 Serving all of Oakland County's 19 districts
DECEMBER 2025
Quick links to this issue's stories:
Are you one of the 172,000 Oakland County residents with student loan debt? You can sign up to receive one year student loan repayment and forgiveness program navigation for free thanks to a partnership between Oakland County and Savi. Register today for the next webinar, hosted on Tuesday, December 9 from 12-1 p.m., which will cover Savi’s services, new student loan policy changes and more. Find out more at OakGov.BySavi.com.
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Commissioner Bob Hoffman serves as chair of the Materials Management Planning Committee, which is inviting residents to complete a survey before January 5, 2026. Results from the survey will help shape a new Materials Management Plan (MMP). Share your ideas on waste collection, recycling and composting to help keep our neighborhoods clean.
Residents are also invited to attend an upcoming town hall on the MMP:
Monday, Dec. 8, 5-7 p.m. at the Southfield Public Library
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 5-7 p.m. at the Orion Township Hall
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 10:30 am - virtual
Find out more, take the survey and register to attend a town hall at OakGov.info/MMP.
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 Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, Commissioners Penny Luebs, Ann Erickson Gault, Christine Long, Gwen Markham, Executive Dave Coulter, J. David VanderVeen, and Commissioners Karen Joliat and Bob Hoffman celebrate VanderVeen Point trail
Commissioners recently attended the dedication of VanderVeen Point trail at Independence Oaks County Park honoring Vice Chair J. David VanderVeen, who retired after more than 20 years of service on the Oakland County Parks Commission. His love of the parks will live on for generations as visitors use this beautiful new trail. Read about the ribbon cutting at bit.ly/25VanderVeenPoint.
Did you know that 60,000 veterans call Oakland County home? In honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month, the Board recognized the service and sacrifice of our veterans and their loved ones. Commissioners Penny Luebs, Ann Erickson Gault, Gwen Markham and Linnie Taylor joined 700 veterans and military family members at the Oakland County Veterans’ Services Resource Fair. The Farmington Hills event provided veterans direct access to vital resources and support services. Watch this highlight video to hear directly from the commissioners about what the event meant to them — and to the many veterans and families they connected with.
The Board also spotlighted Oakland County Veterans’ Services in a special episode of The Sounding Board with Commissioner Robert Smiley and the division manager of Veterans’ Services. Listen in to learn more about the department’s mission and the Board’s support for a new veterans’ benefits counselor position.
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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 Lloyd C. Crews was honored – presented by Commissioners Smith Charles and Taylor, Nov. 3.
- Community leaders and longtime residents Stephen Polk, Chuck Fortinberry, Dana Fortinberry and Sean Fitzsimmons celebrated lifetime milestones – presented by Commissioner Gingell, Nov. 6.
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Wardell Manor Family Farm and Shelley Dickerson were recognized by the Highland White Lake Business Association – presented by Commissioners Weipert and Hoffman, Nov. 8.
- The significant impact of the Oakland County Circuit Court Family Division was highlighted as part of the 25th anniversary of Adoption Month – presented by Commissioner Luebs, Nov. 13.
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Karen Worrell marked four decades of contributions to the Village of Milford – presented by Commissioner Weipert, Nov. 17.
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Greg Ouelette’s memory and his achievements with Auburn Hills were honored – presented by Commissioner Johnson, Nov. 17.
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Deana Mondock recorded 20 years with the Bloomfield Township clerk’s office – presented by Vice Chair Gershenson, Nov. 20.
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Amanda Hess was recognized by Zajączek Dance Ensemble as part of its graduate ball – presented by Commissioner Luebs, Nov. 22.
- Local news publication The Citizen celebrated 30 years – presented by Commissioner Hoffman, Nov. 24.
- Outgoing Royal Oak city commissioners Sharlan Douglas and Melanie Macey were thanked for their contributions – presented by Chair Woodward, Nov. 24.
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.
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Legislative Affairs & Government Operations, 9 a.m.
Public Health & Safety, 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Economic Development & Infrastructure, 9:30 a.m.
Finance, 11 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11
Majority Caucus, 5 p.m.
Full Board, 6 p.m.
Thank you, Board Bulletin readers, for a fantastic year of Board news and information delivered straight to your inbox! We grew our subscribers by 25 percent in 2025, but would love to reach more. Please share this issue or the sign up link with your friends and neighbors.
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There’s a lot happening in Oakland County! Check out the latest news and upcoming events:
- The Oakland County Treasurer’s Office has opened its annual Financial Empowerment Arts Contest for 2026 submissions. Oakland County high school students are invited to submit 2-D artwork of video that explores the financial empowerment theme. View submission guidelines at OakGov.com/Arts.
- Two Oakland County parks have been recognized for their efforts to protect trees. Independence Oaks has received a national forest designation and is now the 24th location in Michigan to be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network for its preservation of mature forests. Addison Oaks was also inducted as a community forest for its role in connecting people with nature. Find more information at OaklandCountyParks.com.
- MiCareerQuest Southeast hosted 9,200 students from 132 Michigan schools on Tuesday, November 18. This event featured more than 210 in-demand careers in a variety of industries through interactive exhibits and hands-on demonstrations. Learn more about the event at bit.ly/25MiCareerQuest.
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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