It may be hard to remember but Former City Manager did his best work when he worked for the Residents of the City Bloomfield Hills. Imported by City Commission as expert on Puds (Principal of development) where normal zoning regulations are suspended for a perceived greater goal Mr Cravens was expected be the man of the hour who would tell us what to do with land with the former Fox and Hound Restaurant and former and Michigan Route 1 Inn and a restaurant on sat on.
Unfortunately before his arrival circa 2010 City Commision had split into two waring factions. One favoring a shopping Center and the other insisting on anything but. Residents who by law where entitled to Public hearing said they favored a fine dining establishment like the then departed Fox and Hound and said they who lived in the condos in the vicinity enjoyed walking to dinner.
A consultant for said our City was already slated for a Fudruckers.
Eventually It all got straightened out however. The Fudrukers we were slated for turned up a Square Lake and Woodward and closed shortly after the two year war ended during which nobody consulted City Cravens because every already had an opinion.
City Manager took it all in stride. He found a grant for a resident who needed but couldn't afford a new roof. It was one of the few grants City residents could avail themselves to because they were based on need not income.
Mr Cravens told the story quite often and was justifiably proud of himself. Cravens also made friends with the working press. They had a symbiotic bond. They both worked normal hours meaning Cravens was available for quotes, and stories. In his time Cravens would bring meals on wheels to City Residents who could benefit from it. again it was a service based on need rather than income. That was also the City's first contact with Contact with the Birmingham Senior Center. That connection never got the play it deserved. It was an election year in Birmingham all concerned where concerned about the political fall out. Years would go by before the Birmingham Senior Center which serves many communities came before Our City Commission and said our residents are welcome. (See previous Article).
and that is we are now with SOCCRA which stands for Southeastern Oakland Authority Reclying drop off and drop off Center and material recovery Facility (In Troy on Coolidge across from meiers thrifty acres. You might havef read the article in the EAGLE "SOCCRA REVEALS UPDATES IMPROVED SERVICE AND RESIDENT PARTICIPATION.
Unfortunately the usually flawless Eagle failed to include the City of Bloomfield Hills as a participating member. So I called. We are indeed members. this was an another Cravens accomplishment. He and City commission set it up for year round hazard since most waste haulers won't take it. Residents get so many free then pay nominal dome if more a required. They may if they desire set up a drop of appointment. That is only the the tip of the SOCCRA ice berg.
Your shredder break ? Makes a mess with paper shred which or which vacuums up worse than a than a dog or cat ? ? Take it to SOCRRA. Their shreder is about the size of Jet Engine and in a shack that can accommodating four shredding at simultaneously. It is only a slight exaggeration to say you can shred ten years of canceled checks tax returns in the time it takes to wait at a traffic light. You can dump ordinary paper in a stair accesed railway car.
Bring your Driver's license occasionally SOCRRA spot checks your validity on occassion but so does the Baldwin Library
