 Serving all of Oakland County's 19 districts
SEPTEMBER 2025
Quick links to this issue's stories:
Throughout August, members of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Finance Committee conducted a series of in-depth budget hearings with 24 county departments. These sessions provided an opportunity for commissioners to hear directly from department leaders about their goals, priorities and funding needs for the upcoming fiscal year.
With the hearings now concluded, the Finance Committee will begin drafting amendments to the county executive’s proposed budget. These changes aim to ensure that resources are allocated where they are most needed to best serve Oakland County residents.
The amended budget will be presented for a vote at the Board of Commissioners’ full Board meeting on September 18. If approved by a majority, the budget will be officially adopted and take effect on October 1, marking the start of the county’s new fiscal year.
To learn more, view the full proposed budget or a synopsis or learn about each department in our Budget Hearing 101 series:
Several commissioners recently joined County Executive Dave Coulter and Pontiac Mayor Tim Griemel at a press conference to celebrate the next step in the Downtown Pontiac Revitalization Project. Demolition of the Phoenix Center is ahead of schedule, and construction on two new parking garages will begin later this year. The completion of the demolition phase will mark the beginning of renovations on 31 E. Judson, where up to 700 county employees will begin working in 2027. Watch the press conference and read more about the project on Facebook.
Pictured from left to right at the Downtown Pontiac Revitalization Project press conference: Vice Chair Gershenson, Commissioners Luebs, Powell, Markham, Miller, and Chair Woodward
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The latest episode of The Sounding Board reminds Oakland County residents that support for student loan debt repayment is available for free. The county has established a partnership with Savi, the student loan debt experts, whose services help residents find opportunities for loan repayment reductions and forgiveness, complete required paperwork, and more. Give this episode a listen and sign up for the next live webinar on Sept. 18.
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Commissioners recognize 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.
- The life and memory of athlete, community activist and inspirational speaker Tom Staton was honored (Commissioner Smith Charles, Aug. 2).
- Holly-based Simply Sun-Kissed Tanning Studio hosted a grand opening (Commissioner Hoffman, Aug. 6).
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The Back Nine Golf, an indoor golf facility, opened its doors in Clarkston (Commissioner Joliat, Aug. 6).
- Holly’s American Legion Post #149 reopened after suffering damage from an EF-0 tornado in 2024 (Commissioner Hoffman, Aug. 8).
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Dixie Lake and its surrounding community celebrated its centennial (Commissioner Hoffman, Aug. 9).
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Pastor Lovell Carr’s legacy was memorialized upon his passing (Commissioners Powell and Smith Charles, Aug. 9).
- Commercial, corporate and residential dry cleaner Champs Cleaners marked two decades in business (Commissioner Joliat, Aug. 13).
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Salon Reverie held its ribbon cutting in Holly (Commissioner Hoffman, Aug. 14).
- Outgoing Pontiac School District superintendent Kelley Williams was recognized for her many contributions upon her retirement (Commissioners Powell and Smith Charles, Aug. 14).
- Coworking space Clarkston Cowork opened its doors (Commissioner Joliat, Aug. 15).
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HOTWORX Clarkston, offering a variety of sauna-based workouts, reopened under new management (Commissioner Joliat, Aug. 15).
- Exercise facility Impactt Fitness celebrated its relocation to Holly (Commissioner Hoffman, Aug. 20).
- Med spa MICAHealing Aesthetics + Wellness marked its first anniversary and ribbon cutting of its new space in Highland (Commissioners Hoffman and Weipert, Aug. 20)
- Clarkston area Spaces Interior Design hosted a studio ribbon cutting (Commissioner Gingell, Aug. 28).
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Below is a schedule of meetings open to the public this month at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. Full Board and standing committee meetings are 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.
Friday, Sept. 5
Majority Caucus, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 9
Legislative Affairs and Government Operations, 9 a.m.
Public Health and Safety, 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Economic Development and Infrastructure, 9:30 a.m.
Finance, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Human Trafficking Task Force, 9 a.m.
Art Institute Authority, 9 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Majority Caucus, 5 p.m.
Full Board, 6 p.m.
Are you, or is someone you know, one of the 172,000 Oakland County residents with student loan debt? This month is the time to see how the county’s partnership with Savi could help you save thousands of dollars in repayment or loan forgiveness at no cost to you. Take the first step to a freer financial future and visit OakGov.com/Savi today.
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There’s a lot happening in Oakland County! Check out the latest news and upcoming events:
- On September 25, join Oakland County Parks Historian Carol Bacak-Egbo for a Fireside Chat – “Fence Posts, Lilacs, Rock Piles and Apple Trees: Finding History in our Parks.” This free program will run from 7-8 p.m. on Zoom; no preregistration is required. To access the Zoom link for this and other upcoming Fireside Chats, go to OaklandCountyParks.com.
- The first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) has been confirmed in Oakland County for 2025. Residents are strongly urged to take precautions and watch for symptoms listed at OakGov.com/Health.
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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