County commissioner Wes Prater, left, talks with Ypsilanti mayor Paul Schreiber before the start of Wednesday's county board of commissioners meeting. Schreiber came to speak in support of the county's land bank. In the background is deputy clerk Jason Brooks. (Photos by the writer.)

Commissioners also got an update from their lobbyist in Lansing, who spoke of upcoming transitions in state government that will impact the county. Kirk Profit said the turnover in the legislature, governor’s office and other administrative posts could lead to opportunities for the county. Several commissioners raised concerns over the state budget and state funding for local programs, and are worried that the situation will get worse before it gets better.

Wednesday’s meeting also included two official farewells to long-time county employees: finance director Pete Ballios and Trenda Rusher, director of the county’s Employment Training and Community Services (ETCS) department. Both received standing ovations from commissioners, staff and others in the boardroom.

Land Bank Authority Dissolved

Despite an appeal from Ypsilanti mayor Paul Schreiber to keep the county’s land bank, commissioners on Wednesday voted to dissolve the entity, which the board created less than a year ago. That decision led commissioner Ronnie Peterson to make a long, impassioned plea for help to aid communities with high foreclosure rates, especially on the county’s east side. Peterson represents District 6, which covers the city of Ypsilanti and part of Ypsilanti Township.

The land bank was championed by county treasurer Catherine McClary, who chaired the authority’s board. It was designed as a way for the county to take possession of tax-foreclosed properties, rather than auction them off to the highest bidder – often an out-of-state company. The intent was to rehab the properties and resell them to qualified buyers, or demolish the houses and use the land for other purposes.

Citing internal disputes and a lack of sufficient funding, some commissioners said they didn’t believe the land bank was an appropriate mechanism for the county at this time. They had discussed their intent to eliminate the land bank last week at a March 10 administrative briefing. [See Chronicle coverage: "County Board to Vote on Folding Land Bank"]

Speaking during public commentary at Wednesday’s meeting, Schreiber reported that the Ypsilanti city council had passed a resolution of support for the land bank. It’s a tool that both Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township need, Schreiber said, adding that in his neighborhood alone, there have been four foreclosures in the last three years. He said the land bank could be used in conjunction with the Washtenaw Urban County, which he described as a “fantastic resource.” [Schreiber serves on the board of that group, which is chaired by county commissioner Leah Gunn.] The land bank is another option to help stabilize neighborhoods, he said.

Commissioner Discussion

Conan Smith, who’s been a supporter of the land bank, said he was saddened that they’d reached this point – it was a detriment that they’d have one less tool in their toolbelt. Kristin Judge asked for clarification about the funding – what had the county been hoping to receive to make the land bank more viable?

Leah Gunn explained that the county had applied for a second phase of funding from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program, known as NSP2. About $5 million of those funds were to be used for the land bank, but the county did not receive the money. The land bank had also been allocated roughly $300,000 in NSP funds from a previous round that the county has already secured. Those dollars will now be used by the Washtenaw Urban County to rehab blighted properties, working with housing nonprofits like Avalon Housing and Habitat for Humanity.

County treasurer Catherine McClary, left, prior to the start of Wednesday's board of commissioners meeting. To the right is county commissioner Ken Schwartz.

Mention of the Urban County led Jessica Ping to note that her district wasn’t urban, and that from her district, only Bridgewater Township was an Urban County member. She wondered why other municipalities weren’t participating.

Gunn clarified that the Urban County is a partnership of the county, the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and eight townships. The “Urban County” designation allows the group to receive and allocate funding through certain federal programs, including NSP. The requirements for NSP stipulate that the funds must be used on certain designated low-income census tracts – locally, those are in southeast Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township and Superior Township.

However, other federal funds – from the Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs – can be used throughout the county. Joining the Urban County allows local municipalities to be eligible for those funds. Gunn said they’d like for others to participate, and the group has contacted leaders in communities that aren’t now Urban County members, like the city of Saline, which is in Ping’s district. “We’re kind of wooing them,” she said.

Asked by Ping how much it cost to join, Gunn said there is no cost: “We give money away.”

Ping indicated that the name “urban county” was confusing.

The term is a federal designation. From the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website:

Urban county means a county that was classified as an urban county under 42 U.S.C. 5302(a) for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year for which emergency shelter grant amounts are made available. “(6)(A) The term “urban county” means any county within which- (i) is authorized under State law to undertake essential community development and housing assistance activities in its unincorporated areas, if any, which are not units of general local government; and (ii) either– (I) has a population of 200,000 or more (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) and has a combined population of 100,000 or more (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in such unincorporated areas and in its included units of general local government … ” (42 U.S.C. 5302(a))

Returning to the topic of a land bank, Jeff Irwin said he too was disappointed, but that he would reluctantly support dissolving the lank bank authority. He said the board had lots of questions that went unanswered, and that they’d asked the county treasurer to return to the board with specific strategies for how the land bank would be used. That never happened, he said. When the funding fell through, the land bank’s viability as a tool became less clear.

Irwin said he’d encourage the treasurer to come forward in the future with strategies, and answers to questions like what metrics would be used to judge the land bank’s success, and how long would the county hold property that was put in the land bank.

Noting that he’d had a lot of questions about the land bank, Ronnie Peterson said he never questioned the treasurer’s motives in trying to help the community. He described the devastation that the economic downturn has taken on his district, saying that there are certain neighborhoods where you’ll find stretches of five to ten houses “sitting naked” because they’ve been foreclosed on and abandoned. The county is losing the stability of its neighborhoods, he said, and that stability depends on home ownership.

Both Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township had appealed to the board in support of the land bank, Peterson said, and he urged commissioners to table the resolution that would dissolve the entity. He said if they couldn’t work something out by June, he’d support the decision to dissolve it.

Gunn reiterated her point that the Washtenaw Urban County was working on the same issue – rehabilitating homes and working to find qualified buyers, not renters. “That is precisely what commissioner Peterson wants, and that is what we are doing,” she said.

Ken Schwartz weighed in, saying he’d been enthusiastic about the program when they approved it last July. [See Chronicle coverage: "Banking on a Land Bank"] But over the past few months, the board had difficulty working through things like who to appoint to the land bank authority’s board – no appointees were made. Schwartz described the situation as too much “taffy pulling,” but said that if they do more research and analysis, a land bank might be possible in the future, using a more coordinated approach with other tools to address similar problems.

Outcome: At the board’s Ways & Means Committee meeting, the resolution passed with dissent from Smith and Peterson. At the regular board meeting, which immediately follows Ways & Means, only Peterson voted against it – Smith and Schwartz were not in the room during that vote.

Report from Lansing

Kirk Profit – director of Governmental Consultant Services Inc., a Lansing-based lobbying firm – had been asked to give the board a briefing on state funding, which has a direct impact on programs and services provided by the county. Profit and two GCSI staff members – Ken Cole and Adrian Hemond – described some of the legislation they were tracking and attempting to influence, specifically as it related to funding for local municipalities.

Profit, a former state representative, described the situation in Lansing as challenging, though he praised the work of legislators representing Washtenaw County. He noted that the state faces a roughly $1.4 billion budget deficit. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has proposed closing that deficit with $500 million in cuts, $500 million in new revenue and $400 million in federal stimulus funds, Profit said, but both the House and Senate have said no to new revenues (tax increases).

Local governments have already seen an impact from the state’s budget crisis in the form of decreased state revenue-sharing and lower transportation funding for local roads, Profit said. With more cuts to come, he added, the state budget will encroach even more on quality-of-life issues.

Cole and Hemond both described work they’re doing to track legislation working its way through the House and Senate appropriations committees and subcommittees. There wasn’t much good news to share, with potential cuts in jail reimbursements, public health, the state police budget – which would affect local secondary road patrols – and other areas.

Kirk Profit, whose Lansing-based firm is a lobbyist for Washtenaw County, talks with county commissioner Barbara Bergman before the start of the March 17 board of commissioners meeting. Profit and two of his staff members gave an update on state legislative issues.

Profit mentioned a range of other projects that GCSI is pursuing, including legislation related to the Detroit Region Aerotropolis – the county is a partner in that project – and an effort to eliminate unfunded state mandates. He also said that outgoing county administrator Bob Guenzel will be working with GCSI on a project aimed a restructuring local government.

Though Profit described this year as a time to be engaged, he cautioned that because of the upcoming elections and a change in leadership at all levels in Lansing, it’s likely that a lot of issues won’t be resolved. There’s not much incentive for current legislators to make structural changes, he said. However, he added, “with a new government comes opportunity.” As a transition occurs and appropriations are made, it’s time to promote the county’s agenda, he said – or someone else will promote a different one.

Commissioner Discussion

Several commissioners had comments and questions for Profit and his staff. Leah Gunn called the news out of Lansing “very discouraging,” and said her concern is that the county doesn’t have many options in terms of raising revenue. She noted, for example, that Washtenaw County is the only one in the state that levies a tax to support indigent veterans. [The 1/40th of a mill is expected to raise $393,616 this year for services to indigent veterans.] There aren’t many options like that available to local governments, she said.

Profit said that Washtenaw County is the economic engine for the state. “We have political juice, we have political power,” he said – and now’s the time to turn it up a notch. The tax code needs to be restructured so that local governments aren’t stuck with capped property taxes, he said. There also needs to be changes to the gas tax – the roads are bad. Profit said he refused to accept the current situation, and expressed optimism that a change in government leadership could bring fresh ideas. But in the interim, it will be difficult, he acknowledged – especially in budgeting for next year, when things will be in flux.

Barbara Bergman asked about the impact of state cuts on the county’s public health budget, which could be as high as 20%. Dick Fleece, director of the county’s public health/environmental health department, came forward and said that as soon as they get the budget figures from the state, his staff would let the board know what their alternatives are. He said they hoped that grant funding might be available to offset state cuts.

On the issue of unfunded mandates – services that the state requires, but doesn’t providing funding for – Profit urged the county’s department heads to alert GCSI if there are any that “run afoul of the constitution.” There might be ways to challenge those mandates, he said.

Adrian Hemond also noted that there would be opportunities after the November election, in what he expects to be a “raucous” lame-duck session. “Literally everything will be up for dealing,” he said.

Profit also told commissioners and county staff that it would be helpful to hear examples of ways in which state funding decisions make a direct impact on county services. That’s useful in making a case to preserve funding, he said.

Ken Schwartz said it “sounds like this is the lost year of the lost decade.” He asked for details on state legislation related to the aerotropolis. A bill that would allow the aerotropolis to form a separate economic development zone has been stalled, Profit said, adding that they shouldn’t wait for state action. [A March 18 article in Crain's Detroit Business reports that executives in Oakland and Wayne counties have reached an agreement that could result in action in the state legislature.]

Kristin Judge asked for an update on indigent defense legislation. Profit noted that Washtenaw County’s public defender, Lloyd Powell, had been an advocate for state funding of trial-level public defense. [Powell outlined his position in a January 2010 column in the Washtenaw Legal News, outlining his position.] Profit said there’s a recognition that it would be very expensive, and that the debate hasn’t been resolved.

Jeff Irwin asked about the JPORT program – the county’s Justice Project Outreach Team, which provides mental health services for people in jail and after their release. The county had asked GCSI to check if the state would fund a pilot program, using Washtenaw’s efforts as a model. Irwin noted that Michigan is one of only five states that spend more on corrections than on higher education, and that programs like JPORT are one way to do something about that.

Profit said that his firm likes to “play offense,” and if the county wanted them to work on it, they would. Hemond pointed out that GCSI has made attempts in the past two years to get a pilot program started, but that wrangling between two different committee chairmen in the legislature had started to generate ill will, so they hadn’t pushed it further. However, the lame-duck session offered an opportunity to get something through appropriations, Hemond added. Profit cautioned against funding something that might be cut by a new administration, but Hemond said there might be creative ways to pursue it.

Public Health Update

The board heard two updates from county public health administrators on Wednesday.

H1N1 Update

Diana Torres-Burgos, the county’s medical director, reported on how the county responded to the H1N1 flu outbreak. She reminded commissioners that it was less than a year ago – in mid-April, 2009 – when the first cases of the flu were confirmed in California. Locally, the first outbreak peaked in June, with another peak in November.

This chart shows the geographic location of H1N1 cases in Washtenaw County, based on 80 residents who were hospitalized. Ypsilanti residents accounted for nearly half of all cases. (Links to larger image)

Torres-Burgos gave a roundup of Washtenaw County data related to the outbreak. There were 80 hospitalizations – of those, 49% were Ypsilanti area residents and 26% were from Ann Arbor. Looking at the cases by race/ethnicity, 69% were Caucasian and 19% African American.

Two adults in Washtenaw County died as a result of H1N1, Torres-Burgos said, but there were no pediatric deaths.

Torres-Burgos recalled the difficulty that the county had in getting adequate vaccines from the federal government. By mid-October, they had an extremely limited supply – an initial shipment of 3,400, all in nasal-mist form, out of a total order of 250,000. [See Chronicle coverage from an Oct. 28, 2009 briefing: "County Revamps H1N1 Vaccine Strategy"]

Based on limited supply, the county initially distributed vaccines based on priority groups. In October, the public health department held three clinics for first-responders, as well as a clinic for priority populations and a mass vaccination clinic. Six additional vaccination clinics were held in November and December. From October 2009 through January 2010, the county administered nearly 13,000 H1N1 vaccines. Through other health care providers, about 163,000 doses were given countywide, according to Torres-Burgos.

Vaccines are still available, she noted. There is no charge for getting them through the public health department.

In describing lessons learned from the outbreak, Torres-Burgos said it was clear that communication was crucial, both through traditional means as well as through social media like Facebook and Twitter. Partnerships were also critical, she said, with health care providers and other key stakeholders like Eastern Michigan University, which let the county use its convocation center for mass clinics.

Funding and staffing are challenges for emergencies like the H1N1 outbreak, Torres-Burgos said. Without federal stimulus funds and the collaboration with partners in the community, the county would have been unable to provide the response needed, she said.

Following her presentation, several commissioners praised the public health department’s response to the H1N1 crisis. Kristin Judge noted that while 400 schools closed throughout the state, there was only one school closing in Washtenaw County. She attributed that to the county’s response in averting a crisis. Barbara Bergman said that the department has laid a strong foundation for responding to future public health crises.

Washtenaw County Public Health Rankings

Dick Fleece, director of the county’s public health/environmental health department, gave a report on how Washtenaw County ranked in a recent study by the University of Wisconsin. The study looked at health outcomes and health factors in counties throughout the U.S. In the first category, Washtenaw ranked 7th in Michigan, looking at outcomes like mortality and morbidity, including low birth weight and quality of life.

Washtenaw County ranked 1st in the state in the health factors category, which measured health behaviors (including smoking rates, obesity rates, binge drinking and teen birth rates), access to health care, social and economic factors, and physical environment. Some highlights:

• Washtenaw ranked highest in the state for the number of primary care providers – 283 per 100,000 population.
• The county’s adult smoking rate is 13%, compared to a statewide rate of 23%. Fleece noted that new state ban on smoking in bars and restaurants takes effect May 1.

A chart of showing the number of grocery stores and restaurants per capita in Washtenaw County from 1950 through 2008. (Links to larger image)

• In the category of access to healthy foods, 58% of the county’s zip code areas have a grocery store, farmer’s market or produce stand, compared to a statewide average of 51%.
• The county has an estimated 15% rate of uninsured adults under the age of 65, compared to the overall state average of 12%.
• In Washtenaw, 46% of chronically ill Medicare patients were enrolled in hospice care within their last six months of life, compared to a state average of 38%.
• Measuring the birth rate to teen mothers, the county had 14 births per 1,000 females aged 15-19, compared to a state average of 36.

Fleece said that while the county is doing well in many regards and has much to be proud of, there are still problems – as well as areas of disparity. For example, the percentage of adults who smoke varies widely by region, from 9.8% in Ann Arbor to 24.9% in Ypsilanti. Obesity rates are significantly higher in the Ypsilanti area – at 24.9% – compared to 11.2% in Ann Arbor. And looking at adults diagnosed with diabetes, there are large disparities based on race and income, Fleece said.

Another area of concern is the county’s chlamydia rate, at 300 per every 100,000 people. Though it’s lower than the overall state average of 370, it’s far above the target goal of 50, Fleece noted.

The county has a 7.3% rate for low-birth weight – measuring the percent of live births for which the infant weighed less than 5.8 pounds. The state average is 3.7%. Fleece thanked the board for its approval Wednesday evening of a grant – $27,390 from the Genesee County Racial & Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) – that will be used to address that issue.

The full study results are available at the County Health Rankings website. [.pdf of report to commissioners]

After Fleece’s presentation, Conan Smith said that the ranking bodes well for both residents and for the economy. Having a healthy environment makes the county a place that people want to live and that businesses want to locate. It’s something to brag about, he said, to businesses that might want to invest here.

“And remember to invest in our department as we go forward,” Fleece quipped.

Contract Approved for Next Administrator

With no discussion, commissioners approved an employment agreement with Verna McDaniel to be the county’s next administrator, effective May 15, 2010 with a salary of $155,000. McDaniel, the county’s deputy administrator, was the only person interviewed to replace retiring administrator Bob Guenzel. Guenzel, who has been in that post since 1994, currently earns $159,424.

In addition to her salary, McDaniel will also be provided with a county-owned vehicle, health insurance, travel expenses and other benefits. The agreement states that she’ll be reimbursed for up to $3,000 in other job-related expenses, as needed. [.pdf of employment agreement]

McDaniel has worked for the county for 28 years, including 18 years as executive director of human resources. [For previous Chronicle coverage of McDaniel's selection, see "McDaniel Pledges to Lead Washtenaw."]

Regional Energy Office

Without comment, the board voted to join the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office, with commissioner Conan Smith abstaining. Smith had addressed a potential conflict of interest on the issue at the board’s March 3 meeting – he is executive director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, a Ferndale-based nonprofit that will be managing the energy office. [See Chronicle coverage from a Nov. 24, 2009 administrative briefing and Dec. 2, 2009 county board meeting.] Commissioners also had received a briefing on the energy office at their March 4 working session.

Present: Barbara Levin Bergman, Leah Gunn, Jeff Irwin, Kristin Judge, Mark Ouimet, Ronnie Peterson, Jessica Ping, Wes Prater, Ken Schwartz, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Conan Smith

Next board meeting: Wednesday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the County Administration Building, 220 N. Main St. 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 comment sessions are held at the beginning and end of each meeting.

Trenda Rusher, outgoing executive director of the county's Employment Training & Community Services (ETCS) department, gave an emotional speech after receiving a plaque of recognition for her nearly 30 years of service to the county. In starting her own consulting business in the Washington D.C. area, she promised to be the county's "little leprechaun" and help find "pots of gold" – referring to grant funding from the federal government and other sources.

Pete Ballios was recognized by county commissioners for 37.5 years of service to Washtenaw County. He retired as finance director at the end of 2009. To his right is his wife, Theanne Ballios. Commissioner Jeff Irwin said he appreciated the fact that Ballios was someone who could enjoy the "fun moments."

Ken Weber of Weber's Restaurant & Hotel, foreground, sits next to Kevin Gudejko of Main Street Ventures at the Nov. 4 county board of commissioners meeting. They were among the restaurateurs who spoke at a public hearing and questioned the need for a proposed food safety training program. (Photo by the writer.)

Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners (Nov. 4, 2009): After removing a major item from their agenda – the 2010/2011 budget – county commissioners spent the bulk of their Nov. 4 meeting listening to presentations, reports, and a public hearing. Commissioners also voted and approved a new tax to raise roughly $603,000 annually for economic development. The 0.04 mills will be collected on the December 2009 tax bill.

Sheriff Jerry Clayton spoke about plans to reorganize the county’s central dispatch and emergency services operation. Changes include co-location of the county and the city of Ann Arbor’s central dispatch, which will both be housed in Ann Arbor.

Dick Fleece, director of the county’s Public Health/Environmental Health department, gave an update on the H1N1 outbreak and vaccination clinics in Washtenaw County. [On Monday, Nov. 9, the county announced a new clinic for mass immunization of people in expanded priority categories. That clinic will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor.]

Commissioners also heard concerns from local restaurant owners and managers – including Ken Weber of Weber’s Restaurant & Hotel, and Rick Strutz of Zingerman’s Deli – during a public hearing on a proposed new food safety training program.

But First, What About the Budget?

The county administration and commissioners have been working on the 2010 and 2011 budget for about a year, addressing how to deal with a projected $30 million deficit over that two-year period. Bob Guenzel, the county administrator, made his budget recommendations at the board’s Sept. 16 meeting, and the board was expected to make its initial vote at the Ways & Means Committee portion of the Nov. 4 meeting, with a final vote at their regular board meeting on Nov. 18.

However, at the beginning of last Wednesday’s meeting, Conan Smith – who chairs the Ways & Means Committee, on which all commissioners serve – announced that the budget agenda item would be pulled. They needed to address a handful of issues that would result in a more “fulsome” budget resolution, he said, to be brought back at the Nov. 18 meeting.

Later in the meeting, commissioner Kristin Judge asked the board to have a discussion about retirement benefits, noting that earlier in the year it had been mentioned as one of the options to explore in addressing the budget deficit. She wanted to know what other commissioners thought.

Guenzel acknowledged that it had been one of many items mentioned early in the budget process, but that it was a very sensitive area and he had decided not to include it in his budget recommendations. There were some legal issues involved, he said, without elaborating. Also, he said he’d made a commitment to a group representing the county’s retirees, who wanted to be involved in whatever discussions were held. Guenzel said he was hoping to regroup with the board after the beginning of the year to have a discussion about retirement benefits, but didn’t feel they had time to do it before the budget needed to be passed.

Ann Arbor Chamber Weighs In

Since the Nov. 4 meeting, the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce has issued a position statement on the county budget. While praising the administration’s ability to deal with the deficit and commending employees for making concessions, the chamber’s statement cited several areas of concern going forward:

We remain concerned, however, that all County employees continue to receive defined benefit retirement plans. As experience has shown, future liabilities associated with such plans are unsustainable. The time is ripe to explore alternatives, to shift to defined contribution plans akin to those of the private sector.

We are aware that the Board of Commissioners recently chose to levy a 0.04-mill tax to fund economic development and agricultural activities within the County. We insist that no general fund revenues be used to supplement these monies while this tax remains in effect.

As the County moves forward, we urge it to focus on funding its core, mandated functions and, in order to maximize that funding, to continue to seek efficiencies in service delivery. For instance, the County should continue to pursue successful partnerships and shared/regionalized services with the 28 local units of government within its boundaries. There is needless redundancy and duplication; there are economies of scale yet to be realized. The County and City of Ann Arbor data center merger circa March 2009 is a prime example of the success to be had.

We also urge the County to continue to plan in light of uncertain economic times ahead. For example, in this budget cycle outside agency contributions were restored, to a certain extent, contrary to the County Administrator’s recommendations. Should such contributions need to be revisited in future budget cycles, contingency plans should already be in place.

Reorganizing Emergency Services and Central Dispatch

On the agenda was a resolution to authorize the reorganization of the sheriff’s department central dispatch and emergency services division. The resolution included eliminating four supervisory positions (including one that’s currently vacant) and creating four different positions at lower pay grades. A fifth position would be changed to a grant-funded contract job. [.PDF file of resolution]

Sheriff Jerry Clayton gave a presentation about their plans, reminding the board that they had previously approved shifting the emergency management division to the sheriff’s department. Now, the department was planning to combine that unit with central dispatch – the group that handles 911 calls – to create an emergency services division. The idea was to create a more efficient operation and provide better service, Clayton said.

At the same time, the county’s central dispatch is moving ahead with a project to co-locate its operations with the city of Ann Arbor’s central dispatch. Ann Arbor has sufficient space within its existing facility – on second floor of Fire Station #1, across from city hall – to handle both dispatch operations, though some remodeling is required at their facility, Clayton said. In addition, Ypsilanti has expressed interest in contracting with the sheriff’s department to handle its dispatch service, he said, describing those discussions as preliminary. Long-term, it might make sense to have consolidated services for the entire county, “but you can’t do it all at once,” he said.

To pay for the move, Clayton said they planned to ask the county’s 800MHz project implementation committee for $324,275 in funding. The committee oversees funds from a millage to develop a countywide emergency radio system.

Clayton turned the presentation over to Marc Breckenridge, director of emergency management and homeland security, who told commissioners that the reorganization would resolve short-staffing and workload issues, and build stronger internal partnerships. He described dispatch as a pressure cooker – last year, nine full-time dispatchers handled nearly 121,000 calls. By moving supervisors into dispatcher jobs, the reorganization would result in more people fielding calls, and would “turn down the heat.”

Breckenridge laid out a timeline for the co-location project:

• Underway: Remodeling of the Ann Arbor dispatch facility
• Nov. 16: Request funding from the 800 MHz committee
• Nov. 17: Issue purchase orders for equipment (with a two-month delivery timeline for some equipment)
• Jan. 2: The IT staff begins installation of computer network connections
• Jan. 17: Install furniture
• Jan. 18: Finish installing computer connections, dispatcher workstations, phones and consoles; test all systems
• Feb. 1: Transfer central dispatch operations to co-location facility

The changes, Breckenridge said, would provide cost savings in several ways. It would reduce the need for two 800 MHz consoles, which would save $290,000. The county would also save $450,000 that it would have otherwise needed to spend on a new microwave data link to the new 800 MHz system, he said, as well as $74,000 for a replacement audio recording system. The county would also not be required to spend $350,000 for a new telephone switch.

Over the years, Breckenridge added, co-location will save in the cost of doing business, because of shared technology expenses. A lot of technology is duplicated among various units of government, he said.

Clayton said the whole project was an example of the county and city of Ann Arbor’s willingness to work together, leveraging resources with the goal of improving public safety.

Questions from Commissioners

Rolland Sizemore Jr. asked why they were using Ann Arbor as the co-location facility, and not the county’s operation on Hogback Road. Clayton responded that Ann Arbor’s space was larger, with room for expansion that the county did not have. How much would the county have to pay Ann Arbor? Sizemore asked. That’s still being negotiated, Clayton said.

Leah Gunn said she was a member of the 800 MHz committee and would do everything she could to make sure that their funding request was seriously considered.

Barbara Bergman noted that in the past, objections from the union had been a barrier to reorganization. How had that been overcome? Clayton said that they worked closely with Diane Heidt, the county’s human resources and labor relations director, who had helped guide them through this process. It was important that nobody lost their jobs, he said. The three supervisors can take voluntary demotions, or apply for a dispatch coordinator job.

Wes Prater asked what kind of backup system they had, if the co-located facility went down. Breckenridge fielded this question, saying they’d keep a small standby system, which could be operated on generator power, at the county’s current Hogback Road dispatch facility, where the emergency services office is located.

Kristin Judge asked how the co-location would actually work. Initially, Clayton said, they’ll start with two separate operations, except for some supervisory work. Over time, he expects to see more sharing of resources.

Clayton clarified for Ken Schwartz that there were nine dispatch locations –  Ann Arbor’s and the county’s are the largest two. Does this move lay the groundwork for others coming into the co-located facility? Schwartz asked. Clayton said he hoped so.

Jeff Irwin noted that they’d been talking about co-location for at least a decade, and that he hoped this was a step toward consolidation.

Later in the meeting, commissioners unanimously passed the resolution authorizing the reorganization of central dispatch and emergency services.

Economic Development Tax

Returning to a resolution they’d tabled at their Oct. 21 meeting, commissioners approved, with no discussion, a millage to raise $603,000 for economic development and agricultural-related purposes. [See previous Chronicle coverage: "Board Tables Economic Development Tax" and "County Board Moves Ahead on Budget"]

The 0.04 mills will levy $4 for every $100,000 of a property’s taxable value, and will be collected in the December 2009 tax bill. [.PDF file of Act 88 resolution]

It was not a unanimous vote, however. Commissioners Kristin Judge and Wes Prater voted against the millage, and Mark Ouimet voted only for the portion of the millage that would be allocated to 4-H, Michigan State University Extension programs, and the Food System Economic Partnership.

Food Handler Education Program

The commission is considering a new food handler education program for restaurant workers and others in the food services industry. It would require workers to go through a training program to obtain a food safety card every two years. [.PDF file outlining program requirements]

Several people spoke during Wednesday’s public hearing on the topic – all but one of them questioning the need for such a program.

Kyle Mazurek: Mazurek, vice president of government affairs for the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber had several concerns about the proposed program. He wondered whether the program was intended primarily to generate revenues for the county. Fees should be used only to cover the costs of administering the program, he said. Mazurek asked whether there was a documented need for the program, and said he’d heard from many in the industry who don’t believe there is. Finally, he said there was some question about who would pay for the fee, and that conventional wisdom held that it would be the employees who’d bear the cost. The chamber would be looking into this further, he said.

Ken Weber: Weber, president of Weber’s Restaurant & Hotel, began by praising the county health department, saying that the staff worked well with local restaurants. He said he believed in the importance of raising the level of sanitation, but wondered whether the new program would achieve that goal. It was his understanding that there’d be no test for people who took the training, for example, so there’d be no way to know if they’d paid attention and learned anything. Weber also said that the program would create a bad situation for his employees, because he’d have to let them go if they didn’t have a food safety card. Finally, he didn’t think it was fair to require that experienced, long-time employees go through the same program as 17-year-old kids. Ultimately, it didn’t seem like the program would achieve the results they were looking for, Weber said.

Kevin Gudejko: Gudejko is director of operations for Main Street Ventures, which owns several restaurants in Ann Arbor, including Gratzi and the Chop House. He noted that current regulations require one manager at each food establishment to be certified in food safety – it’s a struggle to meet that requirement, he said, and many restaurants in the county haven’t done it. The program could also be a barrier to employment for people having to pay the $15 fee to get the food safety card. It would create a competitive disadvantage for Washtenaw County businesses, he said, since potential employees might choose to seek jobs in neighboring counties, where no such regulations exist. Finally, Gudejko said he was concerned about language barriers – one of their employees is from Jordan and is struggling to complete the certification class.

Patrick McDevitt: McDevitt is general manager of Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders in Saline. He also mentioned the county’s requirement that at least one manager be certified in food safety. Through that process, he noted, managers are taught about foodborne illnesses and other safety issues, so that they in turn can teach their employees. Why require that managers get certified, he said, then essentially say that their training isn’t good enough to teach employees?

Rick Strutz: A managing partner at Zingerman’s Deli, Strutz said he didn’t know of many things more important than food safety. He thanked the public health staff for their work on the H1N1 vaccines – that virus affects the food business in a big way, he noted – and said it was a department that genuinely wanted to make things better. While agreeing with the goal of better food safety, Strutz said this wasn’t the proper path. Zingerman’s already requires that employees take a class on food safety and pass a test – they’re taken off the schedule until they can pass it, he said. Yet with 500 employees, it’s difficult to keep track of who’s taken the test, to schedule times for the class, and to find people to translate the tests, which are frequently updated. About 10,000 people countywide would be required to get the food safety card, and Strutz wondered how the county would be able to regulate that program effectively. He noted that Zingerman’s had spent about $30,000 to send its managers to be certified in food safety, as required by the county. But that certification program – a much smaller one than what’s being proposed – isn’t being regulated, he said. Strutz also suggested that if the county were merely interested in generating revenue, they should consider simply increasing the restaurant licensing fee instead.

Andy Deloney: Deloney is vice president of public affairs for the Michigan Restaurant Association. He came at the urging of several association members in the county, and asked commissioners to consider their concerns. The restaurant industry is one of the largest employers of young people, and he was concerned that this program simply added to the cost of operations while providing little public health benefit. Deloney told commissioners that they were in good hands – of the 54 county health departments in the state, Washtenaw County’s is highly regarded, he said.

Thomas Partridge: The only person to speak in favor of the program, Partridge said that it should not only be a countywide program, but should be implemented throughout the state and nation. Employers, not their workers, should pay the entire fee, he said.

Commissioners’ response

Kristin Judge, the Pittsfield Township commissioner who is championing this program, thanked the food proprietors for coming to the public hearing, but said that she had a different perspective because of her own personal experience. She got training through a similar program when she was a waitress in Arizona years ago, and learned valuable information that helped her at work. This wasn’t about generating revenue, she said. A lot of restaurants in Washtenaw County weren’t doing as good of a job as those represented at the public hearing, she said, and there was still a lot of education needed in the local food industry. As for the $15 fee, it was the equivalent of a tip on a $100 tab, she said, and wouldn’t be a burden. She told the restaurant managers that because it was new, they might not yet understand the value of the program.

Commission Jeff Irwin said he knew that several people who wanted to speak about their concerns at the hearing had to leave before it was held, because of the late hour. [The public hearing occurred toward the end of the board meeting, around 8:30 p.m.] There’s a high failure rate in the restaurant business, he said, and adding one more regulation was something the board should think about carefully. He asked whether this requirement would demonstrably improve food safety in Washtenaw County – was it the right tool? He wasn’t convinced that it was. A better approach would be to work on strict yet consistent enforcement of the county’s current regulations, Irwin said. He hoped the board didn’t want to move forward at breakneck speed – it would affect a lot of people, and many don’t even know it’s being considered.

Commissioner Mark Ouimet said that he consulted with his daughter, who manages several high-end restaurants. She told him that government ordinances don’t affect how they do business or how they set their standards, which are high. He said he wouldn’t be supporting this program.

Rolland Sizemore Jr., the board’s chair, said he’d talked with waitstaff in several small restaurants – they’d told him the proposed program was a good idea, but he wasn’t so sure. He wanted to see more dialogue between the health department and restaurants of all sizes. Sizemore also wasn’t comfortable with the fee, saying that the economy was bad, especially for people who were just entering the workforce. He said there was no need for the board to be in a hurry about this.

Responding to her colleagues’ comments, Judge said that it’s a public health issue. Until all restaurants in the county get perfect inspection scores, they need to do more. She said she’d try to get data about the effectiveness of programs like this, and report back to the board.

H1N1 Update

Dick Fleece, director of the county’s Public Health/Environmental Health department, and Diana Torres-Burgos, the county’s medical director, gave commissioners an update on their H1N1 prevention efforts. It was similar to a report they gave at the Oct. 28 administrative briefing, when commissioners were briefed about the Nov. 4 agenda. [See Chronicle coverage: County Revamps H1N1 Vaccine Strategy]

Several commissioners asked questions about the H1N1 situation. Barbara Bergman asked if there was a hotline that people could call for information. There is: 734-544-6700. Conan Smith jokingly asked if they had brought samples of the vaccine for commissioner. They hadn’t.

Commissioner Ronnie Peterson chastised the department for not communicating more effectively with the general public. Fleece said, “It sure seems like we’re giving out a lot of information,” noting that they field calls from the public and the media every day, as well as post updates on their website. Peterson wasn’t satisfied – a lot of people don’t have computers or health insurance, he said. Every county department needs to be involved in spreading the word about H1N1, Peterson contended. “We don’t sell popcorn. We don’t sell peanuts. We provide services.”

Torres-Burgos wrapped up their presentation by saying that it’s going to be a very long flu season, and very challenging.

Update: On Monday, Nov. 9, the county public health department announced another free vaccination clinic to be held on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pioneer High School. At the Nov. 5 clinic held at Eastern Michigan University, the county administered about 2,500 vaccines. They are expanding the priority categories of people eligible to receive the vaccine. Those categories are:

• pregnant women;
• household and caregiver contacts of infants younger than 6 months;
• health care and emergency medical services personnel who provide direct patient care;
• children and young adults 6 months through 24 years of age;
• individuals 25-64 years old who have medical conditions that put them at a higher risk of influenza-related complications, such as chronic lung disease, weakened immune systems, cancer, diabetes, kidney or liver disorders, cardiovascular disease and other conditions.

[.PDF of press release with additional details.]

Public Commentary: Misc.

In addition to the public commentary described above, Thomas Partridge spoke during three additional times set aside for public comment. Partridge said the county needed to submit more grant applications to raise money for fair and equitable housing, transportation, public health, job training, and education for all residents. He also called on the county to treat the H1N1 situation as the emergency that it was. They needed every health provider and health provider employee to enlist in a voluntary effort to provide vaccinations, not just for H1N1, but also vaccines for the conventional flu and pneumonia. Finally, he questioned why the commissioners failed to provide the necessary leadership to pass the countywide school millage, which was on the Nov. 3 ballot and rejected by voters.

Present: Barbara Levin Bergman, Leah Gunn, Jeff Irwin, Kristin Judge, Mark Ouimet, Ronnie Peterson, Wes Prater, Ken Schwartz, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Conan Smith

Absent: Jessica Ping

Next board meeting: Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the County Administration Building, 220 N. Main St. 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 comment sessions are held at the beginning and end of each meeting.

High demand and lower-than-anticipated supply has led to a “tremendous shortage,” said Dick Fleece, director of the county’s Public Health/Environmental Health department. And in the wake of Tuesday’s public clinic that drew hundreds of people and created safety concerns because of traffic and crowds, the county is canceling four clinics planned for next week at local high schools.

Instead, they’re scheduling a community clinic that will likely be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, at either Eastern Michigan University or Washtenaw Community College. Details will be released on Thursday, Fleece told commissioners. Update: The county will hold a clinic to vaccinate people in its high-priority categories on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the EMU Convocation Center. [Link to directions]

All orders of the H1N1 vaccine are delivered to the county’s public health department, which is responsible for distributing the vaccines to hospitals, universities and other local health care providers. [Nationwide, counties receive shipments of the H1N1 vaccines based on population.] Because of the shortage of available vaccines nationwide, the county hasn’t been able to provide enough to meet the demand of any of those groups, Fleece said. “Nobody’s happy – we’ve made everybody mad.”

The county’s public clinic on Tuesday, held at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District building on Wagner Road, lasted about one hour out of six hours that had originally been scheduled – the clinic was supposed to run from 3-9 p.m. People started coming hours early.  Before the clinic opened, cars already lined both sides of Wagner from Scio Church to Liberty, forcing people to walk along the busy two-lane road to reach the WISD building. Though nurses gave about 1,000 vaccines, they had to close the clinic because they ran of their supply.

They were surprised by the turnout – last week, the county held three clinics for emergency “first responders” and less than 500 people showed up, Fleece said.

As of last week, the county had received about 14,000 doses of the vaccine, about half of those in the form of nasal spray. Diana Torres-Burgos, the county’s medical director, told commissioners that vaccines were distributed to local hospitals, which received 43% of the total, community health care providers (33%) and the county’s public health clinics (19%), with the remainder going local universities.

Another shipment is expected soon, but it will still fall short of demand. Because of production delays from vaccine manufacturers, the county has so far received only about 30% of the supply it had anticipated by now, officials say. They expect to see supplies increase by mid-November, however. Fleece noted that despite media accounts which make it appear that there won’t be sufficient vaccines for everyone, the county expects that eventually they’ll have enough to meet demand.

But for the moment, Fleece said the county will narrow its focus for who will receive the vaccines first, based on risk and other factors. Using guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, the county has identified priority groups that will be eligible for the vaccine:

• pregnant women;
• household and caregivers of children under 6 months of age;
• children 6 months through 4 years old;
• children 5 to 18 years old who have medical conditions that bring a higher risk of flu complications;
• health care and emergency medical services personnel who provide direct patient care.

At the clinic to be scheduled next week, the county plans to vaccinate about 4,000 people, Fleece said.

Torres-Burgos said the H1N1 virus is actively circulating in Washtenaw County, but the good news is that people are recovering. The county public health website tracks cases of H1N1, and reports that for the week ending Oct. 24, there were three hospitalizations due to that strain of flu. No deaths have been reported in Washtenaw County because of H1N1.

Updates on the H1N1 outbreak and vaccines will be posted on the county public health department’s website. Fleece also plans to make a presentation at the Nov. 4 board of commissioners meeting.

Huron Valley Ambulance medic prepping a flu vaccination shot for administration as part of Saturday's immunization clinic. (Photo by the writer.)

Last Saturday morning, The Chronicle rolled south down State Street just past I-94, turned right at the Citgo gas station and headed for Huron Valley Ambulance headquarters on State Circle. At 9 a.m. HVA medics and staff had started delivering seasonal flu shots “pit crew style” to motorists who waited in their vehicles at one of four stations in two open garage bays.

The early rush already put two dozen cars ahead of us.

Around 15 minutes later, The Chronicle was immunized against the regular, seasonal flu – but not the H1N1 variant known as “swine flu.”

The drive-through clinic was scheduled to go through 3 p.m., but around 1 p.m. Joyce Williams, HVA’s public affairs manager, began explaining to motorists that the 400 doses they’d started with were gone.

Williams started giving directions to other locations where flu shots were available: Concentra (3131 S. State St. in Ann Arbor – 734.213.6285) as well as a series of clinics through St. Joseph Mercy that are staffed by Michigan Visiting Nurses Association nurses. [Link to .PDF]

For a list of additional seasonal flu shot clinics, the American Lung Association has created a flu shot clinic locator.  [Results of ALA locator for 48103 zipcode]

After the jump, more on the HVA clinic, as well as the local arrival of the vaccine against the current H1N1 variant of the flu, which was announced today. [Link to .PDF]

Huron Valley Ambulance Seasonal Flu Shots

This is the third year that HVA has helped distribute seasonal flu vaccine. It’s part of a partnership with Washtenaw County Public Health Department to distribute flu vaccines. But it’s also meant as a test of emergency preparedness: How fast can large numbers of residents be vaccinated in the event of a disaster?

This was the final checkpoint before vehicles could pull forward into one of four vaccinations stations in the two Huron Valley Ambulance garage bays. (Photo by the writer.)

Two years ago, HVA sent ambulances on-site to two different locations: the county offices on Zeeb Road, and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Last year was the first attempt at drive-through vaccination – 286 doses were distributed.

Last Saturday, the 400 doses distributed in 4 hours worked out to 1 vaccination every 36 seconds. That rate could conceivably be doubled by opening two additional garage bay doors at HVA headquarters.

The drive-through clinic was supported by volunteers from three different groups: (i) alums from the HVA’s Citizen Academy, (ii) the Athletic Trainers Student Organization at Eastern Michigan University, and (iii) Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, also from EMU.

The purchasing agency for the vaccine was the county’s public health department, and the $20 price covered the cost of the shots, plus the county’s administrative costs. HVA is an independent nonprofit, so where did the funding come from to pay the HVA medics who actually wielded the needles? Sponsors.

Gene Butman Ford and Wolverine Sports contributed cash to the effort, and multiple other organizations provided various in-kind donations. A gift bag handed out to people getting vaccines included a can of lemonade and a bag of potato chips, courtesy of Northern Vending and Coffee.

The drive-through concept is one that was also adopted by the University of Michigan Health System on Oct. 3 at the intersection of South Industrial and Eisenhower, in a clinic administered by the Michigan Visiting Nurses Association. According to UMHS spokesperson Shantell Kirkendoll, that clinic vaccinated 168 people. [A Stopped.Watched. record of that clinic: "S. Industrial & Eisenhower"]

Percentage of visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) reported by the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). The chart shows a national summary for 2008-2009 and the previous two seasons. The previous two years are in blue and green. This year's season is in red. It's off to an early start. (Image links to higher resolution file.)

2008-2009 Flu and H1N1

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s weekly FluView update, the flu season is off to an early start, with 37 states already reporting “widespread” flu activity. Michigan is currently reporting “regional” activity, which is second-highest on a five-point scale anchored by “widespread” and “no activity” on its respective ends.

The CDC’s surveillance system for flu cases, based on “sentinel providers,” shows elevated flu activity nationwide since late April, compared to previous years, with a rapid rise above baseline levels in the last five weeks.

The vaccine distributed at the drive-through clinics the last two weekends in Ann Arbor and available at clinics listed on the American Lung Association Flu Shot Clinic Locator is for the “seasonal flu” only.

It does not offer protection against the current H1N1 variant, commonly known as the “swine flu.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of Monday, Oct. 5, about 2.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccine were available nationwide for ordering, and nearly all of those doses had been ordered.

Arrival locally of some limited amount of H1N1 vaccine has begun, according to an Oct. 13 press release from the Washtenaw County Health Department.

Some of the H1N1 vaccine will be distributed first to the Washtenaw County Health Department, which will act as a clearinghouse for the vaccine to health care providers. Other supplies are being shipped directly to health care providers.

Spokespersons for UMHS as well as for St. Joseph Mercy Health System said that as the H1N1 vaccine becomes available, it will be distributed on a priority basis. From the UMHS “Flu Facts,” the first priority for vaccination against H1N1 flu are:

• Pregnant women
• People who live in the same household as, or care directly for, babies under the age of 6 months;
• Children aged 6 months through 4 years (up to the 5th birthday)
• Children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years who have conditions that make them vulnerable to H1N1 complications: Cancer, blood disorders including sickle cell disease, chronic lung disease including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders, neuromuscular disorders, and weakened immune systems due to disease or medical treatments they are receiving
• Health care workers who have direct patient contact

A shortage of H1N1 vaccine is not expected, but the availability of initial supplies will be limited, according to the Washtenaw County Public Health Department.

In the second priority for vaccination against the H1N1 variant are the following groups:

• Healthy children and young adults 5-24 years old.
• Adults aged 19 through 64 years who have conditions that make them vulnerable to H1N1 complications.

Depending on that availability, school-based mass vaccination clinics may begin the first week of November. The Washtenaw County Public Health is coordinating with public schools throughout the county to finalize clinic dates and details. Dates for public vaccination clinics will be announced at http://publichealth.ewashtenaw.org.

On Tuesday, county epidemiologist Laura Bauman told The Chronicle that there have been cases of the current H1N1 strain in Washtenaw County since April, but with a sharp increase in numbers beginning in September. They’re now seeing between 10-15 confirmed cases each week, she said. Officials assume there are many more cases that haven’t been recorded.

Residents who want more information or who have questions about the flu can call the county’s main public health number at 734.544.6700. Nurses and health educators will be answering the phone weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.