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July 30, 2025
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
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The line that keeps running through my head is “They were doing everything right.”
The three Road Commission for Oakland County workers had the proper signs, emergency lights and cones to mark the area where they were making basin repairs along Orchard Lake Road last week.
And yet, a random person, for reasons that aren’t yet clear, crossed lanes of traffic and hit the three workers, killing Cedric Jones and seriously injuring two more RCOC employees.
It’s the call I most dread getting: hearing that we lost a member of our Oakland County family. Last week, that heartbreaking call was about Cedric Jones, a loving husband, father of six and a man of faith and goodwill and about two of his co-workers, who face a long road back to full recovery.
Cedric was a minister at the Wings of Love Church in Detroit and was a singer with the Praise Team. And his RCOC family said that he was a hard-working and considerate co-worker who they will greatly miss.
My first thoughts are with their families and friends and the unimaginable pain they’re going through. I’m also thinking of the extended RCOC family, some of whom may have witnessed that horrific crash.
Oakland County stands ready to embrace and support them.
Facing danger in the line of duty is a daily job requirement for first responders like police and firefighters. But road workers encounter those risks as well from distracted drivers, speeders and those who are just too impatient to exercise good judgment and caution.
Hopefully, this tragic loss can serve as a reminder to all of us: Please slow down in construction zones. These workers did everything they could to keep themselves safe, but they couldn’t prepare for something like this.
They need us to be mindful, be present and to remember that there are friends, families and loved ones connected to every one of the road workers out there who are just reporting to work every day to help replace or improve our roads and bridges.
Give them the respect and space they need to get that work done and get home safely to their families.
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With sadness,
David Coulter
Oakland County Executive
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 Oakland County Enhances Website Accessibility with New Tools for Language Translation and Users with Disabilities
Oakland County continues its commitment to inclusion and accessibility by enhancing its website, OakGov.com, with new tools that make online services more user-friendly for people of all abilities and backgrounds. The enhancements, which launched in early March, include a live translation feature supporting more than 60 languages and a suite of accessibility tools designed to assist users with disabilities.
“This is about more than technology - it’s about ensuring that every Oakland County resident can access public services, regardless of language or ability,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “We are committed to making government work for everyone.”
 38th Annual Festival of Flight Soars Into Oakland County International Airport
The Redline Airshow, a father-son aerobatic duo piloting matching RV-8s, high-performance single-engine aircraft, is making its debut at the 38th annual Festival of Flight.
The event will be held at the Oakland County International Airport from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, in Waterford. Admission and parking are free.
“The Festival of Flight is a celebration of aviation and community right in the heart of Oakland County,” said County Executive David Coulter. “It brings families together for an unforgettable experience that showcases the excitement of flight.”
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