By Mary Beth Almond
C & G Staff Writer

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — The May 6 ballot for the city included two candidates running for two open City Commission seats.

With a 12 percent voter turnout, incumbent David Kellett and newcomer John Utley walked away winners.

Utley led the field with 354 votes, followed by Kellett with 344.

City Clerk Amy Burton said the majority of the city’s voters were absentee — 372 absentee, compared to 42 in-person voters.

“For a city election, 12 percent turnout is about average, maybe slightly lower, which I would attribute to the contest being uncontested,” she said.

Utley, 67, has been living in the city for 31 years and said he brings a lot of experience to the commission — with six years on the Planning Commission and two years on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

“I’m excited about being elected. I’ve served on the Planning Commission and the ZBA, so I’ve seen how government works in Bloomfield Hills. This will be a great challenge for me,” he said.

Utley said he plans to concentrate on the financial aspects of the city during his term.

“(I’m going to) make sure that we stay within our budget constraints and don’t do anything foolish to get into a deficit situation,” he said.

He also believes that the commission needs to revisit its association with the Bloomfield Township Public Library, closely watch the proposed safety paths for affordability, increase public green areas and tree replanting, make sure Public Safety and Public Works are adequately funded, keep variable costs and capital spending under control so there won’t be a millage increase, and increase communication with the public, among other things.

“Generally, I would say that I don’t think we should change the character of the city,” he said.

Kellett, 75, has lived in the city for 17 years and has served on the commission since 2006. Before that, he served 12 years on the Zoning Board of Appeals — seven years as the chairman — and one year on the Planning Commission.

As the CEO of a residential construction company in Bloomfield Hills and a builder, Kellett said, he can monitor the running of the city a little bit better than most people. 

“So many of our questions involve construction, building, engineering and things like that, so I bring a different perspective to the board and can add to it,” he said.

During his term, Kellett plans to focus much of his attention on the city’s two large development projects — a retirement community called The Woodward at Bloomfield Hills and a mixed-use building called The Plaza at Bloomfield Hills, at the former site of the Fox & Hounds.

“They are going to take up a lot of our time to ensure that what develops is what’s best for our city,” he said.

He said the commission would also address the results of the recent city of Bloomfield Hills Master Plan survey.

Commissioner Dale Dawkins, who took on a new task as president and chairman of the Woodward Dream Cruise, did not to run for re-election. Dawkins, 73, first got involved with the city in 1991 after becoming a member of the Planning Commission — which he served on for seven years. In 1998, he was elected to the City Commission, serving as mayor twice during his 10-year reign.

“We’re going to miss the experience that Commissioner Dale Dawkins has given us over many, many years. However, the city is well served with John Utley coming in. He’s a very solid replacement,” Kellett said.

The new commissioners were sworn into office on May 13. Commissioners receive $60 annually — or $5 per meeting, held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at 45 E. Long Lake Road in Bloomfield Hills.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at malmond@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1060.