 Serving all of Oakland County's 19 districts
SEPTEMBER 2023
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 During its last meeting, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved closing on the purchase of two office buildings, several parcels of vacant land, and the Phoenix Center garage and amphitheater in downtown Pontiac. This project demonstrates the county’s commitment to redevelop, revitalize and reconnect downtown Pontiac in partnership with the city.
Highlights of the agreement include refurbishing the vacant former GM building on East Judson and moving up to 600 employees into the building; demolishing the Phoenix Center and constructing a new parking garage; reopening Saginaw Street to the south end of the Woodward Loop; and returning a minimum of two acres of land to the City of Pontiac.
In addition, Commissioners Angela Powell (District 9) and Kristen Nelson (District 10) recently hosted a community conversation to allow Pontiac residents and other stakeholders to learn more and ask questions about the project. The county plans to host additional community meetings as redevelopment plans progress. The project will cost approximately $120 to $130 million. It will be paid for with state, local and federal funding, and the county will seek out public/private partnerships.
Visit https://bit.ly/47HCD5r to stay informed and share feedback with the county.
According to BroadbandNow, an independent research firm that compiles data on internet plans, pricing and availability, Michigan ranks 27th in the nation for coverage, speed and availability. While most residents in the state have access to wired or fixed broadband, less than half are able to purchase broadband at an affordable price.
To help address these issues, county commissioners want to hear about your experience with high-speed internet.
Earlier this summer, the Board launched a brief, 15-question survey to ask residents about their experience with broadband access and affordability. Feedback collected from this survey, managed in partnership with the Michigan-based nonprofit Merit Network, will help commissioners and other legislators make decisions about future infrastructure updates.
If you have not yet completed the survey and wish to let your elected officials know about broadband access in your neighborhood, visit https://bit.ly/44lvR2s. There, you will find answers to commonly asked questions and a link to the survey.
Please note that it is important to complete the survey while on your home internet network.
The Board has launched a new page which increases transparency and accessibility to important documents. The page, hosted on the Documents on Demand platform, serves as a repository for the Board’s committee meeting minutes and agendas as well as other documents adopting board action such as resolutions, reports, proclamations, ordinance, rules, policies and procedures.
Visitors and interested individuals can go to www.oakgov.com/boc and click “Resolutions and Board Actions” from the “Meeting Resources” tab to view documents.
The Board unanimously approved Oakland County Parks Community Grant Program recipients at its August 3 meeting. More than $608,000 in funding will be distributed to 11 Oakland County communities. Through the grants, commissioners supported funding for the following community projects to upgrade or create green spaces:
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Village of Beverly Hills - $100,000 for Beverly Park Playground Restoration
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City of Birmingham - $25,000 for planning costs associated with trail improvements along the northernmost (Booth Park) section of the Rouge River Trail corridor
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Commerce Township - $100,000 for Bicentennial Park renovations
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City of Farmington - $100,000 for Dinan Pocket Park
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City of Ferndale - $64,000 for the Martin Road Park Revitalization Project
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Village of Leonard - $25,000 for design and engineering costs associated with Polly Ann Trail modernization and safety improvements
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City of Madison Heights - $22,500 for basketball court replacement at Civic Center Park
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Oakland Township - $63,750 for the Gallagher Trail
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Orion Township - $7,916 for the Civic Center Sand Playground (Phase 1)
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City of Royal Oak - $50,000 for Hamer Finch Wilkins Park
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City of Southfield - $50,000 for the Lahser Woods Park Improvement Project (Phase 1: Dog Park)
To learn more about these projects, visit https://bit.ly/parksandrecfunding.
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new contract to expand public transportation service in the southwest area of the county with People’s Express (PEX) during its August 17 meeting. The expanded service will launch September 2023 and is intended to improve public transportation services in South Lyon, Wixom, Milford Township, Commerce Township, Lyon Township, the Village of Milford and the Village of Wolverine Lake. The Board is dedicating more than $1 million of the Oakland County Public Transportation Millage to pay for the expansion and to connect more people to public transportation services.
New driving boundaries will connect more communities and allow for increased cross-community transportation. The new agreement with Oakland County will also extend new routes, expand hours of operation and increase frequency of service. In addition, the service will be open to the general public in the service area once capacity is available.
Oakland County residents approved the Oakland County Public Transportation millage on November 8, 2022. This voter-approved 10-year, .95 millage will maintain and expand public transit services throughout the region. In addition to PEX, the millage funds public transportation services in Oakland County provided by the North Oakland Transportation Authority, the West Oakland Transportation Authority, the Older Persons Commission and Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). For more information on the millage, visit www.oakgov.com/OaklandTransit.
To learn more about the services PEX offers, visit www.peoplesexpressmi.com/oakland.
The Board regularly recognizes residents, community members, organizations and businesses with proclamations and certificates in honor of special milestones, contributions or achievements. See the list below for recent recognitions.
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Marissa Carson of Highland Township was honored for her recent crowning as Miss Oakland County – presented by Commissioners Philip J. Weipert (District 13) and Bob Hoffman (District 7), August 3.
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High school student Claudia Kenny received a proclamation recognizing her achievement as Miss Oakland County Teen – presented by Chair David T. Woodward (District 1), August 3.
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Kelly Westbrook, executive director of the Downtown Oxford Development Authority, celebrated being named Mrs. Michigan – presented by Commissioner Michael Spisz (District 5), August 3.
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September 7-18, 2023, was proclaimed as Welcoming Week, a ten-day observation that highlights the benefits of building inclusive communities – presented by Commissioner William Miller (District 16), August 17.
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Ellie Mental Health of Clarkston hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony – presented by Commissioner Karen Joliat (District 8), August 21.
- Waterford-based Schram Auto Parts marked its 100th business anniversary – presented by Commissioner Joliat, August 23.
- Upon his retirement as Bloomfield Township Clerk, Brian Kepes received a tribute in appreciation for his 30 years of public service in both appointed and elected capacities – presented by Vice Chair Marcia Gershenson (District 11), August 28.
Upcoming meetings:
Sept. 5 Healthy Aging Ad Hoc Committee, 8:30 a.m.
Legislative Affairs & Government Operations, 9:30 a.m.
Public Health & Safety, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 6 Economic Development & Infrastructure, 9:30 a.m.
Special Committee to Study Road Commission Operations, 10:30 a.m.
Finance, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 14 Majority Caucus, 5:00 p.m.
Full Board, 6:00 p.m.
Sept. 19 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations, 9:30 a.m.
Public Health & Safety, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 20 Economic Development & Infrastructure, 9:30 a.m.
Finance, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 21 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 Road, Pontiac, and livestreamed on the Board’s YouTube channel. Visit https://bit.ly/OCBOCCal or https://bit.ly/OCCivicClerk for any schedule changes and follow the Board on Facebook for the latest updates.
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With the purchase of two office towers, the Phoenix Center parking garage and amphitheater, and several nearby parcels now closed, Oakland County moves forward with redeveloping, revitalizing and reconnecting downtown Pontiac. The plan includes moving up to 600 employees into the building at 31 E. Judson St. in the coming years.
There’s a lot happening in Oakland County! Check out the latest news and upcoming events:
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