Engineering, environmental services report given

Olivia Olsztyn-Budry, engineering and environmental services director in Bloomfield Township, presented the department's 2017 annual report at the board of trustees meeting on Monday, October 22, and it was unanimously accepted.

Olsztyn-Budry said the department provides assistance and support to many of Bloomfield Township's departments, as well as providing technical assistance to the department of public works and the water division through sewer management, sewer repairs, replacement and several emergency water main replacements.

In the last year or two, she said, “We had fewer sewer extensions to individual homes,” and they worked collaboratively with the Oakland County Water Resources Commission and Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority (SOCWA).

“The engineering office reviews engineering plans for homes and buildings to be constructed, and we also manage the popular safety path program,” Olsztyn-Budry said.

The department also manages the sanitary sewer program.

In 2017, the department either managed or provided assistance in 271 building, tree and fill permit reviews; 1.07 miles of new safety paths; 1.26 miles of water main replacements; 1.24 miles of new public water mains installed by private developments; 3,809 feet of new public sewers installed; 217 right of way permit reviews; and six engineering plan approvals for private development projects.

Since 2015, Bloomfield Township has been a participant in the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA), one of 19 communities, she explained. “The primary role CISMA plays for Bloomfield Township is making available educational and outreach programs, demonstration sites, and collaboration and funding from state and federal grant programs.”

“So, it's a pretty busy department. It's been a pretty busy year,” she concluded.