New year, new districts, new term, new board
The Board of Commissioners is excited about the changes taking place!?
James Perna was appointed on November 17, 2022 to fill the remainder of former Commissioner Julie Matuzak?s term. He was elected to represent the new District 7 starting on January 1, 2023. Congratulations to Trustee Julie Matuzak on being elected Clinton Township Trustee!
The Board proudly wishes Commissioner Veronica Klinefelt well as she heads to Lansing in her newly elected role as a State Senator. The Commissioners look forward to working with her as she represents State Senate District 11.??
The Board is also saying goodbye to Commissioner Jeff Farrington who plans to continue his job as Area President at FocusCFO.
New Commissioners that will be joining us for 2023 are:
- District 3 - Sylvia Grot
- District 13 - Sarah Lucido
Returning Commissioners in their new districts are:
- District 1 - Don Brown?
- District 2 - Phil Kraft?
- District 4 - Joe Sabatini
- District 5 - Don VanSyckel
- District 6 - Joseph V. Romano
- District 8 - Antoinette Wallace
- District 9 - Barbara Zinner
- District 10 - Harold L. Haugh
- District 11 - Mai Xiong
- District 12 - Michelle Nard
The incoming commissioners will be sworn in at the December 15th Full Board meeting at 7 p.m. and will take office on January 1, 2023. The first meeting of the new term, the Organizational Meeting, will be held Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 3 p.m.
 Board Unanimously Adopts 2023 Budget
The Macomb County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a balanced 2023 budget at its Full Board Meeting today. After many hours spent in multiple public meetings, the Board worked in a bipartisan manner to adopt a budget that very closely aligned with the recommended budget received from the County Executive.?
Highlights of the 2022 budget include a total budget that exceeds $1 billion with over $300 million of that in the County?s General Fund and a strong position for the future with a fund balance that will total over $100 million.
The 2023 budget controls spending, due to the combined efforts of the Board, Elected Officials, Executive and Administration, with expenses that increased less than the rate of inflation.? Public safety was prioritized with investments made in personnel for the Sheriff?s Office and Prosecutor?s Office and a full time School Security Officer through the Office of Emergency Management. Commissioners added funding for the County?s most vulnerable residents through amendments that will fund critical building improvements at the County?s Martha T. Berry Medical Care Facility and set aside funding for the County?s distributions to local food pantries.
?The Board of Commissioners takes great pride in the fact that the unanimously adopted budget best serves the citizens of Macomb County.? said Board Chair Don Brown. ?We strive to always put the needs of our community at the forefront and are committed to ensuring, to the taxpayers, responsible spending.??
?We had a thorough, fully transparent, process in place to review this budget,? said Finance/Audit/Budget Committee Chair, Joe Sabatini. ?We dissected each department?s budget to ensure our fiduciary duty to the taxpayers. All amendments to the recommended budget were made and deliberated at public meetings.??
Local county legislators discuss progress, future at Tri-County Summit
During the 14th Tri-County Summit, which took place Nov. 18, county legislators from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties met to focus on water and broadband infrastructure challenges and opportunities facing the region. Through several different sessions, officials from the state?s three most populous counties explored ways to collaborate as a region.
?Issues like water quality and broadband access aren?t just local issues, but regional issues,? Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell said. ?Tri-county summits, like the one we just held, offer a tremendous starting point for all of us to work together on them. I look forward to being the host for next year?s summit as we continue to work together for the residents of all three counties.?
?I am proud of the efforts made by our tri-county team since we renewed the summit in 2021 and look forward to continuing the work identified at this year?s event,?? said Macomb County Board of Commissioners Chair Don Brown. ?These issues affect our entire region and we can tackle them better together.?
?This year?s summit provided a unique opportunity for commissioners across southeast Michigan to hear from experts on the issues facing our region and begin exploring how we can move forward together in the most effective and powerful way possible,? said Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman David T. Woodward. ?I can?t wait to continue this work with my counterparts to ensure improved broadband equity and water infrastructure for everyone in the tri-county area.?
Following the 2021 summit, commissioners from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties formed study groups on water and broadband infrastructure. At this year?s event, the Broadband Equity Study Group shared its findings on regional broadband coverage and ways to leverage federal funding opportunities. The Water Infrastructure Study Group presented on regulatory storm water standards, lobbying regulation and educational resources for residents. Officials from the National Association of Counties also offered their expertise during these discussions and expressed support for the three counties? collaborative efforts around water and broadband.
Participants also heard from Martin Lavelle, an economist from the Chicago Federal Reserve, and Amy O?Leary, executive director of the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments,?who presented the organization?s water infrastructure survey results and spoke about regional broadband. The Michigan Association of Counties provided a legislative update for attendees.
To conclude the event, commission chairs signed a pledge to continue working together to address issues that are significant to the region. Moving forward, the counties? leadership committed to:
- Implement a tri-county approach to federal and state infrastructure grant opportunities and actively seek joint grant applications to submit with the support of all three counties; and
- Evaluate, and if necessary, jointly challenge the accuracy of newly released FCC broadband? maps, which will determine federal funding for improving broadband access and speeds across the region; and
- Create a water legislative agenda by the first quarter of 2023 to jointly advocate and advance in the next state legislature session.The Tri-County Summit was first hosted in 1998 to create a forum to identify common issues for cooperative action.
Previous topics have included mental health, criminal justice, transportation/transit, economic development and regional quality of life.
The Macomb County Board of Commissioners honored LTC John E. Walus with the 2022 Pat Daniels Veteran of the Year Award for the significant contributions he makes in helping our Veterans!? He was nominated by the Honorable Mark S. Switalski and Honorable Tracey A. Yokich, who were also present to honor him.
LTC John E. Walus leads the Macomb County Veterans Treatment Court (MCVTC) mentor program and has been essential to the success of graduates since the program?s inception in 2012. He has also worked with 41-B District Court to launch the misdemeanor Veterans Treatment Court. He then took on the responsibilities of Treasurer and acting President of the Friends of the Macomb County Veterans Treatment Court, a nonprofit fund created to assist the MCVTC and its participants.??
Congratulations LTC John E. Walus and thank you for your service to our country and to our local Veteran community!
Macomb County Casual Day Program?Request for Charities
The Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce the continuation of the Macomb County Casual Day Charitable Collections Program for 2023.? With department leader permission, participating employees may wear casual clothing to work on Fridays/designated days if they donate at least one dollar. Departments must collect and send their donations to the Board office in a timely fashion.
Written requests for 2023 charities must be received by the Board office no later than Friday, December 9, 2022.?All requests must be on letterhead from a designated official of the charity and accompanied by a current 501(c)(3) certificate and solicitation license from the State Attorney General?s Office.? Full criteria and guidelines can be found here.
The Casual Day program was first adopted by resolution of the Board of Commissioners in 1994 and it has continued to grow thanks to Macomb County employees' commitment to helping others. Since the program?s inception, nearly $705,000 has been generously donated to various charities.
Written requests for 2023 charities must be received by the Board office?at?[email protected]?no later than Friday, December 9, 2022.
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The Macomb County Board of Commissioners invites Macomb County public and private school students in grades 9-12 to partake in the county's first Student Government Day this January!?
Purpose
To provide our community?s youth the opportunity to learn the purpose and mechanics of county-level government, and be able to participate in a way to further their understanding of how local government works. Students who recognize and understand this will become more informed and involved citizens and voters.
Former President Richard Nixon wrote in his 1972 Proclamation: National Student Government Day, that student government organizations can ?offer young people early and vital experience in exercising a voice in matters of common concern, reconciling diverse interests, and selecting leaders to express representative views. Equally important, active and responsible student governments can exert a constructive influence in shaping the on-going reform and self renewal of our educational communities.?
Essay Portion
The first part of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners Student Government Program is an Essay Contest. This is open to all students at public and private schools in grades 9th-12th. The essay topic for 2022/2023 is: Why do you think school violence is increasing and what can students do to prevent it? The submission window is Monday, September 26, 2022 through Friday, December 16, 2022. No late entries will be accepted.
The essay criteria is as follows:
- Essay must pertain to the 2022/2023 essay topic: Why do you think school violence is increasing and what can students do to prevent it?
- All essays must be submitted here *If a student does not have a Gmail account to fill out the Google Form, applications may also be sent to [email protected] in either Word or PDF format.
- Essay must be submitted by midnight on Friday December 16, 2022.
- Essays must be at least one page in length (single spaced), and no more than 3 pages in length (single spaced).
- Submissions must include: Student?s name, email, phone number, address, school, & teacher?s name.
Student Government Day ? January 26, 2023
The Commissioners will choose their favorite essays and invite those students to participate in a Student Government Day at the Macomb County Board of Commissioners office in downtown Mount Clemens on January 26, 2023. A tentative schedule will be available by the essay deadline. This event may include some or all of the following: a tour of Commissioners? offices and the Board Room, a mock meeting with Commissioners, presentations, discussion opportunities with elected officials, the opportunity to draft a mock proclamation and/or tribute, and more.
Macomb County Board of Commissioners Student Government Scholarship
For the first time, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, led by Chairman Don Brown, is excited to announce the Macomb County Board of Commissioners Student Government Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to the top essay submitted, and will be awarded at Student Government Day in January 2023. The amount of this scholarship is $1,000.
For more information call (586) 469-5125 or email [email protected]
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Macomb County Board of Commissioners proudly coordinates the Green Schools Program for all K-12 schools in Macomb County. The Macomb County Green schools program operates under the Michigan Green Schools Program, which was established by Public Act 146 on May 22, 2006, and is dedicated to providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to maintain good ecological practices, protect the environment, preserve natural resources and promote energy efficiency.
The program is open to any K-12 public or private school within the state. To receive a ?Green School? designation, each school must apply by submitting an appropriate application to the county/intermediate school district in which the school is located each year. The applicant must provide a description of how the school has performed a minimum of two activities from each of the categories as described below by March 1, 2023 to receive either a green, emerald or evergreen school environmental stewardship designation based on the point system.
Please turn in applications to [email protected]
For more information call (586) 469-5125 or email [email protected]
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