What's News Archive

News

Yard Waste Program Resumes
The yard waste collection program will resume the week of April 6. As in the past, residents are requested to put yard waste material (grass clippings, leaves, plants, and other vegetation) in bags or containers no larger than 35 gallons.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection
The City of Farmington participates in a recycling consortium that involves a number of municipalities known as the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC). This organization has schedule a household hazardous waste collection date for Saturday, May 2 at the Costick Center in Farmington Hills from 9 am to 2 pm. The Costick Center is located on the north side of Eleven Mile Road, east of Middlebelt. This is a great opportunity to properly dispose of oil-based paints, paint thinners, pesticides and other household chemical products as part of your spring clean-up. We would encourage that you visit the RRRASOC website at www.rrrasoc.org which provides a listing of items that will be accepted for disposal.

Farmers Market
The Farmers Market will reopen at Riley Park and Sundquist Pavilion in Downtown Farmington on Saturday, May 9. Please look for additional information on the DDA website at www.downtownfarmington.org or call at 248-473-7276.

Governor Warner Mansion
The Governor Warner Mansion will again be open for tours beginning in April. The Mansion is open each Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and usually the first Sunday afternoon each month from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please check the City calendar on the website at www.ci.farmington.mi.us.

Critters/Rodents
Each spring, we send a reminder to residents regarding proactive measures that can be taken to address potential problems with rodents and other wild animals. In the past, Farmington has experienced problems with rodents in various sections of the City. While we are not alone with this problem, other communities in southeast Michigan experienced similar problems, we need to be vigilant. The Farmington City Council recently adopted an ordinance dealing with property maintenance requirements, some provisions deal directly with this problem. We would like to start 2009 by proactively addressing the issue. Contained below is a list of property maintenance suggestions/requirements to help alleviate this problem by eliminating their habitat and food source.

• There is to be no accumulation of loose grass, brush or other debris. This includes any cast-off materials. These items should be kept inside a structure or disposed of properly. Sections 19-97 and 19-73 City Code.
• All sources of food, i.e., garbage, pet food, bird feeders, pet fecal matter must be removed promptly from the premises. All garbage should be in a rigid container with a lid covering the container. Our experience has been that bird feeders and pet fecal matter are the two most significant factors in attracting rodents.
• All firewood must be kept at lease 12” – 24” above the ground on some type of rack. This was recently adopted in the new Property Maintenance Ordinance.

It is suggested that you contact a licensed pest control company if you find any evidence of rodent activity on your property. This evidence may include, but not limited to, burrows or holes in and around the property.
For additional information and/or questions, please feel free to contact the Department of Public Services at 248-473-7250.

During the spring of the year we also see more sick and rabid animals such as skunks, raccoons, rabbits, and opossum. The Public Safety Department has live traps available on a first-come first-serve basis; residents can check them out. Regarding sick or rabid animals, we request that you contact the Public Safety Department; they will destroy the sick animal. The Public Safety Department can be contacted at 248-474-4700.

Again, the most effective means to eliminate some of these nuisance critters is to eliminate their food source. Many of the complaints received by the City originate with a resident placing food or seed for these animals and soon create a nuisance for the neighbors. Another problem is with open decks that do not have a barrier between the deck and the ground. Many animals find a habitat in this area which is why it is necessary for these decks to have a “rat wall” constructed with the deck.

Registration of Abandoned Foreclosed Homes
The Farmington City Council is in the process of adopting an ordinance that will require abandoned foreclosed homes to be registered with the City. As of late-March, there are 53 homes that are currently in the process of being foreclosed. It is recognized that foreclosed homes have had a significant impact in the decline of residential property values throughout the nation. While there is nothing the City can do to affect the decline associated with the overall market conditions, we can mitigate the impacts associated with property maintenance and blight within the City.

The intent of the ordinance is to better monitor these properties during the foreclosure process as it pertains to property maintenance, and to make sure when the property is finally reoccupied it is a habitable condition. The City Council recently adopted a revised property maintenance code that provides additional strength to the requirements. A key feature of the abandoned registration process is that these properties must be maintained to the neighborhood standard. The registration process specifies these standards to the mortgage holder foreclosing the property. If they do not comply, after appropriate legal notice, the City will arrange for the lawn to be cut and shrubs to be trimmed; this cost will ultimately be borne by the property. In addition, the ordinance requires an inspection by the City to address any deficiencies before it can be reoccupied. If you have a concern that a property in your neighborhood has been abandoned, we request that you contact the City Manager’s Office at 248-474-5500, x 221 and City staff will investigate.

Water Conservation Regulations
The City has been negotiating a long-term water service contract with Detroit Water and Sewer (DWSD). One of the key negotiating positions is to control peak hour and peak day demands for water. As part of the negotiating process, DWSD is offering reductions in the water purchase rates to communities that implement water conservation measures. Farmington can see a reduction in DWSD’s proposed 9% increase that would be effective July 1, 2009. Along with reducing the impact of the proposed rate increase, the proposed amendment reflects good water management practices. The water conservation measures will have the greatest impact on commercial properties with irrigation systems. It will also have an impact on residential properties with irrigation systems, but on a limited basis. Contained below is a summary of the water conservation regulations. The City will be mailing an additional summary of the regulations later in the spring.

1. A commercial property with an automated irrigation system is limited to water on odd-even days within the month based on their address;
2. Lawn and landscape irrigation with an automated system is prohibited between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. EDT, and between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.;
3. All automatic timers shall be set to activate between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.;
4. The City Manager, or designee, may grant a waiver of the odd/even regulation for a property with new lawn or landscaping installations;
5. The proposed ordinance amendment also establishes progressive fines for succeeding violations.