This is not an official blog of the City. It is the work of Mark Kapel who is solely responsible for content.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2018

City Hillsof Bloomfield a SOCRRA City

 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






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