iNFORMATIONAL Meeting re: proposed community center at occ highland lakes campus - June 22 - 9am to noon

Informational Meeting - Proposed Community Center OCC Highland Lakes

GFL Residential curbside collection update

On June 7^th, Waterford Township received notice of a pending sale that will transfer all residential curbside waste collection business from GFL to Priority Waste beginning July 1 across Southeast Michigan.
The transaction reportedly includes more than
70 municipalities and over 700,000 customers.

Township Supervisor Gary Wall will meet with GFL and Priority Waste before that date to discuss details of the transition and Waterford will provide updates as factual information becomes available. Please visit the Township website www.waterfordmi.gov and our Facebook page for the latest updates.

At this time, residents should continue to place their trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk items at the curb for collection as usual on their established collection days. Please continue to contact GFL directly for billing questions or service issues at 248-204-6762, or by logging on to your GFL account on their website at https://myaccount.gflenv.com Waterford Township staff can be reached at 248-618-7408 or through the Township website at https://www.waterfordmi.gov/forms.aspx?fid=63

We have confirmed with Waterford’s GFL route Supervisor that Waterford routes are currently caught up and running on time after some recent service delays. Thank you for your continued patience.

Congratulations class of 2024

Waterford Township joins the Waterford School District in congratulating the graduating Class of 2024 from Waterford Kettering High School, Waterford Durant High School, and Waterford Mott High School!
Congratulations on this achievement and for all the hard work you put in to get to this milestone! We wish you happiness, good health, and tremendous success, and we are so proud of you all. Go out there and spread your wings, but remember your roots back here in your hometown of Waterford Township, Michigan! #wearewaterford

Waterford community Coalition Congratulates Class of 2024

Photo: Waterford residents register to vote circa 1950s, Archives Waterford Historical Society

Waterford Historical Society Historic Village is OPEN for 2024 Season

The Waterford Historical Society Historic Village is now open for the season every Wednesday from 10:30-2:00. Make plans to spend some time with us walking our Historic Village and visiting our Log Cabin, Hatchery House and Fire Station. Do your arithmetic on a slate or “wash” some clothes in our Hands on History area. Pack a lunch and enjoy Fish Hatchery Park.

We will be open every Wednesday from 10:30-2:00, through September 25. We are located at Fish Hatchery Park, 4490 Hatchery Road in Waterford. For more information, please call 248-683-2697.

Monthly Recycling -june 8th

Waterford Township offers free monthly recycling collection of magazines and cardboard (shipping boxes, cereal boxes, toothpaste boxes, etc, free of food debris and dry.)

This service is provided the second Saturday of every month from 9 am to 1 pm in the parking lot at Township Hall. Waterford residents only, please.

ELECTION NEWS: STATE PRIMARY ELECTION, ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAILING AT END OF JUNE

From the office of Waterford Township Clerk Kim Markee: The August 6, 2024, State Primary Election is coming up soon. Absentee ballots will be mailed around June 28, 2024. If your address has changed, please notify us at elections@waterfordmi.gov because election mail is not forwardable.

If you need to register to vote, don’t delay, do it today. You can register online at www.michigan.gov/vote through Monday, July 22, 2024, with a driver's license and the last four digits of your social security number. If you wait past this date, you must register in person at your local clerk’s office, with proof of residency.

In-person early voting will be open from July 27 through August 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on Thursday, the hours are noon until 8:00 p.m. For in-person early voting, Waterford Voters may go to the Township Library at 5168 Civic Center Dr., Waterford, or Waterford Oaks Activity Center at 2800 Watkins Lake Rd.

All polling locations will be open on August 6, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Remember, Bethel United Church Voters will now vote at Beaumont Elementary School. For more information, visit www.waterfordmi.gov/elections or call 248-674-6266.

coffee and conversation june 19th at 10:00 am

Library Service Hours

Monday–Thursday 10:00a–9:00p
Friday – Closed
Saturday, 10:00a – 5:00p
Sunday, 1:00p – 5:00p

Holiday Closure
Thursday, July 4^th for Independence Day

Greetings from our New Library Director
Hello!

It may not officially be summer yet, but it definitely is here at Waterford Township Public Library. Between the work on the garden beds in the entry area by the dedicated Library Garden Club and the fact that the library staff are busy planning activities, programs and gathering prizes for the annual Summer Reading Program, summer has started here at the library. The theme for the Summer Reading Program this year is “Adventure Begins at your Library”. I truly believe that to be the case – whatever your interest and level of adventure is, you can find more about it at your library.

The summer program is for ages 3 and up. The kickoff for children ages 3-12 will take place June 17. In addition, join us Thursday, June 20 from 10:30-11:15 for a mystifying magic show with Jeff Wawrzaszek. Magic is for all ages and is definitely an adventure.

The Teen Kickoff for Summer Reading involves Ice Cream and a scavenger hunt. That will be on Tuesday, June 25 at 2pm.

In addition, check out the program on Saturday, June 22 called Exploring ancestry.com with Katherine Willson. Ancestry.com will take you on an adventure as you learn details and information about your family and their pathway. This program is the beginning of that adventure as you can decide just how far you want to go with this fascinating personal history.

Please check the calendar of events and the website for all of the great summer happenings. Download our mobile app as well – search for Waterford Library on Google Play or the App Store. The app makes searching the catalog, viewing the library calendar and registering for events easy as a summer day (see what I did there?).

Most Sincerely,

Julie Schaefer - Library Director

jschaefer@waterfordmi.gov

Seed Library

Take some. Leave some. Grow some. Check out our seed library managed by the Waterford Garden Club and the Friends of the Library and hosted by the Waterford Township Public Library. It is now located in a file cabinet in the Adult Department by the map and atlas cases. More information about taking, sharing, and growing seeds is available on and in the file cabinet. The Seed Library is open to everyone.

Free COVID-19 Tests
The library is distributing free COVID-19 tests through a program from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Kits – each containing 2 tests – can be picked up at the circulation desk. One kit per person per day while supplies last.

Children - Programs (through age 12)
Note: please register for programs, as needed, through the Calendar of Events on the Library’s website.

Summer Reading Program (Ages 3 - 12)
Monday, June 3rd - Wednesday, July 31st
Registration begins Monday, June 3. Register online or in person and track your reading with Beanstack. Pick up your summer reading bag at the children's desk with a pencil, bookmark, coupons for free items around town, and other giveaways. Stop by the children's desk once a week. We'll check your reading progress in Beanstack and you can enter a weekly raffle for a gift card of your choice from Meijer or Amazon. Go to Summer Reading Book Club for more details.

Outdoor Family Storytime (Recommended for ages 2 - early elementary)
Monday, June 3rd - Monday, July 29th from 10:30 am - 11:00 am
Join us on Mondays at 10:30am for an outdoor storytime. Storytimes are held on the grassy area under the storytime tree between the library building and fenced-in sidewalk leading up to the veterans’ memorial. Bring your own blanket, towel, or chair to sit on.
No registration required.

Note: Due to the Summer Kick-Off Day, there will be no storytime on Monday, June 17. In case of inclement weather, storytime will be held in the library community room.

Summer Reading Carnival Kickoff (Ages 3 - 12)
Monday, June 17th from 10:00 am - noon, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, or 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Stop by the children’s department and pick up your summer reading bag. Visit the different activity stations around the room. At each station, you will collect an item for your summer reading bag. Activities include games, temporary tattoos, art projects, mosaic murals, face cheek painting, button making station, and a “cool” treat in our craft room.
No registration required. Just come to one of the sessions.

Summer Activity Centers (Ages 3 - 12)
This summer's program theme is "Adventure Begins at Your Library". Each week we will offer a different adventure theme that features a variety of activities. Registration is not required.
?Go to Summer Activity Centers for more details, dates and times. The weekly themes are:

Week 1: Travel Adventures
Week 2: Camping Adventures
Week 3: American Art Adventures
Week 4: Mystery Adventures
Week 5: Adventures in the Dark
Week 6: Animal Adventures
Week 7: Nature Adventures

Passport to Adventure Magic Show (ages Preschool and up)
Thursday, June 20th from 10:30 am - 11:15 am in the Community Room
Jeff Wawrzaszek returns to Waterford with an amazing show of mystifying magic, incredible illusions, and just a fun-filled show. Registration required.

Smokey Bear’s Reading Challenge
March 1^st through November 28^th
In celebration of Smokey Bear's 80th birthday, Michigan has joined the U.S. Forest Service's "Smokey Bear's Reading Challenge" for children ages 3-8.

All you have to do to participate is log into Beanstack, select the challenge, then read three (3) books about forests, wildfires, environmental issues, camping, wilderness survival and/or nature. Some suggested reading is in the booklist below, but you don't have to read just from the list.

Once you have read your three books, check in with a Children's Librarian to confirm your reading and get a book prize!

Smokey Bear's Reading Challenge Book Suggestions

Teens – Programs (kids going into 6^th – 12^th grades)
Note: please register for programs, as needed, through the Calendar of Events on the Library’s website.

Teen Summer Reading Challenge (Grades 6th - 12th)
Monday, June 3rd - Wednesday, July 31st
Go to Beanstack to register for our Summer Reading Challenge starting June 3rd. You just have to log the number of minutes you read over an 8-week period. Ideally, your goal should be to read at least 20 minutes a day. We know summer is busy with all kinds of activities, but it’s important to keep reading over the summer in order to stay sharp for when school starts up again. You can read books, graphic novels, magazines, newspapers, and comic books. eContent and audiobooks are acceptable as well. Go to Teen Programs for more details.

Teen SRP Kickoff Party (Grades 6th - 12th)
Tuesday, June 25th from 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm in the Community Room
Kick off summer reading with a library scavenger hunt and other fun activities related to books and reading. We’ll end with ice cream!
Registration required

Adults – Programs
Note: please register for programs, as needed, through the Calendar of Events on the Library’s website.

Adult Summer Reading
Monday, June 3rd - Wednesday, July 31st
Splash into summer with our Beanstack Summer Reading Challenge! Log the minutes you read to earn badges throughout the challenge. Go to Beanstack or its app to track your reading and earn chances to win a prize.

Evening Book Discussion Group
Thursday, June 13^th, 7:00p – 8:00p - Conference Room
Title: The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton. Copies of the book, including large print and book on CD (when available), will be available at the Adult Reference Desk a month prior to the meeting. No registration required.

Matinee Movie: Call for title
Thursday, June 20^th, 2:00p – 4:00p - Community Room
Join us for free afternoon movie matinees. Most titles run between 90 to 120 minutes. Popcorn and beverages will be provided, but you may also bring your own snacks and drinks. No alcoholic or uncovered beverages. Due to our licensing agreement, we are not allowed to advertise the movie titles outside of the library. Please call (248) 618-7693 or check out our list of upcoming movies. No registration required.

Exploring ancestry.com with Katherine Willson
Saturday, June 22nd, 10:30 am – 11:30 am – Community Room
In this one-hour presentation, we will explore the genealogy research options available at ancestry.com WITHOUT a paid subscription, including how to start an online family tree, use the message boards, view tutorials at Ancestry Academy, and download records through Ancestry Library Edition, which the Library subscribes to. A handout will be provided. Registration required

Beautification awards

With warmer weather here, it’s a good time to improve our yards, homes, and outside areas. The Waterford Township Clerk’s Office would like to recognize homeowners who take pride in making their exteriors beautiful. If you are interested in participating, please submit a form and a picture, which is optional, by July 31, 2024.

The form can be found on the Township’s website www.waterfordmi.gov/clerk or by clicking here Beautification Award | Waterford, MI (waterfordmi.gov). Once you complete the form, please email it to KMARKEE@WATERFORDMI.GOV. If you are selected, award signs will be placed on the winners’ property during the last two weeks of August—Call Clerk Kim Markee at 248-674-6266 with any questions you may have.

WATERFORD DPW NEWS

DPW Project Announcement
Starting April 15, 2024, residents, businesses, and visitors will begin to see trucks from Wachs Water Services (photo above) throughout the Township completing the DPW Valve Assessment and Exercising Program. The Wachs Water Services crews will be assessing and exercising approximately 3,800 valves in the water distribution system. If required, crews will complete minor repairs on the valves.

The valves are located in green belts, easements, and along roadways, usually in wells with manhole covers. The crews may have to close traffic lanes for short periods of time for their safety and the safety of motorists. Patience and understanding would be appreciated. The project is expected to take four to five months and will start in Section 1 of the Township and continue through each section sequentially.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the DPW at (248) 674-2278.

Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention
Waterford Township DPW has contracted HydroCorp to manage the township Cross-Connection Control program. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), formerly Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), requires DPW to have all commercial and residential accounts inspected for proper backflow prevention to maintain the safety of our water supply.

HydroCorp inspectors will inspect residential properties every ten years and commercial properties either yearly or every five years depending on the property’s use and plumbing fixtures. These inspections are included in the contract between DPW and HydroCorp so there is no cost to homeowners.

In addition to the visual inspections done by HydroCorp, any property with a testable backflow prevention device will receive a testing notice to verify the backflow prevention device is functioning properly. Testing of backflow prevention devices is required annually for commercial properties and every three years for residential properties. Testing of backflow prevention devices need to be performed by a certified backflow prevention tester, a list of certified testers can be found at www.watercustomer.com. Cost for these tests are the responsibility of the property owner.

Questions regarding the Cross-Connection Control program or backflow prevention assemblies and testing can be directed to HydroCorp at 800-690-6651 or 248-250-5000.

Water Quality Report
Waterford Township DPW has released the 2023 Annual Water Quality Report. DPW prides itself on providing our customers with safe, quality drinking water and is proud to present our 25^th Drinking Water Quality Report. This report includes details regarding where our drinking water comes from, what it contains and how it compares to standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

To view the report visit www.waterfordmi.gov/waterqualityreport or you can request a copy to be mailed by calling our office at 248-674-2278.

Attention all Lawn, Landscape and Garden Enthusiasts:
As you start planning your landscape and gardening projects, consider having a second water meter installed. This second meter is used to register the outdoor water use for your property; measuring the outdoor water use separately allows DPW to not bill sewer portion for water that is not entering the sewer system. The sewer cost is the largest portion of your quarterly bill and having a second meter installed could provide significant cost savings depending on your outdoor water habits.

Current cost for a 5/8” sprinkler meter is $245 and quarterly charges are $14.87 for the first 1,000 cubic feet of use and $3.32/100 cubic feet over 1,000. Questions about past water use, purchasing a sprinkler meter or to schedule an appointment please call 248-674-2278.

Sewer Maintenance
Waterford Township DPW will have crews going around the township performing maintenance on sewer manholes. These crews will be raising/lowering manholes as needed to ensure that they are level with the ground and easily accessible. Performing this maintenance allows staff to respond to sewer issues as quickly and efficiently as possible and prevents damage to vehicles and the sewer system.

During this work, manholes may be discovered on or near your property that you were previously unaware of. In the event that a manhole has been uncovered, please do your best to keep it exposed and accessible; nothing should be planted or placed on top of or in the immediate area of a sewer manhole.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the DPW at (248) 674-2278.

Serve Your Community on a Board, Committee or Commission

Did you know that Waterford Township has more than a dozen Boards, Committees, and Commissions comprised of residents right here in Waterford Township who are actively involved in various decision-making roles?

If you're looking for an opportunity to serve the community in a meaningful, impactful way, this might be an option for you!

Visit the Township website https://www.waterfordmi.gov/257/Boards-Commissions for a list of the various Boards, Committees, and Commissions for more information and an application.

citizens financial performance dashboard

Waterford's Citizen's Guide, Debt Service Report, and Projected Budget are available for viewing on the Township's website at https://www.waterfordmi.gov/288/Citizens-Financial-Performance-Dashboard.
These documents are also available for viewing during normal business hours at the Clerk's office which is located at 5200 Civic Center Dr. in Waterford.

iNFORMATIONAL Meeting re: proposed community center at occ highland lakes campus - June 22 - 9am to noon

GFL Residential curbside collection update

news from the waterford township treasurer's office

Congratulations class of 2024

congrats class of 2024 from your waterford community coalition

Waterford Historical Society Historic Village is OPEN for 2024 Season

soccer summer camps 2024

moviepalooza: june 14thfeaturing super mario bros!

Monthly Recycling -june 8th

concerts in the park are back!

ELECTION NEWS: STATE PRIMARY ELECTION, ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAILING AT END OF JUNE

food trucks at civic center campus continue through the summer!

coffee & conversation with clerk kim markee & treasurer steven thomas, june 19th at 10 a.m.

household hazardous waste collection event dates & locations

Summer Travel Passports

Waterford Twp public libraryjune news, activities & events

summer camps: sign up is open!

Beautification awards

summer solstice fundraiser event with toppermost beatles tribute band to support waterford seniors!

WATERFORD DPW NEWS

save the date: park It family fun night at hess-hathaway park

Serve Your Community on a Board, Committee or Commission

citizens financial performance dashboard

moviepalooza: june 14th
featuring super mario bros!

coffee & conversation with
clerk kim markee & treasurer steven thomas, june 19th at 10 a.m.

Waterford Twp public library
june news, activities & events