Juvenile justice reform bills would boost funds for counties

Earlier this summer, the Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform released its report and recommendations, including a higher reimbursement rate for counties on certain juvenile justice services. New legislation filed this week in Lansing would bring that recommendation into law.

Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson) has introduced a set of bills to raise reimbursement rates and adopt the task force recommendation for a statewide juvenile public defense system. Her House Bills 6344–45 would expand the state’s indigent defense system to include juveniles, ensuring juveniles are eligible to receive these legal services. HB 6345 would expand the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to include representatives that are experienced and knowledgeable of the juvenile justice system, making certain that the best interests of youth within the juvenile justice system are accurately and adequately represented on the commission.

MAC supports the task force’s recommendations and efforts to better care for youth in the juvenile justice system. MAC has not yet taken a position on HBs 6344-6345, as we need to ensure adequate funding is provided to counties by the state to implement the juvenile indigent defense system. Conversations between MAC, the Legislature and other stakeholders regarding these bills are expected to take place in the coming months. 

For more information on this issue, contact Samantha Gibson at Gibson@micounties.org.

 

By Rich Lakeberg/Ottawa County Department of Strategic Impact

The West Michigan Pike was once the premier way to travel along Michigan’s western shores. This highway running along Lake Michigan was conceived of and built during the second decade of the 20th century to accommodate the “horseless carriage,” opening up the region to tourism and the development it would bring.

Eventually, the Pike was replaced by state and U.S. highway systems and was mostly forgotten. But now, thanks to local historian Blaine Knoll, the Ottawa County Department of Strategic Impact, and Grand Haven Area Community Foundation funds, the West Michigan Pike lives again. New signs commemorating this key piece of West Michigan tourism and automotive history are being installed along the original route.
“Beginning at the Ottawa-Allegan County line, the newly marked route stays as true to the original route as possible,” said Knoll. “It winds through the southwest side of Holland, follows a series of secondary roads, part of U.S.-31, then heads through Grand Haven and into Ferrysburg.”

The effort to recognize the original historic route doesn’t end with signs. Knoll and County staff are also developing a commemorative plaque to be placed where an original Pike marker from 1916 still stands along 152nd Avenue in Olive Township.

“The plaque recognizes the last known standing marker of the West Michigan Pike Historical Route. The installation of all the concrete pikes along the route was never completed due to the everchanging roadways. Witnessing this pike’s original location is significant to the route, and we are proud to highlight it,” said Ottawa County Land Use Specialist Andrew Roszkowski.

The project has been years in the making. “It all started when I was young,” said Knoll of his interest in the Pike. “My dad told me about seeing the 64th Street portion in Allegan County being paved right after World War I.

Around 2011 I started mapping the whole route from Michigan City (Indiana) to the Straits of Mackinac.”

A few years later, Knoll approached Ottawa County with an idea to retrace the original Pike route. Working closely with Knoll, the Tri-Cities Museum in Grand Haven, Michigan Beachtowns and other stakeholders, staff created mockups of signage, and had the signs made. Funding for the signs was generously provided by the Elizabeth Davidson Kammeraad Dobbie Fund for History and the Greatest Needs Fund of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.

In 2018, two original concrete West Michigan Pike road markers were discovered near Spring Lake. “They were being used as clothesline posts,” mused Knoll. Both have been loaned to the Tri-Cities Museum in Grand Haven for a time to display as part of a West Michigan Pike Exhibit. This interactive exhibit with numerous artifacts told the life story of the Pike.

In 2016, the state recognized a small section of the Pike as a “Pure Michigan Byway”, joining 22 other historic, scenic, and recreational Michigan byways that include M-22 byway, Tahquamenon, and the U.S.-12 Heritage Trail.

“It’s important that local history like this stays alive,” said Knoll. “I’m thankful to Ottawa County for allowing this project to go forward.”

For more information on the West Michigan Pike, visit www.michiganbeachtowns.com.

Have an interesting project under way in your county? MAC can help share the news. Send your details to Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.

House committee approves extension for trial court funding

Michigan trial courts would continue to have the authority to impose fees, a critical funding element, until May 1, 2024, under a new version of a MAC-backed bill adopted by the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday.

House Bill 5956, by Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Jackson), was designed to address the crisis caused by the looming expiration of fee authority on Oct. 1, 2022.

Courts have long relied on fees to help fund operations. In 2014, the Michigan Supreme Court said, however, that courts could levy only fees specifically designated by the Legislature. MAC led a coalition to enact a legislative fix that was adopted in the fall. That legislation, to place “reasonably related” costs, has been extended twice already.

With the Oct. 1 deadline looming, MAC urges quick action on HB 5956 when the House returns to Lansing in late September. The bill must pass through both chambers and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prior to Oct. 1 to avoid a disruption in fee authority.

MAC will be asking for member outreach to legislators in late September as the final push for the bill begins.

For more information on this issue, contact Samantha Gibson at gibson@micounties.org.

 

Looking to build on recent success in Lansing capped by the enactment of 4-year terms for county commissioners in 2021, MAC expanded its Governmental Affairs Team today with the addition of two governmental affairs associates.

Madeline Fata comes to MAC from the offices of Rep. Ken Borton (R-Otsego), who is himself a former MAC Board president.

Fata (fata@micounties.org) also worked in the offices of state Sens. Wayne Schmidt (R-Grand Traverse) and Dale Zorn (R-Monroe) and for Michigan Legislative Consultants, a Lansing-based lobbying firm.

She has a bachelor’s degree in social science from Michigan State University, with a secondary degree in anthropology. Between Fata and Governmental Affairs Director Deena Bosworth (anthropology, Western Michigan University), MAC may have the largest anthropology contingent of any advocacy office in the United States!

Samantha Gibson has even deeper ties to MAC, having served as an intern on our Governmental Affairs Team in 2019-20.

Gibson (gibson@micounties.org) was most recently the legislative director for Rep. Rodney Wakeman (R-Tuscola), where she focused on policy work for the House Families, Children and Seniors Committee. Gibson has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Michigan State University.

Madeline will staff MAC’s policy committees on Transportation and on Environmental, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs.

Sam will staff MAC’s policy committees on Health and Human Services and on Judiciary and Public Safety.

“I am very excited to bring on both of these up-and-coming women to our staff,” said Deena Bosworth, MAC’s director of governmental affairs. “Each brings a level of expertise, personality and advocacy skills that will help shape and define the future of our organization.”

Comedian to entertain at 2022 President’s Banquet; early-bird pricing continues through Sept. 2

Chris Young, a comedian who has performed across Michigan and was a finalist in Dave Coulier’s “Clean Guys of Comedy/Unbleepable Contest,” will be the after-dinner entertainer at the 2022 President’s Banquet on Sept. 20.

The banquet is the final event of the 2022 Michigan Counties Annual Conference, to be held Sept. 18-21 at the Blue Water Convention Center in Port Huron. Registration continues for the event, which will include:

• Four plenary sessions featuring key issues now before Michigan and a MAC Legislative Update
• 12 breakout sessions for MAC members and 6 workshops for MCMCFC members
• A Welcome Reception and Strolling Dinner on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 18
• A lavish President’s Banquet on the night of Tuesday, Sept. 20
• Plenty of free time in the afternoons for attendees to enjoy sights and sounds of Port Huron, including the St. Clair River

Meanwhile, early-bird pricing of $395 for members has been extended through Sept. 2, so act fast.

To register and for complete conference details, click here.

Hotel Update: There are some rooms left at the Comfort Inn (1720 Hancock St. in Port Huron) for the special room rate of $129 per night (rate is good through Sept. 4). To make a reservation, call 810-987-5999.

To meet demand, we’ve added a third hotel option for conference-goers, the Holiday Inn Express (2021 Water St. in Port Huron). Twenty-five (25) rooms are now available there for the conference rate of $129 per night (rate is good through Aug. 19). To reserve a room, click here or call 810-662-3400 and use the group name of “Michigan Association of Counties.” 

A special shuttle will operate between the conference headquarters at the Blue Water Convention Center and the Comfort Inn and HI Express. Also, plenty of free and convenient parking is available outside the convention center.

 

FY23 county-by-county revenue sharing estimates