School Starts Monday, August 29th

Don't forget, school starts in Waterford on Monday, August 29th.

This is an exciting and somewhat chaotic time for many Waterford families and the community as we wind down our summer vacations and return to the classrooms. 

As the school year begins, please be on the lookout for students walking to and from school. Motorists are reminded to obey all traffic laws and posted speed limits, and please be extra cautious around school zones. Anticipate additional traffic near schools and plan extra time into your commute if necessary. 

Drivers should also refresh their responsibilities regarding stopping for school buses.

School bus safety tips for drivers from the Michigan State Police:

• Prepare to stop when a slowing bus has its overhead yellow lights flashing
• Stop at least 20 feet away from buses when red lights are flashing, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway
• Slow down in or near school and residential areas
• Look for clues-such as safety patrols, crossing guards, bicycles, and playgrounds-that indicate children might be in the area
• Watch for children between parked cars and other objects

• When overhead lights are flashing yellow: Prepare to stop
• When overhead lights are flashing red: Stop
• When hazard warning lights are flashing: Proceed with caution

• Always stay in sight of the bus driver
• Don't hurry off the bus; check traffic first
• Don't go back to the bus after exiting

Monthly Recycling August 13th

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.

News From The Treasurer

 
SUMMER TAX BILL
The summer tax bill has been mailed to either the mortgage company, if taxes are escrowed, or the homeowner.  If your tax bill was sent directly to your mortgage company, you can easily obtain a copy of your tax bill on the township website at www.waterfordmi.gov/taxes , click on Tax Information Search. 
 
If the tax bill is supposed to be mailed directly to the homeowner and you have not received your bill by the second week of July, please contact our office at (248) 674-6220.
 
Summer taxes are payable July 1, 2022 through September 14, 2022.  
Please refer to the front and back of statement for detail tax information.
 
CASH PAYMENTS
For those considering making their payment in cash, for safety, efficiency and Township savings, payment by check or cashier’s check is preferred.
 
PARTIAL PAYMENTS
Partial tax payments are accepted.
 
SUMMER DEFERRED TAXES
Summer taxes may be deferred until February 14, 2023, if your 2021 total household income was less than $40,000 and you meet state qualifications.  A copy of your 1040A Federal Tax Form or MI-1040CR needs to accompany your application.    Applications must be received by September 14, 2022.    See back of tax bill for requirements or township website at http://waterfordmi.gov/Departments/Treasurer/Tax-Information/Deferred-Taxes.aspx.
 
DETROIT P.O. BOX
Why are tax bills mailed to a Post Office Box in Detroit?  Waterford Township’s bank, JP Morgan Chase, located at 4750 Dixie Hwy, provides us with lockbox service.   The bank retrieves the payments from the PO Box, processes the payments and deposit funds directly into our bank account.  The lockbox service center is located in Detroit.   Tax bills can be mailed to the P.O. Box in Detroit or directly to the Treasurer’s Office at 5200 Civic Center Dr, Waterford MI 48329.
 
ONLINE PAYMENT THROUGH YOUR BANK
If you initiate your payment through your financial institution, a paper check will be issued and mailed to the Township.         Please Read the Following:

• Schedule your payment to be delivered at least 10 business days prior to September 14 to avoid a late payment and interest and/or penalties.
• Payment may fail to be delivered to Treasurer’s Office if a P.O. Box address is used for an online payment; please use the township address.   See below for township address.
• Payments not received by the due date will incur interest and/or penalties.

 
Payment Address
     Waterford Township Treasurer
     5200 Civic Center Drive
     Waterford MI 48329-3773

Distracted Driving Is Preventable
A Message From The Waterford Regional Fire Department

Nine people in the United States are killed every day in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.

Distracted driving is doing another activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a distraction. Sending a text message, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, and eating while driving are a few examples of distracted driving. Any of these distractions can endanger you, your passengers, and others on the road.

There are three main types of distraction:

• Visual: taking your eyes off the road
• Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

In the United States, over 3,100 people were killed and about 424,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019.

• About 1 in 5 of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019 were not in vehicles?they were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle.

What drivers can do

• Do not multitask while driving. Whether it’s adjusting your mirrors, selecting music, eating, making a phone call, or reading a text or email?do it before or after your trip, not during.
• You can use technology to help you avoid cell phone use while driving. Consider trying an app to reduce distractions while driving.

• Speak up if you are a passenger in a car with a distracted driver. Ask the driver to focus on driving.
• Reduce distractions for the driver by assisting with navigation or other tasks.

• Talk to your teen or young adult about the rules and responsibilities involved in driving. Share stories and statistics related to teen/young adult drivers and distracted driving.
  • Remind them driving is a skill that requires the driver’s full attention.
  • Emphasize that texts and phone calls can wait until arriving at a destination.

• Familiarize yourself with your state’s graduated driver licensing system and enforce its guidelines for your teen.
• Know your state’s laws on distracted driving. Many states have novice driver provisions in their distracted driving laws. Talk with your teen about the consequences of distracted driving and make yourself and your teen aware of your state’s penalties for talking or texting while driving.
• Set consequences for distracted driving. Fill out CDC’s Parent-Teen Driving Agreement together to begin a safe driving discussion and set your family’s rules of the road. Your family’s rules of the road can be stricter than your state’s law. You can also use these simple and effective ways to get involved with your teen’s driving: Parents Are the Key.
• Set an example by keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel while driving.
• Learn more: visit NHTSA’s website on safe teen driving.

Closed for Labor Day

Waterford Township Administrative offices will be closed Monday, September 5, 2022 in observance of Labor Day.

The Waterford Township Public Library is closing Sunday, September 4, and Monday, September 5, for Labor Day. The Library will be open Saturday, September 3.

Emergency services remain available during this administrative closure.

On behalf of the employees and elected officials of Waterford Township, we wish you a happy and healthy Labor Day weekend.