More News
Communication Engagement Coordinator Job Posting
The City of Huntington Woods is currently seeking a qualified candidate to assist in planning, developing and coordinating external communications and media relations for the City. This part-time Community Engagement Coordinator position will help build greater internal and public understanding of the City’s policies, programs and services by effectively communicating information about the City through traditional, digital and social media channels.
The job is expected to average 20 hours/week and the rate of pay is $28//hour. The job description is available here. Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and 3 professional references by email to hbarckholtz@hwmi.org or by mail to Clerk Heidi Barckholtz, 26815 Scotia Rd., Huntington Woods MI 48070 no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, February 5, 2021.
In its October 14th, 2020 City Commission meeting, the Huntington Woods City Commission approved an Anti-Racism Plan to guide the City forward in efforts to expand its commitment to build equity, promote anti-racism and to make Huntington Woods a warm and welcoming city.
In response to the tragic and senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others, the City issued a statement on June 2nd condemning acts of racial injustice and aggression, and renewed its commitment to build justice, fairness and peace for all. The Anti-Racism Plan is the next step by the City to enact that commitment by identifying action items that are measurable, specific and attainable.
"It is not enough to simply claim we are not racist," says Mayor Robert Paul. "We must work toward eradicating fear and turmoil, and ensure that Huntington Woods is a warm and welcoming city for all."
The Anti-Racism Plan advocates for reviewing and revising existing policies to make them more equitable, and creating new policies and programs to promote an anti-racist perspective and expand opportunities to end institutional oppression.
The Plan has three main goals: Learning & Recognition, Community Relations and Public Policy. It contains programs and initiatives to be carried out at City Hall, the Library, Parks and Recreation and Public Safety, addressing all three goals in detail in every programming area. A copy of the plan is available here.
A committee of dedicated residents working with City administration created the plan during the summer, with a desire to build anti-racist programming throughout the city and have its effects felt beyond city limits.
Presentation on KKK in Berkley and HW on YouTube
The second presentation in our anti-racism speaker series can be viewed on the City's YouTube Channel.
The virtual presentation explores the workings of the Ku Klux Klan in southeast Oakland County during it's second and most widely successful wave during the 1920's.
Covid 19 Vaccination Availability
Oakland County Executive David Coulter issued the following statement on the availability of COVID-19 vaccine in Oakland County:
“Oakland County is in the early stages of administering the COVID-19 vaccine but supply is limited. Our Health Department is currently vaccinating priority 1A individuals including emergency medical personnel, healthcare workers, and residents of long-term care facilities. We look forward to expanding to the next phase which will include essential workers and residents 65 and older but ask for their patience because the number of appointments available is limited to the number of doses we have received from the state. We urge the State of Michigan to increase Oakland County’s vaccine allotment while expanding the number of providers administering the vaccine. Meanwhile, our Nurse on Call line is flooded with questions about appointment availability. Please visit our vaccine webpage for the latest on our vaccine supply and scheduling appointments.”
To go to Oakland County’s vaccine webpage, type OakGov.com/COVID and click on the “Vaccine” button.
Huntington Woods Wins Voter Turnout Challenge!
In the fall, resident Nat Pernick challenged 8 neighboring cities to see who had the highest voter turnout in the November 3rd election. Huntington Woods was the winner of the 2020 Voting Challenge with a turnout of 85.31%. The prize is $1,000 which will be used to purchase materials for the City’s anti-racism plan. Thank you to Nat for his commitment to promoting voting and congratulations to our residents on the best turnout!
Read More
Men's Club College Scholarships
The Huntington Woods Men's Club has three $1,500 college scholarships for teens who have made a difference in our community through volunteering and community service. The HW Men's Club established the fund to award the scholarships to City residents who are graduating high school this year or currently enrolled in college or a recognized trade school. More information on the scholarship is available here and the application is available at this link. Applications are due March 29th and require a brief essay. For more information or questions, please contact Jim Speir at jspeir@ameritech.net.
Huntington Woods City Teen Council
Anti-Racism Calendar
The Huntington Woods Teen Council has put together an Anti-Racism Calendar for the months of January – March 2021. This calendar is meant to act as a guide to help us focus on racism in our society and different ways we can come together to understand and fight racism. We hope that you utilize this calendar as a family and that it can help guide us all towards a more accepting, diverse and equal world.
Download Calendar
Racially Restrictive Covenant Presentation on YouTube
The November 11th presentation on racially restrictive covenants is available for viewing on the City's YouTube channel. The first in a series of speakers for the City's anti-racism plan, Nancy Welsh discussed the history and use of racially restrictive covenants and why they remain in the chain of title.
Communication Survey Results
The results of the survey from the Communication Committee are available here as well as an executive summary. The Communication Committee will be reviewing the input from residents at their upcoming meetings. They usually meet the third Tuesday of the month. Agendas and meeting information can be found in the e-newsletters.
Recreation Director Job Posting
The City's Recreation Director is retiring in February and we are soliciting resumes for the position. The job posting is available here along with a job description.
Redevelopment Ready Communities Update
The City has been engaged in the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification program and recently received a baseline report of our self-evaluation. The RRC certification program supports community revitalization by making sure cities are development ready. The evaluation is a measurement of how the City aligns with best practices for development. A copy of the baseline report is available here. Any questions on the program can be directed to City Manager Amy Sullivan at asullivan@hwmi.org. or 248.581.2632.
Huntington Woods Statement Condemning Acts of Racial Injustice and Commitment for Justice, Fairness and Peace for All
This year has brought many unexpected challenges and emotions prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. At this time of heightened anxiety and distance, news of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis is a shocking reminder of the acts of injustice that continue to occur in our country. The City of Huntington Woods shares this statement from our elected and public officials with our response to this senseless tragedy and our ongoing efforts to create a safe and welcoming community.
2020 Huntington Woods Virtual Fourth of July Parade
City Decides to Not Open Pool for 2020 Season
After much consideration, research, and information collected through a survey of past pool pass holders, the City has decided not to open the pool for the 2020 season.
A short survey was created and distributed to 610 households who had purchased a pool membership or multi-visit pass in recent years. A total of 371 people responded to the survey, indicating their interest level in buying a pool pass for this summer under new parameters and at a potentially higher cost for a shorter season. The majority of respondents were either unsure about whether they would purchase a pass, or outright confirmed that they would not do so, with these new conditions.
City officials considered many factors before making this decision, including but not limited to:
- The logistics of adhering to state regulations regarding public pool use during the COVID-19 pandemic
- A shortened season, much smaller capacity limits and the impact that had on generating enough revenue to cover operational costs
- A high level of uncertainty around how many residents would, in fact, patronize the pool
- Complications surrounding creating a satisfactory plan for all interested parties
While we know that the pool and summer programming (including camps and July 4th celebrations) are highlights that draw people to choose to live in Huntington Woods, the unusual and evolving circumstances of this time make it difficult to continue with our normal programming. We regret having to cancel such popular community opportunities to gather and celebrate, and we are hopeful that by adopting a stricter standard in the short-term, we will promote good health in the long-term and be able to gather again before long.
Thank you to those who participated in the survey. We appreciate the community’s support and understanding and wish everyone a healthy summer.
Update on Summer Camps & City-Wide Activities
June 8, 2020
|
League of Women Voters County Commissioner Candidate Forum
LWVOA Candidate Forum - County Commission District 18 - 2020 from LWVOA on Vimeo.
Additional forums easily accessed at LWVOA
1. Michgian State Representative 27th District
2. County Commission 18th District
3. Oakland County Executive
4. Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney and Oakland County Sheriff
5. Oakland County Clerk and Register of Deeds and Oakalnd County Treasurer
6. Oakland County 6th Circuit Court Judge (After July 1st)
University of Michigan Research Projects Assist City with Master Plan Update
As the City of Huntington Woods approaches the time to update its Master Plan, we were fortunate to receive in-depth research studies from three teams of graduate students at the University of Michigan’s A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning (TCAUP). Undertaken free-of-charge as a courtesy to the City, these completed research projects focus on issues that will be central to the upcoming Master Plan Update - including housing, aging-in-place, and mixed-use redevelopment opportunities to diversify the City’s revenue base.
During the winter, the students gathered and analyzed data, conducted three focus groups, prepared a survey, and facilitated a community-wide visioning session. They gathered firsthand input from 77 residents to include in their research.
CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS COVID RESPONSE PLAN
Michigan’s Executive Order 110 permits the return to work of non-essential workers and any worker who can work remotely, must continue to do so. The City is planning on a staggered return to work for employees beginning with City Hall, DPW and Public Safety on June 15, 2020. As a condition of reopening, employers must develop a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan which can be found at this link.
Read MoreUnderstanding Absent Voter Ballot Applications
This week the Huntington Woods City Clerk's office mailed out absentee ballot applications to anyone on the City maintained Permanent Absentee Voter List. The State of Michigan recently announced they will be sending out absent voter ballot applications to the remaining registered voters to help those who want to vote by mail in the COVID environment. An FAQ regarding absent voter ballot applications is available.*There is a drop box on the West side of the building as well as an application box in the East side vestibule for easy return of applications.*
Pool and Summer Camp Update
On May 2nd, the City made the difficult decision to cancel all 2020 summer recreation programs and events and not open the pool. This was based on concern for the safety and well-being of our residents and staff due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and recommendations for social distancing by state and federal authorities.
In recent weeks, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been relaxing the restrictions to allow for more freedom of movement and gatherings statewide. On June 1st, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 110, which rescinds restrictions on swimming pools and children’s day camp. Both are now permitted to open on Monday, June 8th, albeit only if strict cleaning and safety rules are in place.
The order also permits outdoor social gatherings and events that do not exceed 100 people, with the mandate that participants maintain a six foot distance from one another.
The City is now studying whether we can effectively, efficiently, and affordably open the pool, operate Fruit and Specialty Camps, and hold any Independence Day activities or other city-wide summer events.
These are not easy decisions to make, and we do not expect they will be made quickly. There are many things to consider – the logistics of any of these endeavors at this late date are tremendous, and we must consider what camp and pool experiences will not only be like under these parameters, but also the costs of beginning now to make them happen and to meet all the requirements that are imperative, if we decide to move forward.
We’d like to share with you some of the details we must consider before coming to a decision.
- To open Fruit Camp, we have safety concerns in case of rain or extreme heat. We would normally use the Recreation Center to bring campers and counselors indoors, but if indoor spaces are limited to 10 people, socially distanced and wearing masks, that is no longer an option.
- If Fruit Camps happen in-person, we cannot simultaneously offer the virtual Fruit Camp activities we have been planning for residents who are not comfortable with their children attending in-person camps.
- For a pool opening, verify lifeguard staff are still available.
- And if they are available, will they be available through August if colleges return early in the fall to cope with the pandemic.
- Some of the financial concerns surrounding the pool reopening are huge. The pool normally generates $275,000 in revenue – will there be enough pool passes sold during a pandemic to cover the cost of operating the pool?
- Plus, we need to limit pool capacity to comply with the Executive Order, which means pass holders will likely be turned away if they come at a time when the pool has reached capacity. Will that cause unrest and discontent?
- And, when lifeguards try to enforce social distancing in the pool area, will they be effective? Will residents keep 6 feet apart at all times both in the pool, on the deck and in the locker rooms?
Please understand, we want to offer these popular summer activities as much as you want to engage in them – we just need to examine all of the potential scenarios to determine the wisest course of action at this late date. We hope all residents understand the complexities of these issues, and we ask for your patience as we study the possibilities toward making the best decision for everyone in Huntington Woods.
4th of July VIRTUAL PARADE

Oakland County COVID Testing
The Oakland County Health Division now provides COVID-19 testing to all residents 18 and over – with or without COVID symptoms. There is no prescription necessary. Appointments made through the County's nurse on call system at 1.800.848.5533. More information available here: https://www.oakgov.com/covid/best-practices/sick-caring/Pages/testing.aspx
Public Safety Scam Alert
There will always be people who try to take your money through various scams. Some scams are very old and some, given today’s technology, are brand new. Click HERE to read more about how to protect yourself from a scam, and remember you can call the Public Safety Department for assistance in evaluating if a call is a scam or legitimate.
Men's Club Online Auction
The 2020 Huntington Woods Men's Club Service Online Auction will be held from May 23rd through May 31st. You can register now to participate in the online event -- visit http://www.hwmc.org to get started! Upon completion of your registration (credit card information required), you will be able to preview the available items.
The website will allow you to view items by category, search by keyword, search by catalog number, and even keeps track of the items you have viewed.
On Sunday June 7th, the club will offer contactless, curbside gift pick-up at the Gillham Recreation Center for item winners. Free delivery is also available to any resident who makes a direct donation to the auction of $20 or more.
Just click on the Donations tab after you registered and select an amount you'd like to contribute directly to this fundraising event to use the delivery service. Help support our community by participating in this year's HWMC online auction!
City Cancels Summer Programs and Events
After much deliberation and consideration, the City of Huntington Woods has decided to suspend all activities, meetings, and events through Labor Day. This includes deciding to not open the pool, to cancel camps, concerts, and recreational programs, and to forgo our annual July 4th festivities including the much-revered fireworks display. Click here for the rest of the announcement.City Employees Now Working Remotely
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, all non-essential employees are now working remotely until further notice. Although no one will be answering phones in the city buildings, you can still reach staff by either calling the phone number or using the email address designated below.
Recreation Center
248.581.2711
Library
248.581.2686
City Hall
248.581.2632
Department of Public Works
248.547.1888
COVID-19 Drive Through Testing Locations
Oakland County Health Division announces two locations for no-cost COVID-1 drive through testing. Click here for more information.
City's Free Chipping Service Resumes
The City's chipping service resumes this week with the other outdoor activities being permitted during the Stay at Home order. Department of Public Works employees will observe social distancing practices while working. Branches must be between 2"and 6" in diameter and over 4' in length. Place these stacked neatly, with the butt ends facing towards or parallel to the street. Small bushes will be chipped as long as the root system has been removed.
Annual Water Quality Report Available
The annual water quality report, called the 2019 Consumer Confidence Report, is now available. We're fortunate to be provided with drinking water that exceeds EPA and MDEQ standards by SOCWA and GLWA once again. You can read the report here. If you would like a paper copy, please call the Department of Works at 248.547.1888 to have one mailed.
Planning Commission Meeting To Be Held Remotely
The April 27th Planning Commission meeting will be held remotely due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
How To Participate in Public Meetings Remotely
1. Sign up for a free account at www.zoom.us .
2. At the designated meeting time, click on this link or call to join the meeting as it begins.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 745 484 412
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,745484412# US (Chicago)
3. You can participate online or participate by phone.
4. The Planning Commission Chair will ask for public comments at the appropriate time.
5. If you are participating online, you can write in the Chat box that you wish to address the Planning Commission and the Planning Commission Chair will call on you.
6. If you are listening on the phone, the Planning Commission Chair will ask if anyone would like to make a comment.
7. The video of the teleconference will be available for viewing on our YouTube channel after the meeting.
8. The City will be following its normal procedures for accommodation of persons with disabilities. Those individuals needing accommodations for effective participation in this meeting should contact the City Manager at 248.581.2632 at least two working days in advance of the meeting. An attempt will be made to make reasonable accommodationsMichigan Attorney General Issues Urgent Consumer Alert
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an urgent consumer alert urging Michiganders to be on high alert for bad actors aiming to coerce them out of their personal information in a new federal stimulus payment scam.
Scammers are using the news that the federal government will send one-time payments to millions of people across the country as part of the federal economic relief response to COVID-19 to steal personal information.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General has already received reports that residents are getting emails from websites appearing to be official demanding that they provide PayPal, bank account or other financial information to receive the $1200 federal stimulus payment immediately.
Click here for more information.
Building Department Update
With the closure of City Hall, the Building Department is closed. All building permits and construction are suspended with the exception of those essential services defined in Executive Order 2020-21. For those essential services, permits must be applied for as required by Building, Mechanical, Electrical or Plumbing codes as regulated by the state and local ordinance. Permit applications may be accessed online and mailed, dropped off or emailed to the City. Anyone proceeding with construction that is non-essential is doing so at their own risk, and may be required to later remove or replace construction that has occurred without permits or inspections. A violation of Executive Order 2020-21 is a misdemeanor. Questions and completed permit applications can be emailed to hberry@hwmi.org.
Fee for Online Water Bill Payment Waived
To encourage online payment of water bills, the credit card fee will be waived while City Hall is closed. It will come in the form of a credit on your next water bill. Water bill payments can also be placed in the secure drop box between City Hall and the Public Safety building.
To make an online water bill payment:
Click on the link to pay your water bill online.
Search for your water bill with either your name or your address.
Click on your address if it is correct.
Click on Make Payment.
The fee for making an online payment will be a credit on your next water bill.
The special City Commission meeting to declare a State of Emergency has been set for Wednesday, March 25th at 7:30 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the City Commission will not be convening in open session but will conduct their meeting remotely. Please see below on how the public can participate in the meeting.
A State of Emergency declaration will allow the City Manager to make immediate decisions in the interest of the City's health, safety and welfare. This also positions the City to receive emergency funding if it becomes available and is necessary to deal with the outbreak.
How To Participate in Public Meetings Remotely
1. Sign up for a free account at www.zoom.us .
2. At the designated meeting time, click on this link to join the meeting as it begins.
3. You can participate online or participate by phone.
4. The Mayor will ask for public comments at the appropriate time.
5. If you are participating online, you can write in the Chat box that you wish to address the City Commission and the Mayor will call on you.
6. If you are listening on the phone, the Mayor will ask if anyone would like to make a comment.
7. The video of the teleconference will be available for viewing on our YouTube channel after the meeting.
8. Please call the City Manager at 248.581.2632.to request closed captioning capability for the meeting.
With the increased use of disinfectant wipes -- remember NOT to flush them in the toilet. They are can get trapped in your sewer line and cause a back-up and can also accumulate and cause a system-wide clog. This applies to all wipes including those that are marketed as "disposable".
|
The City has compiled a list of resources to assist residents during the Coronavirus outbreak.
The information provided was accurate as of today but given the fluidity of the situation, we encourage you to call and confirm if the following resources are still available as described.
The SOCRRA drop-off center will be closed effective Tuesday, March 15th. The closure is in response to the recommendation to cease all non-essential activities. Please hold materials until the drop-off center reopens.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the district court will only process arraignments and felony matters. All other matters will be adjourned for at least 60 days. The court will have limited staff to answer phone calls so there may be a delay in answering calls or responding to inquiries. The court will continue to process mail and payments received through the mail, online payments and the drop box.
With Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's address last night closing all schools in our state through April 6th, and the Berkley School District closing through April 13th, Huntington Woods has prepared a community mitigation strategy to keep people safe and slow the spread of COVID-19.
As part of that strategy, the following meetings are canceled:
Library Advisory Board – March 16
Communication Committee – March 17
Arts & Garden Board – March 18
Environmental Advisory Committee - March 19
Planning Committee Meeting - March 23
Senior Advisory Committee – March 26
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – March 31
The results of the Fire and Police pension millage vote are:
Yes - 2,327
No - 1,162
On March 10th, Governor Whitmer announced two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. The City asks residents to stay informed in two ways.
First, learn how to plan, prepare and respond to the Coronavirus. You can do that by reading information and recommendations from the Oakland County Health Department here and CDC status updates are here.
Second, please stay in touch with the City to learn of activity or event cancellations by signing up for our e-newsletter.
How We’re Responding
City staff are participating in meetings and webinars at county and national levels to gather the latest information and gain guidance in order to assess the potential impact on Huntington Woods. As of today, no events or activities have been canceled, but we are conferring with the Berkley School District, Oakland County and neighboring communities to establish appropriate protocols for canceling Latchkey and classes/activities.
If it is necessary to cancel activities to slow the spread of the disease, information will go out in the e-newsletter and be emailed directly to participants. While we hope that the spread of the virus is minimized and schedules won’t have to be disrupted, it is important for residents to make backup plans in the event of the need for cancellations.
We are also taking action to enhance the safety of public gathering spaces, including facilitating a deep cleaning of the Library over the weekend to sanitize bathrooms and common surfaces and increasing the cleaning schedule for the Recreation Center as well as using a stronger germicidal disinfectant soon.
We are taking COVID-19 very seriously because it presents new challenges and recommendations may change rapidly. To stay up to date with Huntington Woods news, sign up for our e-newsletter here.
FAQ 1
FAQ 2
The 2020 census kicks off on Thursday, March 12th when residents will receive an invitation letter to complete the census. This year the census can be completed online or residents can fill out a paper form or phone in their responses. The census has nine questions and you can see a sample census form on our website. The census data is safe:
Read MoreWe need your good ideas!
The time of the workshop has been changed so residents can participate in the workshop and attend the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. The new hours for this drop-in event are 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited to a Community Engagement Workshop tomorrow between 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at City Hall. A community engagement workshop is a key step in our community development strategy for mixed use development and housing. This drop-in event will be conducted by University of Michigan Urban Planning graduate students. The information gathered will also be used for the upcoming Master Plan update.
This session will ask residents about their ideas and aspirations for:
1) Diversifying our community's housing options
2) Adding community amenities and services to enrich senior living
3) Rethinking portions of Eleven Mile as a mixed-use area
The U of M students will be manning tables focused on different topics and residents will have the opportunity to wander about, discuss potential alternatives, and share their thoughts.
We hope you can spend some time with us and help shape Huntington Woods' vision moving forward.
Questions on the event can be directed to Larissa Larsen at larissal@umich.edu.
DOWNLOAD THE FLYER for more information
Ballots Samples are available.
If you would like to be added to the City's Permanent Absent Voter list, please contact the City Clerk at 248-581-2638
City Hall will be open Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to issue and receive ballots and register voters wil proof of residency. Please contact the City Clerk with questions.
Session 1: "THC, CBD, and YOU"
Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 pm
Session 2: "THC, CBD and YOUR Meds"
Tuesday, March 24, 7:00 pm
MORE INFO
The City held an informational meeting on the upcoming Fire and Police Pension Millage that is on the March 10th ballot. You can view the rebroadcast on our YouTube channel. The PowerPoint presentations are available here:
PA 345 1st millage presentation
PA 345 2nd millage presentation
PA 345 3rd millage presentation
A FAQ is available and any other questions or comments can be directed to Amy Sullivan at asullivan@hwmi.org or 248.581.2632.
The Michigan Municipal League has updated their SaveMICity presentation. SaveMICity is a campaign to educate Michigan residents, decision makers, and businesses about how municipalities are funded in our state and why the current system does not work for our communities. Money that is owed our cities, villages, and townships by state statute has been redirected to plug holes in the state budget. That money should have gone to your community – where local people have a say on how it is spent on local issues. This is an important component to the City’s financial well-being since revenue sharing from the State is the City’s second largest source of revenue.
The City of Huntington Woods is devoted to maintaining city infrastructure for the long-term, which includes repairing, maintaining, and improving our sewer system. The City has instituted a plan which has three phases. The first two phases are underway. The third and final phase of the repair, maintenance and improvement program will be funded by a separate sewer project fee which will be added to the water bill beginning in April. The average water user will see an increase of $48 per quarter for this work. The City will be issuing a 20-year bond to fund the third phase of the sewer repair, maintenance and improvement program, and expects to collect an additional sewer project fee for that period of time. Click here for more information or call 248.581.2632.
Read More
The City has placed a proposal for a new fire and police retirement millage on the March 10th ballot. Funding the public safety retirement obligations through a dedicated millage, frees up funds in the General Fund budget for things like road improvements.
Read MoreThe 2019 winter tax bills were mailed on November 27th. If you do not have an escrow account and have not received a tax bill, call the Treasurer's Office at 248.581.2639 to have a copy of the tax bill resent. Winter taxes are due February 14, 2020. Taxes for those who are eligible for the summer deferment are also due February 14th.
The City is preparing to sell bonds for the last phase of the sewer repair project and for a road reconstruction project if the Public Act 345 ballot initiative is approved in March 2020. If the Public Act 345 millage is not approved, the City is not obligated to sell the road project bonds and can proceed with just the sewer project bonds.
Because the bonds for both projects will be Capital Improvement bonds, the City must give the voters a referendum right on the issuance of the bonds. The bonds can be issued without a vote unless a petition is filed within 45 days of the Notice publication.
The City Commission approved the Notice of Intent Resolution for General Obligation Capital Improvement Bonds at the December 3, 2019 meeting. A copy of the resolution and the Notice of Intent publication are posted on the City's website.
The public is welcome to view a copy of the draft plan and provide comments. The review period will run from December 1, 2019 through January 1, 2020.
Copies of the Draft Plan can also be viewed during regular business hours at:
- City Hall 26815 Scotia Rd Huntington Woods, MI 48070,
- Gillham Recreation Center 26325 Scotia Rd Huntington Woods, MI 48070 or
- Library 26415 Scotia Rd. Huntington Woods, MI 48070
Your written comments will be accepted until January 1, 2020 and can be sent to:
Chris Nordstrom, Carlisle Wortman & Associates
cnordstrom@cwaplan.com

If you would like to volunteer for one of Huntington Wood's commissions, boards or committees, please submit a Citizen Interest Form by November 30th. The form may be filled out and submitted online or printed and sent to the City Clerk. The City Commission will interview interested residents in December. Information about the different boards and committees is available on our website at www.hwmi.org. Volunteers are needed to fill vacancies on the following boards and committees:
- Planning Commission
- Arts & Garden Board
- Ethics Board
- Senior Advisory Committee
- Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Any homeowner who would like to verify the material of their water service lead can call the DPW at 248-547-1888 or email hwdpw@hwmi.org to make an appointment for an inspection of the line.
Lead can also be present inside the home in fixtures, faucets and solder. Click here for information on how to minimize lead exposure.
Want to learn more about the new Lead and Copper rules and the City's recent test results? Because the City Commission takes the issue of water quality very seriously, an open house has been arranged to provide information and answer questions.
While there is no lead in the City's water supply, lead can be present in the water service line that brings water into a home. Water service lines can be made of lead, galvanized metal, copper or plastic. Lead can also be present inside the home in fixtures, faucets and solder.
The City is hosting an open house on Thursday, November 14th from 6 - 8 p.m. at City Hall to provide residents with information on the following topics:
- Presentation on the lead and copper rules at 7 p.m.
- Where lead might be in your home
- Learn methods to mitigate lead exposure
- Make an appointment to have your water service line checked
- Arrange to have your water tested for lead ($23 fee)
City staff from the Department of Public Works will be at the meeting to answer questions and address any concerns. Representatives from the Oakland County Health Department and the offices of Representative Wittenberg and Senator Jeremy Moss will be present to provide additional resources.
Norup International School has partnered with the Senior Advisory Committee to provide free leaf removal assistance for residents 60 years + (or disabled). Student volunteers from the middle school will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to rake leaves to the road on November 1st, 5th or 14th (weather dependent). Call Kathy Seidl at the Recreation Department, 248.541.3030, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or email kseidl@hwmi.org to request this free service. Please register by October 25th - volunteers are available on a limited basis.
Every five years the City is required to update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to be eligible for certain grants. The current Master Plan was adopted in 2015 so it is due for an update. A Master Plan is a statement of community goals and objectives, and establishes a vision of the future. Because it is visionary in nature, the goals are not always achievable because of the City's limited budget so the Master Plan provides insight into what the community values so the City can focus on those goals.
Resident input drives the Master Plan process so the City has two methods for residents to become involved. There is an online survey on our website and a drop-in Community Open House on Thursday, October 3rd from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Gillham Recreation Center. The survey should take 10 - 15 minutes to complete and your answers will tell the city what you like, don't like or would like to change about the City's parks and recreation system. Or residents can attend the Open House and answer the same questions or ask questions about the process.
Please join us on October 3, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 pm for a chance to have a direct influence on recreation development in the city. We will be having a drop-in open house at the Rec Center. You will be able to provide input on the state of parks, recreation facilities, and programming. The city has also created an online survey.
Please take a few moments and go to:
https://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/tUrqMN to fill it out.
The City received an update from DTE that said after reviewing the outage history, the data from the Dundee/York outages suggests that they are primarily caused by tree interference. The tree trim planning for this area has been completed and the actual trimming will start next week. The trimming for the whole circuit (not just the portion in Huntington Woods) will take 6 - 8 weeks to complete.
In addition to the tree survey, the DTE engineering team conducted a review of the equipment serving this area and looked at the age of the equipment such as pole top transformers. Although the equipment appears not to be related to the recent outages, as part of the work on this circuit, DTE will replace some of the transformers at the top of the pole as well as add an additional one which will more evenly distribute load. They will also replace some poles and fuses and add new fuse locations to further break up the circuit so if there is a problem on the circuit it affects less customers. The equipment changes will be completed in parallel with the tree trimming over the next few weeks. DTE expects that reliability will improve as the work is completed.
The Huntington Woods Public Safety Department is introducing a new service for residents to assist first responders. Residents that fill out an Alert Form for Dispatchers can have important information on file so dispatchers can relay it quickly to first responders.
Read More
With the recent passage of Proposal 3 in the November 2018 General Election, registered voters can now request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Under Michigan election law, all registered voters are eligible to be placed on the Permanent Absent Voter List.
Read MoreResidents will be informed about trimming or removals on their property before the work begins. Trimmers do not remove trees without permission. More information on their communication plan can be found on the DTE website.
DTE has notified the City that they are undertaking a streetlight reliability project to address the ongoing issue with street light outages between Wyoming and Woodward. Starting in February, DTE contractor Harlan Electric will begin troubleshooting and cable testing existing underground streetlight wires along the streets marked on the attached map.
Upon identification of any cable irregularities, those cable sections will be marked for cable replacement. The replacement will be completed by using a directional bore method so disruption within the City right of way will be minimized. Residents in the area will see miss Dig flags installed prior to the underground work beginning. Any restoration to the ground within the right of way will be addressed in the early summer. Please contact Amy Sullivan at asullivan@hwmi.org or 248.581.2632 if you have questions on the project.
MoGo, Detroit's bike share system, is expanding its service into the northwest Detroit area and the cities of Oak Park, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Berkley and Huntington Woods.
MoGo is hosting two community engagement meetings to get a sense of where people would like to see stations located.
There are two meetings coming up, one in Detroit (Thursday, January 31, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Detroit Sip) and one in Ferndale (Thursday, February 7, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Kulick Community Center). They will be presenting general information about how MoGo works and will provide paper maps for people to indicate where they'd like to see stations. For those who are not able to attend these events, you can leave feedback on their station siting page.
Maintenance Job Posting
Grounds Crew Job Description
The Men's Club has three $1,000 college scholarships for teens who have made a difference in our community through volunteering and community service. The HW Men's Club established the fund to award the scholarships to City residents who are graduating high school this year or currently enrolled in college or a recognized trade school. Applications are available at www.hwmc.org and Berkley High School. Applications are due March 29th and require a brief essay. For more information or questions, please contact Jim Speir at jspeir@ameritech.net.
PURPOSE - QUALIFICATIONS - SELECTION
APPLICATION
The Library’s Drag Queen Story Time program has been in the news lately and we are aware of two out-of-state organizations that disagree with the concept. I want to assure you that the City Commission is unanimously supportive of the program, as are a majority of residents and we will not be influenced by outside organizations that do not share our values.
Read MoreFuneral arrangements are being handled by Sawyer-Fuller in Berkley.
They have elected to rake the leaves of Berkley School District residents in Huntington Woods and Oak Park who are 60 yrs+.
Their intention is to have intergenerational opportunities and get to know their neighbors.
Please support their efforts by signing up for a date or two. Students will be given the addresses and your lawn will be looking good and the students will feel accomplished!
Read More
An update on the tiger habitat development along Huntington Road can be found HERE.
The city-wide sewer cleaning and televising program is complete and the engineers reviewed the videotapes from the project. They have recommended the City undertake three different types of repair to mitigate impacts from future significant rain events. The engineers recommended a three pronged approach for repairs which has been separated into 2 phases.
Read MoreThe city-wide sidewalk replacement program is expected to start the day after Memorial Day on May 29th on the east side of the City moving westward towards Coolidge Highway. The contractor for the project is Italia Construction and they expect the work to take about a month, weather permitting.
Read More
The City Commission approved a contract extension to DiPonio Contracting for the 2018 Road Reconstruction and Water Main Replacement project.
The areas scheduled for repair are:
- Hendrie Boulevard (Lincoln to Wareham)
- Wareham Drive (Hendrie to Huntington)
- Salem Road (Pembroke to Huntington)
Details on the time frame for construction will be announced in a future e-newsletter and residents along the route will receive more information prior to the work commencing.
Trees are a big part of what makes our neighborhoods beautiful, but they are also the leading cause of power outages and can pose serious safety hazards if growing too near or into power lines. In fact, some area residents recently experienced an outage that was caused by a tree damaging electrical equipment. DTE has advised the City that tree trimming will take place this year in the area shaded in green on this map.
Read MoreFor residents who don't have cable and can't watch the live City Commissions meetings, meetings are now being live streamed on the City's YouTube channel.
The Tri-Community Coalition has prepared a survey to assess the needs of the communities that the Coalition serves. With the data they hope to address current gaps and to create programming, educational events and provide support to better serve the area. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and is confidential. Take the survey here
Click here for more information on the survey.
The Huntington Woods Department of Public Safety is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a program to maintain it’s national accreditation by verifying it meets professional standards.
The holiday season is upon us! At SOCRRA, it is a season where recyclers have a few more questions than usual about what can and cannot be recycled. Check out SOCRRA’s December eÂNewsletter to guide you this year. Their e-newsletter has a list of typical holiday recyclables are accepted by SOCRRA for recycling in your recycling cart — not just during the holidays, but year round! Check it out HERE.
The Planning Commission has been reviewing the City’s Zoning Ordinance since August 2015 and they have prepared an updated ordinance for the City Commission to consider at their December meeting.
Read MoreClick HERE
Residents may notice activity in Scotia Park soon. While the actual construction will begin in mid-September, the Department of Public Works will be on-site shortly to remove shrubs and cement in anticipation of the renovation. The project is anticipated to last 6 weeks following the start date so the park will be ready for concerts in 2018!
Prior to the ongoing discussion about senior-oriented housing, the City commissioned two studies. One was to survey needs of older adults and the other studied the 11 Mile municipal property and looked at age-specific housing. Both studies can be viewed on our website at these links:
Recently you may have noticed new stencil markings featuring a bicyclist on the pavement of Borgman, Lincoln and Scotia. These stencils are called "sharrows" and they are used to mark a designated bike route that connects Huntington Woods with our neighboring communities. A copy of the bike route can be found on the attached map. The markings also are to remind motorists to share the road with bicyclists. View map...... Here
Read More
Peter Brasseur from Ecotec pest Control discusses the issue with the City Commission. Data is offered on the problem, the current status of these rodents in Huntington Woods, and ways to keep you yard free from these vermin...View Video Presentation here
The City Commission recently adopted two new policies concerning construction of new residential homes and new additions in the City.
Read MoreNovember 5, 2019 Election
Absentee ballots are now available. If you have submitted a signed absent voter applicaton, ballots will be mailed out starting Tuesday, Ocotber 8, 2019. You can obtain an an absent voter applicaton by clicking the link, calling the City Clerk, or visiting City Hall. When obtaining a ballot in person, ID is required. Ballots can not be issued to anyone but the ID holder.
Ballots Samples are available.
If you would like to be added to the City's Permanent Absent Voter list, please contact the City Clerk at 248-581-2638.
Men's Club Online Auction
The 2020 Huntington Woods Men's Club Service Online Auction will be held from May 23rd through May 31st. You can register now to participate in the online event -- visit http://www.hwmc.org to get started! Upon completion of your registration (credit card information required), you will be able to preview the available items.
The website will allow you to view items by category, search by keyword, search by catalog number, and even keeps track of the items you have viewed.
On Sunday June 7th, the club will offer contactless, curbside gift pick-up at the Gillham Recreation Center for item winners. Free delivery is also available to any resident who makes a direct donation to the auction of $20 or more.
Just click on the Donations tab after you registered and select an amount you'd like to contribute directly to this fundraising event to use the delivery service. Help support our community by participating in this year's HWMC online auction!