Macomb County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Macomb County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
42-1 District Court (Romeo) Facade Renovation
The 1991-built Romeo court building has serious water intrusion from a failing exterior insulation system that caused rot and mold. A $1.3 million fix replacing the cladding and roof was recommended 9-2.
Prosecutor Tele Town Halls on Senior Scams
The Prosecutor's Office will spend up to $91,797.50 on a phone-based town hall platform, but two commissioners objected to paying a telemarketing-style service to reach residents.
Crisis response unit — deputy plus mental health professional
The Sheriff's Office wants a new two-person crisis response team — a deputy paired with a mental health professional — to handle behavioral health 911 calls, with the goal of treatment instead of jail. Community Mental Health is picking up part of the cost.
Medical Examiner equipment funding
The Health Department found $45,500 within its own budget to replace the Medical Examiner's long-obsolete microscopes. Commissioners praised the internal funding move.
Substance Use Disorder Oversight Policy Board appointments
Two seats are open on the board that oversees substance use disorder policy. Candidates including people in long-term recovery and a veteran family advocate spoke, and the full slate now goes to the full Board for a vote next week.
Regional measles vaccine stockpile
The county will host a regional stash of measles immune globulin so neighboring communities can respond quickly to an outbreak, with the state covering $10,000 of storage costs.
Prosecuting Attorney staffing and legal services
The board unanimously overrode County Executive Hackel's veto, restoring its approval of legal services for the Prosecutor's Office — a rare show of board independence.
Emergency preparedness funding (Cities Readiness Initiative)
The Health Department landed $134,059 in state grant money, mainly for conference audio-visual equipment at the VERC building.
WIC Services for Arabic-Speaking Families (ACCESS)
A renewed $311,000 grant-funded contract keeps ACCESS providing WIC nutrition services to about 2,200 Arabic-speaking clients a month — roughly 18% of the county's WIC caseload.
Sheriff scheduler replacement
The Sheriff's decade-old, in-house scheduling system can't keep up with increasingly complex union contracts, so the county is buying a specialized FieldWare system with Workday integration for $110,685.
Specialty court treatment and testing services
Drug court participants will keep getting outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment plus required drug testing through four grant-funded contracts — Commissioner Howard praised the program for 'helping people versus incarcerating people.'
Infant health funding for Macomb County (RPQC subaward)
A $129,738 state grant increase supports the Maternal Infant Health Program staffing and public health infrastructure, including batch scanners and video cameras at the medical examiner's office.
County fleet replacement purchases
The committees recommended about $2.3 million in replacement vehicles for the Sheriff's Office, Animal Control, Emergency Management, Facilities, Public Works and county leadership. Most are bought off state bid pricing since no Macomb County dealers currently hold the state bid.
Sheriff in-car camera systems
The Sheriff's Office is getting 15 new in-car cameras for its transport fleet for $119,154 through 2029, paid from grant funds. It plugs into the camera contract the county recently renewed so all equipment refreshes together.
42-2 District Court Magistrate appointment
The 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore needed a new magistrate after its longtime magistrate retired. Attorney Genevieve Taylor, who has practiced in Macomb County since 2008 and already completed magistrate training, got the committee's unanimous nod.
Radio Encryption Mandate for Police
New federal rules require police to be able to talk on encrypted channels by October 2026. The county is buying $152,128 in software to upgrade 340 existing radios instead of buying a whole new radio fleet — a cheaper fix that keeps officers compliant and their communications secure.
AED Replacement in Sheriff Patrol Vehicles
Some of the Sheriff's defibrillators could fail when needed most — the manufacturer flagged the defect. The county is leasing 52 new AEDs plus first aid kits for $219,820 over two years, with 28-day inspections. Leasing beat buying because each unit runs about $1,200 and batteries and pads keep costing money.
Cybersecurity Grant Funding
The county landed an extra $166,798 in federal/state cybersecurity grant money to fund security assessments and offset the cost of its Zscaler protection software.
Juvenile Justice Center police labor contract
A new contract for about 40 juvenile justice center employees is headed to the full Board after workers rejected an earlier deal and mediation produced a settlement.
State grant cut forces sheriff staffing shuffle
The state reduced the Secondary Road Patrol grant, so two deputies have to move back onto the county's general fund — a $270,192 budget amendment plus a two-position change. Board Chair Sabatini flagged unresolved questions about how the county tracks sheriff positions and wants answers before the full board votes.