The Village of Lake Orion

What The Village of Lake Orion does

The Village of Lake Orion is a municipal government entity incorporated in 1859 and headquartered at 21 East Church Street, Lake Orion, Michigan. Operating under a council/manager form of government with a locally adopted village charter (originally adopted 1967), it is one of only 48 villages in Michigan with its own municipal charter under the Michigan Home Rule Village Act. The Village serves approximately 3,000 residents and local businesses within its jurisdiction in northern Oakland County in southeast Michigan's Detroit metropolitan area, located on the 482-acre Lake Orion (the 7th largest lake in Oakland County).

The Village delivers a comprehensive suite of municipal services through a 28-person workforce (17 full-time, 16 part-time, 11 seasonal) organized across the Village Manager, Clerk/Treasurer, Downtown Development Authority, Police Department, and Public Works functions. Core service areas include police protection, public works (water distribution across ~95,000 linear feet of 4"-16" water mains, storm sewer, roads, cemeteries, parks, leaf and snow removal), planning and zoning, building permits, utility billing, trash and recycling collection, and parks and recreation. The Village contracts with external partners for specialized services — Priority Waste LLC for rubbish and yard waste collection, Orion Township for fire services and building department functions, Oakland County for 911 dispatch and sanitary sewer operations, and the Great Lakes Water Authority for water supply. Operations are supported by an online portal enabling permit applications, tax and utility payments, and citizen requests, plus public meeting livestreams via Orion Neighborhood Television.

The Village generates revenue through four primary streams: recurring property tax millages (general operations, fire, library), usage-based water and sewer utility billing, transaction fees (building permits, planning applications, cemetery services, fee schedule), and federal/state grants (CDBG ~$9,000 annually, MDOT Act 51, Michigan Transportation Economic Development Fund). The Downtown Development Authority (DDA), created in 1985 as a wholly-owned subsidiary, drives downtown economic development through tax increment financing. The Village is governed by a seven-member elected Council with a Village Manager appointed as Chief Administrative Officer. Darwin D. P. McClary has served as Village Manager since November 28, 2022, with over 35 years of Michigan municipal management experience.

Name

The Village of Lake Orion

Legal name

The Village of Lake Orion

Website

https://lakeorion.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1859

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Village of Lake Orion is a Michigan home-rule municipal government serving approximately 3,000 residents with police, public works, water/sewer, planning, parks, and utility billing services, funded by property tax millages, utility billing, fees, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIACAF

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYBPAIACAI

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYBPALAMAL

Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services

Business & Public Services/Waste Management & Remediation Services/Wastewater & Septage Management Services

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public safety administration
• Public works operations
• Utility billing services
• Building permits zoning

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Orion

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary revenue source through property tax millages levied on real and personal property within the village limits. The village levies millages for general operations, fire services, and library services.
2. Utility Billing: Water and sewer utility billing services for residents, generating revenue through fixed service charges and usage-based consumption charges.
3. Fees and Permits: Revenue from building permits, planning/zoning applications, cemetery services, and various municipal fees per the fee schedule.
4. Federal and State Grants: CDBG program funding (approximately $9,000 annually), MDOT Act 51 street funding, Michigan Transportation Economic Development Fund grants, and Congressional Community Projects Grant funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Village of Lake Orion is a municipal government entity that delivers local public services to approximately 3,000 residents and local businesses within its jurisdiction in northern Oakland County, Michigan. Core offerings include police protection, fire and rescue (via contract with Orion Township), public works (roads, water distribution, storm sewer, parks, cemeteries, snow/leaf removal), water and sewer utility billing, residential waste and recycling collection (via Priority Waste LLC), building permits and inspections, planning and zoning administration, parks and recreation programming, and administrative services such as property tax billing. Services are funded primarily through property tax millages, usage-based utility charges, permit and application fees, and intergovernmental grants.

Product overview

The Village of Lake Orion is a municipal government entity providing local public services to residents. The organization offers a range of government services including: Village Council governance, Village Manager administration, Clerk/Treasurer functions, Finance and Treasury operations, Police Department services, Public Works (including water distribution, sewer, roads, parks, cemeteries, and leaf collection), Planning and Development/Zoning services, Parks and Recreation facilities and programs, Fire Department services (through Orion Township contract), and various online services including permit applications, payments, and citizen request submissions through the municipal website. The village operates under a council/manager form of government and provides these services to approximately 3,000 residents in northern Oakland County, Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Police Protection Services Round-the-clock police protection delivered by the Village's Police Department, with 911 emergency dispatching contracted to Oakland County. Service is available to all residents and businesses within Village limits.
• Fire and Rescue Services Fire prevention, suppression, and rescue services provided through a contract and shared fire millage with the Orion Township Fire Department at 3365 Gregory Road, Lake Orion.
• Water Distribution and Sewer Utility Service Water and sewer utility billing for residents including fixed service charges and usage-based consumption charges, supported by the Village's water main network and Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner sewer O&M.
• Residential Waste and Recycling Collection Rubbish collection, yard waste collection (April-November), and curbside recycling collection delivered by contracted hauler Priority Waste LLC to Village households on Mondays.
• Building Permits and Inspections Building permit application processing, plan review, and inspection services delivered to residents and businesses through a contract with the Charter Township of Orion Building Department.
• Planning and Zoning Administration Planning and zoning administration services provided through contract with planning firm McKenna for Village residents, property owners, and developers.
• Parks and Recreation Village parks, recreation facilities, and programs available to Village residents and visitors, with advisory oversight by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
• Public Works Infrastructure Maintenance Public Works services including road maintenance, snow and ice control, leaf collection, storm sewer maintenance, and cemetery operations, performed by Village Public Works staff.
• Property Tax Billing and Collection Property tax billing and collection services for real and personal property within Village limits, contracted to the Charter Township of Orion, with millages supporting general operations, fire services, and library services.
• Downtown Development Authority Programs Downtown revitalization and economic development programs operated by the Lake Orion DDA, funded by tax increment financing from the DDA district, supporting local businesses, parking, and community events.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Priority Waste LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCurrent waste collection contractor providing rubbish collection, yard waste collection, and curbside recycling collection services through a single-hauler waste contract. Contact: (586) 228-1200.
• Charter Township of OrioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracts with township for Building Department (permits and inspections) and property tax billing and collection services. Shares fire services through Orion Township Fire Department.
• Oakland County SheriffcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracts for 911 emergency dispatching services. Police department receives dispatch services through Oakland County.
• Orion Township Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides fire prevention, suppression, and rescue services to the village through a fire millage levied in both communities.
• McKenna (Northville, Michigan)majorTechnology or IntegrationPlanning firm contracted to provide planning and zoning administration services for the village.
• Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides sanitary sewerage system operation, maintenance, and capital improvement services by contract. Also responsible for issuing soil erosion and sedimentation control permits. Emergency sewer line: (248) 624-6366.
• Orion Neighborhood Television (ONTV)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides public, education, and government (PEG) cable television programming using cable franchise fees collected from both Lake Orion and Orion Township.
• Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates five water treatment plants treating water from Lake Huron and Detroit River. Village purchases water from Orion Township which receives GLWA water.
• Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillage is part of Stony/Paint Creek Subwatershed of Clinton River Watershed system. CRWC administers the village's storm water education program in compliance with MS4 permit requirements.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development agency providing resources and programs for Michigan communities including Redevelopment Ready Communities Program.
• Orion Area Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber supporting local businesses and economic development in the Orion area.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Village of Frankenmuth, Michigan: A larger Saginaw County home rule village with a tourism-driven downtown economy, an active DDA, and a council/manager government. Comparable as a small Michigan home rule village with a strong identity and place-based economic strategy.
• Village of Dexter, Michigan: Washtenaw County home rule village with a council/manager form of government, comparable resident scale, and a DDA-driven downtown revitalization program. Similar in governance structure and reliance on local charter authority.
• Village of Holly, Michigan: Oakland County home rule village operating police, water, sewer, and DDA services under a council/manager framework. Highly comparable in scale, services, and county-level partnerships to Lake Orion.
• Village of Oxford, Michigan: A small Michigan home rule village in northern Oakland County, just a few miles from Lake Orion. Operates under a similar council/manager framework with comparable municipal services, water/sewer utilities, and DDA, making it one of the closest functional peers in the same geographic market.
• Village of Milford, Michigan: Oakland County home rule village with a DDA, water distribution system, police and public works departments, and a comparable resident population. Faces the same Michigan home rule governance and revenue cap dynamics as Lake Orion.
• Village of Pinckney, Michigan: Small Livingston County home rule village with comparable resident scale, council/manager government, and core municipal services. Similar governance profile and reliance on Michigan home rule village authority.
• Village of Clarkston, Michigan: Small Oakland County home rule village operating a similar council/manager government structure with comparable public works, police, planning/zoning, and water services. Closely mirrors Lake Orion in scale, charter status, and service delivery model.
• Village of Spring Lake, Michigan: A small Ottawa County home rule village with a lakefront, council/manager government, DDA, and full municipal utilities. Comparable to Lake Orion in small-village governance and place-based economic development around a water amenity.

Broad incumbents

• Charter Township of Orion: The surrounding township that contracts with Lake Orion for building department, tax billing, and fire services. Operates as a broader governmental unit with overlapping services and is the most likely candidate to absorb Lake Orion if disincorporation proceeds.
• City of South Lyon, Michigan: Nearby Oakland County small city with council/manager government, police, water/sewer, and DDA. Slightly larger scale than Lake Orion but operates a similar full-service municipal model in the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OrionONTV/streams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-village-of-lake-orion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Village of Lake Orion