On Feb. 4, Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union Address. On Jan. 29, Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered the State of the State Address. On Feb. 12, Oakland County Executive David Coulter delivered the State of the County Address.

And of course, last Thursday, Feb. 20 local officials from Oxford Village and Township came together to update the public at the State of the Community Breakfast at Independence Village of Waterstone. The event was put on by the Oxford Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber’s new president Jeff Roe, owner of JDR Wealth Management, introduced himself. He’s looking forward to the chamber’s annual golf outing at Boulder Pointe Golf Club on June 19. It will be a little different this year with no speakers. Instead there will be more time for mix-and-mingle networking.
Both Oxfords appealed to unity and optimism, despite the looming M-24 construction project.
Village President Joe Frost was “honored to say” the state of the village and the community “is strong” while the Michigan Department of Transportation embarks on the community’s “largest construction project in 100 years.”
He is optimistic about the benefits it will bring. “This project will have a transformative effect on our village, our historic downtown and our community at large.”He was also “very proud to say” the village’s half-million dollar contribution to the project is being made “100 percent debt-free (to the residents of the Village of Oxford” and they leveraged a $1.2 million transportation enhancement grant to front the village’s portion.

“While this summer will be challenging, if we all pitch in, and we all move and row in the same direction, we will come through this construction project, we will come through this year stronger than ever before.”
Frost encouraged folks to ask how they can get involved, pointing out there are “numerous volunteer opportunities.” The village council and planning commission are all-volunteer, ran by members who work day jobs and raise families in addition to their duties. “I challenge each and every one of us to step forward and to work together to make Oxford strong.”
Beside the major construction project, this year the 2020 national elections “will continue to try to divide and insert divisiveness into our nation and into our community. With fake profiles abounding on our social media pages, we need to be ever vigilant and we need to work together to make Oxford strong,” he concluded.

Township Trustee Jack Curtis picked up where Frost left off, by addressing “one of our best tools in society today, but also one of our biggest poisons,” social media.

Last year, the township was “plagued with misinformation” on Facebook and Twitter. They were also “missing out on a lot of grants.” To resolve these issues, the township board hired a new communications and grants manager, C.J. Carnacchio, in November.
Most importantly, thanks to Carnacchio’s work, the township has been awarded $15,000 in grants and contributions since November and applications for $342,000 in grants are pending or in progress. Curtis called it a “monumental effort on his part for the first couple months in business.”
Next, Curtis answered the question on everybody’s mind: Is Beaumont still coming to Oxford?
“Yes, they are!” he confidently assured. “The Township planning commission and board have been in talks with Beaumont every day for the past six to seven months.”
Representatives from Beaumont will attend the Feb. 27 planning commission meeting to work on “a few more details” related to the planning unit development. Meanwhile, Beaumont will continue to appeal through the state.
A two phased approach is planned. Phase one is a 100,000 square foot ambulatory care unit. If a certificate of need is granted, Beaumont will continue with phases two, a 117 bed hospital.
Curtis went on to highlight ongoing projects and recent accomplishments:
As part of the M-24 construction project, they are adding an 18-inch sewer line along the west side of M-24 from Drahner Rd. to Oakdell Rd.
A water main will be installed on the west side of M-24, from Drahner Rd. to Minnetonka Dr. With the proposed projects of 2020, they will have installed 13,750 feet of water main since 2017. These projects total over $3.5 million and will be completed using funds generated through water tap fees, with no fees, additional bonds or expenses to water customers.
Safety paths along both sides of M-24 are currently planned.
The township board and Supervisor Bill Dunn worked with the county road commission and local gravel companies to make improvements to E. Drahner Rd.
2019 saw a decline in new home starts, with 49, due to “a limited area of water and sewer lots,” but Curtis happily announced three new housing developments already underway or currently being discussed with the planning commission.
The township has granted final site plans for PK Contracting, a Michigan-based pavement marking company which recently broke ground for a facility on Xcelsior Dr. Curtis mentioned the company is hiring 45 workers for jobs paying $20-40 an hour.
He reported Oxford’s sheriff substation has, unofficially, a 70.36 percent clearance rate, up from about 65 percent the previous year. “This is on track to be the highest clearance rate for active incidences in the communities serviced by the Oakland County sheriff’s office,” he said.
Oxford Fire Department handled 2,170 calls in 2019, up almost 60 calls over the last year. They hired two new fire fighters and are looking to add four more this year.
Curtis called Oxford Village “an island in a township,” emphasizing the cooperation of the two governments. “We work with them. They don’t work for us, we don’t work for them. We work together.”

Township Treasurer Joe Ferrari briefly discussed the state of the township’s finances.
“Year in and year out, Oxford Township has received impeccable audit reports,” he said. Library and fire department bonds are completely paid off.
In 2019, the township earned $335,000 in interest income from investments. Ferrari explained they “abide by the SLY method of investing,” which prioritizes safety, liquidity, and yield – in that order.
Anticipating legacy costs “Oxford Township stepped up to the plate,” by contributing $500,000 to help offset its MERS (Municipal Employees’ Retirement System) fund for the fire department.
“Be rest assured the township is in great shape, in great hands financially,” he concluded.

OCTV receives Leadership Awards
The morning culminated in the chamber of commerce presenting Leadership Awards to Oxford Community Television Station Manager Bill Service and Production Manager Teri Stiles.
OCTV brings local access programing to Oxford, Addison and Leonard.
“Both of these people have worked very hard, along with their team, to bring this wonderful contribution into your homes. . .” said Oxford Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amy Desotell.
Service, who has over 50 years experience in television production management, said they get about 12,000 viewers every month.

When they filmed the chamber’s Christmas parade, they had 6,000 viewers. “That’s pretty darn good for a station,” he said.

Stiles, who has 18 years experience in public broadcasting and 14 years at OCTV, said she was grateful for their new studio which they have been using for a year.
“We’re not CNN and we’re not MSNBC,” she said, “but we are in your community and we are not amateurs. We all have a degree of some sort in broadcasting.”