 Serving all of Oakland County's 19 districts
DECEMBER 2023
Quick links to this issue's stories:
Let’s look back on 2023 by the numbers and see some of the highlights from the Board of Commissioners! The Board is looking forward to what 2024 will bring for Oakland County residents.
In partnership with the Southfield Police Department, St. David’s Episcopal Church (16200 W. Twelve Mile Road, Southfield) is hosting a countywide gun buyback event on Saturday, December 9.
The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve $10,000 from its Safer Communities Fund to support the event during its last meeting.
The voluntary program will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until supplies are exhausted. Attendees will receive Meijer or Target gift cards in exchange for functioning weapons, up to $300 per vehicle and based on the type of firearm turned in. There will be no limit on the number of weapons a participant may turn in. All weapons must be unloaded and secured in the trunk of each vehicle. Ammunition will also be accepted.
Participants will be asked to provide identifying information when turning in firearms. Attendees must remain in their vehicles while law enforcement officers remove the unloaded guns.
Voluntary gun buyback programs provide a safe, legal way for residents to dispose of unwanted firearms and can help reduce the number of weapons potentially accessible to children, youth and vulnerable individuals. This event follows a similar 2022 program, which was part of the Board’s award-winning Anti-Violence Initiative.
For more information about the event, visit https://bit.ly/OCGunBuyback23.
Earlier this month, the Board of Commissioners, along with County Executive Dave Coulter and Chief Sustainability Officer Erin Quetell, announced a new grant program for Oakland County households that will help defray costs associated with environmentally sustainable home improvements for qualifying residents.
Oakland County will collaborate with Michigan Saves, the first nonprofit green bank in the United States, to make at least 1,000 Oakland County homes more energy efficient, reducing energy costs for working families.
The Board unanimously approved $5 million of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the Oakland SAVES (Simple Actions for Valuable Energy Savings) grant program, administered by Michigan Saves, to help make environmentally sustainable improvements to income-qualified and other households.
The $5 million Oakland SAVES program will have two tiers of grants. The first will utilize $4 million for grants of up to $5,000 for income-qualified households. This tier will serve residents who earn too much to qualify for free services from the federal Weatherization Assistance Program and most utility income-qualified programs, but struggle to qualify for traditional financing.
The second tier will use the remaining $1 million to pay up to 20 percent of a sustainable home improvement, capping out at $3,000, for any Oakland County household.
Environmentally sustainable upgrades that will be eligible for the Oakland SAVES grants include attic insulation, air sealing, basement wall or crawlspace insulation, door weatherstripping, duct insulation, floor insulation, wall insulation, ENERGY STAR doors, ENERGY STAR windows, ENERGY STAR water heaters, ENERGY STAR air conditioners, ENERGY STAR furnaces, and ENERGY STAR thermostats. Program participants may also make building code or health and safety improvements associated with installing energy-efficient upgrades.
Learn more about Oakland SAVES at https://bit.ly/OaklandSAVES23.
Congratulations to former Commissioner Janet Jackson on her election as the new Southfield City Clerk on November 7! She was first elected to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners in 2008, and represented the county’s 18th district, which includes Southfield Township, the villages of Franklin, Bingham Farms and Beverly Hills, and portions of the City of Southfield. Jackson resigned her position as county commissioner on November 17 in preparation for her new role.
Jackson held several leadership roles and was a member on many committees throughout her time on the Board. She was the first African American woman to serve as majority caucus chair and was a member of the Public Health and Safety and Legislative Affairs and Government Operations committees. In 2015, Jackson co-founded the Oakland County Human Trafficking Task Force, which works to improve awareness and prevention of human trafficking, and she served as its most recent chair. In addition, she led the county in hiring its first diversity, equity and inclusion officer and advocated for the use of body-worn cameras by Oakland County law enforcement officers.
An advocate for her constituents, Jackson focused on elevating community members, particularly women and minorities, through proclamations and special recognitions like the Black Excellence Award and the Women’s History Month Award.
For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/OCJackson23 or https://bit.ly/OC18JanetJackson.
The application deadline for openings on the Materials Management Planning Committee has been extended through December 31. This committee will oversee the county’s Materials Management Plan, a state-mandated plan that addresses the disposal of all non-hazardous solid waste generated in the county. Recent changes to the Michigan statute focus on sustainable approaches, such as recycling and composting, and this new committee will address those changes.
The Board is seeking applications for:
- One operator of business that generates a managed material
- One waste diversion, reuse or reduction facility operator
For more information and to apply, please visit bit.ly/BOCappointments and choose "Materials Management Planning Committee."
During its November 16 meeting, the Board voted to appoint Ann Erickson Gault as county commissioner for District 3, which includes Hazel Park, Madison Heights and portions of Troy.
A resident of Troy for nearly two decades, Commissioner Erickson Gault is a practicing attorney specializing in appeals and contract legal writing. She had served on the Troy City Council since 2019, is a past chair and member of the Providing Access to Legal Services Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association and does pro bono work with the Family Law Clinic. She is married and has a daughter.
Commissioner Erickson Gault was also appointed to serve on two of the Board’s standing committees - Public Health and Safety and Legislative Affairs and Government Operations. Her current term as commissioner will end on December 31, 2024. Learn more about Commissioner Erickson Gault on our website.
The seat for District 3 had been vacant since November 3, 2023, when the Board lost its friend and colleague, Commissioner Gary R. McGillivray. He had faithfully represented the people of his district since November 2008. Commissioner McGillivray’s legacy lives on in the work he dedicated himself to in improving the lives of others. More about Commissioner McGillivray, his indelible contributions to Oakland County and its residents, and the personal impact he made is available on the Board’s website.
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 recognitions from last month.
- Recently opened Holly Pharmacy celebrated its ribbon cutting – presented by Commissioner Bob Hoffman (District 7), November 1.
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Clarkston native and licensed esthetician Emiley Gale opened the doors to her spa, Visibly Gale – presented by Commissioner Karen Joliat (District 8), November 8.
- The Red Poppy, owned by Lynne Johnson-Benaglio, was honored as the Highland White Lake Business Association’s Business of the Year – presented by Commissioners Philip J. Weipert (District 13), Christine Long (District 12), and Hoffman, November 11.
- Highland resident Christina Welsh, co-owner of STS Athletic Complex and The Lift, was recognized with the Highland White Lake Business Association’s Volunteer of the Year award for her dedication to community service – presented by Commissioners Weipert, Long and Hoffman, November 11.
- The Highland White Lake Business Association named Robert J. Miller, a certified public accountant and owner of Highland’s R. J. Miller P.C. for 45 years, as its member emeritus – presented by Commissioners Weipert, Long and Hoffman, November 11.
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Newly elected as Southfield clerk, outgoing commissioner Janet Jackson was lauded for her accomplishments and service over the past 15 years by her fellow commissioners – presented unanimously, November 16.
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Connie Srogi, policy analyst for the Board, retired after 20 years of service to Oakland County – presented unanimously, November 16.
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After a nearly five-decade career that began when he was just 16, Steve McGee retired as chief of the Village of Holly Fire Department – presented by Commissioner Hoffman, November 21.
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HealthQuest Physical Therapy Highland, independently owned and operated by physical therapist Michael Wang, opened its doors – presented by Commissioners Hoffman and Weipert, November 27.
- After serving on the Royal Oak City Commission since 2011, Commissioner Kyle DuBuc completed his last term of service – presented by Chair David T. Woodward (District 1) and Commissioners Penny Luebs (District 2) and Charlie Cavell (District 19), November 27.
Below is a schedule of meetings this month. 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 our website for any schedule changes and follow the Board on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest updates.
Wednesday, December 6
Special Committee to Study Road Commission Operations, 9 a.m.
Thursday, December 7
Majority Caucus, 5 p.m.
Full Board, 6 p.m.
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There’s a lot happening in Oakland County! Check out the latest news and upcoming events:
- The Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center is now open on Saturdays and in the evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information about adopting a pet, go to www.oakgov.com/petadoption.
- From sledding and birdwatching to cross-country skiing, fat-tire biking and disc golf, Oakland County Parks offer winter adventures for all ages and abilities. Learn more about winter activities at https://bit.ly/OCPRWinter.
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Oakland County Michigan Works! is connecting employers interested in pursuing registered apprenticeship programs with funding opportunities and a new apprentice progress tracking system. Read more at https://bit.ly/OCWorksAppr23.
- Oakland County public high school students are encouraged to participate in the annual Treasurer’s Office 2024 Financial Empowerment Arts Contest by submitting 2-D (drawing, painting, photography, mixed media and illustration) artwork and video. Details are available at https://bit.ly/OCFinEmpCon23.
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