval at a later date by the board of trustees.

Commerce DDA Director Kathleen Jackson and Insite Commercial President Randy Thomas, who is marketing the property for the township, gave an update on each of the 11 parcels of property contained in the DDA project area. The parcels are part of two former golf courses and 50 acres of former park land that the DDA purchased by issuing about $24 million in bonds. The project also intended to relieve traffic congestion from westbound traffic from M-5 by constructing Martin Parkway.

Debt incurred by the DDA, which is currently placed at $73 million, was to be repaid by selling off the 11 parcels of land to developers, who would then build businesses and residential developments that would provide long-term tax revenue to the township. However, the collapse of the real estate market and subsequent recession stalled the sale of the land for several years, which is now estimated to sell for about half of the original projection.

The DDA earlier this year accepted its first two purchase agreements on parcels in the project area, now called Towne Place. A third offer by multifamily developer and management company Edward Rose and Sons of Bloomfield Hills is currently being considered by the DDA's marketing committee. Jackson said the offer proposes the construction of about 11 three-story apartment buildings that would comprise about 390 units; a high-

density senior living facility that would provide varying degrees of care for residents; and some retail development. The purchase offer includes about 43 acres of land on two parcels.

"We don't have a signed purchase agreement," Jackson said about the offer from Rose, adding that trustees and planning commissioners need to offer opinions and direction on how they would like the project area to be developed. "Randy (Thomas) needs to know how to market the property."

Thomas told trustees that a competitive development market in the past year has helped to raise the value of the land.

Of the total 330-acre project area, about 202 acres are considered "buildable" land, with another 128 acres dedicated to conservation areas, public trails, preserved wetlands and overall storm management serving almost the entire DDA project area. About 65 to 70 acres of the land has been earmarked for commercial development, with about 140 acres to be used for residential use.

Since its initial purchase, the DDA has made several site improvements, including the construction of Martin Parkway, which runs from M-5 to Richardson Road; the completion of four roundabouts; a sewer line with available taps that runs along Martin Parkway and serves the entire development area; city water lines and available taps running along Martin Parkway; and the development of a master storm management plan.

The project area is divided into 11 parcels of property, A-K, with specific uses zoned for each parcel.

Parcel A contains 59.5 acres with zoned uses that include multiplefamily and/or single-family residential use on the western portion of the land, with additional commercial, hospitality, high-density senior living, corporate headquarters, office, research and development, and high tech. In June, the DDA accepted a purchase offer of about $5.15 million from M. Shapiro Development Company for the parcel. Shapiro has proposed building about 400 stacked ranch and/or townhouse units on the parcel, as well as some mixed-use development, which could include restaurant, senior living, banking, rental apartments and hospitality.

Another portion of the property is intended to be used for retail development.

Parcel B contains 64.2 acres with potential uses including commercial/retail developmentlifestyle, open-air center, walkable environment with shopping, restaurant and entertainment, commercial, hospitality, general retail, corporate headquarters, office space, research and development, and high tech. The parcel is currently under consideration by a potential developer who is in negotiations with DDA representatives.

Parcel C contains 6.2 acres to be used for possible multiple story mixed-use development, office and retail. Consideration for the parcel by one developer is currently in the "early discussion" stage.

Parcel D includes 8.9 acres, with uses including recreation, residential, research and development, high tech and commercial. Parcel E contains 34.4 acres used for potential multiplefamily and single-family residential use, commercial development, highdensity senior living, corporate headquarters, office space, research and development, and high tech. An offer for these two parcels from developer Edward Rose and Sons is under consideration by the DDA's marketing committee.

Parcel F contains 3.9 acres with the possibility for neighborhood commercial development or office space.

Parcel G contains 14.9 acres with zoned uses including multiple-family and single-family residential development and high-density senior living. The DDA in September accepted a purchase agreement from Hunter Pasteur Homes of Novi for about $1.04 million for the land. The developer has proposed constructing 38 to 40 single-family homes ranging from 2,500 to 3,200 square feet that could sell for $350,000 to $450,000.

Parcel H contains 3.8 acres with 2.2 acres usable for commercial outlots, industrial and retail use. The DDA's representative is currently in discussions with an undisclosed developer for the possible construction of high-tech office use with potential for light industrial use.

Parcel I includes 2.9 acres, with possible use for office space, research and development, high tech or light industrial.

Parcel J includes 5 acres with zoned uses including commercial or retail space, office use or research and development.

Parcel K includes a half-acre of westendmonthly.com

land that could be used for general commercial development.

Commerce continues budget process The Commerce Township Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing at its Tuesday, November 12, meeting to discuss the township's proposed 2014 budget, which takes effect with the township's fiscal year, January 1, 2014.

While a final draft of the proposed budget hasn't yet been finalized, township supervisor Tom Zoner said it includes about $6 million in general fund revenues and about $5.31 in general fund expenditures. The budget includes the addition of staff at township hall, as well as the Oakland County Sheriff's Commerce Substation, but doesn't include any millage increases.

"It's a positive budget, it could be passed the way it was presented," Zoner said of the preliminary budget, adding that it contains about $150,000 in excess funds.

Among the potential additions from the current 2013 budget are a part-time staff member in the treasurer's office; a community development director's position; and an additional deputy and sergeant at the sheriff's substation.

Substation commander Lt. Dennis Servis said he would like to bring on two additional staff members to help the station be more proactive in crime prevention. Additional staff, he said, would allow for a supervisor to be staffed on all three patrol shifts.

Currently, there are two supervisors that work a split shift to cover the lack of an afternoon sergeant, he said. Adding another deputy to the current staff would allow for various operations, such as neighborhood watch patrols, assistance with financial crimes and fraud cases, and providing adequate patrol on the road when the station is short deputies.

Zoner said the request for additional law enforcement officers has been requested for about five consecutive years, but has continued to go unfulfilled due to budget restraints.

The board on October 21 approved a resolution to maintain the 2014 fire district special assessment at 1.8045 mills, and the township's 2014 police protection special assessment at 2.11 mills. They will be part of the final budget approval.

Commerce Township Community Library Director Connie Jo Ozinga said the library's budget includes a 2.2

percent increase from the current year, which would be used to add staff to support the digital media lab, such as audio and video editing systems. The lab will give library patrons the ability to convert analog media to a digital format, which will then allow it to be stored and used on modern computers and devices.

"We have started buying pieces for that, and that will continue whether or not a position gets funded," Ozinga said.

The proposed budget will be open for discussion by the public and township board at the board's 7 p.m. meeting on November 12. A final draft of the budget must be approved by the board by December 31.

DDA rejects holding evening meetings Despite requests from the public and a Commerce Township Trustee to hold some Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) meetings in the evening to make them more accessible to members of the public, DDA members declined to approve the requested change.

Trustee Robert Berkheiser requested at the October 8 board of trustees meeting that DDA Director Kathleen Jackson ask the authority to consider holding quarterly night meetings so more residents would be likely to attend. Currently, the DDA meets at noon on the third Tuesday of each month.

The request echoed the sentiment of Commerce resident Susan Averbuch, who over the past decade has established herself as a regular fixture at township municipal meetings. Both Berkheiser and Averbuch said they feel it's difficult for many people to escape from their regular jobs in order to be engaged in civic discourse.

Averbuch's request was also discussed on October 15 by DDA board members, who in large part rejected any change to the authority's longstanding schedule of meetings.

The main goal of the DDA is to promote and preserve the economic health and stability of the township by raising revenue for physical improvements through tax increment financing, issuing revenue bonds, tax levies and grants. The DDA has taxing authority inside the DDA district, which is intended to capture funds for projects inside the DDA area. While the Commerce Township DDA has accumulated more than $24 million of bond debt in the past decade used to

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acquire the property, a lack of property sales leading to no captured tax revenue in the district has caused the township to provide millions from its general fund to the DDA in order to meet debt obligations, with more than $2.7 million in advances from the township expected in 2014 alone.

"I have an issue that we are taking public money – borrowing from the township – and making it really tough for the public to be able to show up," Berkheiser said at an October 21 trustees meeting. "If we aren't giving them the opportunity to show up, then I think that's wrong."

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the DDA originally established the noon meeting time as a way to accommodate board members and representatives of those conducting business with the DDA. In the past, DDA members were provided lunch as a type of informal incentive to serve on the voluntary board. Eventually, modest lunches progressed into more lavish feasts with catering bills upward of $400, leading the current board to scrap the lunch aspect of the meetings all together, Zoner said.

"There has been a consistent expectation that meetings are held at noon," he said, adding that he doesn't believe more people will attend night meetings any more than they attend current lunchtime meetings. "The problem there is that even having one or two meetings at night is that people out there depend on consistency."

DDA board member Jose Mirkin said there are very few people that attend other night meetings scheduled in the township. DDA board member David Smith questioned whether scheduling DDA meetings at night would create issues with some of the consultants contracted by the authority, such as conflicts or additional pay for the attorney, engineer and others.

Averbuch said she has been requesting for years that the DDA accommodate the public with at least two to four evening meetings a year.

She said she would have to take part of the day off of work in order to find out what was happening at the meetings.

"This is wrong," she said. "There is so much development going on in the DDA, and so many people being impacted – how can residents talk to you?"

"People who serve on this DDA board do so with the understanding that it meets during the day, not at night," Jackson responded, adding that she has at least six night meetings a month already.

41

Audit reveals more staff is needed

By Kevin Elliott

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42

An independent auditor's recommendations to strengthen accounting procedures can't be implemented without the help of additional staff, Commerce Township Treasurer Susan Gross said following an annual review of the township's financial statements.

"During our audit, we became aware of several matters that are opportunities for strengthening internal controls and operating efficiency," auditors with East Lansing-based Layton & Richardson PC stated in a 123-page review of the township's 2012 finances, which identified four specific issues the township has regarding cash, payroll, check signing and accounting procedures.

While the report didn't note any discrepancies in the township's finances, the recommendations were made to protect against potential mistakes or abuses. At least one of the four recommendations made in the report was identified in the township's 2011 audit report and has yet to be addressed. However, a shortage of staff within the treasurer's department will likely mean that actions to address some of the issues won't be taken, Gross indicated at a September 10 township board meeting after trustee Bob Berkheiser mentioned the report and it's absence from the meeting's agenda. The report was dated August 12.

"It seemed good overall, but there were some recommendations – one from last year that still hasn't been done regarding the disposal of assets – and four new ones," Berkheiser said.

"Are we going to do something?"

Township supervisor Tom Zoner responded that he had forgotten to put the audit report on the agenda for trustees to discuss. The discussion came about at the end of the board meeting during trustees' comments.

Auditors were not present at the time.

The auditors report indicated the township doesn't have a formal policy to ensure that disposal of fixed assets are reported to the accounting department as they occur, increasing the likelihood that asset disposals aren't being recorded. The disposal of a fixed asset may include the salvage or sale of equipment or other assets when they have reached the end of their useful life.

Additional audit recommendations include cash deposits for taxes received

by the township, which are currently deposited into one bank account before being transferred into the township's tax bank account. "We recommend that all tax money received be deposited into the tax bank account," auditors stated. "We feel this recommendation will make it easier to track the ins and outs of the tax bank account."

Other recommendations included payroll procedures regarding paid timeoff should include additional tracking measures; and a signature stamp used by the treasurer to sign checks should be accessed by the treasurer only.

Currently, the deputy treasurer also has access to the signature stamp, according to the report.

The report also included a recommendation about bank account reconciliations regarding cash deposits.

"During our cash testing, we noticed that bank reconciliations aren't being completed each month in a timely manner," auditors stated in the report.

"In some cases, reconciling items are not cleared up until months later. We recommend the township perform bank reconciliations each month in a timely manner and reconciling items be cleared up before the end of the month in which the reconciliations are performed."

Gross said while she has attempted to update account books by the end of each month, she and other staff are currently too overwhelmed to always complete it in a one-month time frame.

"It's difficult. It's too much. It's too much to handle ever since I lost my full-time employee, and I've decided that I'm not going to work weekends anymore,” she said, adding that she will be asking for another employee in the upcoming budget to help handle the work load. "That's the way it's going to be written up every year unless I can get more help."

Gross has served as the township's treasurer since 1993, and was previously the township's deputy treasurer.

The report reflected a lack of needed staff in the auditors' discussion with management. According to the report, the township doesn't anticipate any increases in tax revenues in 2013 due to the economy. However, the township can expect to see growth in commercial properties this year with new and renovated properties.

"Residential growth has been higher than expected. Staffing due to the decrease in revenues by two-thirds has meant doing a lot more with less and has helped us to maintain a balanced budget," administrators indicated to auditors.

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Efforts by the township board are already underway to combine the township's planning department with the building, water and sewer department, which would allow for additional staff, Zoner said.

Wolverine Lake holds off on fish stocking The debate over whether to add hundreds of channel catfish to Wolverine Lake's fish population was put on hold Wednesday, October 30, as the village council agreed to hold off on stocking the lake until the spring.

The Wolverine Lake Village council voted unanimously to work with a lake consultant to consider taking measures that could improve the size of some of the smaller fish in the lake, and reconsider possible stocking of the lake in the spring.

The issue of introducing the channel catfish species into the lake became a point of discussion during the Wednesday, October 9, village council meeting. Board members tabled a motion to approve a recommendation by the village's water management board to stock 300 channel catfish and feeder fish, including fathead minnows and golden shiners, in the lake at a cost of $2,500.

Village councilman Ed Sienkiewicz claimed catfish are predatory and bottom feeder fish that he believes would be detrimental to the lake.

"Why put something in the lake that we can't get rid of? People don't want to eat them or catch them; there's no advantage," Sienkiewicz said, adding that catfish aren't usually considered a sport fish outside of southern states.

Board member John Scott said recent fish studies conducted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) suggest that Wolverine Lake would be a good place to stock catfish, and would help alleviate problems with the stunted growth of bluegill and panfish in the lake.

Channel Catfish, or Ictalurus punctatus, is a native fish that eat all sorts of plant and animal matter at both the bottom and top of waters, according to the DNR. Channel catfish have lived in North America for at least 3,000 years and are found in all the Great Lakes, except Lake Superior. Young catfish eat mostly insects, crayfish and other fish, and are probably eaten by many other fish, according to the DNR. Jeff Braunsheidel, fisheries biologist with the DNR, attended the meeting to answer questions and go over the most recent fish study the department has 11.13

conducted on the lake. Overall, he said, adding about 300 channel catfish to the lake shouldn't have a large impact on the fish diversity. However, adding catfish to the lake won't help increase the size of the small bluegill species that have been a problem in the lake for decades.

"You aren't going to correct the bluegill problem by stocking fish," he said, adding that the growth of starry stonewort, an invasive aquatic plant species, is likely the main cause for the stunted size of the bluegill fish population in the lake. "They are able to hide in the starry stonewort. The problem is, how do you address the big factor that is causing this? I'd love to see you take all the money for fish stocking and use it to knock the starry stonewort back by treating it for a couple years."

Commerce pursues foreclosed land The Commerce Township Board of Trustees approved a $382,000 land purchase at their meeting on Tuesday, October 8, for a foreclosed horse farm which could become a recreational complex for the township consisting of sports fields and open parkland, by a vote of 6-1, with trustee Robert Berkheiser voting against the motion.

The horse farm consists of about 30 acres of land near Wixom and N. Wixom Roads. The parcel was purchased from Oakland County as part of land sales due to delinquent tax foreclosures. The money to purchase the property, which included both the purchase price of the land and fees or assessments associated with the land, came from the township's general fund. The offer was accepted during

the auction, which ended October 23.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the land primarily includes a barn and a small vacant house that has been used as a boarding farm for horses over a number of years.

"It has potential as a park, for investment, or has potential for many things," Zoner said. "It's open space that is available and something we ought to look at to see what we can do."

He said the land was owned by a developer who had planned to build a residential community there, and that it currently has access to water and sewer lines to be run to the property.

While Berkheiser said he supports the purchase of the property, he had preferred the money come from the township's open space fund, rather than the township's general fund.

"There have been a lot of requests from the public for baseball fields, football fields, soccer fields and parks and recreation," Berkheiser said.

"Because that land is flat and because of its location, it could be good for that use."

In purchasing the property, the township inadvertently became the landlord of a tenant who leases the land and operates a horse farm consisting of about 25 horses. Township Attorney Phil Adkison said the tenant had been renting the property from the previous owner when it went into foreclosure.

"She is interested in staying there and using the farm for its current use," he said. "The house itself is in rough shape, although she did do some work.

The barns could stand some work, but they are functioning."

Adkison said the tenant also uses the farm to teach students who wouldn't otherwise have an opportunity to learn to ride horses.

Township offers to split cost of additional school officers

By Kevin Elliott

T

he Commerce Township Board of Trustees has offered to share the cost of providing the Walled Lake Consolidated School District with two additional sheriff's deputies to help patrol the district's high schools.

The offer came following an October 8 board of trustees meeting where Judy Evola, director of marketing and community relations for the school district, gave an informational presentation to the board and audience about the district's proposed safety, security and technology bond that will be decided by voters on November 5.

Trustees Robert Long, Rick Sovel and Robert Berkheiser said they were all interested in having

"Are we slum lords?" Berkheiser asked.

"We are in some respect," Adkison answered, adding that the tenant doesn't live at the property.

The board agreed to have Adkison negotiate a lease with the tenant and establish a timeframe to allow her to move the animals and operation off of the farm, if necessary.

Walled Lake road construction wraps A $1.17 million-construction project along Decker Road between W. Maple and S. Commerce roads was completed in late October, with plans to begin a sidewalk replacement project in the area to begin in the spring.

Walled Lake City Council in April approved the reconstruction and improvement of Decker Road, which also included work to curbs, gutters, storm sewer and drainage improvements along the roadway. The project, which was paid for by federal transportation funds and a $189,400 contribution from the city, didn't include any work to the sidewalks along Decker Road.

Sidewalk and pedestrian improvements along Decker are scheduled to begin in the spring. The city council on September 17 approved about $250,000 for the design and construction of the sidewalk project.

The project also includes some sidewalk and pedestrian improvements along Pontiac Trail.

Road culvert work to start in November Work to a drainage culvert underneath Glengary Road in Wolverine

more police liaison officers working at the district.

Currently, the district pays for one Oakland County Sheriff's deputy working at the district as a police liaison officer. While the district had at least three deputies working in the district in previous years – with one at each of the district's three high schools – the number of deputies was cut back due to budget cuts at the district.

Trustee Robert Berkheiser suggested after the meeting that the township offer to provide two deputies to the school district if the district would agree to pay for half the cost of wages and benefits for the deputies.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the township already plans to provide additional law enforcement at the township substation, as requested by sheriff substation commander Lt. Dennis Servis. The cost to the township of employing a deputy is about $127,000

Lake Village is expected to begin in November under a construction contract approved by the village council at their meeting on Wednesday, October 9.

The council approved the $194,625 project with Sole Construction to install a new drainage culvert inside of the existing culvert beneath Glengary.

Village Engineer Mike Powell said the project won't cause Glengary Road to be closed at all during the construction phase, but may cause some areas to be limited to one lane at times. The work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Powell said another construction company provided a bid that was about $20,000 less than the Sole Construction bid, but it would have required cutting open the roadway to remove the existing culvert and replace it with a completely new one. However, the berm on which the existing culvert now rests, he said, is about 80 years old, and removal of the existing culvert could present additional problems and expenses should the berm need extensive reworking.

"We don't really know what's under that culvert," Powell told council members. "It's made up of everything the farmers could throw in there. It's still stable, so if we don't touch that, we don't have to see what's underneath."

Council elected to have the existing culvert cleaned and have a new lining installed to ensure proper drainage.

Soil borings of the land will also be done to ensure the berm and other affected land associated with the culvert will remain stable.

Powell said the scope of the project will mean that the pavement on the roadway won't be disturbed during the construction phase.

per year, which includes wages and benefits. The offer to split the cost could benefit both the district and the township, he said, and those officers would then become school liaison officers.

Evola said the district has received an offer from the township and it is under consideration.

"We have to examine it and review it with our school board," Evola said. "Of course, safety and security are of the utmost importance, that is why the district proposed the three-phase safety plan last year and why we are in the midst of a safety, security and technology bond that calls for a host of safety and security measures in all of the Walled Lake Schools."

Under state law, the bond proposal couldn't be used to pay for employees or wages.

"We have always appreciated collaborating with Commerce Township and we will take this proposal under advisement in light of our current declining budget," Evola said.

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46

Democrat jumps into congressional race

By Lisa Brody

Bobby McKenzie, a counterterrorism expert who recently was a senior advisor in bureau counterterrorism at the U.S. State Department, has announced his candidacy as a Democratic challenger in the 11th District for the U. S. House of Representatives, currently held by Republican Kerry Bentivolio.

“This is where I grew up; this is my community,” McKenzie said, referring to the district, which runs from Wayne County into western Oakland County, including Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake, and into Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. “With the current leadership, I feel I can do better.”

The race to unseat Bentivolio in 2014 is heating up, with fellow Republican David Trott announcing in early September that he was challenging Bentivolio in the GOP primary.

McKenzie is joining Dr. Anil Kumar on the Democratic side, and former Michigan Secretary of State candidate Jocelyn Benson is considering whether to jump in, as well.

“Jocelyn is seriously considering getting in and will make up her mind in the next couple of weeks,” acknowledged Oakland County Democratic Chairman Frank Houston.

Houston is very enthusiastic about McKenzie and his chances to unseat a Republican rival. “He has pretty deep roots in Wayne County,” Houston said, noting McKenzie's father was a small business owner in Dearborn Heights, where he grew up, for decades. He said McKenzie has worked on refugee issues and been a lecturer at Wayne State University as well as working at the state department.

“My job was to help the U.S. government come up with policies to get young men to not join Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda groups,” McKenzie said.

He said his approach to working in a partisan setting is, “My mindset to working with Republicans and Democrats is that I can work with anyone in order to improve the lives of those in southeast Michigan.”

He also recognizes the 11th District campaign will be expensive and debated entering the race for months as he reached out to trusted advisors, discussing raising money and creating infrastructure.

“This is a race where any serious candidate will need to raise $1 million quickly, and I expect between the WESTEND

Democratic and Republican candidates, to see $5 million raised and spent,” Houston said.

“The primary concern I have is that there is no question that Bentivolio is not suitable for serving,” McKenzie said.

“But we cannot replace him with someone who has made millions and millions off of innocent people. That would be jumping from the frying pan to the fire.”

Republican chair throws hat in race

By Lisa Brody

Oakland County Republican chairman Jim Thienel has announced he will be a candidate for the state House of Representatives 43rd district seat in the 2014 election, the seat currently held by Rep. Gail Haines (RWaterford), who will be term-limited following her third term.

Thienel, who has been active in Republican and grassroot politics for decades, will be taking his first stab at running for political office. “For the last twelve years, I've helped other candidates get elected,” he said. He has been the chairman of the local Oakland County party for the last three years, a position he intends to keep at least through the primary in August 2014.

“After helping dozens and dozens of others run for office, I'm now learning what it feels like to be a candidate, and that makes me a better chairman. There is nothing in the bylaws that says the chairman cannot be a candidate. And no one does (the job) for more than four years max. It's usually held for two years.”

Thienel, a Waterford resident for the last 27 years, has owned an appliance repair business for the last 37 years. “My experience is of walking into a house, looking at the environment, determining the problem, the solution, implementing the solution, and moving on,” which he said will be excellent skills for the Michigan House of Representatives.

He said he expects at least six, to as many as ten, other possible candidates to file to run for the open seat. “The more the merrier,” he said. “There are things I feel need to be done better that can only be done from the inside. The district should represent to Lansing – not Lansing representing to the district.”

He continued, “In order to have success in Lansing, you have to have the fortitude to do what's right against special interests, and I have a track record of that,” noting his 30 years of activity in grassroots activism.

11.13

FACES Nicole Harris

N

icole Harris, USA Baton Twirling Ambassador to Peru and Teenage Miss Majorette of Michigan, was on the pompon team at six-years-old when she became intrigued with the art of baton twirling.

“We were practicing in the same gym with (baton twirlers) and I told my mom that’s really what I want to do.”

Harris became immersed in the sport and later joined the Twirl Ends.

“It’s through Walled Lake Community Education, and I also twirl with the marching band at Walled Lake Western.

It’s exciting because you get to show people in the stands something in addition to poms and cheerleading and there isn’t that stress of competing.”

Harris, an honor student at Walled Lake Western, endures six hour-a-day practices and hones her twirling skills four days a week.

“Baton twirling is all year round. We get two weeks off in December and that’s it,” she said. “There are times I wish I had more time to be with friends or be involved with another sport like volleyball, but when I’m with my team and twirling, it’s all worth it.”

The reigning Teenage Miss Majorette of Michigan was approached at the national twirling competition and asked to travel to Trujillo, Peru. She accepted the honor and spent two weeks in South America.

“We were there to be the feature of the (district’s Annual Spring Festival),” she said. “We were there as the celebrities and entertainers of the festival. It was really cool. Going to a different country was something I never thought I’d be able to do.”

While in Peru, Harris visited a boys and girls orphanage where she was able to perform and interact with the children.

“I speak some Spanish and I got to learn a little about their lives,” she said. “Even though there was a language barrier, we still understood each other. There are a lot of things you can still say. It was great to be able to perform for them and give them a small gift to remember us by because they don’t get to do the things we do here in the U.S.” A National Honors student, Harris is aiming to go to Michigan State University and continue twirling while earning a degree as a nurse anesthetist.

“A lot of times before I perform, I think about my grandma. She was a big inspiration. Every single year, she would come up for nationals from Florida,” Harris said.

“She passed away from cancer last year. That’s how I really knew I wanted to go into nursing.”

With the support of her mother, whom she calls her second coach, and the encouragement of Walled Lake Western's band director, Mr. Patrick Dudzinski, Harris has been able to maintain excellence in each area of her life.

Her teammates have also have provided an invaluable foundation for her success.

“A huge part of twirling has been with my team. We strive to go to the national championship and push each other to be the best we can be.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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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 complete Places To Eat is available at westendmonthly.com and in an optimized format for your smart phone (westendmonthly.com/mobile), where you can actually map out locations and automatically dial a restaurant from our Places To Eat.

Amazing House Chinese Restaurant: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday–Friday, 3-10 p.m. No reservations. 1130 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.8896.

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.

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

westendmonthly.com

now

E West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.5200.

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.

China Queen: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1130 E. Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.8896.

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.

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

Contact Matt Swigart for advertising rate information.

O: 248.792.6464 Ext. 601 C: 248.515.8044 MatthewSwigart@downtownpublications.com

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50

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.

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.

Jenny’s Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1186 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.8240.

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.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2210 Teggerdine, White Lake, 48386. 248.779.7085.

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.

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2080 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323.

248.851.2500.

Mexico Lindo: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6225 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.3460.

Mezza Mediterranean Grille: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 1001 Welch Road, Commerce Township, 48390.

248.926.2190.

Moonlight Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 1123 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.859.5352.

Nick & Toney’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday; Sunday until 3 p.m. No reservations. 9260 Cooley Lake Road, White Lake, 48386.

248.363.1162.

North Szechuan Empire: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39450 W. 14 Mile Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.960.7666.

On The Waterfront: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 8635 Cooley Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.363.9469.

Panera Bread: Bakery, Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

5175 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.618.0617.

Pepino’s Restaurant & Lounge: Italian.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 118 W. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.624.1033.

Red Lobster: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 479 N. Telegraph Road, Waterford, 48328.

248.682.5146.

Red Robin: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 3003 Commerce Crossing, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.926.2990.

Root Restaurant & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48386. 248.698.2400.

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

WESTEND

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.

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.

TJ’s Sushi & Chinese Restaurant: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 8143 Commerce Road, Commerce Township, 48382.

248.363.3388.

Town Lake Family Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. 1186 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.7550.

Uptown Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

3100 West Maple Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.960.3344.

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. 49115 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.

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.

11.13

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BUSINESS MATTERS

Specialty children’s shop Commerce Township resident Aveer Samona said it was her enjoyment of shopping that helped spur her to start her own children’s boutique shop when she opened Angel Lily Couture, 6061 Haggerty Road in West Bloomfield Township one year ago in November. “I love shopping, and the kids are older now,” Samona said. The boutique features designer children’s clothing and accessories for boys and girls ranging from infants up to 16-years-old. Products include formal clothing, such as baptismal gowns and Bar/Bat Mitzvah suits, as well as casual clothing. Various accessories, such as rattles and blankets are also available at the shop. “People that know about us and what we have come to me,” Samona said. “They know it’s different. Boutique styles are different. You can’t find many of these styles unless you go to a boutique.”

Business Matters for the west Oakland area are reported by Kevin Elliott. Send items for consideration to KevinElliott@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

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An agreement reached in October between Larsen Motorsports, a jetpowered drag racing team, and Quest Automotive Products, 850 Ladd Road in Walled Lake, has launched a new partnership between the two entities that will begin in 2014. Quest’s Matrix System paint products will be used by the Larsen racing team as it prepares two jet cars and multiple trailers for the 2014 race schedule. Quest Automotive Products is part of Quest Specialty Chemicals, an industry expert in automotive refinishing and coating systems. The company manufactures, distributes and markets automotive finish products such as base coat systems, primers, clearcoats, reducers, hardeners and solvents.

BEE CLEAN!

F

New BBQ joint The aroma of burnt cherry and hickory woods laced with the scent of slowroasted meat in the smoke billowing over the rooftops in downtown Milford is evidence that operations have heated up at Smoke Street Bar-B-Que, 424 N. Main Street. The restaurant, which looks to open in early November, offers southern-style, smoked barbecue dishes like beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sausage. The kitchen will also offer gourmet pizza, burgers, steaks, seafood, salads and sandwiches, said partner Greg Mitchell. Working with primary owner Elia Nicholas and partner Tom Nevells, Smoke Street will join a list of other successful restaurants opened by the Nicholas family, including the Highland House, Tomato Bros., E.G. Nick’s, Bar None Steak & Fish, and the Fenton House Restaurant. “It’s the trend across the country, right now,” Mitchell

Joint auto agreement

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SEAL O

Kroger customers will lose one shopping location on November 2 as the grocery chain closes its location at 4805 Haggerty in West Bloomfield Township, but should have an expanded list of items to choose from with the opening of a super Kroger store at 2733 Union Lake Road, in Commerce Township.

Dale Hollandsworth, a spokesman with the company, said the new store will be nearly twice the size of the current Commerce store, providing a total of 99,000 square feet of space when it opens on November 3. The store will be one of the largest Kroger locations in Michigan.

“When you look at what’s happening across the industry, people are moving toward more perishable foods, and natural foods are the fastest growing section in the store,” Hollandsworth said, noting that the expanded location will offer more specialty products, expanded dine-in seating, and additional features. “Pharmacies are expanding with health and wellness, and not just in prescriptions, but with things like flu shots. It’s a tremendously growing portion of our business. On the fresh side – be it produce, deli or dairy – it’s growing very fast.” Among the features offered at the super Kroger location are expanded grocery sections, with room for specialty foods and wines; increased deli, seafood and meat counters; additional seating for in-store dining, as well as entrances for “grab and go” prepared foods; a drive-thru pharmacy; an expanded Starbuck’s Coffee store; and additional check-out lanes. The location also features a fuel/gas station, which opened prior to the grocery store facility.

said about the number of new barbeque restaurants opened in recent years. “It’s been going on in Clarkston, Royal Oak and Detroit. But if we do it right, we think it will be here for good – not just a trend.” To complement the menu of barbecue classics, Smoke Street will offer different sauces, including tomatobased Kansas City-style, a southern vinegar-based sauce and a mustard sauce. Mitchell said side dishes, such as a homemade macaroni and cheese and baked beans, are made in-house.

Special offerings from the bar will include small-batch Bourbons, craft beer and wine specialties.

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KEEP IT Westend.

The only publication of its kind in the west Oakland lakes area.

Quality editorial environment produced by professionals with years of experience covering the communities of Commerce, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake.

Reaching over 24,000 homes by direct mail.

Join with the local leaders (over 60 ad supporters to date) in our December issue.

Ad deadline Friday, November 22.

Contact Matt Swigart (O) 248.792.6464 or (C) 248.515.8044 MatthewSwigart@downtownpublications.com

LOCAL 53

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Managed development for DDA land

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fter several years of wallowing in the Great Recession, with its corresponding low land values and non-existent residential and commercial development, land values have started to come back and in some areas development is picking up.

Commerce Township is seeing this first-hand, with a $4.5 million offer from a Bloomfield Hills developer proposing to build nearly 400 apartments and a seniorhousing facility for the township's 330-acre Commerce Towne Place project, located north of M-5 and Pontiac Trail, between Haggerty and Welch Roads. Towne Place was created over a decade ago as an endeavor by the Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to establish a planned development area of the township with residential, commercial and retail sites coexisting and, in fact, supporting one another, much as a downtown community does.

As currently it is planned, 11 parcels of property are contained in the DDA project area. The parcels are part of two former golf courses, El Dorado and Links of Pinewood golf courses, and 50 acres of Huron Clinton Metropolitan park property, along with some contiguous property, that the DDA purchased by issuing about $24 million in bonds. The project also intended to relieve traffic congestion from westbound traffic from M-5 and Pontiac Trail by constructing the Martin Parkway and roundabouts, to enhance the long term economic stability of the township by designing its own “downtown� area, and to have the opportunity to preserve open space. Of the total 330-acre project area, about 202 acres are considered "buildable" land, with another 128 acres dedicated to conservation areas, public trails, preserved wetlands and overall storm management serving almost the entire DDA project area. About 65 to 70 acres of the land has been earmarked for commercial development, with about

140 acres to be used for single and multi-family residential use.

Planners, directors, paid consultants, and members of the DDA have proposed what should go in each of the 11 parcels, from multi-family and/or single family residential developments to commercial, retail, restaurants, senior living, hospitality, office space, research and development, and high tech. A lifestyle center is a desired use in one parcel. The DDA area, now known as Commerce Towne Place, is included as part of Commerce Township's master plan overlay, which township planner and DDA Director Kathleen Jackson said is open to very broad interpretations. The individual 11 parcels were zoned for their recommended uses, although single-family housing lot sizes were left intentionally vague, she said, in order to allow for products that had been developed after the economic crash, and that have not been available elsewhere in the township.

To date, besides the parkway and roundabout, nature trails, a new township hall and the existing library all sit in the DDA area. In the last several months, the DDA accepted a purchase offer of about $5.15 million from M. Shapiro Development Company for Parcel A, which has almost 60 acres. Shapiro has proposed building about 400 stacked ranch and/or townhouse units on the parcel, as well as some mixeduse development, which could include restaurants, senior living, banking, rental apartments and hospitality. Another portion of the property is intended to be used for retail development. Bloomfield Hills developer and Edward Rose & Sons, which manages thousands of rental units across the country, made the offer for Parcel D, for almost 9 acres, with zoned uses including recreation, residential, research and development, high tech and commercial; and Parcel E, containing 34.4 acres, with zoned uses of multiple-

family and single-family residential use, commercial development, high-density senior living, corporate headquarters, office space, research and development, and high tech. Parcel G, with 15 acres, with zoned uses including multiple-family and single-family residential development and high-density senior living, will have 38 to 40 single-family homes ranging from 2,500 to 3,200 square feet that could sell for $350,000 to $450,000 under an accepted proposal by Hunter Pasteur Homes of Novi, which would pay $1.04 million for the land.

The DDA is at a pivotal point in its development.

As more expected purchase offers come forward, they must be carefully assessed for their ability to not only meet the recommended and zoned property usages, but also to determine if that usage will provide enough revenue to the township to support township services over the long term. While the DDA property may not sell today for what it was purchased for in 2003, 2004, or even 2008, land prices are recovering, and there is no need to have fire sales. Thoughtful planned development with respect for the planned zoning uses is the most prudent long lasting fiscal approach.

Some board of trustee members have expressed concern over development possibilities and traffic congestion, including multi-family and commercial developments. Yet the DDA was always envisioned as a high-density commercial, residential and retail environment which would feature apartments or condominiums. With proposals for 900 units of multiple-family units currently under consideration, commercial, retail and further single family development should be emphasized.

The township should consider what, and where, developments will go in order to maximize the returns for their investment, with corresponding favorable taxable revenues. It's the recipe for its future.

Be wary of lake access site grab

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recently released land management plan drafted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that aims to increase the amount of public access sites to inland lakes across the state could have significant impact on local waterways.

The DNR's intentions are outlined in its Managed Public Land Strategy, which is intended to serve as the department's guiding document on how stateowned land will be purchased, sold and managed over the next six years. The strategy, currently in its draft form for consideration for approval by Michigan lawmakers in 2014, is also the department's key to lifting a cap on the amount of public land the state can own and manage.

Under the plan, the state would make it a priority to increase the amount of public access to lakes that are more than 100 acres in size, and increase the number of public access sites to smaller lakes by 25 percent across Michigan. Access, as defined in the plan, could include traditional boat launches, as well

as carry-down access for smaller crafts, such as kayaks and canoes. The purpose and justification for the push into waters currently unaccessible to the general boating public, as stated by the DNR, are the rights of Michigan residents to have easy, convenient access to all the state's lakes, rivers and streams through public facilities.

West Oakland, because of its abundance of surface water, has always been a target of those who want more open access to the state's inland lakes.

Historically, efforts to extend access into some of the area's more regulated and controlled lakes have been met with some justified resistance from local property owners and municipalities. The burden of enforcing property laws and local lake rules often times falls on private property owners, who are now forced to pay for patrols by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol Division. Further, the DNR track record of opening up lakes without providing personnel to man and thereby regulate the amount of access has not been good.

There is also the additional question of lakefront property owners who may also be stuck paying the bill for maintaining the quality of a lake, which can be compromised by invasive aquatic species entering a lake by clinging onto the submerged parts of a boat. Add to that concern the general cost of slowing the eutrofication process suffered by all lakes, an expense already carried by lakefront property owners.

While the DNR said there aren't any plans at the moment to acquire property for additional lake access sites in west Oakland, the goal of the department is to look for other means of acquiring or purchasing property, including partnerships, land grants and other private and public sources.

Whether potential sites are currently available, passage of the DNR's plan could enable the department's access to local access sites which may not be acceptable to residents.

All of this means that municipalities and lakes area residents should be on alert.

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