Category: Uncategorized

A recent Clarkston News article about Independence Township’s new six-month data center moratorium included two striking details about Springfield Township that Oko Environmental had not previously encountered. According to the Clarkston News, Independence Township Supervisor Chuck Phyle described the potential Springfield Township data center as a $6 billion development. This is a figure Oko Environmental

A group of Springfield Township residents is preparing to begin a formal effort to recall Township Supervisor Ric Davis. Recently, I was asked to meet with several of the concerned residents and the attorney assisting them with the process. According to the group, the recall petition language has been decided and is expected to be

At last week’s Planning Commission meeting, Chair Brian Galley stated that he was not aware of any data center inquiries and described the Township’s involvement with Data Centers as a general phone call asking about zoning. That is not consistent with the Township’s own public update from April 3, 2026, which states that Springfield Township

On June 23, 2026, The Springfield Township Planning Commission received another monthly update on the Levy/BMC mining application for the proposed Ormond Road sand and gravel mine. Unfortunately, this update missed the mark. Again. According to the June 15 update from Carlisle/Wortman, there have been no meetings between Township officials or consultants and the applicant

On May 22, 2026, the Zausmer firm, attorneys for Edw. C. Levy Co., submitted a FOIA request to Springfield Township seeking all records related to the proposed sand and gravel mine on Ormond Road. -> FOIA Request by Levy for All SLUP Documents (May 22, 2026) The request asks for far more than official meeting

At the May 14, 2026 Springfield Township Board meeting, the Board voted to approve the creation of a new Township Superintendent position. The discussion came during a long meeting that ran past 10:00 p.m., and the position was presented as part of a broader effort to address township operations, staffing needs, and administrative workflow. Less

Oakland County FOIA records show that two onsite test-well permits were issued for the proposed Burroughs/Levy sand and gravel mining site on Ormond road.  The records show: The property owner is listed as Edward C. Levy Company, and the applicant/contact is listed as LWD, Inc. / Lyons Well Drilling. This appears to mark the beginning

Ormond Road testing began today (April 8, 2026) with drilling activity being done by vehicles marked TYME Engineering and DLZ. This appears to be related to testing whether Ormond Road can be upgraded or reinforced to handle Class A road weights, including fully loaded gravel trains. That matters because Ormond Road is currently a Class

In Springfield Township’s April 9, 2026 board meeting packet, an estimate for Ramboll’s review of the Levy/Burroughs mining application is now visible to the public. The packet also include an official memo from Supervisor Ric Davis stating that he worked with the Ramboll project team to refine the proposal and attached “the breakdown of reviews

Wetlands are some of the most important and often misunderstood parts of our landscape. On the proposed sand and gravel mining site along Ormond Road in Springfield Township, they are also one of the most significant environmental features. According to the submitted site plan and wetland delineation performed in 2002, the property contains dozens of

Last night, I attended the Township meeting with the intention of communicating my concerns in a respectful and thoughtful manner. I was interrupted several times by Supervisor Davis during my public comment. As a result, my concluding sentence went several seconds over my allotted 3 minutes. I was attempting to let the board members know

Springfield Township posted correspondence dated January 9, 2026, from Reuben Maxbauer (Government & Real Estate Relations for Levy) regarding the planned installation of an exploratory well. As discussions continue around the proposed sand and gravel mining operation, the term aquifer is frequently referenced. With test well installation expected soon, this is an important opportunity to

Township statements claiming that the retained experts produced “no deliverables” at recent Township meetings are false and directly contradicted by the public record. Despite clear, on-the-record acknowledgments that the experts completed a preliminary review and submitted written identification of data gaps, Township leadership publicly told residents and the Planning Commission that the experts had produced

Same Data, Different Picture:How the Resource Protection Overlay District Got Lost in Plain Sight One of the most important environmental designations on this site is the Resource Protection Overlay District. It identifies areas where development and disturbance are restricted due to sensitive natural features (such as wetlands, lakes, etc.). In theory, this designation should be

The recent survey sent out by Springfield Township Supervisor, Ric Davis, on evaluating possible environmental consulting firms to review the BMC/Levy SLUP permit application has been framed as a way to ‘give residents a voice in this process’. That narrative is echoed by Davis supporters as a way for residents to provide their ‘opinions &

The Township Supervisor has recently posted on the township website a public survey in the form of a Consultant Evaluation Worksheet related to the selection of an independent environmental and engineering consultant for review of the proposed mining project. According to the survey, the purpose of this worksheet is to gather individual perspectives and identify

Date: January 28, 2026 To: Springfield Township Supervisor Ric Davis; Springfield Township Board of Trustees; Springfield Township Planning Commission; Members of the Fact-Finding Committee; Springfield Township Counsel, Greg Need; Special Counsel, Gerald Fischer; Springfield Township Residents From: Kara Okonewski, Springfield Township Resident, Member of the Fact-Finding Committee,  To the Officials and Residents of Springfield Township, I

The word ‘transparency’ has been used a lot in this process, but it’s important to pause and consider what it truly means. Transparency isn’t just about information being shared; it’s about information being accessible, complete, and independently verifiable. That kind of transparency can be an uncomfortable process because it invites questions, differing interpretations, and multiple