I have accepted an invitation to ‘blog’ on the Farmington Patch. I admit to some intrigue and some tension.
Intrigue, because as Mayor there are many things going on and this will offer a chance to put in writing my thoughts about topics affecting city governance in a timely and contemporary way. Tension, because, while my goal is to inform and educate, it is your reaction to what I write that determines the value of the words and the effort.
Farmington is a mature and small, inner ring suburb, to the big and embattled city of Detroit. This poses many challenges including:
Find out what's happening in Farmington-Farmington Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- redevelopment needs to recreate business growth and an attempt to be competitive with other mature cities and also greenfield sites
- infrastructure updates for roads and water systems constructed decades ago
- meeting or exceeding a high level of fire and policing service expectations
- providing accessible and engaging governance to meet the needs of our residents and businesses
- being a collaborative partner in the greater community, in Oakland County and in Southeast Michigan
Our Council Meeting agendas reflect considerations and deliberations in these areas and more. We are fortunate to have an excellent team of managers and employees serving our city and a council comprised of bright, energetic and thoughtful members reflecting diverse points of view.
So there is much to write about. My hope is that you, the reader, will find it educational, helpful and also worthwhile reading.
