Economou to give State of Township address tonight

West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste is scheduled to give her 2011 State of the Township Address today, Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the West Bloomfield Township Hall.

According to a rough draft of the speech obtained by the Spinal Column Newsweekly, Ureste is expected to continue her push for a new public safety millage, stating that $4.1 million of the township’s fund equity balance will be used this year. She also expects that the Board of Trustees will approve a special millage election this year and that an election committee will be established as union concession talks continue.

Last August, the township board voted against placing a public safety millage on the November general election ballot, after previously agreeing to ask for a renewal of 3.14 mills and an increase of 2.0566 mills.

In her address, Ureste states that township revenue dropped to $36.5 million in 2010 and that revenue for 2011 is expected to be $34.6 million.

Development will also be another focus of Ureste’s speech, as she will talk about how developer roundtable meetings are held on a quarterly basis to receive input from developers and how development review committee meetings are held between developers and the township’s building, engineering and fire departments

Ureste will also talk about how the township is working to simplify the permitting process, including the initialization of a new BS&A Equalizer software system to better track development projects and keep track of their paperwork.

Another goal for the township, according to the speech, is to work with the Road Commission for Oakland County and legislators to obtain funding to maintain and/or reconstruct the township’s major roadways, including the widening and reconstruction of Maple Road between Orchard Lake and Haggerty roads near the Henry Ford Hospital.

The township will also look to landscape roundabouts and create new welcome signage in West Bloomfield during 2011.

Ureste will also speak of the township’s accomplishments last year, including the passage of its Vacant Property Registration Program and its rental inspection program for single- and multiple-dwelling units.