Macomb County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Macomb County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shelby Township industrial development district
Shelby Township is holding a public hearing on an industrial development district application from C&D Building, LLC; the committee simply received and filed the notice.
Blue Water Conservation District Partnership Renewal
The Blue Water Conservation District, which covers Macomb, St. Clair, and Sanilac counties, is asking for $15,000 a year (up from $10,000) for five years to keep a farm bill technician helping Macomb landowners with soil conservation and erosion practices.
Juvenile Justice Center Food Service Contract
A new vendor, Variety Food Services, will provide meals to youth at the Juvenile Justice Center for up to $200,000 a year after being the sole bidder. Staff say the quality and quantity have been vetted.
Vacant Bertrand Drive Land Sale
The county is selling a thin vacant strip on Bertrand Drive to Lombardo Homes' entity for $50,000, with money going to the General Fund.
Public Participation Policy for People with Disabilities
A new Corporation Counsel-recommended policy formalizes how residents with disabilities can participate in county meetings.
Elevator maintenance and modernization strategy
Commissioners dug into how proprietary elevator systems limit competition — Otis holds the maintenance contract for the downtown campus because most of those elevators are proprietary, while Martha T. Berry and the new jail chose non-proprietary systems.
Breast cancer screening access
Commissioners Howard and Goike used the Cancer Society recognition to highlight that women of color and younger women are often denied MRI screening by insurers, and that 10% of breast cancer cases occur in men but often go undiagnosed.
Lakeside Mall corridor redevelopment pace
Sterling Heights is holding an open house on the Lakeside Corridor Improvement Authority's TIF plan. Commissioner Perna, who attended, says the redevelopment is crawling — maybe step four of ten — with only JCPenney and Macy's still open.
St. Clair Shores Small Tax Bill Consolidation
A housekeeping resolution lets St. Clair Shores merge tiny winter tax bills (under $100) into summer bills for about 14,000 parcels, saving paper and postage.
Farmland Preservation in Bruce Township
The agricultural PDR program pays farmers to keep land in farming permanently; the Coleman family farm in Richmond Township was this year's state award, and more applications are pending.
New Baltimore Court Gets a Permanent Deputy
The board replaced a court officer position with a sheriff's deputy at the New Baltimore District Court — same cost, but law enforcement staffing instead of court staffing.
Sterling Heights Odor Control Facilities
Commissioners got an update on the new odor-scrubbing facility at Dodge Park and Sorrento that looks like a colonial house — people tried to buy it. With a new one planned for the ITC corridor near a high school, the chronic sewer smell complaints in Sterling Heights are being engineered away.
Brownfield redevelopment in Utica
A $50,000 state brownfield grant amendment supports the Utica Mixed Use Building Project — helping redevelop a previously impacted site.
Prosecutor's Office Leadership Restructuring
With chief appellate lawyer Josh Abbott retiring after 22 years, the Prosecutor's Office is swapping that position for a chief of staff attorney role — budget neutral — and fixing a clerical error that dropped the victim witness coordinator. Abbott will return part-time.
County land transfer to Macomb Community College
A resolution to transfer certain county real property to Macomb Community College is on hold pending an appraisal.
Southwest Health Center lease administration — the split vote
The committee split 9-3 on paying Plante Moran Realpointe $60,000 through June to administer the Health & Community Services lease at the Southwest Health Center. Commissioners Goike, Grot, and VanSyckel voted no — the only dissent of the day on any item.
Telecom expense management renewal
The county is keeping its telecom expense management service through a $106,200, three-year amended statement of work with Communication Brokers (Saasweedo) — $2,950 a month, already budgeted.
Resignation of Rev. Ralph Brown from county human services boards
Rev. Ralph Brown is stepping down from the Human Services Board and Martha T. Berry Medical Care Facility board at the end of January, leaving a vacancy the committee says will be hard to fill.