02/07/2024

Outstanding Community Administrator Award

Bill Bamber

Supervisor, Oceola Township

William “Bill” Bamber served as the Supervisor of Oceola Township for 27 years before his retirement in 2023. Throughout his time as an elected official, Bill was a strong advocate for planning – and for the implementation of plans. Under Supervisor Bamber’s leadership, Oceola Township developed a robust zoning administration system and a strong culture of planning. Bill ensured that the Township would be well-staffed, with a full time zoning administrator and a planning consultant. Bill also recruited strong planning commissioners and zoning board of appeals members, and nutured their sense of duty so that appointees stayed in their positions and put in time outside of meetings. Planning commissioner Timothy Weir wrote, "Mr. Bamber keeps politics, which many townships succumb to, out of all decisions and truly does what is best for the community. His vision has created a nice balance of growth while maintaining the rural characteristics of the township." Congratulations to Supervisor Bamber!  MAP thanks him for his planning leadership in Michigan.