As promised when the State of Emergency Declaration occurred and the City of Auburn Hills closed its office operations at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, we continue to be here for you.  We have successfully reviewed and approved requests from some of our businesses who are creating essential goods and performing essential services so that they can remain operational.  Our police cars, ambulances and fire trucks still roll when 9-1-1 is called, and our DPW continues to maintain our critical infrastructure including water, sewer, roads, and the maintenance of our public parks and facilities.  Our elected officials remain in contact and continue to make the necessary legislative decisions needed to keep us moving forward.  And then there’s a crew behind all of these folks who are making certain the revenues are received and the bills are paid, and that the people out front have the tools they need to continue to get the job done.  The whole team is engaged. 

As I wrote the above paragraph, I was staring at the Mission, Vision and Values card that sits on my desk.  It reminds us why we are here in service to the Auburn Hills community.  While our values include Excellence, Safety, Diversity, Humility, Fiscal Responsibility, and Attentive Service; one stands out right now for me more than all the others  —  HUMILITY.  You see, when we walk through the door each morning, our job is to look at the needs of the entire community without separating them by any category, and to do our very best to recommend good public policy to our elected officials.  The expected result translates to quality service delivery by everyone employed by the City, and I think we accomplish that.  We don’t exist without you; the citizens, businesses, and visitors; and we realize that while we play an important role in your quality of life here in Auburn Hills, it is you that we must put first.  So while we appreciate the support we are receiving from the community as we continue to be here for you, please know that each of us is doing the job we set out to do and for which we all took an oath to perform.

I think it’s flattering to hear some of our folks being called “local heroes” and I do think they are worthy of these terms.  But understand that we exist because of you.  And when we get to the end of this pandemic, we will have a lot to celebrate as a community.  We expect that will be very soon.

So remain optimistic, stay healthy both physically and mentally, adhere to the rules of social distancing, and call upon us if you need us.  While our offices remain closed at City Hall, the Community Center, and the Department of Public Works, you may still contact us at our main building phone numbers during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / Monday – Friday). For City Hall, that number is 248.370.9400; for the Community Center/Senior Services, that number is 248.370.9353; and for the Department of Public Works, that number is 248.391.3777. The DPW can also be reached at dpw@auburnhills.org which is monitored regularly. And as previously mentioned, an after-hours emergency requires that you dial 9-1-1.

BE PATIENT • BE KIND • BE UNITED • BE WELL

And most of all, TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

Tom Tanghe, City Manager