August 2021

August 2021 DPS News August – We made it through Joni Ogg Retirement another super hot month and have Affectionately known as the Garage Mom, Joni continued to ensure our has retired after 39 years of dedicated infrastructure is running properly and is safe for all of Rochester service. 39 years of employment at one entity is Hills.This month we amazing and Joni’s positive contributions to the • Completed the Budget process DPS have really shaped our success and the by presenting our $80 million delivery of our unwavering high quality budget to City Council • Had many employees bring services. Joni was a dedicated, loyal and reliable their children for a fun-filled coworker who devoted her efforts in advancing Take Your Kids to Work Day • Assisted and participated in & making the DPS an exceptional place to another wonderful Festival of work, whether it was keeping the day-today the Hills and the amazing State operations running smoothly to the chili cook- of the City event. offs, organizing birthday & retirement Thank you to everyone that celebrations or her volunteer work with Relay contributed to these events. for Life, you could always count on Joni. Your efforts did not go unnoticed. If you would like to contribute to a gift for Joni please see to Brandon Grund on his promotion to Abbey, Karina or Lori Water & Sewer Tech II after meeting all the requirements for the promotion Joni will be missed, her positive impact & including the passing of the S-3 lasting impression on the DPS will truly examination. be remembered for many years. Congratulations Brandon and thank you for all your positive As a follow up to last month’s Lead and Copper testing information, all contributions to the DPS! samples have come in below EPA action levels

2021 Construction Projects Yates Cider Mill Area RCOC Construction to begin November 2021 Concrete Program #1 – Northwest Projects continuing on schedule Concrete Program #2 – Southeast Projects continuing on schedule Water Main project Asphalt Program – Butler Rd Tienken Manor/ Grosse Pines Open to Traffic and restoration continues Crews are finishing up Tienken Manor, and starting Vactor Disposal Pad and shift to Grosse Pines Wash Bay begins in September Hamlin Road Reconstruction Now open both ways - 1½ months early. Restoration continues.

2022 Upcoming Construction Projects As 2021 projects wrap up, efforts are starting to shift to next year’s projects. More info will be provided on these projects as engineering design progresses. Here’s a sneak peak on what to expect next year:  Auburn Road from Rochester to Culbertson -watermain and resurfacing project  Old Perch Rehabilitation  Local Road Rehabilitation in Avon Manor Estates  Adams Road Pathway  Borden Park Parking Lot  Parking Lot South of Auburn at Eastern  Concrete Program  Waterview Rd Reconstruction  Adams Rd Pedestrian Crossing  Water main Project - Spring Hill Subdivision -replacing approximately 3 miles of water main

Other DPS News Catch Basin Cleaning Essential work that keeps us in compliance with our MS4 requirements & keeps our storm sewer system operating as intended. This frontend work helps weather big storm events and helps prevents flooding. Our commitment to treating and preventing the spread of Japanese Knotweed and Phragmites. The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) continues to work with the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) organization to address invasive species growing along roads throughout Oakland County This month through October, state- licensed commercial applicators are applying an herbicide to Japanese Knotweed and Phragmites located along roadways. On the day of treatment, yellow signs will be posted to indicate what products were used, specific restrictions and when the application took place. Phragmites grow in wet areas and can reach heights of 15 feet, leading to safety and environmental problems. It forms dense stands blocking sight lines at intersections, impedes water access, impairs drainage, damages infrastructure, crowds out habitat and causes hot, damaging fires if ignited. Japanese Knotweed spreads easily when cut and can damage infrastructure including buildings and roads.

DPS Appreciation Joyce Nolan who lives on The Mayor received a phone call Millstone in Tienken Manor. complimenting Tim Pollizzi and She called the Mayor’s office Shane Rudolph for helping the and wanted me to inform Aron's condo association in investigating Manager about how great he is their retention pond issues. The at communicating with the Condo Association secretary, residents. She went on to tell Nancy, was very complimentary of me how informative and Tim and Shane saying how nice pleasant he is. and kind they were and that they were extremely knowledgeable Call to Mayor’s office and helpful with their issues. Just had a call from a Mr. Sage in Streamwood who called to say he Good Afternoon Mr. Schneck, received above and beyond service from our Building and My husband and I would like to DPS departments. He said he thank you for your follow thru on called the city at 3:30 on Friday this drainage issue. You have and a Building Inspector came restored my faith that the out that day for a heating government does do something. inspection, and was We'd also like to send a \"Job very courteous and professional. Well Done\" to the men who About 3 hours later, there was a worked on restoring the water main break at his house, a drainage, particularly the DPS member came out and excavator operator. Jim's determined it was not critical so comment was \"It was the most staff came Monday morning to well done ditch he has ever make the necessary repairs. Mr. seen in 48 years of commercial Sage was very happy with the plumbing.\" Please pass the service. He is very happy they compliment on to the men who decided to move here. I assured worked on this project if you him we would let the directors of know who they are. each department know he called. Kind regards, Jim and Cheri Hasselle

More Appreciation Thank you and all of your Mayor Barnett, I wanted to take a moment to share my recent crew members for doing experience with your employees at the City of Rochester Hills. I moved such an outstanding job on into your city last September, and my wife and I could not be happier Sumac Drive!! Every single with our choice to move there. We currently reside at 1190 Clopton last one of you are Bridge Dr. and have had no problems-- until last week. I discovered a consummate professionals. yard leak in my front lawn and water appeared to be accumulating. Not Outstanding in the way your wanting to bother the city, I contacted my sprinkler contractor and later workers devote attention to my plumber to try and determine my problem. It was found to be a water every detail! Respectfully, leak from the main line to my home. Thinking the problem was mine to Walt Maruszczak bear, but not knowing where my shut off was exactly, I called the water department. I spoke to Judy on Thursday at 2:30pm, the customer service already put me at ease and she was a pleasure to speak with! Although she could not find exactly what I needed, she told me a city employee would come out and help me. Within a half-hour, Ken was on my property looking at my issue. He agreed it was a water main line leak, but could not determine where it was coming from or if it was on my side or the city’s side. Ken walked me through the process of what needed to be done, gave me a timeframe, and most importantly was honest answering all my “what if” questions. Ken also shared my government employee “sense of humor”. Ken determined that the city would need to excavate the area of my lawn to determine the exact location of the leak and assured me it would be done properly. I have to admit, I was quite nervous given the pride I take in my lawn but took comfort in knowing who was doing the work. At 7:30am on Friday, Ken and his crew was outside ready to go to work. Ken again walked me through the process and let me know he would call me with any and all findings. You see, while I wanted to stay home and “supervise” the work, I had a prior commitment to golf that day and after how poorly I played in your outing last week I knew I needed to be out there practicing. Ken did in fact call me, just two hours later to let me know the work was complete, the leak was on the city side, and what was to follow in the coming weeks. I spoke to several of my neighbors that came over and talked to Ken and his crew, they all made the same comment, “the workers were so nice!” I truly appreciate their work and the work they did on my home. I know firsthand how prideful government employees can be to the community they serve and from Judy to Ken and to the rest of the crew, I could see it from your city. Please send this crew kudos on my behalf. If you’re able to identify the rest of the crew or would like to have Ken reach out to me I would love to send them lunch one day. They definitely deserve it! It is comforting to know that I live in a city where the employees take and show so much pride in the community they serve. Thank you for your time, and I hope to see you next year at your outing again (with a better outcome)!