MAC Board votes to shift Annual Conference to virtual sessions
The 2020 MAC Annual Conference will be a virtual event stretching across several days in late August, the MAC Board of Directors decided during a meeting on Friday.
“With counties and vendors alike still sorting through the budget problems caused by COVID, we had a real concern that attendance would drop, and the event would be costly for MAC,” said Board President Veronica Klinefelt of Macomb County. “Based on the success of the Virtual Legislative Conference and the continuing research of our MAC staff, the Board saw a virtual event as the better option.”
The virtual event will include workshops, plenary sessions, opportunities to interact with exhibiting vendors, board elections and the Annual Business Meeting on Aug. 18 to approve MAC’s policy platforms for the coming year.
The Board approved the draft platforms for the membership vote this week. Those drafts soon will be made available on
MAC’s website and sent electronically to all counties for members’ review in advance of the Annual Business Meeting. ...
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Executive orders loosen economic restrictions due to COVID-19
Two executive orders on Friday will continue to ease economic restrictions imposed earlier due to the coronavirus crisis.
On June 10, Regions 6 and 8, which include much of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, will advance to Phase 5 of the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan. Phase 5 allows the reopening of salons, movie theaters, and gyms, subject to safety protocols and procedures designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
On June 15, personal services including hair, massages, and nails will reopen statewide. Though the remaining regions, 1 through 5 and 7, will remain in Phase 4 under the new executive orders. The governor said she expects the entire state will advance to Phase 5 in the coming weeks.
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Normal FOIA requirements resume on June 11
Normal requirements under the state’s Freedom of Information Act resume on June 11, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stated in a new executive order on June 3.
FOIA requirements had been modified by Whitmer in
Executive Order 38 during the height of the COVID-19 crisis and in response to the disrupt to local government operations.
That order was to expire on June 4, but Whitmer issued
EO 112 to extend modifications, but only to June 11. Starting next week, counties are subject to all of the normal deadline and response requirements under the transparency law.
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Hazard pay measure awaiting House floor action
A supplemental budget bill that includes hundreds of millions of dollars in payments for first responders and health workers awaits action on the Michigan House floor after its approval by the full Senate and the House Appropriations Committee.
Senate Bill 690, by Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland), is the subject of continuing negotiations between the Legislature and the governor. At issue is the $3.2 billion in Federal CARES Act dollars allocated for the state of Michigan. Guidance from the Federal Department of Treasury prohibits the use of these funds for revenue replacement and restricts the spending for COVID-19 related expenses. ...
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Property tax bills advance despite MAC concerns
Legislation to provide relief for taxpayers struggling to pay their summer property tax bills on time advance out of its initial House review this week.
House Bills
5761 and
5810, by Rep. James Lower (R-Ionia), chair of the House Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee, will amend the General Property Tax act to do several things:
- Forgive interest and fees for property owners who qualify for the program due to financial hardship associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Qualification will be based on an affidavit of hardship regardless and will apply to all types of property, not just residential. ...
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MAC invites county leaders to 'Camp Counties' webinars
With in-person gatherings still discouraged, but the need to share information and best practices never more acute, MAC has responded with a new educational series for summer 2020:
Camp Counties.
Replacing our traditional in-person Regional Summits, the webinars of Camp Counties are free to all employees of MAC member counties and designed to provide practical information and tips that can be put to immediate use. All webinars will start at 11 a.m. on their scheduled dates. The webinars will be recorded for post-event, on-demand viewing on our website.
“The five topics are designed to both provide something of an interest to members across the state and deliver practical information that can be put to immediate use as we all continue to navigate the COVID crisis,” said Stephan Currie, MAC’s executive director. “I’m also pleased that we are able to deliver so much to members at no additional costs to them or their counties.”
Major support for Camp Counties comes from Enbridge and Envirologic, with additional support from three of MAC’s sponsored programs: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Nationwide Retirement Solutions and Abilita.
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Major changes to solid waste management proposed
Legislation making substantial changes to how counties handle solid waste was introduced this week in Lansing.
House Bills 5812-5817 were discussed in the House Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Committee on Tuesday. Among the goals of bill sponsors are increasing Michigan’s overall recycling rate to 45 percent in the long term; increasing curbside recycling statewide; creating new recycling markets by increasing permitting fees for material management facilities; and funding counties to rewrite their waste management plans. ...
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Federal guidance: States need to send CARES Act money to locals
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In comments released late last week, U.S. Treasury officials said that state governments need to be sharing CARES Act money with local governments that did not qualify for direct payments under the act due to their population. This guidance affirms what MAC has been saying in ongoing discussions with the State Budget Office on the need for state help to address COVID-19 financial effects.
In Michigan, the federal guidance would apply to 79 of the 83 counties.
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MAC creates resources page for 2020 Census
MAC has created a
dedicated page of information related to 2020 Census efforts.
County leaders understand the importance of getting an accurate count of Michiganders to leverage maximum investment from the federal government. Visit the page at
https://micounties.org/2020-census/ to find videos for local leaders, resources to maximize response rates and much more.
The page will be updated frequently.
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Next Treasury webinar is June 9
The latest in a series of webinars for local government officials who are dealing with COVID-19’s financial impacts will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. The event is co-sponsored by MAC and other local government groups.
To register,
click here. Be advised that “seating” is limited, so registration as soon as possible.
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State releases new tools on reopening
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In an effort to help reopening businesses safely re-engage in the economy, the
MI Symptoms Web Application is a cost-free way for employers to comply with
Executive Order 97 and implement a COVID-19 symptoms screening questionnaire for employees.
Designed primarily for employers and employees, the online tool is also available to all Michigan residents. Users enter information daily to help identify symptoms that might be caused by the virus and to make decisions about when to seek appropriate medical care. Local and state public health will also use the collective data to help identify the potential for new outbreaks of the disease. ...
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SMART Fund bill would provide $500 billion to states and locals
A co-sponsor of federal legislation to funnel an additional $500 billion in corona aid to states and local governments released a detailed description of the measure this week.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI 6) is one of the original House co-sponsors of
H.R. 6954, called the SMART Fund, which would “provide $500 billion in emergency funding to every state, county, and community in the country to help keep essential workers on the payroll and Michigan residents safe, while prioritizing state and local assistance based on population size, infection rates and revenue losses.”
Upton explained the funding would be allocated as follows ...
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Each week, Legislative Update will feature a round-up of news and information links suggested by members of MAC's staff:
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Have a job to fill? MAC can help
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Need to fill a key position in your county team? MAC can help. Our Jobs Hub page is the go-to source for county leaders looking to find the best employees. A $75 fee covers a posting of up to 30 days, along with promotion via MAC's social media channels
Jobs now to be found at the hub:
- Deputy County Administrator, Kent County
- City Manager, City of Clawson
- City Administrator, City of Adrian
- Financial and Administrative Services Director, Michigan Association of Counties
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Have you joined MAC's Commissioners Forum?
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MAC's
online message board
allows county commissioners to share challenges, solutions and ideas with their colleagues. You must register to use the message board. Easy-to-follow instructions for registration can be
found here
.
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The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC), founded on February 1, 1898, is the only statewide organization dedicated to the representation of all county commissioners in Michigan.
MAC is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization which advances education, communication and cooperation among county government officials in Michigan. MAC is the counties' voice at the State Capitol, providing legislative support on key issues affecting counties.
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Michigan Association of Counties
110 W. Michigan Ave. Suite 200,
Lansing, MI 48933
Tel: (800) 258-1152 or (517) 372-5374
Fax: (517)482-4599
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