Macomb County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Macomb County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Art Institute Authority Reappointments
The Executive wants to reappoint Kevin Chandler, Jennifer Lehrer, and Jill Rilley to the Art Institute Authority for terms through 2028. All three were unable to attend interviews.
Community Food Bank grant funding
An $84,549 increase to the federal TEFAP program would boost emergency food distribution through Macomb Community Action — more food for pantries and families in need.
Veterans Services Advertising Contract
The county was poised to sign a multi-year media services contract with Martin Media Services and spend $240,000 on 2027 advertising to promote veterans services. The money helps get benefits information to local veterans who may not know what's available.
Senior Meals Funding and New Kitchen Contractor
A $58,500 agreement with the St. Clair Shores Activity Center would fund congregate meals — group dining for seniors. It keeps a meal program running for older residents in the lakeshore area.
Water Affordability Assistance
A $221,562 budget amendment would bring state MDHHS water affordability grant money into Macomb Community Action, helping low-income households pay water bills.
County Seal Ordinance
A draft ordinance would set official standards for who can use the county seal and how — aimed at preventing misuse of the county's official emblem. Discussion only at this stage.
Schoenherr Road Reconstruction
A $15.4 million MDOT contract will rebuild Schoenherr Road between 23 Mile and 25 Mile Roads, with the county covering about $2.9 million. The full Board still needs to give final approval.
EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant
The county landed a $500,000 no-match EPA grant to assess contaminated sites countywide over the next three to four years, paving the way for redevelopment.
Community Corrections fund deficit
A $277,000 PCE Systems contract will build electronic forms and automatic referrals linking jail intake, Community Mental Health and Community Corrections data — aimed at fewer duplicate records and smoother handoffs.
Next Generation 911 Implementation
The Sheriff's Dispatch Office needs an extra $165,100 of contract authority with Mission Critical Partners to finish its transition to the new Axon 911 phone system. Officials stressed it's a spending ceiling, not a commitment to spend it all.
Public Comment Scope Question
Commissioner Romano asked whether public participation could be limited to county-related topics; the chair said the Open Meetings Act governs it but promised to take the question under advisement.
ARPA Drainage Project Funding Shift
A $1.9 million shuffle among four drainage projects keeps the county from losing any of its $40 million in federal ARPA money before the Dec. 31 spending deadline.
8½ Mile Relief Drain Bonds
The county will pledge its full faith and credit to drainage district bonds backing a new $40 million pump station near Nine Mile and Jefferson in St. Clair Shores, which should cut flood risk and sewer overflows. Officials say there's no added annual cost to the districts.
CDBG Grants for Local Communities
About $1.59 million in federal CDBG dollars will fund ADA ramps, sewer lining, a playground, fire equipment, demolition and senior programs in Richmond, Mount Clemens, Macomb Township, Harrison Township, Eastpointe and New Baltimore.
Midterm Election Results
Macomb County's midterm results are in — unofficial for now — and they'll shape who runs county government for the next few years. That means the winners will help set budgets, services, and local policy priorities. If you live in Macomb County, this is the crew making decisions that touch your daily life.
Planning and Economic Development budget
Planning & Economic Development landed a $500,000 EPA brownfield grant and is pushing business attraction around the new Selfridge fighter jets — but state MEDC support for its strategy has fallen to zero, leaving the county competing with other states for jobs.
Rosso Highway Project Grant Agreement
A $38.2 million state grant agreement and $27.8 million construction contract will reroute Rosso Highway near Selfridge, at no county cost.
Macomb Orchard Trail Master Plan
Final approval of a $45,000 SEMCOG grant lets the county complete a master plan for the Macomb Orchard Trail, a popular regional recreation path.
County roads: Romeo Plank reconstruction and Neighborhood Roads Fund
Roads officials previewed the long-awaited Romeo Plank reconstruction starting in late 2027, a big 2027 slate of resurfacing projects, and reliance on the new state Neighborhood Roads Fund — which may bring in less than the $30 million forecast. The department wants 11 new hires to tackle 33 vacancies and improve snow plowing.
Public Works budget and sewer infrastructure
Public Works reported sewer overflows cut 75% at Chapaton, a record year of drain cleanouts in every community, and $184 million in grant funding raised. The department is asking for a $127,100 budget amendment and wants Oakland County to pay more toward Red Run repairs.
Parks fund shortfall and Freedom Hill upkeep
The parks fund lost its catering tenant at Freedom Hill, and the county is requesting a $150,000 general fund transfer for 2027. Commissioners also pressed for long-promised repairs to the aging maintenance garage at the site.
Sheriff's Road Patrol Staffing Increase
The Sheriff is 19 deputies short with 13 recruits graduating in December, plus six corrections and three dispatcher vacancies. The crime suppression unit (one sergeant, two deputies) made it into the general fund budget after four years of requests, but a Macomb Auto Theft Squad lieutenant position did not.
HR 1 work requirements threaten mental health revenue
New federal work requirements for Healthy Michigan enrollees could cut CMH revenue by 10% as people lose coverage over paperwork. CMH is hiring a benefits specialist to help clients stay enrolled.
Opioid settlement funds to add mental health therapists
Opioid settlement money will pay for two more MCCMH therapists at the intake center — part of a push to connect people in the justice system with treatment.
Missing sheriff's deputy at prosecutor's child support unit
The prosecutor's third-floor cooperative reimbursement unit — open to the public, with DNA testing that brings in children — hasn't had an armed deputy since COVID. There was a fight there this year. The office wants the position restored, with 66% grant-funded.
Juvenile Justice Center facility upgrades
A $900,930 video surveillance system for the Juvenile Justice Center was postponed to September while the board sorts out its capital funding process.
Federal Crime Victim Compensation Access
A Kent County resident told the committee that crime victims and survivors struggle to access federal compensation funds, and urged the county to find middle ground between fraud concerns and victims' needs amid a dispute over the county executive's signing of a federal grant certificate.
Elections costs and state technology mandates
Multiple residents alleged vote-history manipulation, ballot-image FOIA problems and compromised data from the 2021 forensic audit, urging audits and record preservation.
Courtroom space shortage
Chief Judge Biernat says the courts are out of room — one judge is sharing a conference room with another judge, and pending legislation could add three new circuit judges the county has no space for. A space needs assessment backs him up.
Obsolete courtroom recording equipment
The courts' 15-year-old electronic recording system is failing mid-trial — one judge had to move her trial to another courtroom. A vendor was chosen in August 2026, but the pilot was shelved over funding; the judge says a clean trial record is legally essential.
Animal Control Budget Review
The committee reviewed the proposed Animal Control budget with Chief Animal Control Officer Jeff Randazzo. It covers shelter and animal welfare operations county residents rely on.
Health & Community Services Budget Review
The health department, Macomb Community Action, and MSU Extension budgets were presented by their directors. These programs cover public health, food and utility assistance, and extension education for residents.
2026 Countywide Millage Rates and Apportionment
The board approved the report that sets how property taxes get spread across all of Macomb County's taxing jurisdictions. Staff flagged an under-levy error at Fitzgerald Public Schools affecting about 5,000 Warren properties, plus two November ballot millage proposals that could force a December revision.
Traveling petting zoo animal welfare
A resident alleged a petting zoo at Freedom Hill's Harvest Fest violated Michigan's anti-cruelty statute and USDA licensing rules, leaving animals without shelter, and urged the county to investigate since the venue is overseen by the county.
MSHDA Emergency Solutions Grant funding for homeless services
The board added state and federal dollars for homeless and housing providers, senior transportation services, and home weatherization help — money that flows to struggling households in Macomb County.
Data center proposals in northern Macomb townships
Commissioner Wallace reported the state Attorney General offered a town hall on data centers and continues work on lake pollution cases affecting county waterways.
Central Intake & Assessment Center / Jail Construction Change Orders
The committees recommended nearly $1.7 million in contracts to furnish and equip the new Central Intake & Assessment Center, plus a security systems change order. The project remains on budget.
Firearm safe storage and youth gun violence
Another child was shot with an unsecured gun the same day as the meeting. Commissioner Howard urged residents to pick up free gun locks from any police department — no questions asked — or call him directly for one.
Traffic Signal and Safety Improvements
A $1.77 million MDOT project will finally add a mast-arm traffic signal and turn lanes at the chronically dangerous 26 Mile and Hayes intersection, where the road's odd skew has caused repeated crashes. The county's share is about $1.02 million, with state safety funds and local communities covering the rest.
First new Board of Commissioners staff in ten years?
The Board's own office wants its part-time office assistant made full-time for about $31,000 net, citing a 70% workload jump since 2021. Multiple commissioners voiced support, with some arguing the ask is too modest.
FOIA workload explosion at Corporation Counsel
Corporation Counsel has fielded 2,000 FOIA requests this year and expects 3,000 by year's end — up from 500 five years ago — and says it may eventually need another attorney just to handle records requests.
Restoring the county employee training fund
HR is again asking to recreate the county's training fund (~$150,000) for leadership training and resiliency classes that were cut two years ago; commissioners showed interest but some questioned the jump from prior spending of ~$80,000.
Student loan relief program (Savvy) pitched for county employees
Commissioners Wallace and Howard urged HR to look at the Savvy student loan assistance program, which neighboring Wayne and Oakland counties use as a recruiting and retention tool.
2027 County Budget Review Process
The County Executive proposed a $1.25 billion budget with a $399 million general fund and a $3 million surplus. It includes 3% raises for county workers and $21.6 million for capital projects — but the county faces $361 million in capital needs over five years, so a long-term funding plan is coming.
Delinquent tax foreclosure collections
The Treasurer's office will spend $156,434 on targeted ads — mostly gas-station TV and online — to warn at-risk homeowners before foreclosure, run through a consolidated no-bid contract.
Surge in ADA accommodation requests strains county HR
ADA accommodation requests jumped from 4 in 2023 to 94 so far this year, and HR says it needs a dedicated HR consultant to keep up, meet legal obligations, and limit county liability. The committee took no vote — this request will resurface during budget deliberations.
Outside assessment of county IT spending and staffing
IT is asking for three new positions — a cybersecurity manager, a compliance officer, and a purchasing assistant — saying one security administrator can no longer handle the county's growing cyber and compliance workload, and software maintenance costs are climbing about $1.5 million.
Administration Building Plaza Deck Deterioration
The plaza deck over the Administration Building's underground garage has leaked for a decade, and excavations revealed steel deterioration bad enough to pose a structural failure risk — the area is cordoned off and emergency shoring is underway. The committee approved an extra $750,000, with more possibly coming this winter.
County Credit Rating Upgrade to AAA
Moody's upgraded Macomb County from AA+ to AAA, the highest possible rating, meaning the county can borrow money more cheaply for big projects like buildings and infrastructure.
Support for Macomb County nonprofits
The proposed 2027 budget raises Care House funding from $25,000 to $125,000 and Turning Point from $100,000 to $200,000 — a combined $200,000 more for domestic violence and child advocacy services.