The week ahead in Oakland County: county board, Woodward exit reopens, Berkley interviews

Here's what's coming up around Oakland County from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Thursday, Oct. 15

• Oakland County Board of Commissioners meets at 6 p.m. The agenda includes motions to pull two resolutions out of committee for a vote: one on civil immigration enforcement in county buildings and one creating a countywide whistleblower protection policy. Also listed: a $2.1 million federal grant for a sheriff's helicopter and up to $2.1 million more for SMART bus service, according to the board's agenda and packet. Preview.
• Berkley school board vacancies: Applications for the two open seats are due at 5 p.m. Details.
• Oak Park short-term rental survey closes. The city is asking residents how short-term rentals should be regulated while a six-month pause on new licenses for rentals of 30 days or less is in effect. The survey is linked from the city's website, oakparkmi.gov.
• Oak Park comprehensive plan workshop, 5:30 p.m., The Event Hub, 14100 Oak Park Blvd. Residents can share ideas on the city's future development, according to the Oakland County Times. Questions: shabhab@oakparkmi.gov or 248-691-7455.
• High school football, Week 8, begins: Waterford Mott at Waterford Kettering, 4 p.m., according to MaxPreps. Week 8 preview.
• Election equipment testing continues (see below).

Friday, Oct. 16

• Regional Stormwater Summit at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, with speakers including Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and staff from Oakland County Water Resources. Registration is required at mi-stormwatersummit.com, according to the county.
• High school football, Week 8, including Clarkston at Harper Woods, Oxford at Birmingham Groves, Stoney Creek at Ferndale, Rochester at Royal Oak and Walled Lake Western at South Lyon East, according to MaxPreps.
• Court: Probable cause conference in 44th District Court for Marquis Jackson, charged with drunken driving causing death in the Sept. 7 Berkley crash, according to C&G Newspapers. Court watch.

Saturday, Oct. 17

• Westbound I-696 Woodward Avenue off-ramp is scheduled to reopen after crews finish resurfacing the westbound 10 Mile service drive, WXYZ reported. Details.
• Free shredding and electronics recycling, 10 a.m. to noon, Huron Valley State Bank, 2920 E. Highland Road, Highland. Limit four banker's boxes of paper per person. Small electronics such as phones, tablets and earbuds are accepted; wipe personal data first, according to the Oakland County Times. Questions: 248-887-9900.

Sunday, Oct. 18

• Downtown Royal Oak Spooktacular, 2 to 5 p.m., Centennial Commons, according to the Royal Oak Woman's Club, which is handing out candy at the event.

Monday, Oct. 19

• Berkley school board interviews applicants and may appoint new members, 6 p.m. A second session is set for Oct. 26 if needed, according to C&G Newspapers.
• Independence Township police millage town hall, 6 p.m., Township Hall, 6483 Waldon Center Drive. Details.
• Hazel Park Board of Education regular meeting, 6 p.m., according to the district's meeting calendar. A second agreement with The Williams Firm went before the board at its Oct. 12 Committee of the Whole meeting. Details.
• Absentee ballot counting equipment test, 10:30 a.m. (see below).

Tuesday, Oct. 20

• Ask a Lawyer clinic, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Farmington Community Library. Volunteer attorneys from the Oakland County Bar Association give free brief advice on family, probate, criminal, landlord-tenant and other issues. Registration is required through the library's online events calendar, or by calling 248-553-0300 for those without internet access, according to the Oakland County Times.
• Court: Preliminary exams had been scheduled for Robert Isho in the fatal Woodward-Quarton crash and for Cody Patterson in a Hazel Park child abuse case. Results of both men's Oct. 13 hearings had not been reported, so it isn't clear whether those dates still stand. Court watch.

Wednesday, Oct. 21

• Novi is scheduled to break ground on Fire Stations No. 2 and No. 3, according to city council documents. Completion is scheduled for December 2027 to January 2028. Details.
• Auburn Hills fire safety and evacuation class at the Auburn Hills Community Center, free and funded by an AARP grant, according to the Oakland County Times. Residents can also follow along on the city's website and social media.

All week

• Election equipment tests: The Oakland County Clerk's office is running public accuracy tests of early-voting equipment at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 14–16, and a test of absentee counting board equipment at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19. All are open to the public in the Board of Canvassers Training Room at the County Courthouse, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac (west entrance), according to the county.
• Lyon Township expects its South Hill plant to start delivering softened water about the third week of October. Details.
• Nov. 3 election: Check your sample ballot and absentee status at Michigan.gov/Vote. Local millages guide.

Have an event or meeting we should list? Send it to news@oaklandcountyjournal.com.

This story uses Oakland County Board of Commissioners agenda documents, Oakland County news releases, Hazel Park Schools and City of Novi documents, the City of Oak Park, MaxPreps, the Royal Oak Woman's Club, and reporting from WXYZ, C&G Newspapers, the Oakland County Times and earlier Journal coverage.