 Serving all of Oakland County's 19 districts
MARCH 2023
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Welcome to The Board Bulletin, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners monthly e-newsletter!
Each edition will feature news from the Board, including monthly special recognitions, events, updates on commissioner programs and more, all with the goal of reaching Oakland County residents and stakeholders with information related to their county government.
Additionally, throughout the month, visit www.oakgov.com/boc for the latest updates and to learn more about the commissioners.
Enjoy!
 Incoming members of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners took their ceremonial oath of office and kicked off the 2023-2024 term on January 13. Commissioner David T. Woodward (District 1) was reelected chair and Commissioner Marcia Gershenson (District 11) was reelected vice chair.
The meeting also marked the first for Commissioners Brendan Johnson (District 4) and Ajay Raman (District 14), who are new members to the Board this term after winning election last November. The remaining members are returning incumbents. Commissioner Christine Long (District 12) is the dean of the Board as the longest serving member, beginning her 11th term.
In 2021, the Board, acting as the county’s Apportionment Commission, adopted new county commission districts. For the 2023-2024 term, the following commissioners were sworn in to serve these districts:
- District 1: David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak)
- District 2: Penny Luebs (D-Clawson)
- District 3: Gary R. McGillivray (D-Madison Heights)
- District 4: Brendan Johnson (D-Rochester Hills)
- District 5: Michael Spisz (R-Oxford Twp.)
- District 6: Michael J. Gingell (R-Lake Orion)
- District 7: Bob Hoffman (R-Highland Twp.)
- District 8: Karen Joliat (R-Waterford Twp.)
- District 9: Angela Powell (D-Pontiac)
- District 10: Kristen Nelson (D-Waterford Twp.)
- District 11: Marcia Gershenson (D-Bloomfield Twp.)
- District 12: Christine Long (R-Commerce Twp.)
- District 13: Philip J. Weipert (R-South Lyon)
- District 14: Ajay Raman (D-Novi)
- District 15: Gwen Markham (D-Novi)
- District 16: William Miller (D-Farmington Hills)
- District 17: Yolanda Smith Charles (D-Southfield)
- District 18: Janet Jackson (D-Southfield)
- District 19: Charlie Cavell (D-Ferndale)
The Board approved rules and established standing committees at the meeting to conduct county business going forward. The standing committees are Economic Development and Infrastructure; Public Health and Safety; Finance; and Legislative Affairs and Government Operations.
For more information about each commissioner, visit www.oakgov.com/boc.
Five Oakland County residents received the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Black Excellence Award on February 16.
The honorees were chosen for their notable achievements and the strides they have taken to improve the community. This year’s Black Excellence Award winners were:
- Ebony Bagley
- Tiffany Nicole Cartwright
- Brigitte Hall
- Tameka Ramsey
- Tia Marie Sanders
Commissioners Angela Powell (District 9), Janet Jackson (District 18) and Yolanda Smith Charles (District 17), along with the entire Board, recognized the honorees for their great professional achievements and entrepreneurial spirit. The awardees were nominated by the public, and the program is just one of the ways commissioners commemorated Black History Month. For more information about each of the award winners, visit the Oakland County Blog at bit.ly/BEA2023Blog.
On March 1, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hosted nearly 60 high school students from across the county during its annual Youth in Government Day. Back in person for the first time since 2020, students gathered to learn about local government, participate in a problem-solving session and interact with county elected officials and judges.
Attendees heard from countywide officials, including Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown, Undersheriff Curtis Childs, County Executive David Coulter, Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, Treasurer Robert Wittenberg and Board Chair David T. Woodward. Interactive sessions, facilitated by the dynamic MSU Extension 4-H Leadership & Civic Engagement team, challenged students to actively engage in the sessions and to think critically about media consumption, complex legislative topics and the role of local government in their lives. Participants also toured county courtrooms and saw a demonstration of the Oakland County Sheriff Office’s K-9 Unit.
Since the 1970s, Youth in Government Day has aimed to help develop young adults into future leaders. This year, the event continued to connect students with local government and encouraged them to get involved in their communities. Photos of the day’s event are available at https://bit.ly/YIGDay2023.
The Board regularly recognizes residents, community members, organizations and businesses with proclamations and certificates in honor of special milestones, contributions or achievements. Recent recognitions include:
- Mr. Felix Lester Seldon in memoriam of lifetime achievements – presented by Commissioner Janet Jackson (District 18), Jan. 6
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Shannon Precision Fastener, the Holly Fire Department, Ms. Angie Lemon and the Klempp Family – presented by Commissioner Hoffman during the Holly Area Chamber of Commerce Awards ceremony, Jan. 21
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Mr. Christopher Cowden of Novi in honor of Marfan Syndrome Awareness Month – presented by Commissioner Gwen Markham (District 15), Jan. 26
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Mr. Pete Hovland in recognition of his retirement after 44 years coaching the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams at Oakland University – presented by Commissioner Brendan Johnson (District 4), Jan. 27
- Junior David’s Unique Mercantile in celebration of its grand opening in Holly – presented by Commissioner Bob Hoffmann (District 7), Jan. 27
- Gramer Funeral Home in honor of its 70th anniversary – presented by Commissioner Penny Luebs (District 2), Jan. 31
- Creative Fashions of Holly in celebration of its grand re-opening – presented by Commissioner Hoffman, Feb. 3
- Mr. Jim Ellison welcoming him as the new Oakland County chief of older adult services – presented by Chair David T. Woodward (District 1) and Commissioners Gary R. McGillivray (District 3) and Luebs, Feb. 4
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Mr. Roland Harmes, a Holly High School graduate celebrating his 84th birthday – presented by Commissioner Hoffman, Feb. 10
- The family of Mr. Earl Burton in memoriam of a life dedicated to justice reform – presented by Commissioner Charlie Cavell (District 19), Feb. 25
- Pastor Kevin Sanders, who is celebrating a decade of live morning broadcasts – presented by Commissioner Angela Powell (District 9), Feb. 25
- Mr. Jack Parr of Clarkston celebrating 12 million miles logged as a commercial truck driver at the age of 89 – presented by Commissioners Hoffman and Karen Joliat (District 8), Mar. 2
- Oak Park resident Dr. Lisa Ze Winters in recognition of professional achievements and community service – presented by Chair Woodward and Commissioners Cavell and Luebs, Mar. 2
- Royal Oak Multicultural Parents Association (ROMPA) in appreciation of its efforts to be a voice of diversity, equity for children of color – presented by Chair Woodward and Commissioners Cavell and Luebs, Mar. 2
Upcoming meetings:
Mar. 14 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations, 9:30 a.m.
Public Health & Safety, 11:00 a.m.
Mar. 15 Economic Development & Infrastructure, 9:30 a.m.
Finance, 11:00 a.m.
Mar. 22 Majority Caucus, 4:00 p.m.
Mar. 23 Majority Caucus, 8:30 a.m.
Full Board, 9:30 a.m.
Full Board and standing committee meetings are open to the public at 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac, and livestreamed on the Board’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/BOCCalendar or https://bit.ly/OCCivicClerk. Follow the Board on Facebook for the latest updates.
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In 2021, the number of districts in Oakland County was reduced from 21 to 19 based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, and district boundaries were redrawn. Learn more about the Board, the commissioners and your district at www.oakgov.com/boc. |
There’s a lot happening in Oakland County! Check out the latest news and upcoming events:
- Lend your voice to key issues that affect health and wellness! The Oakland County Health Division and Energizing Connections for a Healthier Oakland want to hear from you via an online survey. Learn more about the Community Health Survey at https://bit.ly/OCHealthSurvey.
- Applications are now open for summer jobs that pay between $12.05 and $19.79 per hour and run from mid-April to mid-September. Find your next job or internship now at https://bit.ly/OCSummerJobs.
- Meet the new deputy county executive, Madiha Tariq. Oakland County Executive David Coulter appointed Ms. Tariq to oversee health, housing and criminal justice areas. Read the complete story at https://bit.ly/OCTariq.
- Are you an Oakland County veteran? The next Veterans Resource Fair will take place on Thursday, March 23 at the Gillham Recreation Center in Huntington Woods. Veterans, active duty, guard and reserves and their families are invited to register for this free event, which will feature food box giveaways, community resources and more at https://bit.ly/MarchVeterans.
- Oakland County cities, villages and townships; community parks and recreation departments; schools; Downtown Development Authorities; and nonprofit organizations, are you looking to create quality recreation opportunities for your residents? The Recreation Assistance Partnership Program (RAPP), an initiative that provides access to recreation experiences through mobile units, nature education programming and more, can help. A grant application is available to assist with funding. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/OCPRPartnership.
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