Officials size up new year for West Bloomfield

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Fresh off a series of administrative changes that include a new township supervisor, police chief and board trustee, officials in West Bloomfield Township have plenty to keep them busy in 2025 as they work on projects in the parks, updating the master plan and more.

 

The new supervisor
Jonathan Warshay, the new supervisor, is no stranger to the board. He was first elected as a trustee in 2016, and reelected in 2020 and 2024. Following the resignation of the previous supervisor, Steven Kaplan, Warshay was appointed to fill the vacancy Dec. 9, 2024.

“I appreciate the board’s confidence in selecting me to be township supervisor,” Warshay said in an email. “I’m suited for this new role, both by my tenure as a trustee, and by my background as an attorney and project manager. I have excellent relationships with county, state and federal officials that will benefit the township.”

He said in the coming months, the board will discuss issues such as increasing communication with township employees and residents, maintaining transparency, and making improvements to buildings, vehicles, infrastructure and more.

Debbie Binder, a member of the board and its clerk since 2016, said via email that Warshay is “an outstanding choice” to fill the role on short notice, who “clearly has the support of the residents.”

In a phone interview, Jim Manna, the sole dissenting vote against the appointment of Warshay, said he had issues with the selection process.

“The meeting (to appoint Warshay) was held early in the afternoon with little notification for residents and when few could show up,” Manna said. “Also, we had 45 days to find someone, and I think we could’ve found someone with experience running large organizations. There were people arguing it might’ve affected our bond rating if a leader wasn’t there, but that’s bull since the township is run by seven members of the board, and losing one wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

Teri Weingarden, a trustee of the township board and its treasurer, said in an email that she’s confident Warshay is the right choice. She also said that thanks to prudent planning, West Bloomfield is in solid financial shape. She said that she and Binder worked hard to obtain and maintain a AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor’s.

“This AAA bond rating allows the township to buy debt, when necessary, at a much lower rate,” Weingarden said. “This rating reflects positively on the current and past township board members who have made hard decisions in difficult economic times. The township always has a balanced budget and honors its commitments to our retirees.”

Added Binder, in an email: “As far as challenges (facing West Bloomfield), we face many of the same challenges all communities are facing, with increasing costs and fewer people choosing municipal and public safety careers.”

 

New chiefs, new trustee
On the note of public safety, there have been major changes at the Police Department.

Michael Patton, who served as police chief for more than 14 years, and who served with the WBPD for nearly 40 years, retired Jan. 10 — and in a surprise twist, mere days later at the Jan. 13 board meeting, he was unanimously appointed as the trustee filling the vacancy created when Warshay became supervisor.

The other board members were effusive in their praise of Patton as both the former chief and incoming trustee.

“The best decision I ever made was on Oct. 4, 2010, when I voted ‘yes’ to make Chief Patton our police chief,” Weingarden said, describing him as a mentor, role model and friend, and saying that he will be dearly missed.

Binder highlighted “the unwavering support” Patton has given the community for four decades, and noted that in addition to joining the board, Patton has also been appointed as the voting liaison to the Planning Commission.

Meanwhile, Dale Young, once the deputy police chief, has been promoted to the department’s top role. Manna said “it all comes down to how you feel about the qualifications,” and when it comes to the new chief, “I love Dale Young — he’s done a phenomenal job.”

Added Weingarden: “We are confident in the continuity of excellence. We continue to support public safety with necessary equipment and building upgrades with our capital project funds.”

Binder recounted how Young’s high school football and baseball coach even attended the swearing-in ceremony, going out of his way “to tell us that we made an outstanding choice in Dale.”

Warshay said that Patton performed admirably during his time at the police department, and he called Young a “man of integrity,” adding, “We are in good hands with Chief Young,” and noting that “West Bloomfield is one of the safest communities in the state. … We currently have no plans to change or expand (police) services.”

Vincent Kirkwood, another member of the board, said in a phone interview that with Warshay appointed to supervisor and Patton appointed as trustee, the board is in strong shape.

“We have a full board now, with a good mix of people in terms of diversity, and Mike Patton, who truly understands the police department,” Kirkwood said. “It makes me feel confident that we have the right people representing the township. We’re excited for what’s to come with this board, being cohesive and understanding the needs of the residents.”

 

Improving quality of life
One key priority in 2025 will be delivering on the 20-year, $25 million bond for quality-of-life improvements that residents approved in August 2024. The bond will fund a wide variety of projects including improvements to parks, playgrounds and trails, a senior activity center, pickleball courts, nature education areas, meeting rooms, administrative spaces, pavement and more.

“The parks and recreation bond was overwhelmingly passed by the voters of West Bloomfield,” Weingarden said. “The bond will fund an expanded, multigenerational (community center) on the civic center campus. The township was able to sell bonds for the parks and recreation projects using our AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor’s. We received 12 bids for the bond, when the average is three to four bids.”

Other specific projects in the works include new playgrounds at Pine Lake Park, Bloomer Park and Marshbank Park, as well as paved walking trail replacements at Marshbank Park, and expanded pickleball facilities at Drake Sports Park.

Warshay explained that the Parks and Recreation Commission is a separate legal entity, and that the township issued bonds on behalf of the group due to state law requirements. He said that in addition to the work laid out by the bond, there are other projects in the works in 2025, such as the renovation of Fire Station No. 1, which will cost about $5 million. Other large projects include body and vehicle cameras for the Police Department, new vehicles for the Fire Department, and a new roof for Fire Station No. 5.

Binder noted that the specifics of each bond project will be worked out first by the Parks and Recreation Commission, with the new Connect Community Center as its top priority. She anticipates design work and construction drawings to be completed within the year. She also expects that the playground at Pine Lake Park and the repaving of the Marshbank Park walking path will be fully completed in 2025.

Manna said he’s largely optimistic about the bond work, but he also has mixed feelings.

“I have concerns about raising taxes with a millage since many are struggling in the recession. We have people who come in about water bills going up and having a hard time paying those, and we have no mechanism to help them — we refer them to different agencies at the county. But at the same time, the senior center is needed for our growing population, and we want people to stay in West Bloomfield. So, this (bond work) is something we can offer them,” Manna said.

Kirkwood, who previously served on the Parks and Recreation Commission, said he’s thrilled about the possibilities created by the bond.

“I’m so excited,” Kirkwood said. “The parks, the trails, the water, the wetlands — they’re the lifeblood of our community and what makes us so charming and unique and cool and fun. And this millage will enhance all of that — our parks, trails, senior center, recreation center — and attract even more people to the township, including young families and seniors. And that’s what we want here in West Bloomfield — we want that sense of excitement around the township,” Kirkwood said. “We will continue to preserve and protect our natural resources with this bond, while improving community sustainability and investing in infrastructure, utilities, public spaces — all key factors, and all reasons why I think this millage passed.”

 

The path forward
Township officials are also seeking direction from residents for an update to its master plan — the guiding document for future development of the township. The board has already begun the process, focusing on the five-year period of 2025-30. Documents with instructions on how to provide feedback were included with the winter tax bill in December.

“The master plan allows the township to establish policies, strategies, and set clear goals,” Weingarden said, adding that the board is also taking into account a housing study they conducted several years ago.

“This study suggested we focus on mixed uses and multigenerational housing. We have encouraged new types of housing developments to allow seniors to age in place and attract young people and families,” Weingarden said. “These fresh developments have been very popular and selling out ahead of schedule. I would expect the updated master plan to focus on more mixed usage and include duplexes, and the multifamily apartment units.”

Warshay explained that a special committee will review and revise the master plan with feedback from not only the residents, but the township employees and board members, as well. Committee members are aiming to have the first draft available for public review at the public library this June or July.

Binder said she’s positive that certain priorities will remain the same.

“As always, West Bloomfield will continue to be on the forefront of protecting our natural resources that make us unique. In addition to the wetlands and woodlands that beautify our community, we are fortunate to have a landscape painted with natural lakes,” Binder said. “West Bloomfield will continue to flourish as a destination residential community offering many premier resources for our residents.”

Manna said he hopes that residents will tune in and get involved with the process.

“I’ve been a businessman my whole life, and never thought I’d be in politics. But if you ask me what I’ve learned in politics, it’d be two things: One, there’s a lot of waste, because politicians like to spend money that isn’t theirs, and there are the legal aspects, all of the fees that could be avoided; and two, very few people are involved — I’d say less than 5% of the township, if you surveyed them, would know what’s going on here. So I’m hoping more people get involved as we update our plan, and share what they think.”