Busted Pipe to Blame for Temporary Orion Center Closure

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 7, 2023)

Orion Township, MI – A burst pipe at Orion Township’s Orion Center could have caused a lot more damage, were it not for the good fortune of a facilities employee working in the building on Sunday.  The pipe burst around 10:30am Sunday, and within minutes the water was turned off, and restoration crews were able to get in the same day, according to Township Supervisor Chris Barnett.

The Supervisor told Oakland County Times that the break happened in an office near the front of  the building, causing water damage to the front offices and to the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce office, located in the level below.  The water did not impact Orion ONTV, which is also in the same building.

The building is closed, though Orion ONTV and other workers are able to access their space. The Center is still the location for the ONTV Food Drive happening all week, with nonparishable food being accepted from 10 am to 6 pm,  filling the ONTV van in the Orion Center parking lot.

The Orion Area Chamber staff are working remotely, with their phone number being forwarded.

“Our team mobilized, and everybody worked together to minimize any disruption.  Classes and meetings were moved to the new Township Hall, or the Library, and the dance classes and other recreation classes were moved to Friendship Park,” Barnett said.

According to Barnett the building could open as soon as the end of this week, though the offices directly impacted will take longer.  Belfor Restoration is handling the cleanup.

For the latest updates, follow Orion Township on Facebook.  A list of new locations for classes and events is posted on the Orion Township website.