See candidates and info here. Meetings are at 6 PM. Our current director, Mindy Milos-Dale retires 5/31/24.
Author: Bob Yager
Join Me in Volunteering for Public Safety Committee
Below is an email I just sent to my neighbor, Phylis Andrus.
Phylis Andrus,
I just watched the video of last night’s Board Meeting where you spoke about your five-year effort on Collins Road speed limit. Two other residents spoke about their safety concerns regarding Collins Rd.
I suggest residents view this video clip – about 17 minutes, See Agenda 4 at this link – https://videoplayer.telvue.com/player/KGL-y_dHhCluQTy7c6YoVBzzQ5eHj7Lr/media/866953?key=KGL-y_dHhCluQTy7c6YoVBzzQ5eHj7Lr
Some comments –
1 – I can’t find anything in HB-4012 that gives Townships more power to set speed limits. In fact, I see HB-4012 as causing no change in the law, just different words that say the same thing.
2 – The Oakland Township Board communicates to me that anything wrong at a State or County level is not their (part-time) job to actually try to influence. Somehow, we citizens must take up the cause with the appropriate agency, in this case the Road Commission and Michigan State Police. At least that is what I got from comments by Supervisor Buxar and lack of comments from others.
3- Manager Merucci calling RCOC weekly, as Trustee Elder suggests, will likely get some repairs done faster but won’t affect RCOC speed limit thinking.
4 – Later in the meeting during the topic HDC appointments, Trustee Langlois said – “Running the Township depends on a lot of active volunteers”. I am volunteering to serve on the non-existent “Public Safety Committee” whose mission, in part would be to “bring more attention to public safety issues.”
Bob Yager
Representative Josh Schriver explains his NO vote on HB-4012 (Speed Limits)
What follows is an anwer from Representative Schriver to my email below.
“I’m attaching a screenshot from my publicly available 2023 vote record/reason log on the specific vote you’re asking about”
(https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1aqDK3qeoeWhvlPFr2nrLyisLqxpT2nbSlIzZptnAP5Q/mobilebasic). Since Day 1, I’ve been one of 8 out of 110 reps that reports every single vote with a reason for each one.
This link above is found in an e-newsletter I send out weekly to over 21,000 constituents I have email addresses for. Would you like to receive my email updates with vote explanations moving forward?
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From: Robert Yager <yagerra@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, April 8, 2024 12:00:28 PM
To: Rep. Josh Schriver (District 66) <JoshSchriver@house.mi.gov>
Subject: HB-4012
Josh Schriver,
Michigan House of Representatives – District 66
Can you enlighten your Oakland Township constituents on the reasons for your NO vote on HB-4012 (MCL 257.628 Speed limit setting) ? https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2023-2024/billconcurred/House/pdf/2023-HCB-4012.pdf
I will publish your reply in the Oakland Township Sentinel. https://oaklandsentinel.wordpress.com/
Thanks,
Bob Yager
Editor
Oakland Township Sentinel
1146 Bear Creek Ct.
Oakland Township Michigan 48306
Collins Road Speed Limit Issue – April 3rd Law Change Will Help?
I sent this email to our Board:
To: Oakland Township Board of Trustees
Now that HB-4012 (Traffic control: speed restrictions; procedure for establishing speed limits; modify. Amends sec. 628) and has been signed by the Governor, does the Board of Trustees plan to “dust-off” and make use of this old provision from MCL 257.628 for the Collins Road speed limit issue? An answer at “ Board Reports and Correspondence” April 30, would be appreciated.
“A township board may petition the county road commission or the department of state police for a proposed change in the speed limit.”
The Governor signed HB-4012 on April 3, 2024.
The vote was 110/10 in House and 37/0 in Senate. Oakland Township Representatives to the Michigan House, Mark Tisdel, and Danielle Steele voted YES, Josh Schriver voted NO. Our State Senator Mike Webber voted YES.
The bill’s exact wording concurred upon by Michigan House and Senate is here:
I struggle to understand how this rewording changes anything to eliminate automatic 85th percentile speed limit setting, but am hoping you understand it better than I do.
A news article when the bill was introduced in 2023 is here:
https://gophouse.org/posts/rep-slagh-introduces-first-bills-of-new-term
A news article on the current bill is here. It seems overly optimistic.
Bob Yager
Snell Road Safety Path on Agenda for 6 PM Wednesday, April 3, 2024 Safety Paths and Trails Committee Meeting – Make it Wider is Our View.
At tomorrow’s April 3, 2024 Safety Paths and Trails Committee Meeting the Snell Rd. path (Rochester Road to Stony Creek Metropark) will be discussed.
See the agenda here:
I think we should try hard to have a path wider than the planned 6 feet for prevention of bicycle / bicycle and bicycle / pedestrian collisions. 10 feet wide is the AASHTO standard.
Drawings of the project plan so far can be seen here:
Comments copied below are from a PEA Engineering Feasibliity Study letter at this link.
“Snell Road from Rochester Road to Stony Creek Ravine Nature Park
Length: 6,558’ (1.2 miles)
Easements: 9 (1 at HCMA property is low challenge and 8 at residential lots are high challenge)
Technical Concerns: 1,153 LF of retaining walls, significant earthwork, 130’ long boardwalk over Stony Creek.
Potential Cost: $1,700,000
Cost per lineal foot: $259
General Comments: 6’ concrete sidewalk the entire way, 8-10’ pathway won’t fit in the R.O.W. Technically challenging route to construct. The number of easements along residential properties makes this route likely not feasible.”
P.S. – SPTC is looking for a new member. Get application form on-line or at Township Hall.
Board Selects Joseph Merucci as Township Manager
In a close 4/3 vote the Board selected Joseph Merucci as our next Township Manager to replace Adam Kline who resigned months ago. This came after a motion to appoint current elected Township Supervisor Robin Buxar failed 3/4. There was public comment from three residents and apparently about 10 – 11 email expressing opinions on the matter were received. Rather than me attempting to summarize the discussion and comments watch the video (section 7/5) ideoplayer.telvue.com/player/KGL-y_dHhCluQTy7c6YoVBzzQ5eHj7Lr/media/864272
Oakland Township Sentinel 