Here are highlights from recent board and committee meetings:
The
City/County Meeting
, which includes city managers and mayors, as well as County Board Chair Steve Frisbie and myself, met Tuesday, Nov. 12 at the Homer Village Municipal Building. This meeting is a crucial opportunity to bring County city leaders together to discuss what's happening in each community and countywide.
The same day, Nov. 12, the
Calhoun County Visitors Bureau Board
met. We received updates about Battle Creek’s work toward a new hotel ordinance, and approved the 2020 Visitors Bureau budget. We also discussed Calhoun County's proposed 2020 parks millage ballot initiative, as well as the State’s veto of Pure Michigan funding.
At the Nov. 13
Veterans Affairs Committee Meeting
, we congratulated Director Aaron Edlefson on the birth of his daughter. Then the Board approved certain veterans relief applications, as well as vehicle and home repair applications.
The
Michigan Municipal Services Authority Board
, for which I'm chair, met Thursday, Nov. 14 in Lansing. Interim CEO Shea Charles gave updates on our two main service contracts: Financial Management Systems transition for Kent County and the City of Grand Rapids; and management of Metro Act and Personal Property Tax payments to local governments for the Local Community Stabilization Act Board. We also discussed plans for an upcoming visioning process, and adopted the meeting schedule for 2020.
The
Calhoun County Board of Health
met Monday, Nov. 18. At the meeting, Health Educator Alyse Nichols gave a presentation about the Infant Safe Sleep program and the fetal infant mortality review program. In the Health Officer report, we learned that a "hotwash" was held to discuss response to Eastern Equine Encephalitis concerns last month, and outcomes from that discussion were sent to the State.
The
Marshall Community Credit Union Board
met Monday, Nov. 18. We heard updates on cybersecurity plans and strategic planning, and updated CEO and management compensation programs.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the
Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance Board
met, hearing a presentation from John Leone, who owns Roak Brewing Company, regarding future plans for Marshall’s Dark Horse Brewery. The Board received updates from CEO Scott Fleming and our committee chairs, including my Finance/Audit Committee report that indicated a positive budget variance within financial statements through October, 4 months into MAEDA’s fiscal year.
The
Countywide Transit Study
is nearing completion, with our consultants from Four Square presenting on Nov. 20 to the Steering Committee their findings from public input, and preliminary recommendations for governance of a new transit authority or authorities, implementation and timeline for a new service plan, and financial models. This grant funded study is expected to be finalized within the next couple of months so that we can move forward with a much needed new system to provide countywide public transportation for our residents.
The
Solid Waste Management Planning Advisory Committee
also met Nov. 20, its first meeting since September. At this meeting, the committee discussed reappointments to the committee, changes in staff at the state and city level for solid waste, the 2020 budget, and 2020 meeting dates.
