Category: SpringfieldMine

Rose Township Residents Show the Power of Public Participation

I would like to sincerely thank the Rose Township Supervisor Brad Stilwell, Trustee Debra Bourdeau, and the Board of Trustees for inviting me to speak with residents about the proposed Levy/Burroughs Materials sand and gravel mine on Ormond Road. The presentation was part of Rose Township’s “Neighbor to Neighbor” meeting series, which creates an opportunity

July 28, 2026 Letter to Springfield Township Planning Commission

At the July 28, 2026 Springfield Township Planning Commission meeting, each commissioner and the Carlisle|Wortman representatives in attendance received a letter from Oko Environmental requesting more complete monthly updates on the Levy/Burroughs Materials Corporation application. Current reports have provided little information beyond stating that revised application materials have not been submitted. Meanwhile, well installation, road

EGLE Posts First Detailed Well Record for Levy’s Ormond Road Property

Oakland County approved permits for two groundwater-testing wells on the proposed Burroughs Materials Corporation/Levy mining property in December 2025. EGLE has now posted the completed record for the first observation well, providing new information about its construction, groundwater level and the underground materials encountered to a depth of 476 feet. The original permits, completed well

Bulldozer Delivery at Ormond Road

Today, as I was driving down Ormond Road admiring the scenic route, a flash of construction yellow caught my eye. A bulldozer had been delivered to the Ormond Road property. I stopped to confirm what I had seen and photographed the equipment from the roadway. Then I went on the hunt for more information on

My First List for Superintendent Piper

Looking back over the past year, Springfield Township has gone through a lot of changes and shifts in how it handles large, controversial land-use proposals. It is no secret that the Township has not made this an easy process to follow along. Residents have endured hot meetings, both literally and metaphorically, with raised voices, interruptions,

Township Adds New ‘Carlisle Wortman Updates’ Page for Gravel Mine Application Section

After months of limited public communication about the proposed Levy/Burroughs Materials gravel mine on Ormond Road, there is finally a new update area on the Springfield Township website. A new Carlisle Wortman update page has been added under the Gravel Mine Application section of the Township website. As of now, the page includes three documents:

The 2026 May Monthly Levy Update: Nada

At the May 26, 2026 Springfield Township Planning Commission meeting, Township Planner Megan Masson-Minock of Carlisle Wortman provided the latest monthly update regarding the Levy/Burroughs Materials Corporation application for the proposed sand and gravel mine on Ormond Road. There does not appear to be any new substantive information from Levy/Burroughs at this time. On pages

Township Board Moves to Fill Leadership Gap During Supervisor’s Leave

Springfield Township has approved the creation of a temporary township Superintendent position while Supervisor Ric Davis remains on leave from in-person township duties. The decision came after township officials discussed how day-to-day operations would continue during Davis’s absence. According to discussion at the meeting, Davis notified the township that he would be out for an

Planning Commission Receives First Monthly Levy/Burroughs Mining Update on April 28, 2026

At the April 28, 2026 Springfield Township Planning Commission meeting, the proposed Levy/Burroughs Materials sand and gravel mine appeared under “Communication” as “Levy Updates and Project Status.” The main update was the introduction of Megan Masson-Minock, AICP, of Carlisle/Wortman Associates. Carlisle/Wortman has been authorized by the Township Board to act as Project Manager for the

RCOC Public Meeting on April 23, 2026

Several Springfield Township residents and STEP members attended the Board of County Road Commissioners- Oakland County public meeting on April 23, 2026 to speak during public comment and oppose any reclassification of Ormond Road related to the proposed Levy/Burroughs Materials sand and gravel mine. I attended the meeting through my work with Oko Environmental and

Exploratory Well Construction Started

After several local township residents reached out to Oko Environmental reporting ongoing construction at the site of the proposed Levy/Burroughs Materials mine on Ormond Road, I took a drive to check out the site and equipment. Based on observations and photos shared among neighbors, plus previous emails from Reuben Maxbauer (Levy) to Ric Davis, this

Springfield Township Appears in 2025 RCOC Strategic Planning Report

A recent FOIA request submitted by Springfield Township resident Amber Keydel to the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) produced a document that offers an interesting look at how Springfield Township’s road-related concerns were discussed during RCOC’s 2025 Strategic Planning process. The report, 2025 Strategic Planning Report: Volume II – Community Details, is a countywide

Gotta ‘Go’ with the Flow

A porta potty is not exactly subtle. So when one appears at a proposed mine site, people notice. On Friday, April 18, several Springfield Township residents contacted Oko Environmental after observing a porta potty being delivered to the property today. According to a township source, the delivery is reportedly connected to preparations for an aquifer

Hidden Ridge Tour

Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the Hidden Ridge conservation easement in Springfield Township with Emily Duthinh of Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy. What I saw was years of dedicated stewardship including removing invasive species, restoring native habitat, and carefully protecting this land. The Conservancy and the residents of the Hidden Ridge community have

Pink Stakes Rising on Ormond

Have you noticed the bright pink stakes appearing along the shoulder of Ormond Road? Recently, residents have observed a series of survey stakes placed at intervals along the roadway. Several of these markers are labeled with markings such as “SB-02.” The map below shows approximate locations where survey stakes have been observed, marked by blue

Need & Value vs. Very Serious Consequences

Professional geologist and mining expert Mike Wilczynski, CPG, and Jim Brouwer developed this paper for the Homestead Inland Joint Planning Commission, where it was presented on March 6, 2020. It explains an important concept in Michigan mining law known as “Need and Value vs. Very Serious Consequences.” As Springfield Township evaluates the proposed sand and

Springfield Township Board Meeting (9/11/2025)

The Springfield Township Board of Trustees meeting on September 11, 2025 included an important update on the Levy/Burroughs Mining Proposal for Ormond Road. An escrow account of $150,000 (funded by Levy/Burroughs) will soon be available to the Township. These funds are designated to support independent consulting and review, ensuring the proposal and its potential impacts