The proposal came in the context of an initial board vote to levy an annual tax of 0.05 mills, unchanged from the current rate. The Michigan statute authorizing this millage (Act 88 of 1913) predates the state’s Headlee Amendment, so no voter approval is required. The board can levy the tax directly.

Ken Schrader, a PC technician with Washtenaw County, explained to the county commissioners that recently installed new microphones are more sensitive than the older ones. He jokingly warned them that they should be careful what they say now, because “you can’t take anything back.” Later in the meeting, the county’s information technology department was presented with an award from the Center for Digital Government.

The current rate is expected to bring in about $683,095 in 2013, and is allocated to a variety of organizations, including the economic development agency Ann Arbor SPARK ($200,000) and its Ypsilanti office SPARK East ($50,000). Smith and county administrator Verna McDaniel serve on SPARK’s executive committee.

Smith, a Democrat from Ann Arbor, suggested that by raising the rate to 0.06 mills, property owners would see only a slight increase in their annual taxes. For the average taxpayer, he estimated it would increase from $4.25 to $5.10 per year, while the amount raised countywide would increase about 20% to $838,577. He also proposed that the office of community and economic development – a joint county/city of Ann Arbor department led by Mary Jo Callan – should be given the authority to allocate the funding, rather than having the county board earmark amounts for specific organizations.

No formal amendment was made, but Smith circulated a three-page memo the following night outlining his proposal. [.pdf of Smith's Act 88 memo] It’s likely the board will take up this proposal as an amendment before a final vote at its Sept. 19 meeting. Initial approval was given on Sept. 5 for the current rate of 0.05 mills on a 7-to-3 vote, with dissent from Alicia Ping, Wes Prater, and Dan Smith. Ronnie Peterson was absent.

Another pre-Headlee tax – for support of indigent veterans – also got initial approval from the board, at a slightly increased rate. The initial approval increases that tax from 0.025 mills to 0.0286 mills. Staff of the county’s department of veterans affairs say the increase is needed because of rising claims and services from veterans due to a struggling economy, an anticipated increase in the number of returning soldiers, and a drop in property values. The millage is expected to raise $390,340 in revenues during 2013.

In other action related to tax revenue, commissioners gave initial approval to an ordinance governing the county’s natural areas preservation program. The change would remove the current restriction that only 7% of millage funds can be used for management or stewardship. The intent is to provide more flexibility in managing the funds, allowing the county to build a reserve for long-term stewardship. It’s viewed as an important goal, in the event that the NAPP millage is eliminated in the future. Yousef Rabhi, a Democrat who represents District 11 in Ann Arbor, proposed an amendment that would set a minimum of 25% to be spent on stewardship. The amendment failed on a 1-9 vote.

In an item viewed largely as a formality, county commissioners “ratified” the articles of incorporation for a new countywide transit authority. The document had been slightly revised from what the board had previously approved on Aug. 1, 2012 – on a 6-4 vote. This time, the vote was 6-3, with dissent from Alicia Ping, Wes Prater and Dan Smith. Rolland Sizemore Jr. and Ronnie Peterson were absent. Rob Turner, who had previously voted against the articles of incorporation, supported the item on Sept. 5.

Also approved was a resolution to support a policy change in the city of Ann Arbor related to affordable housing. The item was added to the Sept. 5 agenda during the meeting by Democrat Leah Gunn of Ann Arbor, and was not discussed by commissioners at the meeting. The resolution “encourages the Ann Arbor City Council to direct proceeds from the sale of the city-owned surface parking lots in the downtown to the city’s Housing Trust Fund, to be used to support sustainable, affordable housing.” [Earlier in the day, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority board had passed a similar resolution of support. Gunn is chair of the DDA.] Dan Smith abstained from the vote. The following night, at a board working session, Alicia Ping announced that she had intended to vote against it, but had cited the wrong agenda number in casting her no vote.

Other action at the Sept. 5 meeting included initial approval of the county’s public health budget, which projects a 3.5 net increase in jobs. Voting against the budget were Alicia Ping and Dan Smith, who cautioned against adding new jobs as the county faces a deficit in 2013. A final vote is expected at the board’s Sept. 19 meeting.

Seth Best, a former resident of Camp Take Notice, addressed the board during public commentary about the need to tackle the root causes of homelessness. The homeless encampment had been evicted this summer from its most recent site in Scio Township.

And highlighting a letter that the county had recently received, commissioner Felicia Brabec raised concerns about the intent of Paxton Resources LLC to drill an exploratory oil and gas well in Saline Township. The board will likely revisit the issue of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” at a future working session. Yousef Rabhi, who chairs those meetings, suggested wrapping it into a session he plans regarding the Pall/Gelman Sciences 1,4 dioxane plume. He sees a tie-in to the issue of industrial environmental contamination.

Millages: Economic/Agricultural Development, Indigent Veterans

Two taxes – for economic/agricultural development and indigent veterans services– were on the agenda for initial approval. Because the Michigan statutes that authorize these millages predate the state’s Headlee Amendment, they can be approved by the board without a voter referendum. Commissioners also were asked to set public hearings on these millages for the board’s Sept. 19 meeting, when a final vote will be taken.

Millage: Economic/Agricultural Development – Board Discussion

The 0.05 mill tax for economic development and agriculture is authorized under the state’s Act 88 of 1913. It will cost homeowners $5 for each $100,000 of their home’s taxable value. The millage amount at this point would be unchanged from the current tax.

The anticipated $683,095 in millage proceeds would be allocated to the following local entities in 2013, and are generally the same amounts that the groups received this year: Ann Arbor SPARK ($200,000), SPARK East ($50,000), the county’s dept. of community & economic development ($140, 331), Eastern Leaders Group ($100,000), promotion of heritage tourism ($65,264), Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP – $15,000), Washtenaw 4-H ($82,500), Washtenaw County 4-H Youth Show ($15,000), and MSU Extension, to support economic development in the local food system ($15,000).

Board chair Conan Smith introduced this item by saying that the county is facing an interesting phenomenon. The average household income is increasing steadily, he contended, but taxable values of homes have been decreasing. That means that there’s less money for local governments, which receive revenues from property taxes. So funding for government services has decreased. It’s unusual to be in a county where families are experiencing greater prosperity, while local governments struggle, he said.

Conan Smith (D-District 10), chair of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners.

This was background for his proposal to look at increasing the Act 88 millage from 0.05 mills to 0.06 mills. Average taxpayers are paying about $4.25 annually, he said, and it would increase to $5.10. The increase would help to maintain the solvency of the fund and support for the agencies that are funded through it, and would allow the county to do even more economic development, he said.

Smith cited an ongoing concern about the recent consolidation that created the office of community and economic development (OCED). He felt that the move pulled together several economic development activities under one umbrella, but there’s only one staff person dedicated to coordinating those services. It’s a challenge, he said, especially when you think about the synergies between economic development, community development and workforce development – which are now all handled by OCED.

In addition to providing more revenues for economic development, Smith hoped the board could consider allocating all Act 88 revenues to OCED, and giving that department the authority to analyze and distribute the funds, rather than having the board allocate specific funding for each agency. Instead, OCED could make recommendations to the board each year, in the same way that OCED staff handles allocations to local nonprofits through the coordinated funding approach.

Smith said he wasn’t prepared to make any amendments to the Act 88 resolution that night, but he hoped the board could have this conversation in a couple of weeks at its Sept. 19 meeting.

Leah Gunn expressed her support for the idea. Rolland Sizemore Jr. told Smith he hoped to see a proposal before the Sept. 19 board meeting, to give everyone a chance to review it.

Turning to the resolution at hand, Wes Prater expressed frustration that he didn’t know how these organizations being funded by the Act 88 millage were performing. There needs to be a report of results from the previous year, he said. County administrator Verna McDaniel replied that the information is available. She noted that Skip Simms from Ann Arbor SPARK was at the meeting, and that she and Conan Smith served on SPARK’s executive committee.

Sizemore said he was tired of not getting this kind of information in advance of the board meeting. McDaniel apologized, saying that the information is online, but not provided in one centralized report.

Prater specifically asked about the accomplishments of the Eastern Leaders Group (ELG), which is getting $100,000. He also wondered why the county was paying $65,264 to promote heritage tourism – why weren’t the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti convention and visitors bureaus doing that? [Mary Kerr, president of the Ann Arbor CVB, attended the Sept. 5 meeting but did not formally address the board.]

Tony VanDerworp, who serves as OCED’s business development specialist, highlighted a three-page report that had been included in the board’s meeting packet. Information about the ELG is given, he noted. In general, the report provides details about jobs created, funds that were leveraged, and new programs over the past year, he said. VanDerworp added that he’d be happy to provide additional information as well.

Prater replied that he’d seen the report, but that it didn’t talk about how the county’s funding had been used. He wanted to know specifically what was accomplished with the dollars that the county had levied and spent.

Sizemore thanked Bob Tetens, the county’s parks and recreation director, for taking leadership on the ELG – it’s moving forward faster than it had been, he said. Sizemore also praised Shamar Herron, the county’s workforce development manager. Sizemore is more concerned about people who are making $10-15 an hour, rather than the jobs that Ann Arbor SPARK focuses on, which are at a higher salary level.

As chair of the board’s working sessions, Yousef Rabhi reported that he planned to schedule a working session later this fall focused on the Food System Economic Partnership and MSU Extension program, to explain how their allocations will be spent. He suggested including representatives from other agencies funded by Act 88 as well.

Regarding Conan Smith’s proposal, Rabhi said he wasn’t sold on it yet but he’d be interested in hearing from OCED’s director, Mary Jo Callan.

Smith responded to Prater’s concerns about evaluating performance. Current analysis of the Act 88 grantees isn’t being done, he acknowledged. But OCED has developed a process to evaluate the grantees for human services, who receive money through the coordinated funding approach. That process should be easily replicable for economic development funding too, he said, and would allow for greater oversight of those funds.

Outcome: The initial vote on the Act 88 millage passed on a 7-3 vote, with dissent from Alicia Ping, Wes Prater and Dan Smith. Ronnie Peterson was absent. A public hearing is set for the board’s Sept. 19 meeting, where a final vote is expected, with the possible amendment mentioned by Conan Smith.

The following night, during the board’s working session, Conan Smith emailed commissioners a three-page memo outlining his proposal. [.pdf of Smith's memo] Smith projected that the proposed increase in the tax – to 0.06 mill, compared to the current 0.05 mill – would represent a 20% increase in revenues, raising an additional $139,762 for a total of $838,577 in 2013.

Millages: Support for Veterans – Board Discussion

Also on the Sept. 5 agenda was a tax to support services for indigent veterans. The proposal called for an increase to 0.0286 mills, to be levied in December 2012. That rate is expected to raise $390,340 in revenues for use during 2013. The current 0.025 mills brought in $344,486 in 2012.

According to a staff memo, the increase is needed because of rising claims and services from veterans due to a struggling economy, an anticipated increase in the number of returning soldiers, and a drop in property values. The county first began levying this millage in 2008. Services are administered through the county’s department of veterans affairs.

Washtenaw County administrator Verna McDaniel.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. asked why an increase is needed. Michael Smith, the department’s director, reviewed the reasons stated in the staff memo. He noted that when the millage revenues were first collected in 2009, the tax brought in about $393,000. Each year that amount has decreased, while costs have increased. The office helps indigent veterans pay for things like utility bills, gas and food. A $300 food voucher doesn’t buy as much as it did just a few years ago, he said, so the county’s veterans affairs committee – which the county board appoints – decided it was time to ask for an increase. They were very cautious and debated the decision at length, he said.

Smith described other services that his office provides. They help veterans pursue getting benefits from the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, for example, and pay $300 toward the burial costs for veterans or their spouses. In addition, veterans are entitled to a free memorial marker, but sometimes cemeteries require a base for those markers. And the cost for the base varies widely, he noted, from $35 in Manchester to more than $800 at United Memorial Gardens.

Smith also cited the uncertainty about how many veterans would be returning to Washtenaw County as the military demobilizes. About 300,000 soldiers are expected to be coming home nationwide, he said. Army reserve units will be returning as well.

Several commissioners expressed support for the work of Smith and his staff. Alicia Ping asked Smith to review the history of the millage. Smith explained that the state legislature had passed a law in 1899 to support indigent veterans, mandating that counties levy this tax. [Today, few counties actually levy the millage. Washtenaw County did not levy it until 2008, when former commissioner Ken Schwartz notified the board that the option existed. Previously, the county's department of veterans affairs was supported by the general fund.] Public Act 214 reads in part:

…each county shall annually levy, a tax not exceeding 1/10th of a mill on each dollar, to be levied and collected as provided by law… for the purpose of creating a fund for the relief of honorably discharged indigent members of the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and women’s auxiliaries of all wars or military expeditions … and the indigent spouses, minor children and parents of each such indigent or deceased member.

If the county levied the maximum rate, the full 1/10th mill would raise more than $1 million in Washtenaw County, Smith said, which is more than is needed. In times of emergency, the county has the authority to levy as much as 2/10ths of a mill, he noted.

Sizemore also wondered why the department had decided to lock its doors – he was concerned about that. Smith explained that the department had been short-staffed, because two employees unexpectedly decided to retire at the end of last year. He didn’t have the staff to handle the office’s normal walk-in hours, he said, and he had to figure out how to manage their work flow.

In addition, the office – located at 2155 Hogback Road – is in a building that’s not very secure, and they work with a population that can be volatile, he said. The office is co-located with the county’s facilities warehouse. Deliveries are made there frequently and people are walking through the building unsupervised. The department has files with sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, Smith said, so he decided to lock the office doors. A sign is up indicating that people can knock for service, and most of the work is handled through appointments. They’ve never turned anyone away, he said. New employees are being trained, and he plans to return to full walk-in service in the future.

Sizemore responded, saying that if security is a problem, perhaps the county should find a more suitable location for the office. Wes Prater also expressed concern, saying that it had been a very hot summer and they don’t know what the winter will be like. He hoped that veterans wouldn’t have to wait outside in the cold. Smith agreed, saying he was working toward the goal of full walk-in service again.

Outcome: An initial vote to increase the millage for veterans relief passed unanimously. A final vote and public hearing is set for Sept. 19.

Natural Areas Preservation

An amendment to the ordinance governing the county’s natural areas preservation program was on the Sept. 5 agenda for initial approval.

The change would remove the current restriction that only 7% of millage funds can be used for management or stewardship. The Washtenaw County parks and recreation commission had been briefed on the proposal at its May 8, 2012 meeting. At that time, the proposal would have raised the limit from 7% to 25%. Now, however, the proposed ordinance amendment would eliminate all percentage restrictions on set-asides for management and stewardship.

The proposal would amend Section 8 of the NAPP ordinance (deleted text indicated in strike-through):

SECTION 8: Natural Areas Acquisition Fund

Available funding for the purchase of natural areas land shall be deposited in a special fund in the office of the Washtenaw County Treasurer (“Acquisition Fund”). Money in such Acquisition Fund may be temporarily deposited in such institutions or invested in such obligations as may be lawful for the investment of County money.

The revenues from the deposit and/or investment of the Acquisition Fund along with the revenues from the sale of any natural areas property purchased pursuant to this Ordinance shall be applied and used solely for the purchase, stewardship and administration of natural areas land (75%) and agricultural development rights (25%) under this Ordinance, however, that no more than 7% of increased millage funds used to purchase land under this Ordinance may be used annually to administer a land preservation program or maintain lands purchased under this Ordinance.

From left: Curt Hedger, Bob Tetens, and Tony VanDerworp. Hedger is the county’s corporation counsel. Tetens is parks and recreation director, and VanDerworp serves as business development specialist with the office of community and economic development.

According to a staff memo that was part of the county board’s Sept. 5 meeting information packet, the goal would be to use $600,000 per year for management and stewardship. Of that, roughly $240,000 would be used for ongoing stewardship activities, and $360,000 would remain to be invested in a dedicated reserve for long-term land stewardship. By 2020, when the current millage expires, that annual investment is expected to have built a dedicated reserve of $6 million.

Though no percentages are identified in the revised ordinance, $600,000 would work out to about 25% of annual millage revenues.

Voters first approved NAPP funding in 2000 and renewed it in 2010, each time for 10 years. The current millage – at 0.2409 mills – will expire in 2020. It generates about $3 million annually.

Natural Areas Preservation: Board Discussion

Conan Smith said he was very supportive of this change, because it provides greater flexibility. He also floated the idea of eliminating a separate ordinance requirement for allocating 75% to the acquisition and maintenance of natural areas and 25% for agricultural land. He hadn’t consulted with parks and recreation director Bob Tetens about this yet, Smith said, but if commissioners are interested, he’d bring forward a formal proposal at a future meeting.

Yousef Rabhi said he had some reservations about eliminating the 75/25 allocation, but was very supportive of the proposal that was on the table that night. Rabhi then asked Tetens to describe what kinds of maintenance activities are done in the county’s natural areas.

The work varies by preserve, Tetens explained, but includes trail maintenance, removal of invasive species, trash pickup and other activity. Rabhi hoped to see the balance of activities tip in favor of ecological restoration. He acknowledged that public accessibility was part of the program’s mission, but noted that increasing the health of the ecosystem is another important role. Tetens replied that the staff’s work is tilted toward that ecosystem aspect.

Rabhi then clarified with Tetens some information in the staff memo, which indicated that $240,000 annually would be used for stewardship. That’s an internal goal, Tetens replied. The current proposal grew out of discussions that occurred when the staff talked with commissioners and others prior to the NAPP millage renewal in 2010. Even with the 7% cap on spending for stewardship, he said, the program has set aside about $2 million for future stewardship activity.

The intent of the ordinance change is to to set aside even more dollars, so that by 2020 – when the county board has to decide whether to put a renewal on the ballot again – they’ll have some options. The assumption is that land acquired by the county through NAPP will be protected forever, Tetens said. They need to save more money so that they’ll be in a position to take care of the land in perpetuity, regardless of whether there’s a millage to support it.

Natural Areas Preservation: Board Discussion – Amendment

Rabhi said that as someone who works in the field, he understand the crucial role of stewardship. [Rabhi, a Democrat representing District 11 in Ann Arbor, works with the city's natural area preservation program.] He believed that instead of eliminating percentages completely, the ordinance should indicate a minimum of 25% for stewardship. He proposed that as an amendment to the resolution. It was seconded by Barbara Bergman.

Leah Gunn noted that she had been on the board when the original NAPP ordinance had been passed in 2000, and said she had worked hard campaigning for the millage to support the program. She said she couldn’t give enough praise to the parks and recreation commission and the staff, and she trusted them to do their jobs. Gunn told Tetens that the board should “let you do what you think is best, and if we find we’re dissatisfied with it, we’ll probably let you know,” she quipped.

Dan Smith weighed in, saying that the intent of changing the original ordinance was to simplify it. Ordinances should be crafted to last a long time, he said, and including percentages makes that more difficult. By adding back in a different percentage, Rabhi’s amendment adds complexity to the ordinance that’s unnecessary. [Smith is one of three county commissioners who serve on the parks and recreation commission. Others are Rolland Sizemore Jr. and Barbara Bergman.]

Commissioner Yousef Rabhi (D-District 11).

Smith read from the current ordinance, noting that the parks and recreation commission is an agency of the county. The ordinance gives the county board a lot of leeway to give direction to the parks and recreation commission, if it chooses. For those reasons, he did not support Rabhi’s amendment.

Wes Prater clarified with Tetens that none of the proposed changes would increase NAPP’s budget. Responding to another query from Prater, Tetens said that the issue is how to allocate the millage revenues. While the parks and recreation commission has a certain amount of discretion over NAPP’s budget, it doesn’t have authority to make ordinance revisions – only the county board of commissioners can do that.

Bergman praised the parks and recreation commission and staff, and said it’s important to maintain the county’s natural areas, especially regarding invasive species. To her, the amendment was meant to be advisory in nature, sending a message to future commissions.

Felicia Brabec asked Tetens what the impact would be on administering the program, if hard percentages are in the ordinance. When the ordinance was originally developed, the percentages were relatively arbitrary, Tetens replied. Regarding the proposed minimum 25% spent on stewardship, right now the program probably wouldn’t need to spend that much, he said. And depending on how much additional land is acquired in the future, they might need to spend more than that in the coming years. It’s important to keep manageable the amount of land that the county owns, he said, and to ensure that the county has sufficient funds to sustain maintenance indefinitely.

Conan Smith felt that Rabhi’s intention was “spot on,” and perhaps one way to address it would be to add language to the ordinance that expresses a commitment to maintenance. He did not make a formal motion to add such language, however.

At this point Alicia Ping called the question, a parliamentary move aimed at ending discussion and forcing a vote. The motion to call the question passed on a voice vote.

Outcome on amendment: The amendment failed on a 1-9 vote, with only support from Yousef Rabhi. Ronnie Peterson was absent.

Natural Areas Preservation: Board Discussion – Final Comments

Wes Prater asked about the current fund balance for NAPP. About $1.9 million is set aside for stewardship, Bob Tetens said. The total fund balance for NAPP is between $7-8 million, he added.

Leah Gunn said the purpose of the ordinance change is to set policy. It’s not to take control of the budget. She trusts the parks and recreation commission, which is appointed by the county board, to make decisions about NAPP’s budget. The program is also overseen by another group, the natural areas technical advisory committee (NATAC), she noted. The board needs to trust the people they’ve appointed to do the right thing, she concluded.

Outcome: The initial approval for changes to the NAPP ordinance passed unanimously. A final vote is expected at the board’s Sept. 19 meeting.

Later in the meeting, Rabhi stressed that he doesn’t distrust the parks staff or administration. He said he was simply trying to ensure that maintenance was financially supported at an adequate level. He understood that the staff is very well-qualified, as are members of the oversight bodies.

Countywide Transit Accord

In an item viewed largely as a formality, county commissioners were asked to “ratify” the articles of incorporation for a new countywide transit authority. The document was slightly revised from what the board had previously approved on Aug. 1, 2012 – on a 6-4 vote. The effort to more toward a broader public transit entity is being led by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA).

From left: County commissioners Dan Smith (R-District 2), Wes Prater (D-District 4), and Felicia Brabec (D-District 7).

The ratification of the articles of incorporation does not incorporate a new transit authority. Rather, it establishes the document that will be used to incorporate a new authority. The articles of incorporation will be filed by Washtenaw County with the state, when the AATA requests that it do so. After incorporation, the new authority – to be called The Washtenaw Ride – would not receive a transfer of AATA assets until a voter-approved funding mechanism has been approved.

The Sept. 5 agenda item to re-approve the articles of incorporation was prompted indirectly by the board’s action on Aug. 1, when it voted to amend the document that had already been approved by three other parties in a four-party transit agreement. Those other parties include the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. Because of the amendment, the articles of incorporation had to be re-authorized by the other three parties.

The county board’s Aug. 1 amendment made a change to the size of the majority needed, in order for the new transit authority’s board to change the articles of incorporation – from 2/3 to 4/5 of the 15 board members. When the amended document was sent back to the Ann Arbor city council, the city’s legal staff made additional changes that were driven by a desire to harmonize the county board’s amendment with the rest of the document, as well as with Act 196 of 1986 – the act under which the new transit authority will be incorporated.

For example, the 4/5 majority requirement for changes to the articles of incorporation is at apparent odds with one kind of change to the articles specifically mentioned in Act 196 – a change in jurisdictions that are part of the authority. Act 196 explicitly indicates that a 2/3 vote is required. So an administrative change undertaken after the board’s Aug. 1 meeting was to add the clause: “… unless another vote of Board is required under the terms of these Articles or provided for in Act 196.”

Although it wasn’t clear whether the changes required a re-vote by the county board of commissioners, some commissioners were concerned that the changes might be construed as substantive and contrary to the intent of the county board, which could become an unnecessary point of contention down the road. For more details on this series of changes, see Chronicle coverage: “Washtenaw Board to Re-Vote on Transit Accord.”

Earlier in the day on Sept. 5, the AATA board released a final draft of a 5-year service plan as part of a possible transition to The Washtenaw Ride. An 0.584 mill tax to support expanded service could be placed on the ballot by May 2013. [See Chronicle coverage: "Revised 5-Year Transit Plan: More Service, Cost."]

Outcome: With no discussion, the board voted 6-3 to ratify the articles of incorporation, with dissent from Alicia Ping, Wes Prater and Dan Smith. Rolland Sizemore Jr. and Ronnie Peterson were absent. Rob Turner, who had previously voted against the articles of incorporation, supported the item.

Public Health Budget

A net increase of 3.5 full-time-equivalent positions was part of the 2012-2013 department of public health budget on the Sept. 5 agenda for initial approval.

Dick Fleece, the county’s public health director, and Jennifer Brassow, the public health department’s finance director.

Seven full-time-equivalent positions (a combination of part-time and full-time jobs) are being reclassified in the proposed budget. Last year, the department eliminated a net of nearly seven FTEs. The $10,998,870 budget includes a $3,553,575 allocation from the county’s general fund – unchanged from the previous year. Of that general fund allocation, $548,052 will be used to fund the county’s medical examiner program, according to a staff memo.

Unlike the county’s general fund budget, which is aligned to the calendar year, the public health budget runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, in sync with the state’s fiscal year.

This coming year, the public health budget also includes two new vaccines that can be administered at the department’s clinics. Effective Jan. 1, 2013, meningococcal vaccines will be available at $120 per child and $125 per adult. HPV vaccines will be administered for $140 per child and $145 per adult. [.pdf of full fee schedule]

Public Health Budget: Board Discussion

Felicia Brabec asked Dick Fleece, the county’s public health director, about possible state cuts to the budget, and what the impact might be on clients served by the department. Fleece replied that there are concerns about across-the-board state budget cuts – that’s part of the uncertainty that the department faces. Some new grants the department is seeking are seen as promising, as well as current grants that are typically renewed. But none of those funding sources are finalized. As for the impact of possible funding cuts on clients, Fleece said it wasn’t possible to know until those cuts are determined – the department will have to make adjustments during the year, as necessary.

Fleece also noted that the department is projecting that it will end the year without needing to tap its fund balance.

Wes Prater pointed out that the positions reflect increased pay grades, which will cost the county in the long-term. He wondered why they couldn’t hold the line with pay grades. Fleece replied that for several of the positions, the increases will be covered by billing Medicaid. He noted that the department tried cutting some nursing positions during the previous budget cycle, but it had been hard to manage without them. That’s why this budget calls for two public health nurse positions. Currently, the department is turning away clients because there aren’t enough nurses to handle the demand for services.

Barbara Bergman described the funding from Medicaid as important – if the county didn’t take advantage of that, it would be like “leaving money on the table,” she said. She also defended the higher pay grades, saying that the county has been hemorrhaging staff and that at some point, people won’t be able to afford to work for the county.

Yousef Rabhi clarified with Fleece that no jobs were actually being eliminated – positions are simply being reclassified, or created.

Dan Smith said he’d be voting against this budget because it created a net of 3.5 new positions. The county is facing a budget deficit, and in that context, no new positions should be added.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. wondered if the budget cost the county more money. County administrator Verna McDaniel replied that there’s no increase in general fund support for the department. Fleece added that the general fund support is the minimum that’s necessary in order to receive state funding.

Outcome: Commissioners gave initial approval to the budget on a 8-2 vote. Voting against the budget were Alicia Ping and Dan Smith. Ronnie Peterson was absent. A final vote is expected at the board’s Sept. 19 meeting.

Food Policy Council Appointment

One appointment was made by commissioners at their Sept. 5 meeting. Sharon Sheldon of the Washtenaw County public health department was appointed to replace Jenna Bacolor on the Washtenaw County Food Policy Council. The slot is designated for someone in the public health sector. Sheldon also serves on the Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) board and is a former board member of the nonprofit Growing Hope. She currently works as a program administrator in the county public health department’s health promotion/disease prevention division.

Outcome: Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Sharon Sheldon to the food policy council.

Two appointments to fill vacancies on the Washtenaw County Historic District Commission had originally been on the Sept. 5 agenda but were pulled by board chair Conan Smith. Both slots had been for members of the general public. The board’s meeting packet had indicated that John McCurdy, an Ypsilanti Township resident and associate professor of history at Eastern Michigan University, was to be appointed to a term expiring on Dec. 31, 2012. Courtney Miller was to be appointed to a term ending on Dec. 31, 2013. She lives in Ypsilanti and previously served as a preservation planner with the city, serving as staff to the Ypsilanti Historic District Commission.

Smith stated that “technical” reasons resulted in the decision to remove the appointments from the agenda. Wes Prater asked Smith whether it was because the positions hadn’t been advertised, and Smith indicated that this was the case.

In an email to The Chronicle following the meeting, Smith clarified that although there is no requirement to “notice” these vacancies, he had “pledged to the commissioners that they would receive the appointments information further in advance and that I would personally vet them with staff. I hadn’t had a chance to do that when these two came to the board this evening.”

Ann Arbor Land Sale Policy

An item added to the Sept. 5 agenda during the meeting was a resolution to support a policy change in the city of Ann Arbor related to affordable housing.

From left: Commissioner Alicia Ping (R-District 3) and Elaine Holleran, administrative analyst.

The resolution “encourages the Ann Arbor City Council to direct proceeds from the sale of the city-owned surface parking lots in the downtown to the city’s Housing Trust Fund, to be used to support sustainable, affordable housing.”

Earlier in the day, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority board had passed a similar resolution of support. County commissioner Leah Gunn (D-District 9) is chair of the DDA, and brought the resolution forward for the county board’s consideration.

At the city council’s Sept. 4 meeting, councilmember Sandi Smith –  who also serves on the DDA board – had announced her intent to bring a resolution to the council on Sept. 17 that would establish a policy of depositing proceeds from city-owned land sales into the city’s affordable housing trust fund. The policy Smith is calling for would represent a return to a previous policy that was rescinded in 2007. That policy dates back to 1996. [For detailed Chronicle coverage, see: "City Council to Focus on Land Sale Policy."]

Outcome: Without discussion, commissioners voted 8-1 to approve the land sale resolution. Dan Smith abstained. Ronnie Peterson and Rolland Sizemore Jr. were absent.

At the board’s Sept. 6 working session, Alicia Ping announced that she had intended to vote against the land sale resolution. But she had stated the incorrect agenda item number when she cast her dissenting vote, and had voted unintentionally against the board’s approval of claims. She hoped the record could be clarified.

Communications & Commentary

During the evening there are multiple opportunities for communications from the administration and commissioners, as well as public commentary. Here are some highlights.

Communications & Commentary: Camp Take Notice

During public commentary, Seth Best told the board that he now lives in Ann Arbor, but he’s a former resident of Camp Take Notice. He was identified as a female at birth, but he’s been male in his mind and heart, he said. In 2006, he made a life-affirming decision to transition to become male. It cost him his job, and by 2008 he was homeless. He was in the South at the time, where the faith community had a lock on providing services for the homeless, he said. But because he was transgender, he was not welcome.

He came back to Michigan because he’d heard that the Delonis Center would accept him. They did, but had a 90-day limit on his stay there. That passed quickly, and again he found himself at the mercy of the faith community, he said. After a few weeks he learned about Camp Take Notice, and asked if he could join. He found himself where his gender didn’t matter. He was among like-minded people in a safe, drug-free place. He felt empowered as the camp grew, and it helped him. He’s no longer on the streets.

Best told commissioners that homelessness can’t be ended with just a house or a job. The root causes need to be addressed, and that’s related to mental health issues, he said, including drugs and alcohol.

Communications & Commentary: Camp Take Notice – Board Response

Several commissioners responded to Best’s commentary. Yousef Rabhi thanked him for coming, and called his story inspiring. Barbara Bergman noted that she serves on the board of the Washtenaw Community Health Organization (WCHO), and she hoped their outreach efforts had been of some assistance.

From left: County commissioners Rob Turner (R-District 1) and Rolland Sizemore Jr. (D-District 5).

Rob Turner said he’d first met Best at a recent town hall meeting regarding Camp Take Notice. The meeting had been hosted by the University of Michigan School of Social Work, and led by emeritus professor Bill Birdsall. It had been held on a Sunday, Turner said, because every Sunday the camp members have dinner together, followed by a town hall meeting. [For some of the history of Camp Take Notice, including the tradition of those Sunday gatherings, see Chronicle coverage: "Laws of Physics: Homeless Camp Moves" and "Laws of Physics II: Homeless Encampment."]

Turner said he’d been struck by the sense of community among members of the camp, which had been dislocated this summer from its most recent site in Scio Township. [The camp had been set up on property owned by the Michigan Dept. of Transportation, off of Wagner Road near M-14.] Turner recalled that the county had helped fund assistance to provide housing, but several people were still without housing.

There are more than 4,000 homeless people in Washtenaw County, Turner said. The camp had been a place where people could feel safe, if they couldn’t stay at the Delonis Center. He said that several elected officials had been invited to the meeting at UM, including state Rep. Mark Ouimet, state Sen. Rebekah Warren, and sheriff Jerry Clayton. No county commissioners had been invited, Turner said, but he was the only elected official who came – he’d read about the meeting in the Chelsea Standard, and had brought his two daughters.

Recidivism into homelessness is high, Turner continued, because people often don’t have the ability to follow up with services that might help them stay in housing. Without community support, it’s hard. Turner said he’s impressed with the community that Camp Take Notice has built, but it’s not a perfect solution. He’d like to talk to their leadership, and try to tap into their volunteerism and community support to help some of the county’s programs. It could be a wonderful resource, he said.

Rabhi thanked Turner for attending the meeting at UM, and said he had also been involved – he’d gone out to the camp when the members were evicted, and had participated in a working group of people that included law enforcement, neighbors and others. Camp Take Notice worked hard to have a good relationship with the community, he said.

Bergman noted that the county has already provided considerable resources to Camp Take Notice. She felt that ending homelessness probably won’t happen, and curbing homelessness is a better goal.

Communications & Commentary: Fracking

Felicia Brabec highlighted a letter that was included in the board’s meeting packet from Paxton Resources LLC, indicating that the company has filed an application with the state to drill an exploratory oil and gas well in Saline Township. [.pdf of Paxton letter]

Brabec said she was very concerned. A Paxton representative had attended a working session earlier this year, and Brabec characterized his remarks about the board’s concerns regarding fracking as very dismissive and flippant. She wanted to revisit the issue.

Yousef Rabhi, who chairs the board’s working sessions, said he plans to schedule a session on the Pall/Gelman Sciences 1,4 dioxane contamination. That situation involves decades-long industrial contamination at the former Gelman Sciences manufacturing plant in Scio Township, now owned by Pall Corp., that spread to the aquifer. The company has implemented court-ordered remediation, overseen to some extent by the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality. Rabhi said he planned to invite members of the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) to address the board.

He indicated that there might be a tie-in to the fracking issue, and that it could be handled in the same working session.

Communications & Commentary: IT Award

Kevin Moore was on hand to present the county with a 2012 Digital Counties award from the Center for Digital Government, Digital Communities program and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Washtenaw County ranked 9th in the the category of counties with a population between 250,000 to 499,000. Moore noted that Washtenaw County has ranked in the top 10 for 9 of the past 10 years.

Andy Brush, who leads the county’s IT staff, thanked Moore for coming into “hostile territory.” [Moore works for Quest Software, which is based in the Columbus, Ohio area. So it was an allusion to a college football rivalry between the university in that city and one located in Ann Arbor.] Brush also thanked the board for their support of technology, which he said helps make democracy accessible.

Leah Gunn thanked the IT staff for being gracious in helping “technological idiots like me.” Barbara Bergman also thanked the staff, noting that people in her generation are “digital immigrants,” unlike children who are “born with mice in their hands.” Conan Smith joked that he’d like to see the county advance above 8th place next year. [This is apparently a standard joke. When the county was awarded the 4th place ranking in 2011, Smith said he looked forward to the day that the county would be ranked No. 3.]

Communications & Commentary: Voting Rotation

During the meeting, Alicia Ping noted that in the past, votes had been taken by calling the commissioners’ names in rotation – that is, each roll call vote began with a different commissioner, so that the same person wouldn’t end up voting last each time. Now, the rotation doesn’t change, and Ping expressed a desire to return to the former practice. It makes a difference, especially on controversial votes, she said.

The task for administering the board’s roll call votes falls to Pete Simms of the Washtenaw County clerk’s office. Responding to an email from The Chronicle, Simms said the decision about rotating the vote is made by the county clerk [Larry Kestenbaum] clerk at the meeting. [Simms currently fills that role.] In the future, the voting order will be rotated, he said.

Communications & Commentary: November Election

Thomas Partridge spoke during the both opportunities for public commentary. He noted that it was an historic day – the eve of the Democratic National Convention’s nomination of the first African American U.S. president, Barack Obama, for a second term. It’s important to support Obama and all progressive Democratic candidates in the Nov. 6 election, he said. It’s important to put forward a plan that puts services for people first, and cast aside the Republicans and their presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, who put money before people, Partridge said. He also called for a commitment to end homelessness, and support for public transit. During his second turn at public commentary, Partridge said he planned to be a write-in candidate for either the District 53 state representative or Ann Arbor mayor. [Partridge had previously lost to incumbent state Rep. Jeff Irwin in the District 53 Democratic primary on Aug. 7.]

Present: Barbara Bergman, Felicia Brabec, Leah Gunn, Alicia Ping, Wes Prater, Yousef Rabhi, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Conan Smith, Dan Smith, Rob Turner.

Absent: Ronnie Peterson

Next regular board meeting: Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. The ways & means committee meets first, followed immediately by the regular board meeting. [Check Chronicle event listings to confirm date] (Though the agenda states that the regular board meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., it usually starts much later – times vary depending on what’s on the agenda.) Public commentary is held at the beginning of each meeting, and no advance sign-up is required.

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Victoria Powell, who spoke during public commentary to oppose oil and gas drilling using the technique called "fracking," talks with commissioner Leah Gunn at the April 4, 2012 Washtenaw County board of commissioners meeting. (Photos by the writer.)

Several residents spoke on the topic during public commentary, citing concerns over health, well contamination, property devaluation, and damaged roads caused by company tanker trucks, among other effects. They noted that state regulators aren’t providing adequate oversight or protection, and urged the board to take action.

Speakers included Mitch Rohde, CEO of Saline-based Quantum Signal and founder of “NoPaxton.com,” which has mobilized against drilling in this area by Paxton Resources, a company based in Gaylord, Mich. The company recently notified the county that it has filed an application with the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality for permission to drill an exploratory oil and natural gas well in Saline Township. [.pdf of notification letter]

Several commissioners thanked the speakers for coming and expressed their own intent to look into the issue, though it’s not clear what action can be taken at the county level. An April 19 working session will focus on the topic. That meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor.

In other items at the April 4 meeting, commissioners honored county dispatchers and got an update on cleanup from the March 15 tornado that touched down in the Dexter area. Marc Breckenridge, the county’s director of emergency management and homeland security, gave an estimate of $5 million in damages to private homes and property, and another $2 million in response costs – expenses incurred from the road commission, county workers, the sheriff’s office and others. The county intends to apply to the state for help in covering some of these costs.

Funding controlled by the state was key to another item on the April 4 agenda: A resolution urging state legislators not to eliminate the personal property tax, unless 100% replacement revenues are guaranteed. More than $40 million in PPT revenues are received by local units of government within Washtenaw County. Leah Gunn, who wrote the resolution, expressed skepticism that legislators would pay attention to the county’s concerns, but said it would at least send the message: ”Don’t mess with us.”

Two action items were related to the county’s criminal justice system. The board approved the appointment of Elisha V. Fink as magistrate of the 14A District Court. She’s filling a vacant part-time position previously held by Camille Horne, who left the job at the end of 2011. Commissioners also gave initial approval to hire Nimish Ganatra as an assistant prosecuting attorney at a salary of $81,690. The vacancy opened in December, following an employee retirement. The hire requires board approval because the salary is above the $69,038 midpoint of an authorized range. While several commissioners praised the hire and the office of county prosecuting attorney Brian Mackie, Wes Prater cast a dissenting vote. Citing ongoing budget challenges, he objected to hiring someone at an above-midpoint level.

Several other items were handled during the meeting, including: (1) final approval for the county to become a charter member of the Washtenaw Health Initiative, at an annual cost of $10,000; (2) initial approval to accept federal grants for the county’s weatherization program for low-income residents; and (3) acceptance of federal grants for local workforce development programs.

During public commentary, Douglas Smith talked about a lawsuit he’s filed against the county over a denial of his Freedom of Information Act request. The FOIA related to a surveillance video of an incident in Ypsilanti Township involving the theft of $20 from a court employee’s car – Smith alleges the money was taken by a high-level staffer with the sheriff’s office. Smith has spoken about this issue at previous board meetings, asking the board to intervene.

“Fracking” in Washtenaw County

Concerns about proposed oil and gas drilling in the Saline area using a technique known as “fracking” were raised by several speakers during public commentary at the April 4 meeting. Similar concerns had been voiced by commissioners at previous meetings, and the board plans to hold an April 19 working session on the topic.

“Fracking” in Washtenaw County: Public Commentary

Kurk Gleichman of Pittsfield Township told commissioners that a growing number of people have concerns about the practice of hydraulic fracturing, and are often discouraged by the influence that the oil and gas industry has on federal, state and sometimes local officials. Some communities have passed ordinances that ban the practice, he noted. Initially, local officials believed that they couldn’t pass laws that are stronger than state law, he said, but such laws can be instituted for the safety and security of residents. He reported that several groups in the community have formed, including NoPaxton.com and Ban Michigan Fracking. They support a ban on fracking, as well as a ban on waste generated from the practice, which is also a problem.

Victoria Powell, an Adrian resident, highlighted the impact of oil and gas drilling on the water supply. No one is addressing the issue of water depravation and contamination, she said, and it’s already a critical issue. She applauded the recent unanimous vote by the county road commission to reject drilling on property it owns in Saline Township.

Powell held up a map of Michigan that showed all the sites of existing underground storage tanks that are leaking. [The state Dept. of Environmental Quality provides an online searchable database to identify the location of leaking underground tanks. For example, a search for such sites in Ann Arbor yielded a list of 58 locations.] Last year, Jackson County – west of and adjacent to Washtenaw County – was the top crude oil-producing county in Michigan, Powell said. None of it is being used domestically, she contended. Many of the 42 wells in that county are near wetlands, but the DEQ says that drilling there is acceptable, Power reported.

Powell also spoke during a second opportunity for public commentary later in the meeting. She said the DEQ is thriving because it gets revenue from the hundreds of drilling permits it issues. Hal Fitch – chief of the DEQ’s office of oil, gas and minerals – is the single person to decide whether permits are issued, she said. Environmental impact studies must be done before drilling can occur, but those studies are done by the oil and gas companies, Powell said. There are currently about 18,000 wells in the state and less than three dozen inspectors who are supposed to inspect each well twice a year. Powell said she didn’t see how they could do that. There have been successful ordinances passed in cities like Pittsburgh and Buffalo that protect communities. She noted that if a property owner signs a contract with an oil or gas company allowing mineral exploration, they give away control of their property. Some lenders require notification of that, she said, and if you don’t provide it, you might be considered in default of your mortgage.

Powell concluded by noting that a meeting was being held in the Jackson County town of Brooklyn the next evening, featuring Chris Grobbel of Grobbel Environmental, who also teaches at Michigan State University. She suggested that commissioners might want to ask him to come to one of their meetings, too.

Brent Bartson of Lodi Township said he came to ask for help. As a property owner, he felt threatened by the risk that oil companies were posing to his health and the community’s health. Four wells had been drilled in Saline Township that use an acidizing technique. It’s not technically fracking, but it’s “fracking in sheep’s clothing,” he said. Bartson asked the board to adopt a resolution similar to one recently approved by the Wayne County commission, which called for a statewide and national ban on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. It would send a strong message to the state and the rest of the community that Washtenaw County is environmentally conscientious and doesn’t want this kind of risk imposed on its citizens. He suggested that rights-based ordinances – like those enacted in New York and Pennsylvania – have withstood legal scrutiny in court, and that might be a good place to start, he said.

Mitch Rohde identified himself as CEO of Saline-based Quantum Signal, which he said has added more than 40 jobs over the past decade. He’s also founder of “NoPaxton.com,” which has mobilized against drilling in this area by Paxton Resources, a company based in Gaylord, Mich.

Rohde said he was approached in October about the possibility of licensing the mineral rights on his property. After looking into it, he said what he found was frightening: drilling that resulted in well contamination and property devaluation, and damaged roads caused by company tanker trucks, among other effects. He noted that there is insufficient state regulation and oversight of these activities – he has no confidence in the DEQ. He urged the board to take action not just symbolically, but to enact serious measures that have worked in other communities.

“Fracking” in Washtenaw County: Board Discussion

There was no agenda item related to this topic, but several commissioners responded to the public commentary.

Yousef Rabhi began by thanking the residents for coming and speaking out about their concerns. He called it one of the most important issues facing this community, and noted that there’s already been an example of industrial contamination – the 1,4 dioxane contamination of underground aquifers caused by the former Gelman Sciences manufacturing plant in Scio Township. Court-ordered cleanup of that contamination has been going on for years. It’s important to be aware of current threats to property rights and health, he said, but also to be aware of future threats – in some cases, the impact of contaminants might not be known for many years.

Commissioner Yousef Rabhi pointed out that the county has received a communication from Paxton Resources indicating its intent to drill in Saline Township.

Rabhi wanted the speakers to know that they have a lot of support among commissioners. It’s important to take a stand against these companies, he said, though it seems like the state is on the side of the industry, and is not protecting citizens. He said that he and others have met with county staff to talk about what can be done, and there are a lot of hurdles to action. The consensus is that at the county level, there’s nothing meaningful that can be done, he said.

Rabhi pointed out that Paxton Resources has notified the county that it has filed an application with the MDEQ to drill an exploratory oil and natural gas well in Saline Township. [.pdf of notification letter] Dialogue still needs to occur, he said, and he reported that the board plans to hold an April 19 working session on the issue. [Rabhi is chair of the working sessions.]

Barbara Bergman echoed Rabhi’s comments, and added that she’s concerned for her children and grandchildren. The nation’s willingness to harm others because of its insatiable energy needs doesn’t make sense, she said.

Conan Smith noted that Wes Prater has prepared a resolution similar to one passed last year by the Wayne County board of commissioners, which called for a statewide and national ban on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. Smith said they could discuss the issue at the April 19 working session, then take up the resolution at a subsequent board meeting. The board will take whatever action it can, he added, and try to identify ways to make an actual impact.

Leah Gunn said that fresh water is one of the most precious resources, and when it’s polluted, “it’s over.”

Felicia Brabec noted that the speakers during public commentary are on the “front lines” of this issue, and have a better understanding than commissioners about what’s happening in their community related to fracking. She expressed interest in bringing some of the speakers back to the podium to answer questions, but Rolland Sizemore Jr. – who was chairing the meeting – didn’t take that suggestion. He pointed out that they’d be having more discussion at the April 19 working session, and asked that elected officials from other local units of government in the county be invited to attend.

Noting that the drilling was focused on her district, Alicia Ping said it seemed like any action the board took would have less impact than action at the city or township level, but commissioners need to continue looking into it.

Prater observed that state regulations for drilling are set out in a document that’s only three pages long. The board can pressure Lansing to make oil and gas companies step up and do inspections. The National Association of Counties (NACO) has started looking into the issue, he said, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is doing a study that will be released in 2014. “Well, we can’t wait until 2014,” Prater said. At the very least, the county needs to ensure that inspections are happening, he concluded, even though ”they certainly don’t have much to enforce.”

Rabhi criticized the state’s office of oil, gas and minerals, which is responsible for issuing drilling permits. The office is funded based on how much oil and gas is extracted – why should you trust people who are funded this way? It’s very alarming and adds to the reasons why citizens must be vigilant, he said.

Conan Smith defended DEQ staff, saying that he knew several state regulators and they care about the environment. He said the agency is grossly underfunded. There’s no question that there’s a flaw in the funding mechanism, but he would hate to impugn their integrity as public servants for something that’s beyond their control.

Honoring County Dispatchers

At their March 21 meeting, commissioners had authorized up to $500,000 from capital reserves to fund disaster relief and assistance to residents impacted by the March 15 tornado in the Dexter area. At the April 4 meeting, a resolution was on the agenda tangentially related to that disaster, honoring Washtenaw County dispatchers and declaring the week of April 8-14 as National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week in Washtenaw County.

Sheriff Jerry Clayton, left, and Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney Brian Mackie talk with three dispatch employees – Sandy Petrimoulx, Rochelle Noonan and Sarah Taylor – who were on hand to receive a resolution honoring the work of dispatchers in the county.

Although the board passes a similar resolution annually at this time of year, the recent disaster response was highlighted during a presentation to the board by Marc Breckenridge, the county’s director of emergency management and homeland security. Commissioners asked Breckenridge to begin by giving an update on conditions in that part of the county.

The F3 tornado had destroyed 13 homes, seriously damaged several more, and caused minor damage to hundreds of homes and property, Breckenridge said. Crews from the county road commission and DTE were especially critical in getting the community back to normal, he said. Fire service and other emergency personnel had come together quickly and accounted for everyone – there were no serious injuries or deaths. The outdoor warning sirens and media coverage of the tornado were helpful in getting the word out to people so that they could take cover, he said.

Now, the focus has shifted to long-term recovery and assessing damage, Breckenridge said. He estimated that there are about $5 million in damages to private homes and property, and another $2 million in response costs – expenses incurred from the road commission, county workers, the sheriff’s office and others.

Yousef Rabhi asked where the funds would come from to pay for the $2 million in response costs. The county has committed up to $500,000 and the road commission is paying another $250,000, he noted. What are the other sources?

Initially, that state had indicated that no funds were available under Section 19 of the Michigan Emergency Management Act, Breckenridge said. However, state Rep. Mark Ouimet – whose district includes the Dexter area – had subsequently identified a line item of about $519,000 in state funds that had been set aside to help pay for emergency response at the local level. The funds are typically capped at $30,000 per unit of government, Breckenridge said.

Barbara Bergman noted that they might have identified that money, but wondered how it would be “wrested” out of Lansing. She observed that this is the reason people pay taxes – so that governments can respond to emergencies. She asked the people who opposed paying taxes to think about that.

The process has started to collect information and make a formal request for state funds, Breckenridge said. It’s a only little bit, he added, but they’ll take it. As an example, he noted that the Huron-Clinton Metroparks has submitted $350,000 for damage to its golf course.

County administrator Verna McDaniel reported that so far, only about $78,000 has been spent out of the $500,000 allocated last month by commissioners. She assured them that the staff will be very prudent and account for every dime that’s spent.

Bergman asked Breckenridge whether insurance companies are “ducking” their  obligations. He replied that he’s seen a lot of activity by insurance adjusters in the area, and insurance companies have engaged many of the construction crews that are working in the area.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. praised Breckenridge’s work, prompting Breckenridge to reply that it’s not a one-man effort. A lot of others did heavy lifting, he said. Sizemore also thanked sheriff Jerry Clayton, who attended the April 4 meeting in uniform. Sizemore alluded to Clayton’s work in consolidating dispatch operations between the county and the city of Ann Arbor. [The county board had approved the dispatch consolidation at its Jan. 18, 2012 meeting. The proposal had previously been authorized by the Ann Arbor city council on Dec. 5, 2011. For additional background, see Chronicle coverage: "Ann Arbor, Washtenaw: Joint 911 Dispatch?"]

Breckenridge then introduced three employees of the county’s dispatch operations: Sarah Taylor, dispatch operations coordinator; Rochelle Noonan, a new dispatch operations coordinator; and Sandy Petrimoulx, communications operator. Breckenridge noted that dispatchers on duty during the March 15 storm fielded 821 incoming calls between 5-9 p.m. One dispatcher handled about one per minute for a period, which Breckenridge described as a shocking number. It was outstanding performance from the crew, he said. “We’re very proud of them.”

Board chair Conan Smith read the resolution honoring the county’s dispatchers and declaring the week of April 8-14 as National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week in Washtenaw County. Commissioners gave the dispatchers a round of applause.

McDaniel stepped forward and read another resolution recognizing volunteers in the county, and declaring the week of April 15-21, 2012 as National Volunteer Week.

Message to Lansing: Don’t Cut Revenues

Commissioners considered a resolution at their April 4 meeting that asked state legislators to halt any bills that would eliminate the state’s personal property tax. More than $40 million in PPT revenues are received by local units of government within Washtenaw County.

The resolution calls the potential loss of PPT revenue “devastating,” and states that such a loss would ”severely reduce the level of services by the local governments, including but not limited to public safety, transportation, libraries, schools, and local infrastructure.” [.pdf of initial resolution]

Message to Lansing: Don’t Cut Revenues – Board Discussion

Alicia Ping began the discussion by proposing an amendment that would specify not eliminating the PPT unless there is 100% replacement of those PPT revenues. She said she didn’t object to eliminating the PPT per se, but wanted to ensure that the revenues were replaced if that tax were eliminated. It was considered a friendly amendment.

Yousef Rabhi said that the 100% revenue replacement shouldn’t rely on the whims of state legislators. Local units of government need to be give options to raise their own revenues, he said. They shouldn’t have to rely on decisions made in Lansing, like those related to revenue-sharing, which has been chronically uncertain.

Leah Gunn noted that there’s been talk in the past about pushing for options as Rabhi suggested – like getting the ability to tax football tickets, for example – but it never goes anywhere. She said their resolution should simply ask for 100% revenue replacement.

Rabhi then suggested adding the word “guarantee,” which was also taken as a friendly amendment.

Wes Prater wondered how the amount of revenue replacement would be determined. Gunn replied that it would be based on the PPT revenues currently received, but noted that the issue “probably isn’t going to go anywhere.” The resolution is simply saying to state legislators “Don’t mess with us,” she said.

Outcome: The resolution was approved as amended, with Dan Smith abstaining from the vote. Rob Turner was absent.

14A District Court Magistrate

A resolution to appoint Elisha V. Fink as magistrate of the 14A District Court was on the April 4 county board agenda. Fink is filling a vacant part-time position previously held by Camille Horne, who left the job at the end of 2011.

14A-2 District Court judge Kirk Tabbey and Elisha Fink, who was appointed magistrate for the 14A District Court by the county board.

The 14A District Court serves all of Washtenaw County, with the exception of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Township. (Ann Arbor is served by the 15th District Court. Ypsilanti Township cases are heard in the 14B District Court.)

Fink has served as managing attorney with Fink Law in Dexter. Her practice has focused on family law, but she also has experience in the areas of business law, criminal law, real estate law, and civil litigation in the local courts. She is a graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. [.pdf of Fink's resumé]

Both Fink and Kirk Tabbey, the judge who presides over the 14A-2 District Court in Ypsilanti, attended the April 4 meeting and were invited to the podium to address the board. Tabbey noted that Fink has been involved with the court for some time, and Fink said she was looking forward to the opportunity of working as magistrate.

Commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr. asked whether Fink could keep the judges in line – he seemed to be joking. Conan Smith ventured that now Fink could fix his tickets, a comment which drew laughs from others in the room. Fink revealed that her son had come home the previous night with a ticket that will be dealt with in the 14A District Court, and she’d told him she wouldn’t even go with him to the courtroom – it was his responsibility.

Outcome: Elisha Fink was appointed as 14A District Court magistrate in a unanimous vote. Rob Turner was absent.

Washtenaw Health Initiative

A resolution giving final approval for the county to become a charter member of the Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) was on the April 4 agenda. The effort aims to expand health care coverage for the county’s low-income residents. The membership includes a $10,000 annual fee in both 2012 and 2013, which would be funded through the county’s office of community and economic development.

The board has been briefed on the initiative, most recently at a Feb. 16, 2012 working session. The plan is intended to help local health care providers handle an influx of an estimated 50,000 newly insured patients when federal health care reforms take effect in 2014. The goal is to develop a plan to provide better health care for the county’s low-income residents, the uninsured and people on Medicaid – prior to changes that will be mandated by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The WHI is a collaboration co-chaired by former county administrator Bob Guenzel and retired University of Michigan treasurer Norman Herbert. The effort is jointly sponsored by the UM Health System and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, and facilitated by Marianne Udow-Phillips, director of the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation – a joint venture of UM and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Other partners involved in the project include the Washtenaw Health Plan, the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, Arbor Hospice, Catholic Social Services, Dawn Farm, Hope Clinic, Huron Valley Ambulance, Integrated Health Associates, Packard Health, Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan, United Way of Washtenaw County, and the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan. A full list of partners is on the WHI’s website.

Organizers say they hope this initiative will become a model for other communities nationwide that are facing similar issues.

Washtenaw Health Initiative: Board Discussion

Alicia Ping had dissented on an initial vote taken at the board’s March 21 meeting, saying she preferred funds to go directly to services, not for administrative purposes. She again raised concerns before the final vote.

County commissioners Alicia Ping and Wes Prater.

Ping asked if other members would also be paying $10,000. County administrator Verna McDaniel replied that some of the other members are paying, and that she’d get that information for commissioners. Yousef Rabhi reported that the two hospitals – UM and St. Joe’s – are each putting in $30,000 annually.

Barbara Bergman said the WHI is working hard to prepare for the impact of the Affordable Care Act, assuming its provisions are upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. There will be a major influx of new patients who are eligible for Medicaid, she noted.

Wes Prater asked what the funding will be used for. There seemed some uncertainty at this point. Representatives from WHI – including former county administrator Bob Guenzel and Ellen Rabinowitz, director of the Washtenaw Health Plan – had attended the March 21 meeting, as most board discussion on agenda items occurs at that time. But no one was on hand to field questions on April 4. Conan Smith ventured that the WHI is conducting research, and that’s likely where the money will be initially spent.

Prater then asked if the WHI had already been formed as a nonprofit. Bergman said it’s not set up as a charitable organization – it’s a collaborative. Leah Gunn then called the question, a procedural move to end discussion.

Peter Simms, deputy county clerk, began the roll call vote on the resolution by asking: “Commissioner Bergman, how do you feel about that?” The unusually informal query drew laughs from commissioners, with Bergman indicating that she felt supportive.

Outcome: On a 9-1 vote, the board gave final approval to become a charter WHI member, with dissent from Alicia Ping. Rob Turner was absent.

Workforce Development Funding

A resolution giving final approval to three items related to Washtenaw County’s administration of the Michigan Works workforce development program was on the April 4 agenda. The items received initial approval at the board’s March 21 meeting.

The board was asked to authorize acceptance of a $92,309 federal grant to operate a local Michigan Works service center. The primary location in Washtenaw County is the Career Transition Center at 301 W. Michigan Ave. (the KeyBank building) in Ypsilanti. Additional services are offered at the Harriet Street Service Center at 304 Harriet St. in Ypsilanti.

Another $16,000 federal grant would fund ongoing professional and partnership development of the local Michigan Works operation.

The third item asked commissioners to ratify a mandatory 2012 “system plan” for the local Michigan Works office. The plan provides annual documentation of local administrative policies and procedures for the employment and training programs, as well as for other documentation required in order to receive funding as a workforce development agency. [Link to .pdf of the complete system plan for 2012][Link to .pdf of required grievance procedure documentation]

There was no board discussion on these items.

Outcome: The board voted unanimously to give final approval to the workforce development items. Rob Turner was absent.

Assistant Prosecutor Hiring & Salary

Commissioners were asked to give initial approval to hiring an assistant prosecuting attorney at a salary of $81,690. The vacancy opened in December, following an employee retirement. The hire requires board approval because the salary is above the $69,038 midpoint of an authorized range ($68,074 to $96,565). Because of furlough days negotiated as part of the recent collective bargaining agreements, his salary will be adjusted down by 3.846% to $78,548.

Nimish Ganatra, standing, talks with Marc Breckenridge, the county's director of emergency management and homeland security. An agenda item related to Ganatra's hiring as assistant county prosecutor was on the April 4 agenda.

The candidate for the position is Nimish Ganatra, who currently serves as assistant prosecutor for Jackson County, and previously was an assistant prosecutor with the Washtenaw County prosecutor’s office from 2001-2009. He is a graduate of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University Law School. [.pdf of Ganatra's resumé]

Brian Mackie, the county’s prosecuting attorney, praised Ganatra, highlighting an award he’d won for prosecuting domestic violence cases as an assistant district attorney in Worchester County, Mass. Mackie also noted that his office had recently lost two long-time employees: Don Ray, who retired last year after more than 30 years with the county; and Joe Burke, who was appointed earlier this year by the governor to serve a judicial vacancy in the 15th District Court.

Mackie said it was fortunate that Ganatra was willing to return to Washtenaw County.

Ganatra spoke briefly, saying it had been a pleasure to work for the county for nine years and that he looked forward to coming back.

Assistant Prosecutor Hiring & Salary: Board Discussion

Wes Prater said he couldn’t support the hire because the salary was well above midpoint. The county’s budgets won’t get any easier, he said, and there’s still the need to tighten spending.

Prater also said he was disappointed that Mackie didn’t replace Burke with an internal promotion. But Mackie pointed out that Burke’s position was filled with the internal promotion of Steven Hiller. Mackie also told commissioners that because the office is currently under-filling a senior assistant prosecutor post, there is an overall savings of $12,983. Another hire is being made at a base salary rate.

Several commissioners expressed strong support for the hiring of Ganatra. Dan Smith said he was very supportive of this hire and of the work done by the county prosecutor’s office. It’s sobering to hear about the cases that the office handles, Smith said, and he thanked Mackie for that work to keep the people of Washtenaw County safe.

Yousef Rabhi called Ganatra’s resumé impressive, and said that since Ganatra had previously worked for the county for nine years, in some ways it did feel like an internal promotion. Rolland Sizemore Jr. said he shared some of Prater’s concerns, but appreciated that Ganatra would be living in Washtenaw County. [Sizemore frequently stresses his view that it's important for county employees to be residents here as well.]

Outcome: The initial approval passed on a 9-1, with dissent from Wes Prater. Rob Turner was absent. A final vote is expected at the board’s April 18 meeting.

Weatherization Grants

Two items related to federal funding for Washtenaw County’s weatherization program for low-income residents were on the April 4 agenda for initial approval.

Commissioners were asked to authorize acceptance of $185,326 in federal funds for the weatherization program. The federal program was cut by 65% compared to 2011, but the state of Michigan is reallocating the previous year’s unspent funds as “carry-forwards” for 2012. In 2011, the county received $241,863 for this program.

According to a staff memo, the funding is expected to provide air leakage testing, health and safety evaluations, furnace assessments, refrigerator efficiency testing, post-inspection of the completed work, and consumer education services to 25 units. To qualify for the program, residents must have an income at or below 200% of federal poverty, which is about $44,700 for a family of four.

In a separate item, commissioners were asked to authorize acceptance of an additional $103,600 in funds redistributed to the county through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). According to a staff memo, this grant brings the total of ARRA weatherization funds received by the county to $4,867,138.

Weatherization Grants: Board Discussion

Wes Prater asked about the process for selecting recipients of the weatherization work. He said he hoped that priority was given to people who lived in the homes.

Aaron Kraft, who manages the program, said the applications are handled on a first come, first served basis. There’s a waiting list, and the grants being approved that night are already spoken for, he said. In response to another query, Kraft said that less than half of all contractors being used for the weatherization work of based in Washtenaw County.

In response to a follow-up question from a Chronicle reader (based on the Civic News Ticker report on this item), Kraft gave a more detailed breakdown of how the $185,326 will be allocated: Support and administrative costs covering client intake/assessment of need, project management ($63,136); energy audit inspections and quality assurance inspections ($8,820); labor and material costs to complete the recommended weatherization improvements ($106,196); and weatherization specific training funding ($7,174).

He said it’s likely that more than 25 homes will be weatherized using this funding.

Outcome: The two weatherization items received initial approval from commissioners. Rob Turner was absent. A final vote is expected on April 18.

Public Commentary

In addition to the anti-fracking public commentary reported above, two other people addressed the board.

Douglas Smith told commissioners that he had been forced to file a lawsuit against the county over a denial of his Freedom of Information Act request. The FOIA related to a surveillance video of an incident that he says involves Dieter Heren, police services commander with the sheriff’s office. Smith has spoken about this at three previous board meetings in 2011 – on Nov. 16, Nov. 2 and Oct. 19 – asking for the board to intervene.

By way of background, Smith had filed a FOIA request with the county in October of 2011 regarding a March 2011 incident at Ypsilanti Township hall, where a court employee had reported that $20 was stolen out of her car in the parking lot. She had requested video surveillance footage, but instead of providing it to her, the building’s security officer had emailed the sheriff’s office, according to Smith. Smith contends that the incident prompted an internal investigation. His FOIA request for the video footage was denied on appeal to the county administrator. Smith’s lawsuit alleges violation of the state’s FOIA and seeks to compel the county to release the complete video.

Smith told commissioners that in February, he was finally shown a version of the video, but it had been altered. It showed Heren driving into the parking lot, Smith said, then getting out of his car and walking around the court employee’s vehicle. While part of the video was a continuous recording, he was told the section showing Heren at the car was taken by motion capture – that was given as an explanation for why there are frames missing from the video. However, Smith contends that the surveillance camera isn’t a motion capture camera.

Smith urged commissioners to not waste taxpayer money in defending this lawsuit, and to urge the county’s administration to settle it.

Thomas Partridge spoke twice. He called on the board to adopt a progressive democratic agenda, fitting of all religious-minded residents during this Easter season. He said he’d spoken at the Ann Arbor city council meeting earlier in the week, and had asked them “What would Jesus advocate?” Jesus would advocate for access to affordable housing, health care, and transportation for the neediest among us, Partridge said, including many in the middle class who are now struggling.

Later in the meeting, Partridge questioned why there’s been no investigation into deaths of people living in homes under the care of county health providers. He said commissioners should find out why no law enforcement agency has investigated these deaths.

Present: Barbara Bergman, Felicia Brabec, Leah Gunn, Alicia Ping, Wes Prater, Yousef Rabhi, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Conan Smith, Dan Smith, Ronnie Peterson

Absent: Rob Turner

Next regular board meeting: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. The ways & means committee meets first, followed immediately by the regular board meeting. [confirm date] (Though the agenda states that the regular board meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., it usually starts much later – times vary depending on what’s on the agenda.) Public commentary is held at the beginning of each meeting, and no advance sign-up is required.

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Speakers included Mitch Rhode, CEO of Saline-based Quantum Signal and founder of “NoPaxton.com,” which has mobilized against drilling in this area. Paxton Resources – a company based in Gaylord, Mich.– has notified the county that it has filed an application with the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality to drill an exploratory oil and natural gas well in Saline Township. [.pdf of notification letter]

Rhode said he was approached in October about the possibility of licensing the mineral rights on his property. After looking into it, he said what he found was frightening: drilling that resulted in well contamination and property devaluation, and damaged roads caused by company tanker trucks, among other effects. He and other speakers noted that there is insufficient state regulation and oversight of these activities.

Several commissioners thanked the speakers for coming and expressed their own intent to look into the issue, though it’s not clear what action can be taken at the county level. Yousef Rabhi called it one of the most important issues facing this community, and noted that there’s already been an example of industrial contamination – the 1,4 dioxane contamination of underground aquifers caused by the former Gelman Sciences manufacturing plant in Scio Township. Court-ordered cleanup of that contamination has been ongoing for years.

Wes Prater has prepared a resolution similar to one passed last year by the Wayne County commission, which called for a statewide and national ban on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. Washtenaw County commissioners are expected to take up the resolution following the April 19 working session. That meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor.

This brief was filed soon after adjournment of the board’s April 4 meeting. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

Dexter Township supervisor Pat Kelly, right, attended the March 21, 2012 Washtenaw County board of commissioners meeting to thank the county for its help in the aftermath of the March 15 tornado that touched down in the township and caused considerable damage. To the left is Mark Ouimet, a former county commissioner who is now state representative for District 52, which includes the Dexter area.

Pat Kelly, Dexter Township supervisor, attended the meeting along with Mark Ouimet, a former county commissioner who is now state representative for District 52, which includes the Dexter area. Both thanked the county for its support and praised county staff – from sheriff’s deputies who provided security, to parks workers and others who helped with cleanup.

Later in the meeting, the board unanimously approved up to $500,000 from capital reserves to fund disaster relief and assistance to residents, including overtime costs for staff and payment for dumpsters to haul away debris. County administrator Verna McDaniel said that full amount might not be used, but it’s also possible that she’ll return to ask for more funding if it’s needed.

The board received a budget update for 2011 from finance staff, with the caution that minor changes might be made after an audit is completed. Although the originally approved budget had anticipated needing to use more than $5 million from the county’s general fund balance, only about $800,000 was actually used for the year – significantly less than expected.

Also related to the budget, the board authorized the county treasurer, Catherine McClary, to borrow up to $45 million against the amount of delinquent property taxes in all of the county’s 80 taxing jurisdictions. This is a standard request at this time of year as taxing jurisdictions – including cities, townships, schools systems and libraries, among others – turn their delinquent taxes over to the county, and are reimbursed for that delinquent amount. The county treasurer then assumes responsibility for collecting the delinquent taxes.

McClary noted that delinquent taxes are a leading economic indicator, and in that respect the trend is positive. This year, there is a drop in delinquent taxes for the first time since 2005. All jurisdictions saw a decrease, she said, and that’s really good news for the economy. McClary also gave her annual treasurer’s report for 2011, noting that revenues earned from delinquent taxes and fees totaled $5.557 million – about $3 million more than had been budgeted.

Also at the March 21 meeting, the board took a first step toward becoming a charter member of the Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI), an effort to expand health care coverage for the county’s low-income residents. The membership includes a $10,000 annual fee in both 2012 and 2013, which would be funded through the county’s office of community and economic development. The 8-1 vote included dissent from Alicia Ping, who said she preferred funds to go directly to services, not for administrative purposes. Barbara Bergman was absent and Ronnie Peterson was out of the room when the vote was taken.

Among its other action items, the board gave final approval to creation of a county food policy council, and to an increase in certain fees charged by the public health department.

As an item for future discussion, several commissioners raised concerns over the issue of hydraulic fracturing – known as “fracking” – in rural parts of the county, to access oil or gas. Paxton Resources, a Gaylord, Mich.-based firm, has been acquiring mineral rights in the county’s rural areas for several months. A group of local residents called “No Paxton” has formed to oppose the company’s actions. The board discussed the possibility of a resolution urging more state oversight of the practice, and will likely schedule a working session on the issue.

Dexter Tornado Disaster Relief

In an item added to the agenda during the March 21 meeting, commissioners were asked to authorize up to $500,000 from capital reserves to fund disaster relief and assistance to residents impacted by the March 15 tornado in the Dexter area. The funds will be used for a variety of purposes, including overtime costs for county employees and payments to vendors who’ve provided nine dumpsters for the use of residents. There is a fund balance of $7.718 million in capital reserves, according to the county.

Before the vote, the board was briefed by Mark Ouimet – a former county commissioner who’s now state representative for District 52, which includes the Dexter area – as well as Dexter Township supervisor Pat Kelly. Both Kelly and Ouimet thanked commissioners for their support and praised county staff who’ve been working in the area damaged by the tornado.

Ouimet began his remarks by joking that it was an honor to be before this “prestigious group, other than the two Smith brothers” – a reference to fellow Republican Dan Smith and Democrat Conan Smith, who are not related. Ouimet said he initially went out to the area a couple of hours after the tornado hit, and personally saw what a great job county employees did in responding to the disaster. About 30 state police were brought in to secure an outer ring around the area that was hit, while sheriff’s deputies and personnel directed traffic and went door-to-door making sure everyone was accounted for, he said. Sheriff Jerry Clayton and his troops worked tirelessly for many days, Ouimet said, and deserve special thanks, as do firefighters from eight surrounding communities who responded.

The entire community came together to help, Ouimet said. The Dexter school system opened a building for people to take inventory of what was needed. Groceries and restaurants donated food and water, and “everybody from the community pitched in,” he said.

Ambulances had lined up near the area and local hospitals had prepared their emergency rooms for the worst, Ouimet noted, but “that worst never came.” An emergency plan that’s been worked on for years kicked into effect, and while there were a few glitches to learn from, overall it went very smoothly, he said. There were no discussions about jurisdictions – people just stepped up and asked how they could help, from law enforcement workers to staff of the parks and recreation department, who brought wood chippers to help handle the debris. Ouimet thanked everyone involved in the effort for their work.

Pat Kelly, Dexter Township’s supervisor, also spoke briefly to thank the board. Kelly said the first call she got after the storm was from Mary Jo Callan, director of the county’s office of community and economic development. After that she heard from many others with the county, all asking how they could help. ”This county should be damn proud of themselves today and this whole week,” she said.

Kelly wrapped up by joking that initially, people had assumed the tornado touched down in the village of Dexter, ”so the carpetbaggers and media stayed away from the township and we were grateful.”

Dexter Tornado Disaster Relief: Board Response

Rob Turner – who represents District 1, which includes the Dexter area – also praised the county staff for their work. He reported that he and county administrator Verna McDaniel met with Pat Kelly to ask what they could do. He noted that the village of Dexter has a support infrastructure, but the township doesn’t have those resources. Kelly showed great leadership, he said.

County commissioner Rob Turner, whose district includes the Dexter area where a tornado struck on March 15.

The needs were very practical, including portable toilets for workers and volunteers to use, and a place to dump large amounts of trash and debris. Bob Tetens, director of the county parks and recreation department, had his crew deliver port-o-pots and wood chippers, Turner said. The county also contracted with a vendor to bring nine dumpsters into the area for residents to use as they cleaned up their property – the dumpsters were needed because there were a lot of things that insurance companies wouldn’t pay to have hauled away, Turner said.

Turner said he’s been calling Mary Jo Callan a lot – she and her staff at the office of community and economic development have been very helpful and are doing a wonderful job, he said. The shock of the disaster has worn off, and people are needing help. Security checkpoints were still in place, which gave residents a level of comfort knowing that they could sleep safely, he said.

It was a miracle that no one was killed or seriously injured, Turner said, and that no rescue or cleanup workers had been injured, either. It’s been amazing to watch as the community pulls together. On some of the boarded-up garages, people have written “We love Dexter,” he noted. It’s been exhausting, ”but it makes you feel good that you’re a part of a county that cares.”

Several other commissioners weighed in with comments. Leah Gunn said she appreciated that Ouimet and Kelly had come to the board – it’s rare for the county to hear thanks, she said. Gunn was proud that the county staff took action without worrying about the budget impact, because it needed to be done. She thanked the sheriff’s office and its emergency management division, and “above all, Rob Turner.”

Yousef Rabhi said his first instinct had been to grab his chainsaw and head over to help, but he realized that wasn’t the right thing to do. To find out how much the county was doing had been very moving, he said. The people of Washtenaw County stood up and helped the people in Dexter and Dexter Township, and that was ”a phenomenally moving experience to be a part of,” he said. Rabhi thanked the community leaders in that area for their work.

After expressing his thanks as well, Dan Smith asked Ouimet for an update on possible legislation related to the disaster relief. Ouimet said there are two possibilities that he’s researching. One would relate to how damaged properties are assessed for tax purposes, he said, given that many homes have been completely destroyed. The other possible bill might address how local governments could be reimbursed by the state for costs incurred from overtime and other cleanup-related expenses. It’s challenging for local governments that are already stretched thin, he said.

Wes Prater praised Marc Breckenridge, the county’s director of emergency management, as well as the sheriff’s office, public health department and road commission. He noted that every six months, Breckenridge organizes a mock emergency drill. The emergency command center is activated and organizations practice their response plans. Because they’ve done their training, Prater said, they can respond efficiently during an actual emergency.

McDaniel pointed out that she’s heard from a range of elected officials – including U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, state Sen. Rebekah Warren and others – who offered their support. The county has also set up a website with more information about how people can help.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. said there are a lot of times when the board has to deal with difficult issues, but commissioners stick together when emergencies like this arise. He was glad no one got hurt.

Dexter Tornado Disaster Relief: Resolution

Later in the meeting, the board took up discussion of the proposed resolution. McDaniel said she might not need as much as $500,000 but it’s also possible that she’ll return to ask for more. At this point, it’s unclear what would be needed. She said the board would receive a full accounting of the expenditures, which would be overseen by administration and finance staff.

Dan Smith said he fully supported this resolution – he’d seen firsthand that the need is great. This is why the county has a fund balance, he said, so that it can respond to emergencies. He wanted to put the expenditure in the context of broader budget discussions, noting that the board had made cuts to balance the 2012-13 budget. He asked McDaniel to clarify where the $500,000 would come from, and what the plans are for replenishing these funds.

McDaniel replied that the $500,000 will be taken from capital reserves, not from the general fund balance. There is a substantial amount in that capital reserves fund – a balance of $7.718 million. There are no specific plans to replenish it, she said, but the funds will be used conservatively and will be monitored.

Smith said he was more comfortable approving this expenditure after hearing the 2011 treasurer’s report and budget update from finance staff earlier in the meeting. [See below for coverage of those topics.] He was glad the county was in a position to support this relief effort.

Rob Turner said that as point person for the effort, he would work as a liaison to the board in providing oversight of this expenditure.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously voted to allocate up to $500,000 for Dexter area disaster relief. Barbara Bergman was absent and Ronnie Peterson was out of the room at the time the vote was taken.

2011 Budget Update

Tina Gavalier, the county’s finance analyst, briefed commissioners on 2011 year-end financial results. She noted that these are preliminary numbers – after the audit is completed, there might be slight adjustments. [.pdf of year-end report]

Gavalier reminded the board that at the beginning of 2011, the finance staff had projected that $5.3 million would need to be drawn from the general fund balance for the year – the board had approved the 2011 budget based on that assumption. Over the months, it became clear that less of the fund balance would be needed, and by the end of the year only $791,059 had been used from the fund balance, she said.

Total revenues for the year were $101.208 million, compared to expenses of $101.999 million.

In several areas, revenues were higher than expected, Gavalier reported. One of the highest was a surplus of $869,000 from the sheriff’s office, from civil fees, state revenue, overtime reimbursements and E-911 surcharge transfers. Other areas with revenue surpluses compared to budget include:

• $749,000 in surplus revenue for the corporation counsel’s office, due to a settlement of the police services lawsuit.
• $348,000 in property tax revenue due to TIF (tax increment finance) reimbursement from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
• $199,000 from the clerk/register of deeds due to higher-than-expected revenues from fees and transfers.
• $67,000 from information technology services supplied to other local governments.
• $59,000 from the treasurer’s office due to dog licenses and other fees.
• $54,000 from the office of the water resources commissioner due to drain contributions and local revenue.
• $27,000 from the prosecuting attorney’s office due to a new Title IV-E reimbursement grant.

However, Gavalier highlighted two areas where revenues fell short of projections: The district court, with a revenue shortfall of $169,000 from declining case filings, and the trial court, with a $69,000 revenue shortfall because of lower state revenue reimbursements. In both cases, the shortfall was offset by lower-than-budgeted expenses, she said.

Expenses were lower in several areas, she said. Information technology maintenance contracts were $369,379 less than budgeted. Net personnel services were $257,325 lower than expected because of attrition, job vacancies and planned reductions. Departmental operating expenses were $191,484 lower than budgeted, and unspent housing reserves contributed to $361,000 in lower expenses for that line item. The county also spent $424,000 less than expected in tax appeals and refunds, Gavalier said. However, appropriations and transfers out of the general fund were $1.579 million more than originally budgeted.

Gavalier noted that the general fund balance stood at $14.5 million at the end of 2011 – or 14.2% of expenditures for the year.

In April, the board will be presented with the year-end audit and comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for 2011. That same month, Gavalier said, the “highly anticipated” equalization report will be delivered. The equalization report, produced by the county’s equalization department, is the basis for determining the taxable value of property in the county, which in turn indicates how much tax revenue is collected by local taxing entities. It is critical in developing budgets for the coming year.

The board will receive quarterly budget updates in May, August and November, and will vote to reaffirm the 2013 budget – with adjustments, if necessary – this fall. [The county plans its budget in two-year cycles, generally with relatively minor adjustments made to the second year. The current two-year budget, which the board passed in late 2011, is for 2012 and 2013.]

2011 Budget Update: Board Discussion

Board chair Conan Smith reminded commissioners that in planning for the 2010-2011 two-year budget cycle, the budget had called for building up a fund balance in 2010 to be carried over and used in 2011.

As he’s done in the past, Wes Prater took issue with the use of general fund balance. It’s deficit budgeting, he said, and doesn’t conform to the state’s Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act. [.pdf of the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, which outlines how local units of government must prepare their financial reports]

County administrator Verna McDaniel suggested that she and the county’s finance staff meet with Prater later to go over the budget again and address his concerns. Leah Gunn characterized it as good news that the county needed to use far less of its fund balance than they had originally anticipated, “so thanks!” she told the staff.

Prater said that’s not what he’s concerned about. He noted that he’s the only commissioner who speaks up on this issue, and it appears that others don’t care. He’s concerned about how they’re preparing the budget, and they need to talk about it, he said. [Although he has raised similar concerns in the past, Prater voted to approve the 2010-2011 budget as well as the current 2012-2013 budget.]

Conan Smith responded by saying that he and Prater discussed this issue extensively when the 2010-2011 budget was being prepared. The county has never not complied with the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, Smith said. Prater has a different view of the act than the entire finance staff and all other commissioners, Smith said, but to say that others don’t care “is simply erroneous.”

Gunn said the budget is what the county expects it will receive in revenues and what it expects to spend. The “actuals” are the actual amounts of revenues and expenditures. The budget is a policy document, she said, and can be adjusted. At the end of the year, the board receives the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), which provides a detailed accounting of actual revenues and expenditures, she said. That’s different from the budget, she noted. Gunn concluded by saying the county has been frugal and they are good stewards of the public’s money.

Dan Smith asked whether the results from 2011 will affect the projected $14 million budget deficit that the county is facing in 2014-2015. McDaniel replied that any time the county can reduce spending, they’ll be better off. The budget outlook will be clearer in April, when the equalization report is delivered, she said. The trends so far are good, in terms of improved revenues. But she expressed caution, saying the county isn’t yet out of the woods. The state revenue-sharing outlook isn’t yet clear – McDaniel said it’s uncertain how much money would be available, and whether Washtenaw County would qualify to receive it. Also unclear is whether the state will repeal the personal property tax, which would affect revenues.

McDaniel confirmed that the county wouldn’t prepare a revised budget projection until after the 2011 audit and 2012 equalization report are completed.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. highlighted the shortfall in the courts’ budgets, and called for the county administration to meet with Kirk Tabbey, chief judge of the 14-A District Court, and Donald Shelton, chief judge of the Washtenaw Trial Court, to figure out how to address these ongoing budget issues.

Prater pointed to a $2.2 million adjustment in the original 2011 budget for personnel expenses – an increase from $61.42 million to $63.65 million. Why wasn’t that $2.2 million in the original budget? he asked.

Gavalier said the adjustments were made in response to board actions that called for various increases over the year, which commissioners had approved. Conan Smith noted that one significant change related to an increase in costs to staff the jail expansion. [Extra jail staffing was actually budgeted for 2010, but some of the hiring was delayed until 2011.]

Rob Turner noted that budget adjustments had been brought to the board each quarter during the year, and the board had voted on those adjustments.

Most recently, the board voted unanimously at its Nov. 2, 2011 meeting to adjust the 2011 budget – increasing revenues and expenditures by $619,939. From The Chronicle’s report of the board’s discussion:

Wes Prater described the presentation as one of the best he’d ever seen. He noted that when the board originally approved the two-year budget in 2009, the finance staff had projected revenues for 2011 at $98.7 million. In fact, this year’s budget will be closer to $101.2 million, he noted – that means the projections were off by $2.5 million, he said.

Prater said he understood that the 2011 budget has been amended since then. His point is that he doesn’t want the staff to make the same mistake for 2012-2013. He said he was just raising the issue.

Delinquent Tax Borrowing

On the March 21 agenda was a resolution authorizing the county treasurer to borrow up to $45 million against the amount of delinquent property taxes in all of the county’s 80 taxing jurisdictions .

County treasurer Catherine McClary, left, talks with state Rep. Mark Ouimet (R-District 52) at the county board's March 21 meeting.

County treasurer Catherine McClary explained the process to the board. After March 1, taxing jurisdictions – including cities, townships, schools systems and libraries, among others – turn their delinquent taxes over to the county, and are reimbursed for that amount. The county treasurer then assumes responsibility for collecting these delinquent taxes. This is a standard procedure that’s conducted annually at this time of year. The borrowed funds – general obligation limited tax notes – are used for cash flow purposes, to fund operations for the first half of the year.

McClary told the board that she projected needing to much borrow less than the $45 million authorized – likely about $26 million. Last year, the county borrowed about $32 million for this purpose.

McClary noted that delinquent taxes are a leading economic indicator, and in that respect the trend is positive. This year, there is a drop in delinquent taxes for the first time since 2005. All jurisdictions saw a decrease, she said, and that’s really good news for the economy.

McClary also pointed to a drop in the number of parcels that are delinquent in paying taxes. In recent years there have been about 11,000 delinquent parcels each year, but this year it’s closer to 9,500 – about a 14% drop. If a family’s finances are tight, they’ll make other payments – like their mortgage – before paying taxes. So the fact that there are more people paying taxes on time is a good sign, she said.

Delinquent Tax Borrowing: Board Discussion

Alicia Ping wondered how long it takes to pay back the borrowed funds. McClary said that the 2011 notes have a maturity date of June 2013 – so about 2.5 years. Ping said it’s good to know the debt isn’t long-term.

Felicia Brabec asked why the resolution authorized up to $45 million, if McClary expected to use only about $26 million. McClary said she had to prepare the resolution before all of the jurisdictions turned in their delinquent tax amounts. Now she had a clearer indication of what those amounts would be – only two townships (Scio and Sharon) hadn’t yet reported their totals, she said.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously authorized the treasurer’s request for delinquent tax borrowing.

Treasurer’s Report for 2011

County treasurer Catherine McClary also gave her annual report to the board, providing a look at the county’s investment portfolio as of Dec. 31, 2011.

Investment earnings totaled $860,891 for the year, on a portfolio valued at $116 million as of Dec. 31. [Investment earnings were $737,602 in 2010.] With an average weighted yield of 0.835%, the investments earned well above the three-month U.S. Treasury benchmark of 0.02%, McClary said.

McClary thanked the board for not pressuring her to generate a higher yield on investment. She said she manages the portfolio for safety, not for the highest yield. No one is happy with the current yields, she added – in past years, the portfolio was able to earn millions annually in investment income. Treasurers in other counties feel pressure to invest in riskier ways designed to generate higher yields, but “that’s not what you want to do with public funds,” she said. Investment rates are likely to remain low, as the Federal Reserve has indicated plans to keep benchmark interest rates at record lows in order to stimulate economic recovery, McClary said.

The portfolio is diversified by both the type of investment as well as the maturity date, she explained. At the end of 2011, cash and investments totaled $155.557 million (compared to $147.545 million in 2010). The portfolio is invested in the following ways: $63.11 million in certificates of deposit (CDs), certificate of deposit account registry service (CDARS) and money market accounts; $17 million in commercial paper; $14.5 million in U.S. treasuries and agencies of the U.S. government; and $27.657 million in bank accounts. [.pdf file of two-page 2011 treasurer's report]

Revenues earned from delinquent taxes and fees totaled $5.557 million – about $3 million more than had been budgeted, McClary noted. [Revenues in this category were $6.262 million in 2010.] The county has a healthy capital projects fund because of revenue that the treasurer’s office has generated, she said.

The accommodation tax, which is collected by the treasurer, brought in $3.993 million in 2011 compared to $3.539 million in 2010. The county collects a 5% excise tax from hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts, which is then distributed to the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti convention & visitors bureaus and used to promote tourism and convention business.

The county also got $18,344 in fees from tax searches that the county performs, down from $24,970 in 2010. The treasurer’s office charges 50 cents per search.

McClary noted that revenues from dog licenses increased dramatically – to $86,322 from $37,922 in 2010 – because of changes that commissioners approved in 2010. The changes included (1) allowing the treasurer’s office to issue multi-year licenses, and (2) increasing the license fee for the first time since 1981. [For spayed/neutered dogs, the fee is $12 for per year. It costs $24 per year for dogs that aren't spayed or neutered.] The increase in revenues is primarily from people buying multi-year licenses, so revenues are expected to be closer to $30,000 in 2012, she said.

Treasurer’s Report for 2011: Board Discussion

Wes Prater asked how much of the accommodations tax is kept by the treasurer’s office for administrative expenses. Very little, McClary said – just an amount that can be documented for expenses to collect the taxes.

By way of background, the county’s contract with the  Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti convention and visitors bureaus calls for the county to retain 10% of that tax revenue to defray the cost of collection and enforcement. A contract amendment passed by the board in September 2011 addressed the process for distributing excess funds that might accumulate from the county’s 10%, if that amount exceeds the expenses required to administer and enforce compliance with the tax. Beginning in May 2013, the county will continue to retain 10% of the tax proceeds, plus 10% of any remaining fund balance. If additional funds accumulate in the fund balance, they are to be returned proportionally to the two convention & visitors bureaus – 75% to Ann Arbor, and 25% to Ypsilanti.

At its Feb. 15, 2012 meeting, the board voted to make an early distribution of $200,000 from those administrative funds to help pay for a Pure Michigan national ad campaign focused on the Ann Arbor area. At the time, more than $350,000 was in that administrative fund, according to the county.

At the recent March 21 meeting, Prater also asked where the revenues from delinquent property taxes are deposited. Those go into the county’s capital projects fund, McClary explained.

Prater said he was glad to hear a good report from 2011, and wondered when the board would see the treasurer’s reports from January and February of this year. McClary said the finance department had those reports, and would also receive the March report in early April.

McClary then offered to brief the board on the status of tax foreclosures and mortgage foreclosures in the county, but there was no interest expressed on the part of commissioners in hearing that update.

Washtenaw Health Initiative

At the March 21 meeting, commissioners were asked to take the first step toward becoming a charter member of the Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI), an effort to expand health care coverage for the county’s low-income residents. The membership includes a $10,000 annual fee in both 2012 and 2013, which would be funded through the county’s office of community and economic development.

The board had been briefed on the initiative, most recently at a Feb. 16, 2012 working session. The plan is intended to help local health care providers handle an influx of an estimated 50,000 newly insured patients when federal health care reforms take effect in 2014. The goal is to develop a plan to provide better health care for the county’s low-income residents, the uninsured and people on Medicaid – prior to changes that will be mandated by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The WHI is a collaboration co-chaired by former county administrator Bob Guenzel and retired University of Michigan treasurer Norman Herbert, who both attended the March 21 meeting, along with Ellen Rabinowitz, executive director of the Washtenaw Health Plan. The effort is jointly sponsored by the UM Health System and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System – Guenzel told commissioners that retired Saint Joseph Mercy Health System CEO Bob Laverty had been the “sparkplug” behind the effort. It’s faciliated by Marianne Udow-Phillips, director of the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation – a joint venture of UM and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Other partners involved in the project include the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, Arbor Hospice, Catholic Social Services, Dawn Farm, Hope Clinic, Huron Valley Ambulance, Integrated Health Associates, Packard Health, Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan, United Way of Washtenaw County, and the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan.

County commissioner Wes Prater, left, talks with former county administrator Bob Guenzel, who is co-chair of the Washtenaw Health Initiative.

Organizers have said they hope this initiative will become a model for other communities nationwide that are facing similar issues.

Guenzel told commissioners that he’s been around a long time, and it’s hard to imagine how well the community has come together to support this initiative. More than 40 organizations have been involved, including the major hospitals, to focus on 11 efforts that will better coordinate care and deliver services for the uninsured and underinsured. Even if the Affordable Care Act weren’t in place, he said, the community would still have a plan to address these needs.

The WHI is looking for the county’s seal of approval, Guenzel said. It’s an all-volunteer effort, he noted, but signing the charter means that member organizations support it and that it’s OK for employees to work on it.

Rabinowitz said the effort is extremely involved in Medicaid outreach and enrollment. [A press release issued by the WHI earlier in the month stated that more than 700 people have been enrolled in Medicaid since the initiative got underway, out of an estimated 6,400 people in the county who are eligible but have not accessed the coverage. .pdf of press release] Other WHI efforts focus on providing access to dental care, and creating support structures for case management to help residents get the health care they need, Rabinowitz said. The Washtenaw Community Health Organization is involved in providing access to mental health services, she said.

Rabinowitz concluded by saying that the WHI is an example of the community coming together to address existing needs.

Washtenaw Health Initiative: Board Discussion

Alicia Ping said she appreciated the hard work of the organizers and all those involved, but she would not support the initiative. The idea behind it is good, she said. But the board had to make a lot of budget cuts last year that directly affected services to residents. She couldn’t support giving funds that would support another layer of administration and not directly support people who are delivering services. Ping said she’d want to see funding first restored to organizations like SafeHouse Center.

Outcome: On an 8-1 vote, with dissent from Alicia Ping, the board gave initial approval to the Washtenaw Health Initiative. Barbara Bergman was absent and Ronnie Peterson was out of the room when the vote was taken. A final vote is expected at the board’s April 4 meeting.

Workforce Development

Three items related to Washtenaw County’s administration of the Michigan Works workforce development program were on the March 21 agenda.

The board was asked to authorize acceptance of a $92,309 federal grant to operate a local Michigan Works service center. The primary location in Washtenaw County is the Career Transition Center at 301 W. Michigan Ave. (the KeyBank building) in Ypsilanti. Additional services are offered at the Harriet Street Service Center at 304 Harriet St. in Ypsilanti.

Acceptance of another $16,000 federal grant was on the agenda to fund ongoing professional and partnership development of the local Michigan Works operation.

The third item that the board was asked to approve would ratify a mandatory 2012 “system plan” for the local Michigan Works office. The plan provides annual documentation of local administrative policies and procedures for the employment and training programs, as well as for other documentation required in order to receive funding as a workforce development agency. [.pdf of the complete system plan for 2012] [.pdf of required grievance procedure documentation]

Outcome: With no discussion, commissioners gave initial approval to the workforce development items. A final vote is expected on April 4.

Environmental Planner

Approval to hire a senior environmental planner at an annual salary of $77,000 was on the March 21 agenda. The position required board approval because the salary is above a midpoint of $66,634 for that non-union job classification.

According to a staff memo, the $77,000 base salary is $2,659 less than what the previous person in that position was paid, and is within the authorized salary range of $53,732 to $79,537 for that job. The memo also notes that because of mandatory unpaid furlough days, the $77,000 salary would be adjusted down by 3.846% to $74,034.

Heather Rice is being hired to fill this position, which is part of the office of the water resources commissioner, an elected position held by Janis Bobrin. Rice is a senior environmental specialist for the University of Michigan’s Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, and is responsible for the UM’s stormwater permit program. As senior environmental planner with the county, Rice would be responsible for administering and ensuring compliance with all requirements of the county’s Phase II stormwater permit program.

Environmental Planner: Board Discussion

Only one commissioner had questions on this item. Rolland Sizemore Jr. clarified with Bobrin that her request was for one position, not two. He also confirmed with her that the job would not be paying more than the maximum authorized salary range.

Outcome: The board unanimously approved the above-midpoint salary for the senior environmental planner job.

Public Health Fees

Commissioners were asked to give final approval to an increase in fees to treat sexually transmitted diseases – one of the mandated services provided by the county’s public health department. Initial approval had been given at the board’s March 7 meeting. The changes are being made in response to federal funding cuts and an increase in charges for state services.

The board also was asked to approve changes at the medical examiner’s office, including fees for organ procurement services provided to the Michigan Gift of Life program, and a new late payment policy. According to a staff memo, about 10% of revenues are not realized because of non-payment. [.pdf of revised fee schedule]

By way of background, the adult clinic – which treats sexually transmitted diseases – is a mandated service that has relied on federal funding administered by the state. In mid-2011, the county was notified that federal funding for this program, which the state passed through to local health departments, would be cut by 33%. Since then, the Washtenaw County public health department has been notified that it will receive just half of its expected appropriation for this program. At the same time, the department was notified that the Michigan Dept. of Community Health (MDCH) would be increasing its testing fees for gonorrhea and chlamydia from $36 to $78 in January of 2012. It’s in this context that the fee increases are being proposed.

There will be a sliding fee scale for low-income residents, and a commitment that no one will be denied services, according to the county. In order to verify income, as well as to handle the billing and collection process, the public health department will be buying ePrescribing software at a cost of $28,000. Most of that – $21,500 – will be covered by a federal incentive program.

Outcome: Without discussion, the board gave final approval to the requested public health fee increases. 

Food Policy Council

Final approval for a county food policy council – with the goal of supporting and coordinating activities in the local food system – was on the March 21 agenda. The board had been briefed on this effort at a Feb. 16 working session, and it received initial approval at the board’s March 7 meeting.

The Washtenaw Food Policy Council would support local “small and mid-sized farmers by fostering policies that encourage local food purchasing and production,” according to a staff memo. Among other activities, the council could also: recommend policy changes at the local, state and national levels; provide a forum for discussing food issues; encourage coordination among different sectors of the local food system; evaluate, educate, and influence policy; and launch or support programs and services that address local food needs.

Partners who have been working on this initiative include the Y of Ann Arbor, Growing Hope, Food Gatherers, the Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP), Slow Food Huron Valley, Eat Local/Eat Natural, Michigan Farmers Union, Ypsilanti Food Coop, and the Washtenaw County public health department.

The council will have a 15-seat membership roster, with members drawn from the following sectors: agriculture, nutrition, education, emergency food system, health care, food services, food manufacturers and distributors, waste management, planning or transportation, retail/business or economic development, human services, faith-based organizations, local governments (board of commissioners), public health, and at large community member(s). The county public health department will be responsible for recruiting members. A draft set of bylaws has also been developed. [.pdf of of food policy council draft bylaws]

The council will convene its first meeting later this spring using grant funds from the Michigan Dept. of Community Health, passed through to the Washtenaw County public health department. The council eventually expects to secure financial support from private grants and philanthropic funds. The project will also seek significant in-kind and volunteer support, according to a staff memo.

Outcome: The board unanimously approved formation of a county food policy council.

Communications & Commentary

During the meeting there were opportunities for public commentary, as well as for communications from the administration and commissioners.

Comm/Comm: Public Commentary

The only person to speak during public commentary was Thomas Partridge, who addressed the board twice. He described himself as an advocate for all people who are challenged during these challenging times, and called on the state legislature to fully restore funding for important assistance programs. He urged the board of commissioners to pass a resolution in support of the Detroit mayor and city council in their efforts to resolve the city’s financial problems and remain a viable democratic institution. [The city of Detroit is negotiating a consent agreement with the state in hopes of preventing a state-appointed emergency manager from taking control of the city's operations.] Partridge applauded the items on the county board’s agenda that related to grants the county would receive, but noted that the grants were negligible in light of the great needs of residents.

During his second speaking turn, Partridge noted that the area had been literally struck by a tornado recently, but was also figuratively struck by the tornado of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and GOP state legislators who are attacking cities across the state. We need to prepare for both emergencies, he said.

Comm/Comm: Fracking

Wes Prater raised the issue of fracking in the county, saying he had attended a recent meeting of the Washtenaw County Road Commission where the board had voted unanimously not to enter into an oil and gas lease agreement for land it owns in Saline Township. [Paxton Resources, a Gaylord, Mich.-based firm, has been acquiring mineral rights in the county's rural areas for several months. The term fracking – also known as hydraulic fracturing – refers to a practice of extracting oil or gas by injecting high-pressurized fluid into rock. A group of local residents called "No Paxton" has formed to oppose the company's actions.]

Prater suggested that the board prepare a resolution that it can send to the governor and Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, requesting that the state increase inspections of wells where fracking occurs.

Yousef Rabhi said that he and Alicia Ping have met with several county department heads to talk about the county’s options on this issue. He also thought a resolution would help, as well as getting informational material to residents who might be approached by Paxton or other companies. He suggested that the board schedule a working session on the topic.

Rob Turner, the board’s liaison to the road commission, noted that even though the road commission rejected leasing its property to Paxton, the company plans to appeal to the state because the road commission’s land is only a small part of the 160-acre area that Paxton is hoping to explore. Turner said that one of his concerns is the transport of oil from Washtenaw County to the refinery. The company plans to use tanker trucks, he said, which will be running back and forth through that area causing wear and tear on the roads.

Present: Felicia Brabec, Leah Gunn, Alicia Ping, Wes Prater, Yousef Rabhi, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Conan Smith, Dan Smith, Rob Turner. Ronnie Peterson was present at the meeting, but was out of the room when votes occurred.

Absent: Barbara Bergman

Next regular board meeting: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. The ways & means committee meets first, followed immediately by the regular board meeting. [confirm date] (Though the agenda states that the regular board meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., it usually starts much later – times vary depending on what’s on the agenda.) Public commentary is held at the beginning of each meeting, and no advance sign-up is required.

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