Believe it or not, Farmington and Farmington Hills officials have had yet another discussion about shared services. They still aren’t really doing anything, but this time, at least, they’ve got a specific topic: public services.
The Sunday Farmington Observer reported the councils met April 21 at the 47th District Court building in Farmington Hills. Both cities face the looming threat of red ink. It bears repeating that reductions in property values, an increase in foreclosures and anticipated reductions in funding from the state all affect local government budgets. Although both Farmington and Farmington Hills have weathered Michigan’s economy fairly well to this point, officials deserve credit for persevering with these difficult discussions now.
Public services seems like the right place to start; these departments maintain roads, sewer and water lines, public buildings – what the Hills’ Web site refers to as the “meat and potatoes” of City Government. Because Farmington Hills wraps around Farmington, it’s often hard to see where one community’s roads end and where the other’s begin. Both cities already participate in group purchases of basic maintenance supplies like road salt; both rely on the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC) to handle trash pick-up and recycling.
While there may be what Mr. Ellis referred to as “culture clashes,” one big item will need more discussion than any other. It’s the one thing Farmington Hills residents don’t have, and Farmington residents can’t live without.
They can combine the workforce, establish a mutually beneficial road paving and repair plan. I bet they can even figure out how to combine sidewalk maintenance schedules.
But what on earth will they do about curbside leaf pickup?
–Joni Hubred-Golden
Publisher, The Enterprise
Most likely, they will just end it. Yes, there will be a bit of an uproar. But most cities survive without it, and ours will too.