Breakout topics released for 2022 Legislative Conference

Attendees at the 2022 Legislative Conference will have a dozen breakout sessions to choose from on trending issues in county governance, MAC announced this week. Each breakout session will be approximately one hour long and include time for questions from the audience of the experts and policymakers presenting at them:

• What’s Coming on Mobility
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in County Government
• Opioid Funding from the National Settlement
• The Future of the County Workforce
• Trial Court Funding
• Cybersecurity Threats and Trends
• Primer on the Headlee Amendment and State Taxation
• How Counties Are Investing ARP Funds
• How to Win Millage Elections
• Open Meetings Act Update (joint with MCMCFC)
• Stress Management in Stressful Times (joint with MCMCFC)
• Cultivating an Agribusiness Economy

County commissioners who attend the conference will receive credit in MAC’s County Commissioner Academy.

Click here to start your registration process.

The Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council (MCMCFC) is offering its members the following additional workshops (all MCMCFC events come with continuing education credits for its members):

• Strategies for Success in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Stress Suppresses Success: SHAPE Your Stress Blueprint
• Regulatory Updates and Other Sizzling Topics Speaker: Vickie Burlew
• State Licensure and Federal Certification Regulatory Update

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will keynote the 2022 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference, addressing a plenary session of the event on Wednesday, March 23.

The conference also will feature:

• A plenary session address by Larry Johnson, president of the National Association of Counties
• A MAC Legislative Update, led by Deena Bosworth, director of governmental affairs
• Remarks from MAC President Phil Kuyers of Ottawa County and Executive Director Stephan Currie
• A Legislative Reception on the evening of Tuesday, March 22, during which MAC will present its County Advocate Awards for legislative service in 2021

The conference will be an in-person event, though MAC plans to livestream select breakout sessions on Facebook. For the latest conference news, visit the MAC conference page.

 

 

By Lenawee County

Updates and restorations projects to prepare Lenawee County’s “Old Courthouse” for the next 100 years came together in early 2020. Careful considerations to both the interior and exterior were given to energy efficiency, mechanical updates and floorplans designed to bring accessible technology and a comfortable environment to this 135-year-old courthouse, while preserving the history and period look of a local landmark.  

As with any renovation project there were many challenges and surprises. We are pleased with the finished project; it is energy-efficient, sound and mechanically prepared to grow with the county for years to come. The project manager, architects, carpenters, masons, artists, and crewman put their hearts and talents into restoring a piece of history.

Exterior

There were areas in the sandstone that had to be repaired by chiseling back to solid sandstone and then re-created with a sandstone compound. The lead coated dome and the painted areas of trim work were given a fresh coat of white paint. Automatic door assistance mechanics were added to exterior doors to assist with opening the heavy doors.  

Basement

Throughout the history of this building, the basement has been used in many ways. There are currently three conference rooms, a kitchen, ample storage rooms, and a fire suppression system room.  The basement vaults have been converted into storage rooms.

First floor

Georgia yellow pine is used throughout the building and master crafters expertly blended new wainscoting and trim work to replace broken, missing and damaged places.

Fire doors that once separated the wings of the first-floor hall were removed and special attention was required to re-create several plaster flowers that adorn columns throughout the building.

A wheat mosaic lays in the center of the building, for which only minor repairs were necessary. The floors were polished and buffed.

Entry doors to each suite have all been modified with an auto door opener. Each suite offers a private restroom, while a handicap-accessible restroom is now available to the public in the corridor.  

Second floor

The two grand staircases leading up to the second floor that were once enclosed have been opened and splendidly restored. The banisters are of cherry and the rise and tread of Georgia yellow pine.

The floors on the top floor were leveled and covered with ¾” redwood. Four bronze, beautifully ornate, push plates were replicated through a mold and pour method to match the originals.

Courtroom/commission chambers

The drop-down ceiling was removed from the chambers and a coffered ceiling was revealed to be in relatively good condition. During the restoration process, it was discovered that there was another ceiling above the coffers, a medallion ceiling; and bits of the original fresco paintings were spotted, but that ceiling was in very poor condition. To the best of our knowledge, the coffered ceiling was installed around the time when gas lighting was replaced with electrical, around 1900.

The coffers were restored, while canned lighting, speakers, security and four grand bronze chandeliers were added. The workmanship is beautiful, and the finished ceiling is stunning.

Four windows that had been bricked up long ago have been restored to their full height. And the chamber room is back to its original size of roughly 40 feet by 60 feet, with an impressive 23 feet of height.  

The judges’ office located behind the bench has been revamped into a kitchenette and a cozy office.

Tower/rotunda

Four columns built of hard-burned brick, laid in cement mortar and flushed with cement are set in the center of the building and extend from the foundation to the cupola on top; this is referred to as “the tower.” The tower is filled with stone arches and columns, with impressive carvings.    

The area between the first and second floor is once again open, restoring the rotunda to its original size.  From the balcony of the rotunda, you can look down upon the wheat mosaic tiles of the first floor or look up to a fantastic stained-glass dome created specifically for this building. The artist, Victoria Balva, incorporated architectural designs from the exterior of the building and captured the spirit of the building while adding hints of lavenders, peaches and pinks. A light box was built to provide back lighting and bring the artwork to life.

Right before Christmas, staff for the register of deeds, treasurer, equalization, administrator and board of commissioners were able to move into their “new’ offices in the “Old” Courthouse.

The final cost for the renovation was $8,825,000, bringing the project in under budget – and in less than two years.

OMA update, protecting mental health services top MAC’s 2022 priorities

Updating the Open Meetings Act to meet the 21st century needs of state residents and preventing an ill-advised attempt to privatize Michigan’s locally directed system of public mental health services head the list of legislative priorities for Michigan counties this year.

Legislative action in 2020-21 allowed county boards and other local panels to address the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the changes also resulted in making the act less responsive in 2022 by barring the votes of public officials participating remotely when a physical quorum was present at a meeting.

“Quick action by the state in 2020 allowed county boards to meet remotely during the pandemic in a safe manner, but those changes ended up removing a key option for local officials to participate in governance in specific situations,” explained Deena Bosworth, MAC’s director of governmental affairs. “We will be focused on OMA reform with legislators to resolve this problem as soon as possible.”

MAC also will continue its efforts with a broad coalition opposed to a mental health privatization scheme embedded in Senate Bill 597-598, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Jackson). Boards in more than 40 counties already have passed resolutions opposing privatization of mental health services, which face growing demands for care and persistent state underfunding.

Other goals for 2022 in Lansing are:

• Enacting Reforms to Ensure Proper Funding of Local Courts
• Creating a Fair Revenue Sharing System for Counties
• Compensating Local Governments for Funds Diverted by the Veterans Property Tax Exemption
• Revamping the PPT Exemption to Provide Annual Reimbursement to Locals
• Adopting the MI Roadmap to Use ARP Funds for Historic Investments in Michigan

“These goals reflect months of meetings and discussions by our policy committees of elected county leaders, by our Board of Directors and by our membership,” said Stephan Currie, MAC’s executive director. “These items constitute the ‘Regional Agenda,’ if you will, from Michigan’s original regional governments, our 83 counties.”

For more information on MAC’s legislative strategies, contact Deena Bosworth at bosworth@micounties.org.

 

Governor to keynote 2022 Legislative Conference; registration open for March 21-23 event

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will keynote the 2022 Michigan Counties Legislative Conference, addressing a plenary session of the event on Wednesday, March 23.

Click here to begin your conference registration.

The 2022 event, co-hosted by the Michigan Association of Counties and the Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council and held at the Radisson Hotel and Lansing Center, also will feature:

• A plenary session address by Larry Johnson, president of the National Association of Counties
• A MAC Legislative Update, led by Deena Bosworth, director of governmental affairs
• Remarks from MAC President Phil Kuyers of Ottawa County and Executive Director Stephan Currie
• Breakout sessions on current challenges for county leaders, including workforce development, the Open Meetings Act, trends in mobility on Michigan roads, American Rescue Plan spending and how to deal with stress in these stressful times
• A Legislative Reception on the evening of Tuesday, March 22, during which MAC will present its County Advocate Awards for legislative service in 2021
• A MAC “pop-up store” where members can purchase a variety of MAC-branded items to show off their county pride

The conference will be an in-person event, though MAC plans to livestream select breakout sessions on Facebook.

Your conference registration fee provides access to all conference events, snacks at the Radisson Hotel on Monday afternoon, the Legislative Reception with appetizers and beverages, two breakfasts at the Lansing Center (Tues-Wed), lunch on Tuesday at the Lansing Center and a boxed lunch on Wednesday you can take with you on your journey home.

County commissioners attending the conference will receive credits toward certification through MAC’s County Commissioner Academy.

Medical care facility personnel also will earn Continuing Education credits. Visit the conference page for details.

“We appreciate the governor taking time to speak to our members this year as we continue to foster deeper state-county partnerships,” said Currie. “We are working closely with both venues to enhance COVID safety and will monitor state and local health directives that could affect the conference.”

MAC and MCMCFC strongly encourage members to register early for the conference and for hotel space. For the latest conference news and updates, visit the MAC Conferences Page.

 

U.S. Supreme Court puts hold on vaccine mandate for large employers, allows mandate for health facilities to operate

On Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Supreme Court halted the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 people but left in place the one for federally funded health facilities.

Below is an analysis from the firm of Cohl, Stoker & Toskey, P.C. on what this means for county entities going forward:

“On Jan. 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued opinions on both the CMS Vaccine Mandate, and the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard. The opinions were issued less than one week after the Court held oral arguments on Jan. 7. 2022.

“(1) In a 5-4 decision, the Court granted the Federal government’s emergency applications to stay the Missouri and Louisiana District Court injunctions judicially enjoining the CMS vaccine mandate in 25 states. Therefore, CMS may now enforce the mandate nationwide, including in Michigan. The validity of the mandate will be determined in further proceedings in the lower Courts.

“(2) In a 6-3 decision, the Court granted the challengers’ emergency applications to re-impose the stay of the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard vaccine/testing mandate that had been dissolved by the Sixth Circuit in a 2-1 decision on Dec. 17, 2021.  Therefore, the OSHA ETS may not be enforced pending the outcome of litigation in the lower courts. 

“As to the CMS Vaccine Mandate, facilities subject to the mandate must:

“(1) comply with Phase 1 of the CMS mandate, i.e., staff at all health care facilities included within the regulation must have received, at a minimum, the first dose of a primary series or a single dose COVID-19 vaccine prior to staff providing any care, treatment or other services for the facility or its patients, by Jan. 27, 2022; and

“(2) comply with Phase 2 of the CMS mandate, i.e., staff at all health care provider and supplier types included in the regulation must complete the primary vaccination series or have obtained an exemption, by Feb. 28, 2022.”

Counties, of course, should consult with their own counsel on any issues specific to their situation. MAC will provide additional updates as litigation continues.