FeedsNew hall tops news in township
Most municipalities take for granted the ability of citizens’ ability to pay their taxes and water bills in the same building. It’s still a new feeling for officials in Plymouth Township.
During the summer of 2006 the various township government departments moved into one building as a new $13.3 million, 29,000 square-foot township hall was built and opened on Haggerty Road.
The facility includes a 330-person surround sound meeting room where township trustees attend their monthly meetings. The room is equipped with PowerPoint presentation technology allowing residents to see on wide screen a report or budget presentation.
Township officials said the move has brought more cohesiveness and functionality to local government.
“The new municipal complex allows us to have all our township departments under one roof,” said Richard Reaume, township supervisor. Reaume said in the past, residents had to travel to several different locations to receive services from the township. He admits the location isn’t a centralized as the old township headquarters on Ann Arbor and Lilley roads, but the ability to centralize government is key.
“No more sending residents across a parking lot from building to building,” said Reaume. “It truly is one-stop service.”
The old township hall site was originally a volunteer fire company hub. For more than 57 years, as the township expanded, more functions were placed in the facility. Things were so tight that many township services were forced to adjacent buildings and other buildings across town.
Building wear and tear also became an issue. A leaky roof, loose paneling and the dated appearance of the structure did not give the look of a strong-functioning community.
Reaume said the new building is leading to higher productivity as improved technology followed township employees into the new headquarters. The group that has benefited the most is the public safety department.
In addition to state-of the art equipment and lock-up facilities, township police offices can now, for the first time, all be housed in the same building. Detectives were in another facility while uniformed officers were cramped into a retrofitted public works space.
Reaume said another added benefit is the energy efficiency of the new building.. In the past, taxpayers had to finance the costs to heat a campus of buildings. Taxpayers are now only paying for one location.
