October 1 is World Vexillology Day – the perfect time to announce that the county is seeking design ideas from the public for a new flag. Members of the Flag Leadership and Advisory Group (F.L.A.G.), led by Commissioner Brendan Johnson, shared the news from the Oakland History Center. 

There are no age or residency restrictions, so anyone from anywhere can submit a design idea – the only requirement is originality, so no AI-generated or stock images, please! Submissions will be accepted now through 5 pm on January 4, 2027. More details, the upload form and design inspiration materials curated by Oakland County Historian Carol Bacak-Egbo can all be found on our website and in the news release.

At its meeting on Sept. 17, the Board voted unanimously to approve the balanced, triennial Oakland County budget for fiscal years (FY) 2027-2029. The budget for FY 2027 allocates $1.25 billion and includes amendments that:

• Help residents maintain safe and stable housing
• Increase access to legal assistance for housing or family-law difficulties
• Assist families with food insecurity and disability-related needs
• Support mental and maternal health resources
• Strengthen community safety initiatives

Oakland County has transitioned its public website and employee email addresses from OakGov.com to OaklandCountyMI.gov. The move to the .gov domain will make it easier for the public to recognize the official Oakland County website and messages while providing the added protections associated with the domain reserved for verified U.S. government organizations.

What will change for residents and website visitors? Pretty much nothing! The old site will auto-direct to the new one while you get used to using the new .gov domain and update any bookmarks or saved links to Oakland County webpages, but you will notice emails coming from commissioners and staff with the @OaklandCountyMI.gov format.

Join Solarize Oakland County on Oct. 14 at the Brown Iron Brewhouse in Royal Oak to learn more about how adding solar power could work to reduce your energy bills. Businesses, nonprofits, places of worship and local governments are the focus of the 6 p.m. session, while the 7 p.m. session is geared toward home solar installations for residents. Feel free to attend one or both sessions, and food will be provided. Learn more about the program and find additional resources on the Solarize Oakland County webpage.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s reported that nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults have experienced an online scam or attack. Cybercriminals are now targeting a common web browsing routine we are all familiar with to prove we are not a robot: CAPTCHA boxes. Avoid the scam and learn what to watch out for in the Oakland County Blog with help from the county’s Citizen Cyber Training Portal.