A Message From Mayor Fournier

The City of Royal Oak takes the health and safety of our residents, employees and visitors very seriously.
 
We are committed to focusing on early preventive measures that we believe will help us minimize the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, and protect the most vulnerable members of our community. By slowing the rate of infection, we can flatten the infection curve and keep the numbers manageable.
 
The best way to stay informed is to sign-up for email or text messages from the city using NotifyMe or follow the city on social media where we post regular updates. If residents have any questions or concerns, the should call 248-246-3201 or 248-246-3203

The Impact to Royal Oak - Find Updated
Information and Important Links at https://www.romi.gov/1458/Coronavirus-Disease-COVID-19

It is not the city’s intention to overreact to the coronavirus but rather take the necessary actions to protect our residents and staff, including but not limited to the following:

ALL programming and classes offered by the the recreation department, the Mahaney/Meiniger Senior Community Center, the John Lindell Ice Arena and the Royal Oak Public Library have been suspended beginning March 13. Please check back for updates.

The March 18 and March 21 Stormwater Utility Workshops have canceled. These workshops will be rescheduled. In the meantime, you can watch the presentation online at: https://youtu.be/IrieYFTtPqs

Starting March 17, 2020 and until further notice, the 44th District Court will be open in a very limited capacity. The court will be posting further instructions on our their website and our Facebook page to assist those who have pending cases or other business at the Court on Tuesday March 17.  

The water department is suspending non-essential water service appointments, such as non-leaking meter replacements, courtesy walk throughs and low read meter checks. Final reads, leaky meters, and shutoffs can be scheduled as usual.

All non-essential city board and committee meetings have been canceled for the remainder of the month of March. The Royal Oak City Commission, DDA and Historic District Commission meetings will take place as scheduled. Check the city’s calendar for more information.

City employees have been instructed to follow hygiene measures that include: 

• Washing hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer; 
• Avoid touching one’s face as much as possible; 
• Covering one’s mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; 
• Avoiding handshakes; 
• Avoiding contact with people who are sick; 
• Per CDC recommendations, any employee who has traveled to any high-risk locations or has been in contact with someone who experienced COVID-19 should self-quarantine for 14 days, as well as take all the other recommended and necessary steps for treatment.

Helpful Resources and Links

• Oakland County Resources
• State of Michigan Resources
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

               Beaumont Health Launches Coronavirus Hotline and                              New Visitor Safety Restrictions

As the new coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to evolve, Beaumont Health is taking multiple steps to help reduce the spread of the disease.

Beaumont Health has launched a Coronavirus Hotline: 248-551-7000.
Staffed by Beaumont nurses, the hotline is a community resource for timely, accurate information about COVID-19 symptoms and virtual screening for people who are experiencing symptoms. The line is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Nurses will answer questions about the virus and direct patients to the appropriate level of care: Treating symptoms at home. Following up with a primary doctor. Seeking treatment at an urgent care or an emergency center. Beaumont urges patients who have COVID-19 symptoms: cough, fever, difficulty breathing, to call ahead to the hotline before being examined by a physician. This will help health care providers reduce the likelihood of others getting exposed. If you need medical attention during a time when the hotline is not active, please call ahead to the physician’s office, urgent care or emergency center before traveling there. 

For general information about coronavirus/COVID-19 and how to stay healthy during this evolving situation, please visit beaumont.org/coronavirus. Please do not call the hotline unless you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, please call 911. VISITOR SAFETY

Visitor safety restrictions to be put in place at all eight Beaumont hospitals. 
RESTRICTIONS (EFFECTIVE 9 A.M., MARCH 13) To protect our patients, staff, visitors and the community during the outbreak, we are following state and federal recommendations and restricting visitors to our hospitals. All routine visiting is restricted at our eight hospitals until the transmission of COVID-19 is no longer a threat.

Restricted visitation will be in effect for all people, including family and friends who enter a Beaumont hospital. Some exceptions can be made for end-of-life situations or other extreme circumstances. No visitors will be allowed in rooms of patients with pending or positive COVID-19 tests, except under extreme circumstances. Anyone under the age of 16 is restricted from visiting, except under extreme circumstances. Most patients will be allowed two visitors who must remain in the hospital room for the duration of the visit. All visitors will be required to be screened for symptoms of respiratory illness: fever, runny nose, cough and shortness of breath, prior to entering one of our hospitals. Individuals with these symptoms will not be permitted to visit patients. After a visit is complete, visitors must leave the hospital and cannot remain in waiting areas, public areas or cafeterias.

Be Counted - Census Day April 1

Census Day, April 1st and the U.S. Census is about counting everyone once, only once and in the right place. Every resident in the U.S. should be counted where they live on April 1, 2020. Look for a postcard with more information about completing the 2020 Census Survey in your mailbox beginning March 2020.
For more information visit: 2020CENSUS.GOV
#2020Census #RoyalOakCounts #BeCountedMichigan

Channel Your Inner Artist! 

MURAL INPUT NEEDED: Houston-based UP Art Studio has been award a grant to create a mural for Sally's -- the Salvation Army's thrift store on Fourth St in downtown Royal Oak -- and they need our help.

The Texan art facilitator is calling the project “Growing a Brighter Tomorrow.” Last fall they created a similar mural for The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center in Detroit at 5600 E 8 Mile Road. (See attached video.)
GET CREATIVE!

Get Your Tickets Now For Two Great
Community Events Happening in April!  

Royal Oak Blessings in a Backpack Hosts a Night of Trivia April 25th | 6:30pm | Royal Oak Elks Club
&
The First Annual Fur Ball
April 30th | 6pm | Fifth Avenue  
Benefiting the Royal Oak Animal Shelter 

Do I Have a Lead Water Service Line? 
Please Continue to Test and Register Results

?? 
If you haven't performed the test to find out what material your water service line is made of the Department of Public Services (DPS) still wants to hear from you!

DPS estimates that approximately 6 percent of water customers in Royal Oak have lead water service lines. Taking the simple test helps the city develop its inventory and lead water service line replacement plan.

Outdoor Warning Siren System Tests Begin in March

Please be advised that Oakland County Homeland Security Division will once again be testing the outdoor warning siren system on the first Saturdays of the month at 1:00 pm beginning in March.

PLEASE NOTE:
A special test in recognition of Severe Weather Awareness Week (SWAW) will be conducted on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 at 1:00 PM. To avoid confusion, please mark this special test on your calendar.

Become a Storm Spotter in Your Own Home!

Skywarn Weather Spotters provide a valuable service to the National Weather Service by reporting storm damage, precipitation and other observed weather phenomena.
Only one instrument can detect a tornado or funnel with complete certainty--the human eye.

Have a Neighborhood Homeowners Association or Want to Start One - We Want to Hear From You! 

The City of Royal Oak is updating its Homeowners Association page at:
https://www.romi.gov/632/Homeowners-Associations

If you are actively representing a Block Club, Condominium Association, Homeowners Association, Improvement Association or Neighborhood Association and are not listed but would like to be, please fill out the following form:

What Going On at the Normandy Oaks Park? 

 While winter has shut down much of the work on the site, we wanted to take this opportunity to bring the neighborhood and community up to date on what was accomplished this past fall and what the plan is moving into the spring of this new year. The mass grading for the entire project was 90 percent completed, including pond grading, soccer field grading, and trails and parking. The new pavilion building was erected and roofed. Final plumbing and fixture installation will be complete in early spring. Installation of the bridge across the new pond is underway and will be completed this winter.

     Travel Plans That Include Flying in Your Future?         Better Plan to Visit Secretary of State For REAL ID 

Starting Oct. 1, 2020, you’ll need a REAL ID-compliant document to fly in the U.S. and enter some federal facilities per federal law. You can obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID from the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office. Learn more at Michigan.gov/REALID

Residential Lock Boxes Available at the Fire Department

When a person living alone calls 911 and is unable to open the door, firefighters must break through a door or a window causing costly damage to the person's home and wasting valuable time.
The Royal Oak Fire Department’s residential lockbox program is designed to get quick access to adults living in their own homes during medical emergencies -- especially senior citizens.
When you suffer a fall, stroke or heart attack, every second counts. The lockbox -- which contains a key to your home -- reduces the likelihood of property damage caused by first responders forcing entry into your home in response to an emergency call.

City Clerk's Office Offers Online Services
Including No Reason Absentee Voting

The city clerk's office is pleased to announce several new services available online!!! 

Permanent Absentee Voting

With the passage of Proposal 3 last November, you no longer need a reason to vote by absentee.  If you would like to sign up now to be on our permanent absentee list, please go to our link located at https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/permanentabsenteelist

Birth Certificates

Stay at home and enjoy your new bundle of joy and request your birth certificate online!  

https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/birthcertificaterequest

Dog Licenses and Mark Twain Dog Park Passes

We have your canine companion's needs all covered, new or renew your dog licenses and interested in a play date at Mark Twain Park?  Get your dog park passes online too.  
https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/doglicense
https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/dogparkapplication

Death Certificates

It is a difficult time but you will need copies of the death certificate. We can make it  a little easier by saving the trip to city hall.  
https://royaloakmi.seamlessdocs.com/f/deathrecordrequest

Residential Street Zoned Permit Parking 

You can obtain a parking permit which allows the vehicle to only park on residential streets which are designated as permit parking zones. The parking permit allows the vehicle to park only during the times posted in the permit parking zone on the street for which they were issued.

Life Now Playing

For a list of meetings and community events please visit our calendar here.

Support Local Service Clubs & Organizations

Royal Oak service clubs support our public schools, local history, nature, senior citizens, young people, veterans and more. To learn more about Royal Oak service clubs go to www.romi.gov/interclub.