Macomb County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Macomb County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Clinton River Watershed Health
The watershed council reported serving 3,000+ county residents, monitoring water quality including high salt levels, surveying road-stream crossings for fish passage, and running rain-garden programs to cut stormwater pollution — while Commissioner Perna pressed for more action on combined sewer overflows from the Red Run Drain.
Chapaton Drain Improvement Results
Commissioner Lucido reported that a $40 million ARPA-funded drain upgrade at Chapaton has produced zero overflows into Lake St. Clair since completion — a water quality win.
Countywide recycling requirements
Commissioner Goike reported that 26 of 27 communities backed the county's move to hire a recycling coordinator to meet a state-mandated recycling target of over 35%, with officials aiming to hit the goal without raising fees.
Materials Management Plan contract
The county held a public hearing on its updated solid waste plan, with a resident urging stronger recycling capacity and river cleanup. Written comments are open through February 17, so residents can still weigh in.
Dam Safety After the Sheboygan Dam Emergency
Miller used the unfolding Sheboygan Dam crisis to warn that Macomb County has 12 dams, eight of them privately owned — and private owners don't always maintain them. The two highest-hazard public dams are at Stony Creek under the HCMA's care, but the county is watching a problem that hit home during the 2020 Midland dam collapse.
Floodplain conservation land purchase in Macomb Township
The county is going halves with Macomb Township to buy four parcels along 23 Mile and 26 Mile Roads for conservation, including floodplain land funded by a state grant.