MAC COVID-19 Update
MAC ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to properly fund counties in Phase 4 bill

The recent U.S. Treasury decision on the CARES Act (Phase 3) moved $5.2 billion away from local economies, shifting these resources back to state capitals. In the 4th COVID-19 package, we need direct federal support to counties, both for these counties that were literally entitled to these resources under the CARES Act but also all county governments who are on the front lines of the public health and economic recovery responses.
 
Congressional staffs are writing the bill as we speak. While Congress may not vote on the package until early May, the deal is being struck right now! If you want your counties to receive direct federal assistance, please click below to send a message to your members of Congress.
Chief justice keynotes Day 1 of Virtual Conference
 
Highlighted by a presentation from Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, MAC’s 2020 Virtual Legislative Conference started its two-week run today.
 
McCormack detailed her work on a variety of reforms in the judicial branch, particularly the actions taken to reduce the threat to jails posed by corona and administrative orders to allow for virtual court proceedings to help protect the public health.
 
McCormack then took questions collected by MAC’s Meghann Keit.
 
Best practices for boards was the subject of the second event of the day, a workshop led by John Amrhein of MSU Extension on “extraordinary governance.”
 
Following his presentation, Amrhein took up a variety of questions from commissioners looking for tips on how to boost engagement of their county colleagues.
 
“Day 1 is in the books,” said Stephan Currie, MAC Executive Director. “We had a few technical hiccups, but that’s to be expected for our first go-round with a virtual event. We had more than 100 people register for the chief justice’s address, which was a wonderful start.”
 
Next up for the conference is a workshop on economic development practices on Friday at 11 a.m. Click here to register for it.
 
All conference events are recorded and available for viewing via the conference page.
Governors partner on regional approach on economy
 
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has joined with her counterparts in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Kentucky to pledge close coordination to reopen the economy in the region. 
 
The governors will “closely examine at least these four factors when determining when best to reopen our economy”: 

  • Sustained control of the rate of new infections and hospitalizations. 
  • Enhanced ability to test and trace. 
  • Sufficient health care capacity to handle resurgence. 
  • And best practices for social distancing in the workplace. 
 
“We are doing everything we can to protect the people of our states and slow the spread of COVID-19, and we are eager to work together to mitigate the economic crisis this virus has caused in our region,” they said in a statement.
 
The news came as Michigan passed 2,000 deaths attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MMRMA releases model plan for COVID preparedness and response

Working with Monroe County and the Dykema law firm, the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) has developed a model COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan and instructions .
 
“While members and others may choose to develop their individual plans, MMRMA wanted to make this model plan available to those whose time or resources may be scarce or devoted to other service endeavors,” said Executive Director Michael Rhyner. “This plan is in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-42 and ready for customization by each entity who may use it in developing their respective plans.”
 
“The value of the partnership between the MMRMA and MAC is clearly demonstrated in this initiative,” said Michael Bosanac, Monroe administrator and chair of the MMRMA Board. “When the MACAO group looked for some guidance and expertise, MMRMA was a perfect choice to deliver a model preparedness and response plan. This will save countless hours of key administrators who would have been spent crafting each of theirs separately.”
Chief justice urges counties to seek federal aid
 
Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack urged state and local governments today to apply for more than $24 million in Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) made available through the US. Department of Justice’s Bureaus of Justice Assistance. The chief justice also noted this during her discussion with MAC at our opening session of the 2020 Virtual Legislative Conference.
 
MAC shared information last week with members about the available funding and encourages those that have not already applied to do so as soon as possible. The official deadline is May 29.
 
Per BJA guidance, “Funds awarded under the CESF Program must be utilized to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Allowable projects and purchases include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment (including law enforcement and medical personal protective equipment), hiring, supplies (such as gloves, masks, sanitizer), training, travel expenses (particularly related to the distribution of resources to the most impacted areas), and addressing the medical needs of inmates in state, local, and tribal prisons, jails, and detention centers.
 
“Funds may not be used to supplant state or local funds but must be used to increase the amounts of such funds that would, in the absence of federal funds, be made available. Funds may not be used for direct administrative costs that exceed 10 percent of the total award amount.”
 
For any localities that need assistance drawing down funds, the BJA offers a support hotline: 888-549-9901 or
 
This list of expected eligible entities in Michigan was made available by the BJA last week. If your county was not specifically identified, MAC suggests using the hotline to ask about qualifying.