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Friday, November 21, 2014

Preserving History, and Building Community in Bloomfield Hills as featured in "The Review" the official magazine of the Michigan Municipal League.

To see all in group  use slider at  bottom of page and then scroll up.
 The other day while stopping by City Hall, this reporter noticed a large poster for the Preservation Bloomfield's Ginger Bread Celebration. So I called   Mayor Pat Hardy and asked if she had something smaller that I could put in the blog. She sent me an e-mail  that had a smaller version of poster.  I  noticed that it was addressed more than fifty individuals that comprise the "Ginger Bread Team. I said not seen a list of names of  community involved  residents that  long  since the 2008 inaugural issue of the Hills Highlights news letter, the Official newsletter of the City of Bloomfield Hills,  Mayor Hardy said it was quite a story and began rattling off  facts and figures.  It all started with the 75th anniversary celebration and  in the last eight years close to one million dollars had been raised. I said I had  to get a pen and paper to write some of that  down but she said she had something from the Michigan Municipal League that would serve as  a good introduction.
2008 Inaugural issue of the Hills Highlights. Commissioner Hardy, Editor.
Anyone going on line  and looking for information on  how city government works is  familiar with  the Michigan Municipal League who's motto is "Better  Communities.  Better Michigan.". The league states that it is the one clear voice for Michigan Communities. The league   goals are to aid communities in creating desirable and unique places through legislative and judicial advocacy, to provide educational opportunities, for elected and appointed officials, and to assist municipal  and community leaders in administering community services. The league's mission is  that of a non profit, but  with the fervor of entrepreneurs, to passionately push change for better communities and a better Michigan.

Current Board of Trustee members hail from Wakefield,  East Lansing, Berkley, Farmington Hills, Kalamazoo, Ferrysburg,Grand Rapids, Jackson, Hazel Park, Dearborn, Sterling Heights, Lapeer, Ironwood, Clare, Cadillac, Three Oaks, and Marquette Michigan.

I had no idea what Mayor Hardy would provide but I was thinking more of a one sheet from  years gone by.  I did not expect the current issue of The Review, the Magazine of the Municipal League  which features a focus on small communities. The Magazine  is similar to one that used to be published by the Michigan Historical Society  where back issues never grow old and stay forever in summer cottages statewide. The only difference is that with Review the history is now.  The article  in the November/ December  issue is an explanation of Preservation Bloomfield's successs and an introduction to other restoration efforts in other communities.














Monday, November 17, 2014

Voter Turnout massive and "conflicted" on Waste Hauler Issue.

 It was Mayor Hardy who told The Birmingham Eagle that she was conflicted on the issue, If she was, so were many others.
There are approximately  1500 households in the City of Bloomfield Hills. and 1905 votes  cast by  City residents. That would indicate  that all most homes voted on the issue  and  in 400 households more than one resident  voted.

Precinct
Number
YES
NO
Total
City Hall
Bloomfield Hills 1
624
464
1,088
Congregational Church
Bloomfield Hills 2
464
353
817

Total:
1,088
817
1,905

The Marquis attraction on election day however was the race for Governor, touted  as  perhaps the closest ever. 2043 city residents voted in that election.  The difference between between the Waste Hauler vote and the Governor vote was 138 votes. Meaning  138 City resident who voted  Governor  failed to vote on the waste hauler issue. Those potential 138 votes would not have made a difference  in the outcome.


In an election in which 1088 votes were cast and the margin of victory was 271  all the margins separating victory and defeat defeat were small.

Precinct 1: In Person Vote: Yes by 208 votes
Precinct 1: Absentee Ballot Yes by 45 votes.
Precinct 1: Actual Vote:  Yes by 160 votes.
Precinct 2: Actual Vote Yes by 111 votes.

Waste Hauler  Vote

In Precinct
Absentee Vote
Total
YES
648
440
1088
No
422
395
817
Waste Hauler  Vote Total
1905
Voted for Governor
2043
Difference of  Governor and WH vote
138


Bloomfied Township Library Millage wins Big and carries every precinct.




Of Note: Voting precincts that are or were schools, school buildings, or  school administrative buildings, led the charge in the overwhelming yes vote. Fire station Central and #2 also produced large yes  votes as did Adams Woods. The highest number of yes votes and no votes came from Covington School with 729 yes and 507 no votes delivered . The 1236 votes cast at Covington was largest of any Bloomfield Township precinct,

Precinct
Number
Yes
No
Total
BCTV
Bloomfield 1
358
202
560
Wethersfied Apts
Bloomfield 2
241
110
351
Doyle Center
Bloomfield 3
542
237
779
Model High School
Bloomfield 4
382
291
673
Dave Payne Bldg
Bloomfield 5
309
185
494
Fire station 2
Bloomfield 6
435
328
763
Marian High School
Bloomfield 7
254
119
373
Covington School
Bloomfield 8
729
507
1,236
Brother Rice
Bloomfield 9
556
340
896
Gary Dole Center
Bloomfield 10
597
269
866
West Maple School
Bloomfield 11
530
277
807
Bloomfld Babtist
Bloomfield 12
347
246
593
Harlan School
Bloomfield 13
380
263
643
Eastover School
Bloomfield 14
443
367
810
Conant School
Bloomfield 15
298
144
442
West Maple 2
Bloomfield 16
401
223
624
Fire Station 4
Bloomfield 17
171
118
289
East Hills MidSchool
Bloomfield 18
327
196
523
Way Elementary
Bloomfield 19
405
263
668
Fox Hills Pre School
Bloomfield 20
376
209
585
Adam Woods
Bloomfield 21
430
277
707
Central Fire Station
Bloomfield 22
544
252
796
Marian High School 2
Bloomfield 23
333
192
525
Lahser HS
Bloomfield 24
320
207
527
Fox Hills PreSchoo2
Bloomfield 25
197
73
270
International Acad
Bloomfield 26
341
241
582
St. Paul Methodist
Bloomfield 27
231
128
359
RV Hacket Village
Bloomfield 28
225
150
375
Bloomfield Baptist 2
Bloomfield 29
278
202
480
BH Middle School
Bloomfield 30
681
268
949
Heathers
Bloomfield 31
266
167
433
Bowers Farm
Bloomfield 32
382
216
598


12,309
7,267
19,576