From time to time, citizens and businesses ask about how they can be involved in the community. Sometimes there are community needs that didn’t have time or treasure planned for them. So I thought I’d share a few words on the topic. Continue reading “How Can I Contribute?”
I had the privilege of getting to know Dr. Pat Dolly several years ago when she arrived as the president of the Oakland Community College/Auburn Hills Campus. Impressed with her character and credentials, I couldn’t wait to recommend her for an appointment to one of our community boards. The added bonus was that Pat is an Auburn Hills resident. About four years ago, she took on a new role in the administration at Oakland University as a special advisor to the President on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. When I attended her retirement gathering on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, and heard those who worked with her speak of her accomplishments, it was apparent that she had found the perfect role at OU and they had found the perfect person for that role. Continue reading “A Career Well Done”
On Wednesday, June 21, 2017, we bid farewell to our Team member, Lieutenant Cas Miarka. Lt. Miarka served the community of Auburn Hills in our police department for nearly 26 years. Starting out as a Patrol Officer and moving up the rank to Lieutenant, Cas has supervised every function of the department at one time or another during his career. His education and experience made him an asset to the community and he was truly dedicated to the citizens and businesses of Auburn Hills. Although I’ve known Cas for the more than sixteen years I have been with the City, it was in the last couple of years that I got to know him better as we worked together to deliver education to our business community about Workplace Violence Prevention and Active Shooter training. It’s a difficult subject to discuss with people, but he presented it in a way that gave our business community the skills they needed to deal with a bad situation should it arise. Continue reading “Retirement Wishes to a Great Public Servant”
I had the honor of attending the Oakland Police Academy graduation ceremony on Friday, June 16, 2017, at the Oakland Community College Royal Oak Campus. Auburn Hills was proud to have sponsored three candidates through the academy. This morning, I was also on hand in our City Council Chamber as City Clerk Terri Kowal administered each Officer’s Oath of Office and to officially welcome them to the ranks of the Auburn Hills Police Department. We are very pleased to have these three individuals join our Team and we are proud to call them Auburn Hills Police Officers.
Tom Tanghe, City Manager
Auburn Hills is remembering its founding Mayor, Robert Grusnick, who passed away last Wednesday, May 31, 2017. Bob had deep roots in the community. He graduated from Avondale HS in 1958 and he was elected as the Pontiac Township Supervisor and served in that capacity from 1972 until 1983. It was during the end of his tenure with Pontiac Township that he assisted in the incorporation of the Township into what is today known as the City of Auburn Hills. As a result of that incorporation, he became the city’s first Mayor, a role he held from 1983 until 1994. Our sincere condolences go out to the Grusnick family on the loss of Bob. He will of course forever remain a part of Auburn Hills’ history.
Tom Tanghe, City Manager
The cities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills celebrated Friday evening, May 19, 2017, the graduation of five recruits from the combined AH/RH Fire Academy. The event took place in Rochester Hills at the historic Rochester Hills Museum/Van Hoosen Farm. This is an excellent example of two neighboring communities joining their time and talents to train personnel. The key element of training together is that each of these Fire Departments relies upon the other for assistance from time to time. By training together, each department is familiar with the protocols of the other. Auburn Hills Fire Chief Jim Manning and Rochester Hills Fire Chief Sean Canto can be credited for leadership in this area of cooperation and efficiency. Auburn Hills welcomes its newest recruit from this joint effort. Alan Lee, shown in the photo, is about to be presented with his badge from Chief Manning. Also shown in the photo are (from right to left) Chief Canto, Chief Manning, Rochester Hills City Council President Mark Tisdel, Auburn Hills City Manager Tom Tanghe, Auburn Hills Assistant Fire Chief Tony Macias, and additional members of the Rochester Hills command staff. Congratulations to our very own Alan Lee, but also to the graduates from Rochester Hills. They are: Michael Littlefield, Christopher Ogg, Brendt Stanich, and Paul Terbrack. Continue reading “Neighbors Celebrate Academy Grads”
At the very beginning of 2017, Downtown Auburn Hills was awarded a space at the Affiliate Level in the prestigious Main Street Oakland County program. Main Street Oakland County is the nation’s first and only county-wide Main Street program. On Thursday, May 11, Downtown Auburn Hills and members of its Downtown Development Authority had the opportunity to attend the Main Street Oakland County Annual Awards Gala, “The Main Event.” It was the city’s first event as an official Main Street Community, and it definitely did not disappoint! Continue reading “Auburn Hills Makes its First Appearance as a Main Street Community”
