Recognizing, Mayor David Kellet a Citizen in the audience who has done his homework .

In the case of David Kellet (City Commissioner (2004-2010) and City of Bloomfield Hills Mayor (2009-2010)  the word former doesn't apply.
A resident of  Kingsley Trail, He is currently President of his homeowner's neighborhood  association, The Whitehall Civic Association and has in the last three months appeared before the current City Commission three times. 

Like any resident of the City he he is granted three minutes to speak his mind before City Commission. The only stipulation is that he can not  speak on an item appearing on that evenings agenda. The portion of the meeting where  residents may speak is called,   Recognition of Citizens in the Audience. 

On two of the occasions  Kellet spoke about a matter that  concerned his sub division. and that is dead head school buses which cut corners by coming down Kingsley Trail.

Deadhead is an interesting  term  and has has many usages. One being  that of fans of the Grateful Dead rock group. Another  is  airline pilots who fly free (Deadhead) en route to another  assignment.Trucks,buses and similar delivery vehicles deadhead  after having delivered a load, before picking up another.

In terms of picking up or dropping school children there is no reason for a half dozen or more of empty school buses to parade down  Kingsley Trail every morning usually between the hours of 8:58 and 9:16.  Kellet has done his home work and has tracked as many as nine or ten buses per day.

When he first appeared before City Commission at the commission's inaugural meeting  his presentation prompted little  interest.  That did not surprise Kellet who  in so many words said the ball was in his court. He would document everything and he and  his fellow neighborhood association associates would start on petitions. Kellet also visited with Bloomfield Hills School superintendent  Jim Glass and officials in the BHS transportation department and learned their side of the story.

It was said that  coming down  Kingsley Trail  cut 3.6 miles off their route. When one interested  observer declared that to be preposterous, Kellet  who had measured the route vouched for it's veracity, but indicated that miles saved was not  the issue. 

The  Deadhead school  busses in question came down Eastways which is fairly busy street. Then before  turning on Long Lake which is a County Road with a 40 MPH speed limit, they turn on Kingsley a residential street with a 25 MPH speed limit. 

The busses bring  noise, clatter, and the pungent smell of diesel fuel in the early morning hours. When the issues of safety (presumably for the empty busses) was mentioned Kellet explained that  the sight lines of turning right onto  Long Lake from Eastways were among the best in the City. Furthermore the light at Long Lake and Kensington was green for Long Lake 75% of the time.

Last but not least  the White Hall homeowners association   is comprised of 111 home owners who deserved their peace, quiet and serenity that realtors promote when they sell the City of Bloomfield Hills.Those home owners gladly pay approximately  180,000 dollars annually to Bloomfield Hills Schools which is arguably  one of the best in the county. All the Whitehall Home owners wanted was a little consideration.

 Kellet also asked  the City Road consultant  about  Deadhead buses  adding to the  wear and tear on the City's roads. Keep in mind that Long Lake is a County road repaired by the county. The Consultant thought the buses could be equivocated  to so many car trips per day.
Kellet concluded by asking the Commission for resolution of support that he could take to Superintendent Glass and the BHS School Board. 

Commisioner  McClure said she thought it was a matter City Commissioner could handle administratively and saw no point in  bringing  the City Engineering consultant in on it because that would cost the City money. There was certain incredulity in such an assertion that was broken by the reminder by  Kellet  that  he and his White Hall Home owner association had done all the work, did the research, and assembled the data. All the City Commision had to do was  offer it's support.   In the end Mayor Kellet got his resolution of support by a 5-0 Margin.