October 27, 2022
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
Dear Friends,
It was another really challenging week for the extended Oxford community.
To watch a teenager impassively plead guilty to 24 felony counts, including the murders of four Oxford High School classmates, was chilling. It brought back that horrific day last November when the Oxford school community, including students, faculty, staff and parents experienced the worst day in their lives.
I can’t imagine what it felt like for the families who were in the courtroom or watching the live stream. The trauma is still raw and devastating for so many, from those directly impacted to the first responders and prosecutors dealing with this case, as well as for those who are still helping the community heal.
Monday’s court proceeding was just one day in a long and difficult road to justice, but it is my hope that the guilty pleas will bring some relief to the victims, their families and the extended Oxford community.
I got the chance to talk with some of the leaders in Oxford to offer my support and commitment that the county will continue to do everything to support the community in this time of healing.
The resiliency center will remain open and available to provide residents and students with mental health and other resources for as long as they need.
Even before the COVID pandemic and the incidence of gun violence in Oxford, we knew we had to invest more in improving and expanding access to mental health services for our residents, especially our students, who have been so drastically impacted by the events of the last two years.
Students have to think about so much more than a new stash of pens and notebooks. I’ve heard reports of teachers buying door stops to deter potential shooters from their classroom or a stash of masks in case there was a COVID outbreak in class.
While these precautions are unfortunately probably necessary in this day and age, they’ve also produced a sense of anxiety, even dread, in our students and teachers and staff.
Mental health trips to the emergency room by students have skyrocketed by 40% in 2021 and the situation is borne out by the county’s experience with $10 million in mental health grants that we awarded to 41 non-profits agencies last year. Of the nearly 40,000 people who have received services in the past year, 40 percent are under the age of 18.
With bipartisan support from the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, we invested $12 million in 2021 into mental health programs. This year, we added another $10.1 million into mental health services that will become directly available for mental health professionals in schools.
Watching the proceedings on Monday reminded me that failure is not an option when it comes to ensuring our kids have the help they need to deal with the everyday challenges as well as the tragic events they are increasingly confronting on a daily basis.
It’s not enough to say we are #OxfordStrong. We have to deliver too.
With gratitude,
David Coulter Oakland County Executive
Coulter appoints new deputy, DEI officer
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter has made two key appointments to his administration, naming Walt Herzig as the deputy county executive who will be the liaison with the Board of Commissioners, the county's delegations in the state Legislature and Congress along with the state and federal government and Harry Weaver III as the new Oakland County Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer.
Herzig brings an extensive record of public service to the job, including being the district director for U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, former U.S. Rep. Sander Levin and former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. He also was the Chief of Staff for former Lt. Gov. John Cherry.
In 2010, Herzig led the state government's effort to educate Michigan residents about the U.S. Census and ensure a high participation rate. As a result of those efforts, Michigan had the fifth-highest mail response rate in the nation.
Weaver brings a wealth of experience to the job with more than two decades working in the DEI space, at the Chippewa Valley School District in Clinton Township, as the Education Director and Certified Trainer at the Anti-Defamation League, Michigan Region for 16 years and as an independent DEI consultant.
Weaver has developed anti-bias programming and training for corporations, communities, school districts, businesses and law enforcement agencies, helping to create an outstanding model that will translate seamlessly to Oakland County. In the new position, he also will take over as leader of the county's Equity Council.
Oakland Transit on the Nov. 8 ballot
Public transportation will be on the Nov. 8 ballot in every community in Oakland County.
The 0.95 mill levied countywide will:
- Maintain existing public transit, including services provided by the SMART bus system, North Oakland Transportation Authority, Western Oakland Transportation Authority and the Older Persons Commission in the Rochester area.
- Connect residents to jobs, medical care, schools and shopping.
- Expand new transit service to key areas, including major employment centers, health care campuses and local colleges and universities.
- Expand Reservation-based and App-based transportation services, which are flexible rides for seniors, veterans and people with disabilities who need to make essential trips, such as doctor appointments and grocery shopping.
- All the money raised in Oakland County will be used to benefit county residents and businesses.
- Local service details will be developed collaboratively with members of the public, community organizations, transit providers, local governments and county leadership. Funds will be administered, distributed and annually audited by Oakland County.
To learn more, go to oakgov.com/OaklandTransit.
Board approves $8.5 million to support Older Adults
Local senior centers and nonprofit organizations that provide senior services will benefit from $8.5 million in funding approved by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners last week.
Applications for grants of up to $250,000 in matching funds will be available on Oct. 31.
"Our senior community centers play a vital role for older adults, offering opportunities for socialization, nutrition, recreation, and education," said Commissioner Kristen Nelson (D-Waterford Twp.). This grant opportunity will greatly assist senior centers in growing their capacity to meet identified community needs, including access to computers, internet and training, professional development, and infrastructure improvement projects."
"Using CARES Act funds in 2020, we reimbursed senior centers for pandemic-related expenses, but with these funds we are making future-focused investments to improve the quality of life of our older residents," said County Executive David Coulter. "We are pleased to work collaboratively with Commissioner Nelson and the Board of Commissioners on this important program."
To learn more about the grant, go to OakGov.com/SeniorCenterGrant.
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