Lapeer mayor new Ortonville village manager

Bill Sprague LAPEER — Bill Sprague retired from Delphi after 32 years with the automotive parts manufacturer nearly 18 months ago, but at age 54 he’s not ready to simply play golf and live a life of leisure.

In good health and young enough to still earn a paycheck, Sprague had been looking to find another job doing something he enjoys. Sprague applied for the village manager’s position in Ortonville — and got the job.

The Lapeer resident is also the mayor of the City of Lapeer, and was up for re-election Tuesday on the city ballot.

By a 4-2 vote on Oct. 26, the Ortonville village council approved the hiring of Sprague. Last Wednesday was his first day on the job in the Oakland County village of 1,535 residents.

The one-squaremile wide village is within Brandon Township, and is between Goodrich to the south, Oxford to the east, Clarkston to the south and Holly to the west. There are no

residency requirements, so Sprague will commute to work from his home in Lapeer.

“It has been great. Since my years of service in Lapeer I have really come to like working for a municipality because I think I have a lot to offer,” Sprague said. “I really like this kind of work because I like to resolve issues ... I’m brand new, but the people have been great, and I’m getting to know the place.”

As the full-time village manager he earns a salary of $1,730 biweekly, or $44,980 annually. He receives no benefits.

Sprague is a 15-year Lapeer resident and has served as mayor of Lapeer for the past three years since he was appointed to the position after then-mayor Chuck Treece resigned in 2006. He has been a member of the Lapeer City Commission for eight years.

In addition to serving as mayor, Sprague has served on the city planning commission since 2004, is on the Downtown Development Authority and has been on the cable advisory committee since 2001.

At Delphi, Sprague worked 20 years as a human resources manager and the last four years as a restructuring manager. Sprague received his bachelor’s degree in social science in 1977 from Western Michigan University and earned his master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University in 1989.

“I have a lot of energy and enthusiasm to give toward this new job, because I really like challenges and working for people to provide a safe and decent place to live and raise a family.”

Sprague has transplanted his managing philosophy to Ortonville from what he uses in Lapeer when it comes to making decisions and setting priorities as to what an effective and responsive community needs to have to be successful — the health, safety, and education of residents; jobs; and affordable housing.

The village currently doesn’t have municipal water or sewer in the community — a liability that may hinder efforts to attract jobs to the otherwise quiet hamlet. Sprague vows to work to resolve that issue, or try to find businesses that don’t require a wastewater treatment plant.

The Ortonville Downtown Development Authority and the Ortonville Village Council are working to maintain the historic nature of the village while promoting commercial and retail developments. The Ortonville DDA completed the installation of a streetscape project in 1995 with old-fashioned street lights, benches, new signage, and a fountain. In addition, the village recently has been chosen as a Main Street community in Oakland County, which is expected to bring a host of new resources to Ortonville.

“So far, so good. It’s good to be working again, especially when it’s doing something I enjoy,” said Sprague.