During its June 11 meeting, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved $2 million in funding to support more than $27.7 million in local road improvement projects in 36 communities across the county. Established by the Board in 2016, the Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) provides funding to Oakland County cities and villages for road repair and improvement projects, with required matching funds from the recipient communities. Check out the list of LRIP-approved projects to see what’s on the horizon for your community.

Each fiscal year, the Board allocates money to its  Special Projects Fund. The fund is open to all commissioners to request financial support for special events or programs in their district. With the goal of directly impacting their local communities in positive ways, the Board helps youth initiatives, safety efforts and economic development in Oakland County’s cities, villages and townships. Check out the list of upcoming Board-sponsored events in July and see what’s happening in your community!

• July 3: Wolverine Lake Tiki Night Fireworks (Commissioner Long, District 12)
• July 3: Brandon Twp. Community Fireworks (Commissioner Hoffman, District 7)
• July 4: Clawson Fourth of July Parade (Commissioner Luebs, District 2)
• July 10, 17, 24 & 31: Commerce Twp. Concert in the Park Series (Commissioner Long, District 12)
• July 25: Blues in the Streets (Commissioner Powell, District 9)
• July 25-26: Oakland History Center America 250 Celebration (Commissioners Markham and Smiley, Districts 15 and 14)
• July 25: American Legion Post 14 Blues, Brews and Cruise Car Show (Commissioner Luebs, District 2)

Solarize Oakland County is gearing up for another engaging informational session, this time at the Southfield Public Library on July 23. The community-driven initiative welcomes residents, businesses and nonprofits interested in learning more about solar energy.

The free event will offer two back-to-back sessions: one at 4 p.m. for businesses, nonprofits, places of worship and local governments, followed by a 6 p.m. session designed for residents. Food will be provided from 5-6 p.m. for those who are interested.

Each session will break down the fundamentals of solar power and explore the costs and long-term benefits of going solar without any sales pressure. Reserve your spot for the July 23 event and keep an eye out for additional Solarize programs happening throughout the county.

At the July 16 Board meeting, County Executive David Coulter will present the 2027-2029 fiscal year budget. That kicks off a series of budget hearings hosted by the Board’s Finance Committee, chaired by Commissioner Gwen Markham, in August. Held over the course of two weeks, the six meetings represent 18 hours of presentations by county departments that summarize their accomplishments for the previous fiscal year and forecast goals and budgetary needs for the coming one.