MAC Special Alert: Stay-at-home order extends to April 30; MAC cancels Legislative Conference gathering

MAC COVID-19 Update

Governor extends stay-at-home order to April 30; MAC confernce gathering canceled

At an afternoon press conference, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she was extending her stay-at-home order through April 30 to combat the corona crisis.

“Michigan has the third highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, and we’re still on the upswing. We must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread and protect our families,” she said. “Data shows that most Michiganders are doing their part by staying home and staying safe. That’s good, but we must keep it up.

Based on Executive Order 2020-42 , which extends Michigan’s stay-at-home directive, the 2020 Legislative Conference cannot be held in Lansing April 15-17, 2020. The event is canceled.

See Executive Order.

“We appreciate members’ patience with us as we worked through the many logistical details involved in this conference situation; an unprecedented situation,” said Stephan Currie, MAC executive director.

Those members who are registered for the conference will automatically receive refunds. However, those who have secured hotel rooms with the Radisson in Lansing need to contact the hotel to cancel their rooms by Sunday, April 12 to avoid any cancellation fees.

“While we are disappointed in taking this action, we will have an announcement on Friday about how MAC can help meet its commitment to professional development for our members,” he added.

State loosens rules on use of veteran service grants

The Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency (MVAA) this week announced expanding options to counties that have already submitted for County Veteran Service Funds due to COVID-19. Counties can complete a budget amendment to help alleviate some of the emerging financial burdens your veterans are facing under new circumstances.

For counties that did not meet deadlines or were not awarded funds already, the MVAA is waiving some eligibility criteria to allow “emergent, immediate and director financial assistance to its veterans, service members, and eligible family members in your county.” Two options are outlined here.

Questions can be submitted to Marie Douville at douvillem@michigan.gov, and your final application to MVAAGrants@michigan.gov.

Save the date: Treasury sets webinar on April 20

The Michigan Department of Treasury, in partnership with the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Townships Association, will hold a joint webinar, COVID-19 Updates and Resources for Local Governments, on April 20 at 2 p.m.

Topics will include local government economic impacts, state resources, and federal funding information. Additionally, there will be a question and answer period. Please submit your questions to Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org by Thursday, April 16. More information regarding how to register for the webinar will be released soon.

MAC adds ‘heat map’ to website for county-by-county data

Working with our partners at the data firm Munetrix, MAC has installed an interactive “heat map” of the state showing COVID-19 data by county. In addition to the number of cases and deaths, the map will show cases per 100,000 residents.

Munetrix has offered to share the embed code for this map with our county members for their websites. If you wish to receive the code, send the request to melot@micounties.org.