Update from Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020

Today, I attended a session of Veterans Treatment Court, a valuable problem-solving court for veterans who have faced the judiciary system. Judge Frank Line and his team of professionals saw 11 participants today, 10 of which were successful in continuing without sanctions.   Also today, the Board of Commissioners approved more than $108k from the state in a grant to the Calhoun County Veteran Affairs Office. VA Office Director Aaron Edlefson and his staff, with input from our Veterans Affairs Committee, will use these funds to help participants in the Veterans Court with required supplies, replace windows on the Haven of Rest’s veterans’ residential floor, and sponsor veterans baseball events with the Battle Creek Bombers, among other projects. The grant will also provide for a substantial increase in our local veterans relief fund for one-time emergency needs throughout this year.   The way that we impact citizens lives is very different from one part of the county to another, and that's clear by how different offices serve certain populations. I am proud of the work we're doing because, while there's always room for improvement, our priorities and values speak in the work we do every day.

Here is what else is going on in Calhoun County: At the Calhoun County Visitors Bureau Board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. Chaired by County Commissioner Kathy-Sue Vette, the Board approved our new 5-Year Strategic Destination Plan. The Board also discussed McCamly Hotel and its importance to tourism, the city of Battle Creek’s proposed new Hotel Ordinance, and legislative issues such as Pure Michigan funding.   The Calhoun County Veterans Affairs Committee meeting took place Wednesday, Feb. 12, and the committee heard from Director Aaron Edlefson about how state grant dollars will be used the remainder of this year, as a prelude to the Board of Commissioners Meeting where the grant was approved. The Board took action on several Veterans Relief Fund Applications and received a financial report for January.   The Marshall Community Credit Union Board met Monday, Feb. 17. It was noted that I was reelected to the Board for another 3-year term. I’m also serving on the Board’s new Governance Committee, which is recommending several amendments to the Credit Union’s ByLaws after a routine review with input from the State’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services.   On Tuesday, Feb. 18, I attended Battle Creek Unlimited’s 2020 Economic Outlook event at the Kellogg Arena. My takeaways from the event included an emphasis on the need to remove barriers to economic development, such as transportation. The County’s Transit Study, by consultants Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning, is nearly complete, and it will be important for our local leadership to consider its implementation soon.

MAEDA releases Year in Review video The Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance and Chamber made positive strides towards a successful future in Marshall. Check out the Chamber's Year in Review video for highlights from 2019. Watch the video

Calhoun County Board of Commissioners

On Thursday, Feb. 20, the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners held its second regular meeting for February. As part of the consent agenda, the Board approved the appointments of Amber Cunningham and Gregg Strand to the Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as approval for boundary verification for the 2020 Census.

In new business, the Board,  Approved the $108K grant from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, which will allow for increased outreach and services to County Veterans this year Approved a revised state-mandated Remonumentation Plan and 2020 surveyor contracts for the work Approved an extension of our agreement with the City of Albion for the Albion Recycling Center Approved ballot language for the senior millage, which will be on the August 4 election ballot Approved staffing changes for the Public Health Department Approved an MDOT Contract for road resurfacing and culvert replacement on Bellevue Road in Convis Township, using federal aid project dollars and match dollars from the township Approved a dust control bid recommendation for the maintenance of gravel roads Approved the County’s administrative services agreement with the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board

Around the County

Update from the Road Department

Operations: Boom mowing is complete in Burlington, Marengo, and Leroy Townships Installation of a new guardrail system is taking place on P Drive S in Homer Township Tree work is taking place for an upcoming project on 7/8 Mile Rd in Burlington Township, and will move to Emmett Township next Pothole patching is taking place countywide as the weather allows Ongoing sign maintenance continues countywide

Update from the Public Health Department

Concerned about the Coronavirus? There are NO cases of Coronavirus in Michigan, but the Public Health Department and Emergency Management Director Durk Dunham have released helpful information so the community can receive the most up-to-date information. For information on Coronavirus news, they recommend Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website will be regularly updated as more information is available. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website will be regularly updated with Michigan-specific data as needed. A one-page PDF of virus-specific facts from the CDC that can be printed and used as a handout

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