In that regard we would also like to thank and recognize The City Clerk's office in Birmingham. There we speak to whoever answers the phone, and try to disguise our voice because we don't want to make it painfully obvious that we are only calling because we can't get a hold of Amy Burton who is usually doing twenty nine things at once.
Which brings us to The Charter Township of West Bloomfield which is larger in population than any of the other communities mentioned by a substantial margin. The City Civic Center is larger than some shopping malls and there is library big enough to have a branch. The City Clerk is Catherine Shaughnessy gives anyone who visits the City Clerk's page on the City's web site a "key" to the City. It's not a real key of course but it works just as well. What is provided is detailed voting locations and precinct maps for the upcoming. election. And lets face it most of know zip about about West Bloomfield other than it is there and somewhere around Orchard Lake Road.
You drive by it and often through it but nothing registers. Pay attention to the City's excellent precinct maps and you will being speaking like a native. Maybe even better. The other day the wife asked about "that boat store we visited," and asked if it was in Farmington. I said no it was on Orchard Lake Road. She said she knew that but that was in Farmington wasn't it ?I said no. It was in West Bloomfield. on Orchard Lake Road. Going west past Middlebelt and past La Rosa Market. On your left. The cross street is Figa and you are in West Bloomfield Precinct 3. Precinct 3 is one of only two West Bloomfield Precincts that are on Pine Lake. The other is Precinct 16 which is has the distinction of being on both sides of the lake. True to form the wife took all that info and decided she "remembers now...The boat store is in Sylvan Lake, right ?"
City Clerks a re great for providing all the information you need on a variety of subjects even if that knowledge will never register with one's spouse. Especially in an election year. This year West Bloomfield City Clerk Shaughnessy is running for re-election. Our City Clerk Amy Burton does not run for office. Amy explained why this is so but I forgot. I do know that rather recently Amy Burton was elected President of the City Clerks of Oakland County Association which is quite and honor considering the size of Communities like Southfield, Troy, and West Bloomfield, and how tiny the City of Bloomfield really is.Once when I visited Mr. Bullard's County Clerk office I said I would tell our City Clerk how helpful they were. I think my exact words wondered if all City or County Clerks all went to nice school or something. They said they thought the same of our City Clerk or more exactly "Amy's a sweetie." I don't know if that trumps other honors but it is probably right up there. Especially when you consider that all the City Clerks seem to know each other.
Last but not least City Amy Burton received an addition honor to be shared with her staff. It seems Ms. Burton went on vacation for an entire seven days. A fact that if widely known, could have caused panic through out the city. I found out when I e-mailed "thanks" for some info I requested and a got robo email back that said Amy Burton was out of the office and WOULD NOT BE BACK UNTIL..Naturally I was sweating it. Very important meetings are approaching and this publication which is slow to begin with has to get the word out. When the documentation had not appeared on line by Friday COB we figured maybe Monday when Amy returned. Then the Agenda Packet big enough to require two packets actually appeared on the City web site Saturday Morning very close to the usual Friday electronic disbursement. Hats off to Jennifer West, Amy's assistant who somehow flew a double sized Agenda Packet through the teeth of the storm for an on time delivery while managing to keep up with all the other documentation we request on a regular basis.
