School's Open - Drive Carefully

The Waterford Police Department reminds motorists to take extra precaution while driving as our children head back to school Tuesday, September 6th.

Drive cautiously through neighborhoods and slow down in school zones. Stop for school buses and maintain a safe distance while children enter and exit the bus. Michigan Motor Vehicle Code requires drivers to stop 20 feet behind a school bus that is stopping or has stopped and is displaying two alternately flashing red lights. There is no requirement to stop if the vehicle and bus are separated by a median or barrier. If a violation does occur and the driver cannot be physically identified, the registered owner of the vehicle is presumed to be the driver at the time of the violation.

Parents: talk with your students and review safe practices around the school bus, crossing streets, and walking or riding a bike near roadways.

Together we can keep Waterford kids safer this school year.

Office & Library Closed for Labor Day

In observance of Labor Day, Waterford Township administrative offices will be closed Monday, September 5th. The Library will also be closed Sunday, September 4th and Monday, September 5th.
Emergency services remain available during this administrative closure.
On behalf of the employees of Waterford Township, we wish you a safe holiday weekend.

Office Hours Change September 6th

Beginning Tuesday, September 6th, Waterford Township Town Hall and DPW offices will return to standard operating hours of Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm.

For contact information, address, and hours of operation for Waterford Township departments, please visit the Township website at www.waterfordmi.gov and select the Department you wish to visit or call.

Enter Waterford's New Photo Contest

Show us Waterford through your eyes!

The Waterford Community is a beautiful place to live, work and play and we’re looking for your photographs to tell that story to the world. Over the years we’ve seen stunning photography from our residents and visitors that captures the glory of Waterford’s parks, waterways, landscape and recreation. Much like this photo of Lake Oakland, they represent a moment in time that’s undeniably Waterford, Michigan through the seasons.

Get your cameras ready and show us the beauty of Waterford through your eyes!

Visit www. waterfordmi.gov/926/Photo-Contest for rules and entry information

Treasurer's Office Shares Property Tax Information

Taxes due Wednesday, September 14
Last day to pay 2016 summer tax bill without interest is Wednesday, September 14, 2016. If you need further information please call Treasurer’s Office at (248) 674-6220.

Payment Options:
In Person
Treasurer’s Office, Town Hall, 5200 Civic Center Dr.
Hours: September 1 & 2; 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
September 6 thru May 29 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Office CLOSED Monday, September 5

After-Hours Drop Box
An after-hours drop box is located near the lower entrance door of the Township Hall

U.S. Post Office
Taxes may be mailed to our post office box in the envelope provided with your bill at:
Department 771361
P.O. Box 77000
Detroit, MI 48277-2000
This payment is mailed directly to our bank's lock box processing center.

If you do not have a tax bill please mail payments to Town Hall at:
Waterford Township Treasurer
5200 Civic Center Dr
Waterford MI 48329
All payments must be post marked by the US post office September 14 or earlier to avoid late penalties and fees.

Online Through Township Website
Electronic Check (e-check) and Credit/Debit payments may be made electronically by accessing www.waterfordmi.gov/taxes and click on Online Bill Payment

E-Check Payments (using a checking/savings account) will incur a Convenience Fee of $1.00 per transaction.
Credit and Debit Payments may be processed through VISA, MASTERCARD or DISCOVER. Please note that you will pay a Convenience Fee of $2.49% based upon the amount of your payment.

Please Note: It is highly recommended NOT to have payment issued through your bank at this late date. Payments issued through your bank takes 10 to 15 business days to receive payment. These payments are received in envelopes that are not post marked; anything received after September 14 will be charged late penalties and fees.

E-MAIL/TEXT REMINDER
If you would like to be notified with an e-mail or text when taxes are due, please click on www.waterfordmi.gov and click on Notify Me to sign up for reminders.

Monthly Paper Product Recycling

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 first Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm in the parking lot at Township Hall 5200 Civic Center Dr. Recycling truck will be operating Saturday, September 3rd. No cost. Waterford Township residents and business owners only, please.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Dates - Last dates for 2016

Waterford Township has partnered with the North Oakland Household Hazardous Waste Consortium (NO HAZ). NO HAZ provides residents of participating communities a safe and environmentally responsible way to dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).

Waterford residents must receive a voucher prior to attending a collection event. The vouchers are available beginning April 1st of the current program year. They may be picked up at the Development Services Department on the 3rd floor of Township Hall for $10. Vouchers are limited and are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Vouchers must be used during the program year they are purchased.
This year's remaining collection dates, times and locations are:

Saturday, September 10
8 AM – 2 PM
Oakland Community College Highland Lakes Campus
7350 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford
Enter campus from Hospital Road

Saturday, October 15
8 AM – 2 PM
Wildwood Amphitheatre
2700 Joslyn Ct, Orion Township

Shredding Offered by Treasurer

Did you know Waterford Township Treasurer Margaret Birch sponsors Free Shredding for Waterford

residents twice per year? Bring your papers for

shredding Wednesday, October 5th from noon

to 2pm in the parking lot of Township Hall 5200

Civic Center Dr. Open to all Waterford residents.

Paper only, please. No newspapers, magazines,cardboard, plastic, hanging folders, junk mail, color folders, page protectors, film, 3 ring binders, Styrofoam, discs, x-rays, clothing, electronics or food. Waterford residents only please—no businesses at this time.

Election Workers Needed

Election Inspectors are needed for the November 8, 2016 General Election. Computer experience helpful but not required. Please visit the Clerk's webpage for more information or call 248-674-6266.

Township Website Chock Full of Features & Information

Waterford Township's website offers easynavigation, mobile-friendly viewing, self-service options and great interactive features including:

Civic Ready: allows us to notify residents when there's a situation going on in the community that could require your immediate attention. Typical Alerts include notification about water main breaks, short-term road closures or unanticipated closings of Township offices or facilities due to unsafe weather conditions. When an Alert has been issued and a community member has registered for Civic Ready alerts, they would receive a notification by phone, email, text or a combination of these. Sign up today at www.waterfordmi.gov/500/Civic-Ready

Calendar: Whether it's a Township Board meeting or a special event offered by Parks and Recreation, you'll see those listed on the Calendar. You can view all the calendar events at one glance or narrow those down by your area of interest. www.waterfordmi.gov/calendar.aspx

NotifyMe: Stay up-to-date on what's going on in the Township and the various Township departments and services through e-mail and text notification messages. www.waterfordmi.gov/list.aspx

Online Maps: The online mapping system allows you to view and interact with maps and data related to property information, lakes and parks in Waterford Township.

Report a Concern: Have a problem that you want to report to the Township? The Citizen Request Tracker allows you to report a problem and track the status of the problem as it's being reviewed and addressed by Township staff. There's also a form for reporting Streetlight outages. Questions and concerns can also be reported using our Online Comment form. www.waterfordmi.gov/requesttracker.aspx

Videos: We now offer the ability to view Township Board meetings on-demand through the Agendas and Minutes area of the web site. Select the "Media" option for the date of the meeting you wish to view.

Ensure a Fire-Safe Workplace

12 Tips to ensure a fire-safe workplace

Step 1. Get Organized– Practice good workplace housekeeping. Clutter contributes to fires by providing fuel and by preventing access to exits and emergency equipment.

Step 2. Designated Smoking Areas – Smoke only in designated areas, and extinguish smoking materials safely. Never smoke in storerooms or chemical storage areas.

Step 3. Fire Extinguishers – Maintaining the appropriate type and number of fire extinguishers and learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher.

Step 4. Electrical Hazards – Report all electrical hazards. Many fires start in faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical equipment.

Step 5. Access to Control Panels – Electrical control panels need to have free access maintained so that the electric could be shut off easily.

Step 6. Maintenance – Maintain machinery to prevent overheating and friction sparks.

Step 7. Sprinkler Systems & Smoke Detectors – Never block sprinklers, firefighting equipment or emergency exits. Observe clearances when stacking materials. Testing of sprinkler systems and smoke detectors at least annually.

Step 8. Chemical Safety – Use and store chemicals safely. Read the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet to determine flammability and other fire hazards. Provide adequate ventilation when using and storing these substances.

Step 9. Waste Control & Storage – Control the accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues so that they do not contribute to a fire emergency.

Step 10. Prevent Ignition – Use all precautions to prevent ignition in potentially explosive atmospheres such as those containing flammable liquid vapors or fine particles. Use non-sparking tools, and control static electricity as required.

Step 11. Exits – Emergency exit diagrams should be posted and emergency exits should be well lit with neon-regulation signs.

Step 12. Contact Info – Employees should have a list of emergency contact phone numbers in case of emergency. Remember that people will often panic in an intense situation; therefore basics such as the company address, phone number and floor plan should be posted.

Prevention is always better than cure and it’s best to avoid catastrophe in the first place or at least minimize the damage. The simple truth is that fire emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. So if a fire does break out in your workplace A-C-T, Don’t Panic
Prevention is always better than cure and it’s best to avoid catastrophe in the first place or at least minimize the damage. The simple truth is that fire emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. So if a fire does break out in your workplace A-C-T, Don’t Panic

A – ASSESS THE SITUATION C – CHOOSE YOUR RESPONSE T – TAKE ACTION

Be Safe, Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Covey

Spaghetti Dinners Resume Oct. 7th

All proceeds from monthly fundraiser spaghetti dinners benefit the Golden Age Club and Waterford Recreation Center.
Serving from 4:00-6:30pm

Adults & Children 12 & up $8.00
Children 4—11 years $4.00
Under 3 years are free

The first Friday of the month. Buffet style dinner includes spaghetti, tossed salad, coleslaw, roll and coffee or tea. Homemade desserts available for $1.00 each.
PAY CASH AT THE DOOR.
A great community event with a hearty, home cooked meal.

Waterford Library Gears Up for Fall

Library Closed Sunday, September 4 and Monday, September 5 for the Labor Day holiday.

Children’s Programs
Storytimes for children ages 6 months – 3 years help your child develop reading-readiness skills as well as social skills. Weekly drop-in sessions are 30 minutes long and include a variety of stories, songs, fingerplays, and other activities. Beginning the week of September 13:
Babytime (ages 6 months – 15 months)Tuesdays, 10:00a-10:30a
Toddlertime (ages 16 months – 23 months) Wednesdays, 10:00a-10:30a
2-year-olds Tuesdays, 11:00a-11:30a
3-year-olds Wednesdays, 11:00a-11:30a
September is Library Card Sign-up Month! For students in grades K-5 who live in Waterford Township who sign up for their first library card. Each will receive a coupon that can be redeemed for a free book from our Children’s Department.
Saturday Storytimes for ages 4-7. Students from preschools through second grade are invited to drop-in and join us for stories and crafts once a month from 10:30a-11:15a.
Saturday, September 17 Fall Is Here!.
It’s that time of year when the leaves turn colors and we read about the changing of the seasons. Listen to stories and have fun doing leaf-related crafts.
Lego Club meets monthly.Recommended for ages 5 and up
Students create their own Lego structure which goes on display until the next meeting. Students make a new structure for display each month. We have 2 times, either 10:15a-11:00a or 11:30a-12:15p. Please register for only one through the Calendar of Events on our website, www.waterfordmi.gov/library Next meetings: Saturday, September 24.
Teens’ Programs
Contest – National Library Card Sign-up, September 1 - October 15
September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. Middle and high school students with their own library cards are invited to participate in a simple activity and contest for a chance to win gift cards to Firehouse Subs and MJR Cinema. Details on our website, www.waterfordmi.gov/library or in the Library’s Teen area.
Adults’ Programs
Registration required. You can register online through our Calendar of Events, www.waterfordmi.gov/library, or contact the librarians at the Adults’ Reference Desk, 248-618-7693.

Financial Education Class
Presented by staff from Cygnet Institute for Personal Financial Literacy, a local Waterford organization. NO SALES AGENDA.
Monday, September 12, 7:00p
Social Security – What claiming options are available to you?, How are benefits taxed? Should you collect this benefit early, or wait? Learn what survivor and retirement benefits are available to your family.

Library Garden Club
Wednesday, September 14, 7:00p
Meets monthly on the second Wednesday. April through September from 4:30p-8:00p. First half of meeting is working in the Children’s Sensory Garden at the Library’s entrance. Second half is an educational presentation. Topic this month: Invasive Species – Identifying and Controlling Them, presented by Tyler Mitchell, Oakland County Coordinator, County Invasive Species Management Area. Join us for a lively & fun, educational & entertaining performance by Wanda Degen and Kay Rinker-O'Neil featuring a variety of music including traditional and contemporary Celtic, Great Lakes, and Appalachian folk accompanied by a collection of instruments that includes dulcimer, guitar, and flute.

Ask the Tech Guy
Saturday, September 24, 1:30p-4:00p
Make a 30-minute appointment with the Library’s information systems tech for one-on-one assistance with your own device or computer. (Bring it in with you!)

Book Discussion Groups
Tuesday, September 13, 7:00p.The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Monday, September 19, 1:00p.Long Gone by Alafair Burke