VOTE, VOTE, VOTE
IMPORTANT DEADLINES We are coming up to Election Day this Tuesday November 3 and below are important deadlines for voters to remember and hours for voting!
Saturday October 31 voting hours are 7:00am to 3:00pm Absentee ballots can be issued Saturday and voted at city hall in-person or taken home to vote.
Monday November 2 voting hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm
Monday is the LAST day absentee ballots can be issued and they MUST be voted at city hall in-person. After 4:00pm on Monday, absentee ballots cannot be issued.
Absentee ballots issued prior to the 4:00pm Monday November 2 deadline that were taken home to vote can be dropped off at city hall before 8:00pm on Election Day Tuesday November 3. Do NOT mail your ballots. Election Day Tuesday November 3 polls are open 7:00am to 8:00pmYou will find convenient FREE parking at the new city hall in the east lost (between city hall and the 44th District Court) If you want to take your ballot home to vote and prefer not to mail it back; you can drop your ballot off in-person in the east lobby at city hall during the available open hours or you can use the drop boxes. Drop boxes are located: - Inside the East Lobby of the New city hall (203 W Troy Street)
- Third Street (north side in front of the police department)
- Parking Lot P4 (directly behind the police department)
- Second Street (north side of NEW city hall between city hall and the Farmers Market
Follow the trail of your ballot at: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/ |
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Be Safe This Halloween! Although Royal Oak doesn't officially designate trick-or-treat times, this year we are asking residents to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for holiday celebrations, which can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween
According to the CDC, "Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19. It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food, food packaging, or utensils that have the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way that the virus is spread. Remember, it is always important to follow good hygiene to reduce the risk of illness from common foodborne germs."
The CDC recommends these lower risk activities as an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating:
* Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
* Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
* Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
* Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
* Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
* Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
* Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
Whatever you decide, wear a mask!
* Wear a mask at all times when around people who don’t live in your household to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
* Avoid singing, chanting, or shouting, especially when not wearing a mask and within 6 feet of others.
* Do not use a costume mask as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around your face.
* Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
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Tips for homeowners from the Oakland County Health Division:
* Do not hand out candy if you are sick.
* Use duct tape to mark 6-foot lines in front of your home and leading to driveway/front door.
* Hand out candy in one of the following ways:
- Leave individual bags of candy on the doorstep to limit contact with other people.
- Distribute candy on a disinfected table positioned between you and trick-or-treaters.
- Consider handing out candy in an open space (ex., on your driveway) where social distancing is easier
More tips from the county can be found at https://www.oakgov.com/.../halloween-recommendations.pdf
Please be safe, Royal Oak! #happyhalloween #hallowen2020
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Get Your Ruck22 Beanie Now and March Virtually! VETERANS EVENTS COMMITTEE: Every year, on the Saturday before Veterans Day, we march 2.2 miles, carrying 22 lbs. or 22 items to donate, all to raise awareness of the scourge of veteran suicide, estimated at 22 veterans a day.
We usually raise money, food, and supplies for homeless or needy vets. While the circumstances are different this year, our resolve to tackle this issue hasn’t . On November 7th, our annual Ruck March go virtual due to the coronavirus. You can still sign up, pledge your $22, receive a Ruck 22 beanie hat, and then vow to march on your own. The virus may prevent us from marching together, we must continue our march to bring this tragic issue to light.
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NEW! We've added additional color choices to our Ruck 22 fundraiser. The first round of beanies will arrive on or around Nov. 4. The second wave of orders will arrive on or around Nov. 25.
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Track Fall Leaf Collections The large number of trees in Royal Oak make the fall leaf collection a major task; to make it happen the City uses 13 dump trucks, two sweepers and a front-end loader with an attached clam bucket.
Crews work long hours to cover the 212 miles of streets twice during the 6 week pick-up season.
Remember, No Street Parking!
Royal Oak will post signs in neighborhood streets, just off of major thoroughfares, notifying residents that leaf pick-up will be in the neighborhood the following day. The signs ask residents to park cars off the street because cars in the street can slow down the trucks and make it impossible to pick-up leaves in front of the residence where the car is parked.
Temporary no-parking signs (limit 2) are available at the Department of Public Service (DPS), 1600 North Campbell Road (located on the East side of Campbell, just South of 12 Mile Rd) M - F 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The signs are not enforceable but may help remind people to park off the street.
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Rent and Utility Bill Assistance Available for Royal Oak Residents The Royal Oak City Commission has teamed up with the South Oakland Shelter and Legal Aid & Defender Association to operate a rental assistance program on behalf of the city.
The program is designed to keep no, low- and moderate-income Royal Oak renters from being evicted. Many households have experienced a loss of employment or significant reduction in income due to COVID-19. Renters may be eligible for financial assistance for unpaid rent and/or utilities dating back no more than three months. Payments are made directly to landlords, not the renter household.
People in need of help may contact either of the below organizations.
South Oakland Shelter (248) 920-6000Legal Aid & Defender Association (313) 967-5555 OR email:
royaloakcares@ladadetroit.org |
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Oh, The Things You Can Do OnlineOur phones are back on and the boxes are unpacked,but we still remain closed to the public. But, we leave the comfort of your own home anyway. Many city services are available online, or by email, mail and drop off.
We have put together a list of our most requested services at https://www.romi.gov/1…/Oh-the-Things-You-Can-Do-Online-More. Discover all the things you can do from the comfort of your home, office or favorite hideaway.
Can’t find what you are looking for?
Email citymanager@romi.gov and someone will get back to you. Even while we’re moving boxes, we want you to know we are still here for you!
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New Parking Fee Structure Means Two-hours Free Anytime in All City Parking Garages! No longer are the two-hours of free parking restricted to before 5:00p.m. Beginning October 1, all city-owned parking garages feature the first two-hours parking free of charge no matter what time you enter the parking garage. Staying for longer than two-hours (and we hope you are!) then you will pay 75 cents per hour after your first two free hours! And, just in time for the autumn rains and winter snow, park where you will return to a dry, clean vehicle!
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Help For Small Businesses
The Royal Oak City Commission has set aside $265,263 of its special allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG-CV) from the enactment of the CARES Act to provide financial assist to small businesses in Royal Oak effected by COVID-19.
The Royal Oak CDBG-CV Small Business Assistance Program is a loan designed to provide short-term working capital which enables small businesses to remain prosperous and retain or create jobs held by persons living in low- to moderate-income households.
The City of Royal Oak will forgive loans, after six (6) months, if the assisted small business can demonstrate that it successfully created new jobs or retained existing jobs based on federal requirements. More information on the program can be found in the application.
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Residential Lock Boxes Available at the Fire DepartmentWhen 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. The lockbox program is open to all Royal Oak residents who either live alone or are left alone on a regular basis and have a condition which may result in the need for immediate assistance due to being incapacitated or unconscious. This includes the elderly, physically handicapped or residents recovering from a major injury or surgery. For more information, go to https://www.romi.gov/1271/FAQ-Residential-Lockbox |
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You Dirty Rat! What You Need to Know When Unwanted Visitors Come to Stay! Rats behave predictably. They like to live where people live and they can thrive on just one ounce of food and water per day.
Rodent control in Royal Oak is everyone’s responsibility. Good house keeping practices, which eliminate food supply and destroy shelter needed by rats to survive, are the best defense when it comes to rat-proofing our neighborhoods.
There is no magic to rodent prevention and control. Residents can win the war against rodents by using a variety of common sense techniques. Click here to learn more.
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Library Adds Chromebooks to Checkout Services!
Cardholders may now reserve a Chromebook to check out for 14 days. Just visit the catalog, search Chromebooks, and narrow the library down to ROPL (see photos below for help). Then click on "Place Hold" (ignore the not available note...that just means they need to be checked in for the first time). When you recieve notice that your hold is ready, go ahead and schedule your pickup time through the MyLibro app or by calling 248-246-3700 and press 2. |
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Blessings in a Backpack New Amazon Wish List! Doing your weekly Amazon online shopping? Why not check out the Blessings in a Backpack Wish List and put a couple of extra items in their cart while you're filling your cart! It is just that easy!!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3OJ2PH7G2PFP0…
Blessings in a Backpack has continued to feed Royal Oak School students through the pandemic and the need is always there because hunger never takes a break. |
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Community Coalition Joins Forces With Lighthouse to Feed Royal Oak ResidentsThe Community Coalition has made a substantial donation to help LIghthouse in their efforts to feed Royal Oak's hungry. If you are in need or know someone, please email or call Lighthouse. |
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Reminders -
Love Your Dog, Leash Your DogAs we are all trying to get out of the house and enjoy a walk or run, remember when you take your canine companion with you they MUST be on a leash. Not only is it a city ordinance but in these uncertain times, an infected owner can transfer coronavirus onto their dogs fur and contact with other people could create another avenue for transmission of the virus. Additionally, as dog owners we may all think we know how our dog will react in a situation, but under stress you r dog may not react as you expect. Please don't put your dog or other people and dogs into completely avoidable situations.Love your dog, leash your dog! FROM CITY CODE CHAPTER 195: "It shall be unlawful for any owner to allow any dog to stray beyond his premises unless under reasonable control as defined by this article; or Keeping a dog on a suitable leash, cord, chain or rope of sufficient strength while under control of the owner, member of the owner's family or other responsible person who has the owner's permission, in all cases other than while confined upon the owner's property or while dog is confined in a closed automobile or shipping receptacle."
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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: |
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Police Department Update
Residents can find the most recent police reports on the city's website at http://romi.gov/963/Press-Releases
Citizens are also encouraged to sign up for crime alerts at crimemapping.com. Crime Mapping's goal is to assist police departments in reducing crime through a better-informed citizenry.
Sign up for public safety alerts from the police using Civic Ready. Click here to subscribe.
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Library Events
There is always something interesting and exciting happening at the Royal Oak Public Library. Go to ropl,org to learn more.
Library hours are: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (September through June only)
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Work for the City of Royal Oak
Thank you for your interest in employment with the City of Royal Oak.
To browse through available opportunities go to: romi.gov/jobs |
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Senior Times NewsletterThe City of Royal Oak offers mature adults opportunities for lifelong education, fitness, nutrition and leisure activities.
Click here for the latest news and information from the Mahany/ Meininger Community Center.
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Support Local Service Clubs & OrganizationsRoyal 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. |
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