Last week, both Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson gave their ‘State of the State? and ‘State of the County? speeches, respectively.
Many of the ideas in those speeches will have an impact on Orion Township.
Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said the biggest message he heard in the speeches was a call from the governor for communities to work closer together.
‘When you look at Orion Township, we’ve been trying to work with the village and other communities,? he said, mentioning Independence Township and Auburn Hills among them.
Dywasuk said Granholm’s plan offers incentives for projects that cross township lines, which can be mutually beneficial for all communities involved.
‘We’re going to have to spend more time coming up with ideas,? he said, noting the North Oakland Transportation Authority as a model for success.
Though a proposal for a tri-township senior center failed last November, Dywasuk attributed the failure to tough economic times and said such projects still need further examination.
With regards to the county, Dywasuk said the township has been involved in a number of sessions with officials from various departments.
He said some of the things offered at the county level, especially the county parks system, are continuing to improve and are getting more attention from township residents.
‘I think there are some areas where we can work together more,? he noted. ‘It’s pretty impressive when you look at what Oakland County has accomplished.?
Dywasuk said decisions made in the next few years will be critical to the long-term outlook of the township, which will continue to grow.
He cited a SEMCOG study that noted the township population, which currently is around 34,000 residents, could reach 45,000 residents in less than 20 years.
‘Recently, we’ve seen a dramatic slowdown,? he said with regards to new housing and population numbers. ‘Some people think we’ve maxed out, but we really haven’t.
Again, Dywasuk noted that tough economic times are likely the cause for a temporary slowdown. He said a planning commission meeting that was cancelled earlier this year speaks to that, saying it was the first time he could remember that happening in recent times.
‘It’s not going to stay like this forever,? he said. ‘But it’s not going to change overnight, either.?
A profile of upcoming projects in the township was offered in the Jan. 3 edition of The Review and mentioned the upcoming ballot proposals for the library and safety paths, as well as the installation of the skate park.
Dywasuk said the decision on how to proceed with the existing Township Hall will also be critical.
Tom Yaste will present a study at the upcoming board meeting on Feb. 20.
‘All indications are that the improvements can be made through the current millage,? Dywasuk said.
‘We’ve done a lot through technology, but we still need more storage space, he added, noting with current interest rates, the timing couldn’t be better.
In the Village of Lake Orion, Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel said there are plenty of projects on the horizon, many of which will involve cooperation from the Downtown Development Authority and the Parks & Recreation Committee.
Van Tassel said the infrastructure committee is waiting on cost estimates for replacing some water and sewer lines in the village, a project that will likely lead into repaving projects on Flint and Broadway streets.
The village manager added that the repaving projects are likely to begin in 2008.
‘If the council goes ahead with this idea, we must do it with as little impact on traffic as possible,? Van Tassel said. ‘We don’t want to shut down the whole downtown.?
Improvements could also be on the way for Children’s Park, where an improved entryway with easier access and ledged seating are being discussed.
Van Tassel said these improvements would have a positive impact on the concert series in the gazebo.
‘That was the impetus for doing some improvements there,? she said.
Plans are also in the works for a ‘Welcome back, summer? event that could coordinate with the opening of Green’s Park on May 26.
Van Tassel said there are plans for a 5-K run to happen in conjunction with the closing of the park on Labor Day.
That run could potentially involve Children’s Park, Meek’s Park and Atwater Park, but the route is not yet set.
Van Tassel also anticipates that construction will begin on Orion Pointe (at Pelton’s Point) sometime this year.