 Serving all of Oakland County's 19 districts
APRIL 2024
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(left to right) Vital Anne, Commissioner Ann Erickson Gault, Kai Lisa Anderson, Commissioner Linnie Taylor, Rosa Randolph and Commissioner Angela Powell at the presentation of the Board’s Women’s History Month Awards on March 14, 2024
For the past three years, the Board has highlighted the exemplary contributions and achievements of local women with its Women’s History Month Award. Commissioners nominate an exceptional woman making a historic impact in their respective districts for this honor as part of the Board’s celebration of Women’s History Month in March. During the Board’s March 14 meeting, commissioners presented awards to the following 2024 honorees:
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Kai Lisa Anderson, nominated by Commissioner Linnie Taylor (District 18) – Ms. Anderson is an entrepreneur, mentor, small business owner and resident of Southfield. For more than 30 years, she has owned and operated Shiek Unique, a full-service hair and nail salon in her home city. Knowledgeable and experienced, she serves as a resource to other budding entrepreneurs as they launch their own businesses.
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Vital Anne, nominated by Commissioner Ann Erickson Gault (District 3) – A resident of Troy for two decades, Ms. Anne made local history in February 2020 as the first immigrant and first person of South Asian descent to serve on the Troy School District Board of Education. Following that appointment, she went on to win her seat through a citywide election and currently serves as the board’s vice president. She is the vice president of software quality assurance and testing at Altair, where she also serves as president of the company’s Women in Tech Employee Resource Group.
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Rosa Randolph, nominated by Commissioner Angela Powell (District 9) – With more than four decades of experience in food management service, Ms. Randolph is a resident of Pontiac, a minority business owner and the president of Unique Food Management. The full-service catering business in Pontiac prepares and delivers over 25,000 meals per week. She is also the founder and program director of the Pontiac Meals on Wheels Foundation and supports food programs for students to ensure they receive meals during the summer months when school is not in session.
For more on the recipients, visit the Board’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
Starting on April 22, the newly established 492 Rochester bus route will begin operating as part of the transit expansion from the Oakland County Public Transportation millage. The route will run from Oakland University in Auburn Hills through downtown Rochester to Oakland Mall in Troy and into Royal Oak. Previously, these communities were not connected with a public transportation option.
The route will be available for riders Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Riders will also be able to travel to Ferndale and the new State Fairgrounds Transit Center, where they can connect to other Detroit routes.
Late last year, SMART also added 68 new bus stops throughout Novi, Wixom and Bloomfield Hills to expand transit to these areas that were previously lacking this opportunity. To learn more information about transit in Oakland County, including details on additional routes and expansions, visit https://www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-transit.
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.
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The Islamic Association of Greater Detroit celebrated the ribbon cutting of its mosque’s latest expansion, which makes it now one of the largest in the state, in Rochester Hills – presented by Commissioner Brendan Johnson (District 3), Mar. 2.
- Retiring Oakland County Treasurer’s Office employee Mary Gillman was honored for her 25 years of dedicated service, work on the Oakland County Equity Council and accomplishments as the president of the DEAF C.A.N.! board of directors – presented by Commissioner Angela Powell (District 9), Mar. 6.
- Board of Commissioners Operations Supervisor Megan C. Sellers, who successfully supported Board operations while keeping public channels open during the pandemic, among many other accomplishments, was thanked for her years with the team after accepting a new position with the County Executive’s Office – presented by Chair David T. Woodward (District 1) with unanimous support from all commissioners, Mar. 7.
- March was proclaimed as Social Work Month in Oakland County to recognize and support the profession and the incredible people who dedicate their lives to it – presented by Commissioner Penny Luebs (District 2) with support from fellow social work industry colleagues Commissioners Charlie Cavell (District 19) and Kristen Nelson (District 10), Mar. 14.
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.
Tuesday, Apr. 2
Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee, 9 a.m.
Public Health and Safety Committee, 10:30 a.m.
Safer Communities Ad Hoc Committee, 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Apr. 3
Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee, 9:30 a.m.
Study Road Commission Operations, 10:30 a.m.
Finance Committee, 11 a.m.
Tax Increment Financing Review Committee, 12 p.m.
Tuesday, Apr. 9
Art Institute Authority, 9 a.m.
Thursday, Apr. 11
Majority Caucus, 5 p.m.
Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Apr. 16
Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee, 9 a.m.
Public Health and Safety Committee, 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Apr. 17
Economic Development and Infrastructure, 9:30 a.m.
Finance, 11 a.m.
Audit Subcommittee, 12 p.m.
Thursday, Apr. 25
Majority Caucus, 5 p.m.
Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
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Earth Day is celebrated every April 22 to mark the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. The Board has instituted several programs that place environmental sustainability and responsible stewardship at the center. One such program is the Native Plant Initiative, which the Board launched in 2020 and turned over to Oakland County Parks in 2022. Since its roll out four years ago, more than 1,900 native plant kits have been distributed to Oakland County residents. Native plants help prevent the spread of invasive species, which can crowd out other local species, contribute to erosion, promote the use of toxic pesticides and cause other problems for natural habitats.
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There’s a lot happening in Oakland County! Check out the latest news and upcoming events:
- Oakland County has successfully implemented its new radio system for first responders, which will increase public safety and emergency response capabilities across the region, including the ability for first responders to communicate with neighboring agencies. Learn more about the new system here: https://bit.ly/3VEDv77.
- The Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities has installed its 100th Save a Life Station at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters. These stations, which provide the public with free access to Narcan doses, safe disposal kits and more, can be located on this interactive map: achcmi.org/harm-reduction/save-a-life-stations.
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Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown is bringing the services of her office to communities across the county with Local Office Visits on April 16 in Lyon Township and May 21 in Lake Orion from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All residents are welcome, and most transactions conducted through the Clerk’s office will be available. Visit oakgov.com/clerk for more information.
- Executive Dave Coulter announced the class of 2024 Oakland Together 40 Under 40. These individuals exemplify the county’s vision for a community working together to leverage strengths, address challenges and create regional partnerships. This year’s class list is available at oakgov.com/40Under40.
- All five of the Oakland County Parks golf courses are now open, with ADA golf carts available for golfers with physical disabilities or limited mobility at all parks and new electric golf bikes available for rent at White Lake Oaks. To reserve a tee time seven days in advance, visit OaklandCountyParks.com.
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