Board appoints clerk as
FOIA coordinator
Orion Township trustees has appointed the clerk as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) coordinator for the township.
The FOIA coordinator is responsible for accepting and processing requests for the township’s public records under the FOIA, and for approving a denial of a FOIA request.
Orion Township Clerk Jill Bastian was previously the FOIA coordinator designee, designated by Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk to handle FOIA requests. Bastian had asked the board to accept her resignation as FOIA coordinator designee.

Alternate on board
Don Walker has been re-appointed by the Orion Township Board as an alternate member to the zoning board of appeals.
Walker was re-appointed to the ZBA for a three-year term, expiring on Dec. 31, 2005.

Looking for park concessions
Orion Township is seeking proposals for park concessions at Civic Center Park and Friendship Park for 2003.
Proposals are due March 10 by 2 p.m. The township’s previous contract for concessions expired this past year. Bidders for 2003 can bid on Civic Center Park and Friendship Park concessions separately or jointly.
The concessionaire should be available to provide service beginning April 19 and ending Nov. 1, excluding any dates designated by Orion Township Parks and Recreation Director Rock Blanchard.

Advertising used fire trucks
Orion Township Fire Chief Jeff Key is advertising used fire department vehicles for sale to the highest bidder.
Seven vehicles are up for sale including: Three 1987 Pierce Pumper Trucks, one 1979 Pierce Pumper Tanker, one 1978 Pierce Mini-Pumper, one 1966 GMC Pick-Up, and one 1993 GMC Suburban.

Resurfacing for parts of Silverbell, Giddings, Brown
A resolution for approval for the Road Commission of Oakland County to make infrastructure improvements to sections of Silverbell, Giddings and Brown Roads has been Ok’d by Orion Township trustees.
Resurfacing will be done on sections of the roads around the Orion GM Assembly Plant. The project will cost about $3 million, and is to be financed through state and federal funds, according to Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk.

Rogers opens office
Members of US Representative Mike Rogers’ staff will be on hand at the Orion Township Hall the first Monday of the month beginning March 3, 9-noon.
Area residents can drop by to make comments, ask questions or seek assistance with federal agencies. No appointment is necessary.
The hall is located at 2525 Joslyn Road. Rogers may also be contacted by phone at the Lansing office, 517-702-8000 or toll free in the district at 1-877-333-MIKE.

After two bitterly conflicted public hearings, the Orion board of trustees approved a special assessment district (SAD) for the Sunset Hills neighborhoods at their regular meeting on August 17.
Many residents came forward in favor of and opposed to the SAD that would pay for road maintenance in the neighborhood.
Those contesting the SAD didn’t think they way the way the financial formula was fairly calculated.
Those residents looking to get the SAD approved said that for years about half of the neighborhood refused to participate and pay dues with the neighborhood association that paid for upkeep of the roads.
At first, the board was just as conflicted, voting 3-4 to reject the SAD.
They then turned around to approve the SAD 6-1.

The township board declared the first readings of two zoning ordinance amendments at their regular meeting August 17.
The first amendment would allow indoor recreation within districts zoned industrial.
The second ordinance amendment pertains to electric vehicle charging stations.
The second reading of the zoning ordinance amendments will take place at the next Orion Township Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 8. Meetings start at 7 p.m.

The Orion Township board voted unanimously to award the Miller Road project bid to Tyger Excavating Inc. at their regular meeting August 17.
Twelve bids were received.
Tyger came in the lowest at $220,616.
Due to Oakland County terminating Tri-Party Funding, the township may be fully responsible for the 2010 share of $35,000.

Agreement approved for Baldwin widening

The Orion Township Board of Trustees recently approved a cost participation agreement with the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) for the widening of Baldwin Road, which is the first step in the process.
The vote was 7-0 in favor of entering the agreement.
At a regular meeting May 18, the board agreed to a pay a $500,000 local match, with the provision the township will receive a $250,000 credit in a future phase of the project. The board has $3 million restricted for Baldwin Road.

Skate park idea still on wheelsPlans for a skate park in Lake Orion are still rolling around.

The Orion Township Board of Trustees voted 7-0 at their meeting June 1 to have the capital improvement committee gather more information about where the best place for a skate park would be, and how much it would cost.
Supervisor Matt Gibb and trustees Neal Porter and JoAnn Van Tassel comprise the committee.
Some locations being talked about are a parcel in the village, Stonegate Park or a township park. The motion stated the committiee would come back in two months with costs estimates for each location.

Village makes appointments

The Lake Orion village council made two appointments to vacant committees at their regular meeting on June 8.
Rob Cavanagh was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
His term will end on March 31, 2010.
Two current members of the Village of Lake Orion Board of Zoning Appeals have been reappointed to their positions.
Ted Hockenbrocht and alternate Doug Hobbs were approved by the village council for three-year terms ending June 30, 2012.

Belanger back on commission
Lake Orion Village Council unanimously reappointed Joseph Belanger to the OCCCC. Belanger’s term was set to expire June 30 of this year but he’ll now serve on the commission until June 30, 2011.

Stay cool in an emergency with
The Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges residents to put their cell phones on ‘ICE.?
The In Case of Emergency (ICE) campaign is nationwide and, to participate, simply put ICE before emergency contact phone numbers (a spouse or parent’s, for example). This enables emergency responders to quickly identify victims and obtain important medical information.

Plans for repaving begin
The Village Council allocated $56,000 for engineering plans outlining Flint Street and Broadway’s storm sewer and resurfacing project. The project will be done in concert with Downtown Development Authority’s streetscape redesign.
Both projects hinge on receiving grant funding from Michigan Department of Transportation.
Consulting engineers from Hubbell, Roth and Clark, INC (HRC) will draw up the plans. Tom Biehl of HRC estimates the money is about five and a half percent of the total construction costs.
If HRC completes the plans by July, construction could begin in the spring of 2010.

Middle schools revamped?
LOCS invites all interested parents to attend an informational meeting on the potential restructuring of the middle level program.
The meeting will be held on June 8, at 7 p.m. in the high school’s Kiva. Assistant Superintendent Heidi Kast and all three middle school principals will be on hand to answer questions.

A sobering experience
A new village ordinance could allow District Court 52/3 to jail minors charged with possession of alcohol (MIP) for up to 60 days. Time behind bars would follow two or more prior MIP convictions and failure to pay a fine and/or complete treatment or community service.

Solomon re-appointed to parks and rec. committee
Richard Solomon, an active, non-resident, non-voting member of the village’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will stay on for another term.
Village council unanimously voted him back into the position in March.
Solomon’s new term will expire March 31, 2010.

Village passes suspended license cost recovery fees
After no public comment on the issue, village council approved Police Chief Jerry Narsh’s recommendation for an amended Emergency Response Cost Recovery ordinance.
Under the amendment, driving with license suspended (DWLS) offenders will pay $150 the first occurance and $300 for subsequent occurances to cover LOPD processing and booking costs.
The revised ordinance keeps DWLS on par with operating while intoxicated (OWI) as the two offenses’s penalties have run parallel for many years.

Council approves community development grant
As part of the Federal Neighborhood Stabalization Program, Lake Orion was allocated over $424,000 for purchasing forclosed, abandoned or vacant housing.
The village will rehabilitate buildings north and east of M-24 using the funds, and then sell the properties to families meeting certain income requirements. Buyers will be required to occupy residences for a set number of years. Lake Orion is obligated to spend the money within 18 months after receiving it.

Downtown business neighbor’s meeting

The Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority will host the first business neighbors meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 9 a.m.
The get-together will be held at Poppyseed Deli.
Speakers from the Oakland County Business Assistance Services will be at the event to let small business know what resources are availble to them.

Peters on Paint Creek commission

Ed Peters was recently appointed the citizen commissioner on the Paint Creek Trailway commission.
Peters had served as citizen alternate for three years.
The commission is currently seeking a new citizen alternate.

Cable commission seeks another after resignation

Linda Sickles, the director of the Orion Township library, resigned her post on the Orion Community Cable Communications Commission (OCCCC), due to a conflict of interest.
Orion Neighborhood Television (ONTV) is entering discussions with the library to build on the library’s site.
The OCCCC is seeking another represenative to fill the vacancy.

Planning commission seat filled

Justin Dunaskiss was appointed to Brad Lare’s planning commission seat at the Orion Township board of trustee’s meeting on Feb. 2.
Dunaskiss is a lifelong resident of the community and officials hope he will be able to provide a point of view that includes his work in the commercial leasing industry, residing in the Village of Lake Orion, legislative experience and small-business ownership.
The term will expire on Dec. 31, 2010.

Union Church board
appointment

Village Council member John Ranville was appointed to the historic Union Church governing board.
The seven-person board provides direction for the church’s restoration project.
The board is made of two members from the Orion Township Board of Trustees, three members from the Orion Historical Society and one member from the Lake Orion Village Council.

Technology updates for the village

The village council approved funds for upgraded accounting software at the village council meeting Jan. 26.
The software should help village utility bills comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s coming privacy rules.
The council also voted to purchase a new network server which will solve connectivity issues the village offices have experienced since a lightning strike last year.

Thanks from Clinton River Watershed Council

The CRWC honored Lake Orion with a plaque in recognition of its partnership with the council.
The Clinton River council thanked the village for its contributions and helpfulness on River Day in June and during the river clean-up in Sept.

~Megan Hess

Young steps down from transportation board

Citing a significant committee load, or overload in this case, Orion Township Treasurer Alice Young has stepped down from the North Oakland Transportation Authority (NOTA).
Orion is represented on the NOTA board by Jo Ann VanTassel, who is the chair. The township board voted to fill Young’s vacant seat, which will be filled by Trustee Mark Crane.

Township pares down committees

The Orion township board unanimously voted to get rid of nine ‘out-dated or unecessary? committees. A following motion created six committees in their place.
The following committees were dissolved at the board’s meeting Jan. 20: 2005-2006 board goals, fire dispatch, fire hydrants, forensic audit, Ivanhoe-Huntley litigation, parks and recs funding options, sign ordinance outstanding issues, staffing master plan and facilities and space plan.
The six committees created are: community development block grant, Eagle Valley landfill, sign ordinance, property purchase, human resource audit and policy and capital improvement, which includes the amphitheater/skate park and fire station #3 issues.

Scripps exec on board at Union Church

Leslie Pielack, the executive director and curator at the Scripps Estate, has been appointed as the Orion Historical Society represenative to the Union Church governing board.
The term will last until December 31, 2010.

Twp. renews with SEMCOG

The township board voted unanimously to renew their membership with the Southeast Council of Government.
The dues for membership are $4,032 for the period January 15. 2009 to January 15, 2010.

New planning commissioner
The board of trustees appointed Carol Thurber to the Orion Township Planning Commission at their Jan. 5 meeting.
The appointment was approved by all board members except Trustee JoAnn Van Tassel, who cited Thurber’s background as an engineer as one reason why she voted against it.
According to Van Tassel, the commission already has its share of engineers. She said she’d like to see people from the business community or the schools be on the commission.
Thurber takes the spot of Mark Crane, who was elected to the board of trustees in November.

Clerk’s office position boosted to full-time–barely
In a narrow 4-3 vote, the Orion Township board approved restoring the position of Clerk/Typist Voter Registration position to full-time.
Clerk Penny Shults, Treasurer Alice Young and Trustees John Steimel and Mark Crane gave a yes vote to the motion first brought before the board by former clerk Jill Bastian, who claimed the Clerk’s office was swamped with work, and the position needed to be full-time.
Those voting no, Supervisor Matt Gibb and Trustees Neal Porter and JoAnn Van Tassel, wanted to wait until a study of the township’s employment classifications was concluded before going ahead with it.

Yoga at the township
Is your New Year’s Resolution to get fit and have fun? Look to Orion Township Parks and Recreation for an exciting exercise class for you. They offer Hatha Yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mat Pilates and Fit-Ball on Wednesdays, Belly Dancing on Wednesdays and Fridays. Programs begin in mid January and are conveniently at Friendship Park in Orion Township.
Prices and times vary so check out the Township website at www.oriontownship.org click on the Parks and Recreation Department or call the department at 248-391-0304x 143 and check out all the programs we offer for youth, adults and seniors.

Funding help a
possibility for Flint Street
Did you drive over those mysterious black strips earlier this week? They were part of an application package the village is preparing for funding the Flint Street paving project.
The strips were calculating weight and number of vehicles driving over them.
The village will use the data in their application to the Oakland County Federal Aid Taskforce to ask for help with paving project.
The Flint Street section is part of a bigger resurfacing project for downtown Lake Orion. The taskforce is part of the federal government’s job stimulus package.
Hubbell, Roth and Clark, Inc., a local engineering firm, is preparing the application.

Downtown property re-zoned
The building at 106 E. Flint Street will become commercial property after the village council voted unanimously to approve re-zoning it.
Formerly zoned for residential use, the building was surrounded on all sides by commercial property making it difficult to fill as rental housing.

Cable commission
welcomes Sanders back
Gerald Brett Sanders will fill the vacant seat on the Orion Community Cable Communication Commission.
Gerald has served previously and graciously accepted another appointment from the village council.
The OCCCC ensures cable providers follow appropriate federal, state, township and village rules and regulations.

Official village
website up and running
The new site contains a surprisingly large amount of information for anyone curious about Lake Orion.
It includes local history, the current weather and an event calendar for the year. There’s also information on road projects, tax and water bills, trash removal and recycling and local ordinances. And, of course, village contact information.
The site also links smoothly with the Downtown Development Authority’s site to provide complete business and event information.

CVS wants a rezone on Baldwin
A new pharmacy looks to be on the horizon for the corner of Baldwin and Waldon roads. Orion Township trustees propose to change Zoning ordinance 78, to allow CVS Pharmacy to build on the northeast corner — arcoss the street from Walgreen Pharmacy. The matter will be discussed at the Feb. 2, board meeting.

New full-time police officer
Village Clerk Arlene Nichols swore in Officer Christopher Mires at the Village Council meeting Dec. 8.
Police Chief Narsh welcomed him to the full-time family, noting that Chris out-scored his classmates on their exams and was first in his class at the Oakland Police Academy.

Building up for rezoning
The only residential building left at the Anderson and Flint Street intersection is up for rezoning next month. The three other corners are zoned for commercial and business use.
More discussion and an official vote on rezoning the property will come at the Village Countil meeting in Jan.

Resolution Run route set
The New Year’s Resolution Run route is all set for the race on Jan. 1.
Police will barracade one lane on each of the following streets during the race: Lapeer, Elizabeth, Broadway, Cedar Bend, Washington, Jackson, Florence and Shadbolt.
The race is scheduled to last from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., with an alternate date of Jan. 3.

Council meeting cancelled
The Village Council meeting scheduled for Dec. 22 is cancelled. The next meeting is set for Jan. 12.
Please be advised that Village office will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1 in observance of the holidays.