 Serving all of Oakland County's 19 districts
JANUARY 2024
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Nominations for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners 2024 Black Excellence Award are now being accepted.
In honor of Black History Month, commissioners will be acknowledging an outstanding Black resident of Oakland County who has taken strides to improve the community, made notable achievements or is otherwise worthy of recognition. The Board is accepting living nominees of all ages and backgrounds. They must be residents of Oakland County, and they can be well-established or unsung heroes. Individuals must be nominated by someone other than themselves.
To nominate a Black Oakland County resident for the award, community members can complete the submission form at bit.ly/BOCBlckExcl24. Nominators are also encouraged to email supporting documentation (such as a CV/résumé, news article, link to a professional portfolio, etc.) to boc@oakgov.com with the nominee's name in the subject line. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, January 18, 2024.
The award recipient(s) will be notified of the award on or around January 29. They will be invited to attend (remotely or in-person) the full Board of Commissioners meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 29, where they will be publicly announced as the winner and receive their recognition.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/BEA24News.
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The schedule for 2024’s Board and standing committee meetings is now available on the Board’s website. While dates are subject to change, full Board and all standing committee meetings for the entire year are posted.
These meetings are open to the public. Attendees can watch the Board and its committees manage the county’s business and speak during public comment. Learn more about attending Board and standing committee meetings, location and prohibited items at oakgov.com/boc.
On December 9, St. David’s Episcopal Church and the Southfield Police Department hosted a gun buyback event, supported by the Board of Commissioners.
The event collected more than 200 firearms that will be destroyed. More than $11,000 in gift cards were distributed to participants who turned over their unwanted guns.
Firearm-related injuries are the leading cause of death of those ages one through 19, steadily surpassing motor vehicle accidents. Voluntary gun buyback programs provide a safe, legal way for residents to dispose of unwanted firearms and can help reduce the number of weapons accessible to vulnerable individuals.
This year’s gun buyback followed four events in 2022, which won a National Association of Counties Achievement Award as part of the Board’s Anti-Violence Initiative. The Board appropriated $10,000 from the Oakland County Safer Communities Fund to support the 2023 event.
The Board appointed Linnie Taylor as county commissioner to represent District 18 (Southfield Township, the villages of Franklin, Bingham Farms and Beverly Hills and portions of Southfield and Bloomfield Township) during its December 7 meeting.
Commissioner Taylor brings a wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors. She holds a master’s degree in human resource management and is retired from a successful career as a corporate payroll manager. She has lived in Southfield for more than 30 years and served on the Southfield City Council from 2017 to 2023. She is married with four grown children. For more information about Commissioner Taylor, visit her webpage.
The District 18 seat had been vacant since the resignation of longtime commissioner Janet Jackson, who served the residents of the district since 2008 as commissioner until her election as Southfield city clerk on November 7.
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.
- Village of Holly Police Chief Jerry Narsh, a longtime resident of Lake Orion and president of the Lake Orion Village Council, was recognized as Orion Township Citizen of the Year and Grand Marshall of the 2023 Orion Lighted Parade – presented by Commissioner Michael J. Gingell (District 6), December 1.
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2023 Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce Recognition Award winners, including Linda Lowe (Citizen of the Year); Angelina Lowe (Milford Memories Volunteer of the Year); Wanda Irvine (Chamber Volunteer of the Year); Josh Fiting (Chamber Ambassador of the Year); and Community Sharing (Business of the Year) were honored during the chamber’s holiday gala – presented by Commissioners Bob Hoffman (District 7) and Philip J. Weipert (District 13), December 2.
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Outgoing Oakland County Senior Advisory Council member Jerry Sowik received acclaim for his many years of dedicated service to his fellow seniors – presented by Commissioner Michael Spisz (District 5), December 7.
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Carolyn Morrison, who served more than 15 years representing and advocating for older adults in her district on the Oakland County Senior Advisory Council, received a proclamation as she stepped down from the council – presented by Commissioner Karen Joliat (District 8), December 7.
- A resident of Commerce Township for over five decades, Barb Garbutt’s eight years on the Oakland County Senior Advisory Council was praised – presented by Commissioner Christine Long (District 12), December 7.
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The legacy of Dr. Leslie and Sydelle Sher, who lived in Holly and co-owned the Holly Hotel during the 1980s and 1990s, received tribute during the Holly Dickens Festival – presented by Commissioner Hoffman, December 9.
- Family-owned and operated since 2003, Advantage Tax & Financial Services recently moved to new office space in Highland Township – presented by Commissioners Weipert and Hoffman, December 13.
- Newly opened in Holly’s Battle Alley, Spruce & Blossoms hosted a ribbon cutting – presented by Commissioner Hoffman, December 13.
- Holly mainstay and fifth-generation-owned Winglemire Furniture celebrated its 165th anniversary in business – presented by Commissioner Hoffman, December 15.
- The work of Modesto “Mo” De la O, former Marine and current Veteran Court Mentor with the Oakland County Circuit Court, was lauded – presented by Chair David T. Woodward (District 1), December 15.
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George Murray, a paramedic/firefighter for the North Oakland County Fire Authority, retired after 20 years with the authority and a 48-year career overall in public safety – presented by Commissioner Hoffman, December 18.
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.
Monday, January 8
Claims Review Committee, 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 9
Legislative Affairs and Government Operations, 9:00 a.m.
Public Health and Safety, 10:30 a.m.
TIF Review Committee, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 10
Coordinating Zoning, 8:30 a.m.
Economic Development and Infrastructure, 9:30 a.m.
Finance, 11:00 a.m.
Special Committee to Study Road Commission Operations, 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, January 18
Majority Caucus, 5:00 p.m.
Full Board, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, January 22
Art Institute Authority, 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, January 23
Coordinating Zoning, 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 30
Legislative Affairs and Government Operations, 9:00 a.m.
Public Health and Safety, 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, January 31
Economic Development and Infrastructure, 9:30 a.m.
Finance, 11:00 a.m.
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There’s a lot happening in Oakland County! Check out the latest news and upcoming events:
- The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office is accepting applications for RainSmart Rebates, the county’s first residential green stormwater infrastructure program that will award up to $2,000 to homeowners in the George W. Kuhn Drain Drainage District for implementing sustainable stormwater practices such as tree planting, rain barrel installation or creating a rain garden. Learn more at www.oakgov.com/rainsmart.
- Residents can sign up for OakAlert, the county’s emergency notification system that sends texts, calls and emails when emergency situations occur where you are or where you live. Sign up at bit.ly/OakAlert24.
- Oakland County Parks is now booking 2024 camping reservations! Reserve your spot today at www.OaklandCountyParks.com or call Addison Oaks at 248-693-2432 and Groveland Oaks at 248-634-9811.
Was this message forwarded to you? Be sure to sign up for The Board Bulletin by visiting your commissioner's webpage at oakgov.com/boc and clicking the "Newsletter Sign-up" button. You can also follow the Board on Facebook and LinkedIn for all the latest updates.
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