Keynote addresses from Michigan Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack and National Association of Counties Executive Director Matt Chase were bookends for a “virtual edition” of the MAC Legislative Conference held April 16-30, 2020.

Chief Justice McCormack

As Michigan continues to combat the COVID-19 threat, MAC was forced to cancel the usual conference gathering in Lansing that had been set for April 15-17.

“To meet our responsibilities to members for professional development, we have created this free virtual event that extends over two weeks to allow maximum flexibility for participation,” explained Executive Director Stephan Currie. “In addition, all events will be recorded and provided on our website for 24/7 viewing, both during and after the conference.”

Full Conference Content

Opening Keynote: Court Reform in Michigan in 2020 and Beyond – COMPLETED
April 16
LINK TO VIDEO RECORDING
LINK TO SLIDES

Workshop: Leading your Board Toward Extraordinary Governance* – COMPLETED
April 16
LINK TO VIDEO RECORDING
LINK TO SLIDES

Workshop: Economic Development and Tax Base Growth Strategies – COMPLETED
April 17
LINK TO VIDEO RECORDING
LINK TO SLIDES
LINK TO POST-EVENT Q&A

Workshop: The Water Keeps Rising – COMPLETED
April 21
LINK TO VIDEO RECORDING
LINK TO SLIDES

Workshop: Handling OMA and FOIA in New Situations* – COMPLETED
April 22
LINK TO VIDEO RECORDING
LINK TO SLIDES & DOCUMENTS

Podcast 83: Special Live Legislative Update – COMPLETED
April 23
LINK TO VIDEO RECORDING

Workshop: How the COVID Crisis has Affected State and Local Budgets – COMPLETED
April 28
LINK TO VIDEO RECORDING
LINK TO SLIDES

Closing Keynote: The Federal Government’s Response to COVID-19 – COMPLETED
April 30
LINK TO VIDEO RECORDING

*Qualifies for credit for County Commissioner Academy.

AG warns on meeting ‘hijackings’; MAC offers guidance on virtual sessions

As counties (large and small) and other public bodies adapt to physical distancing with virtual meetings, issues are arising with disruptions.

This week, Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a warning about examples of meetings being “hijacked”: 

“We were alerted to this problem by a Michigan reporter who participated in a Zoom conference that was hijacked,” Nessel said. “Since then we have learned of other incidents around the country. There are steps people can take to protect their cybersecurity and we encourage all users to follow the proper procedures to ensure their teleconferences are secure.” 

The warning taken by the Attorney General’s office follows a similar alert made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

To aid counties, MAC has created a tips sheet for running effective virtual sessions.

In addition, the Lansing firm of Cohl, Stoker & Toskey drafted a memo on the legal questions arising out of virtual sessions.

The key to remember is that counties must provide opportunities for the public to listen to and participate in the meeting. However, a county can still set rules for public comment, as you would with a physical meeting, and limit callers to a set time, plus cut off callers who are disturbing the peace/disrupting the meeting with threats, hate speech, etc.

• Message from Zoom to users (4/3)
• Settings to prevent ‘zoombombings’ (4/3)

After consulting these documents, if a county has any questions about virtual meetings, send them to melot@micounties.org.

By Bridgette Gransden/Midland Administrator-Controller

Merci. Arigato. Danke. Grazie. Mahalo. Gracias. Thank you. No matter what language, the words that mean thank you have a way of making us feel better. There are many types of happiness: mood, emotions, affective style, life satisfaction, well-being, and flourishing. Showing gratitude is an intentional activity that can help us increase life satisfaction and make us happier. Happy people are more likely to succeed, have more fulfilling relationships, and be both physically and mentally healthier — who wouldn’t want that?

Showing gratitude sounds easy. As a child you were likely taught to say please and thank you and right on cue that’s what you do. Although a general “thank you” is positive, research has shown that we get more of a happiness boost when we describe in detail what we are grateful for and so does the person to whom we are expressing our gratitude. What exactly are we grateful for? What was the emotional impact? How did that make you feel? You get the idea.

Bridgette Gransden

Being able to genuinely accept gratitude from others is equally important in increasing our positivity. Often when someone says thank you, our conditioned response is “it was nothing” or “it was my job.” In an effort to show humility, we downplay our role in making someone else’s world better. The next time someone offers thanks simply respond with “you’re welcome” or “it was my pleasure.” It may take some practice, but you will both be happier in the long run.

There is a great deal of science behind the correlation between gratitude and happiness. Research has shown that grateful people feel more alive, are more focused on others, sleep better, are more optimistic, have lower stress levels, and even have stronger immune systems. Recognizing daily those things, experiences, and people that we are grateful for and how we have contributed to that good thing happening, significantly increases happiness. Why is it important to acknowledge how we contributed? Because it forces us to recognize that “good things happen in part because of me.” Even the act of trying to think of things we are grateful for encourages us to focus on the positive aspects of our lives. These don’t have to be big romantic gestures, but something as simple as being grateful for the sun shining on a February day in Michigan. As Maya Angelou said, “This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before.”

As with most things, practicing something each day makes us better at it. The more proficient we get at expressing specific gratitude and sharing that with others, the more positive and happier we will feel. Science has shown that expressing gratitude increases the dopamine production in your brain which is like the brain saying, “Hey do that again!” Some ways to practice include keeping a gratitude journal, write someone a thank you note, think of something you like about yourself and write it down (yes, be grateful for yourself too!), and the next time something bad happens brainstorm two or three good things that may happen as a result.

It is often remarked that we don’t know what we have until it is gone. What are you waiting for? Do your head and your heart a favor and show that person in your life who has been kind, compassionate or supportive just how much you appreciate them—and be specific—before the opportunity slips away.

Bridgette Gransden is administrator/controller for Midland County and in 2018 earned a certificate in the science of well-being from The Flourishing Center in Pennsylvania.

NACo applauds county leaders’ help on federal aid bill

US Capitol

Much still must be clarified about the latest federal relief package awaiting House action before its full effects on counties are known, said officials with the National Association of Counties via a briefing call on Thursday, March 26.

NACo leaders, however, were pleased with the inclusion of the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund included in the $2 trillion Senate-approved package that’s aimed at state, local and tribal governments.

Deborah Cox of NACo was able to state that:

• 45 percent of the $150 billion is eligible for direct payments to local units with populations above 500,000; and
• Such funds were meant for recent expenditures due to the public health emergency and unanticipated costs to local budgets that occurred on March 1 or after.

In Michigan, though, only four counties (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Kent) exceed the population threshold.

Cox and the NACo briefers said clarity was needed about aid to smaller counties and that there already were “100 different interpretations” of what the relief fund language actually meant.

Cox praised the calls from local county officials during the drafting process for helping to ensure counties would be specifically included in the relief fund.

Also critical is that under the economic stabilization sections of the bill, the U.S. Treasury can purchase debt from state and local units, while the Federal Reserve can participate in the secondary bond market for municipal debt, thereby reducing borrowing costs for counties.

Other key elements to the “CARES” Act identified in the call:

• $1.32 billion is allotted to community health centers for COVID response – “a definite win for counties,” NACo said
• Previously planned cuts to hospitals serving the uninsured and underinsured were pushed back to Nov. 30
• $1 billion for agencies for aging to help them deliver meals, provide home-based services, support care-givers and provide equipment nursing homes to protect residents
• $400 million for election assistance in the 2020 cycle
• $56 million for airports in the Essential Air Service program
• $5 billion for CDBG
• $45 billion for FEMA disaster relief fund

NACo’s comprehensive analysis of the bill can be found here. As for eventual timing of the funds, the House passed the bill on Friday afternoon, President Trump is expected to sign it later today.

MAC is collecting reports from our 83 members about their initial and going responses to the coronavirus crisis:

Menominee County: Organizing a community supply drive

Menominee County announced a community campaign on March 25 to collect personal protective equipment to be redistributed to emergency responders and healthcare personnel in our community.

“Our first responders and health care personnel are on the front lines of this battle — they can’t help the rest of us if they get sick. As a community we can help by donating any extra personal protective equipment we may have in our homes or businesses to help keep our first responders and healthcare personnel safe and healthy as they work relentlessly to do the same for us,” said Jason Carviou, Menominee County administrator.

The drive is focusing on medical/surgical masks, N-95 respirators, gloves, gowns, aprons and hand sanitizer. “If you have any extra of these items in your home or business, please consider donating them to help our community fight the COVID-19 outbreak,” Carviou said.

Oakland County: ‘Town hall’ calls draw 12,000 participants

Oakland County Executive David Coulter has taken bold and aggressive steps to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak in the county while keeping residents informed and safe.

Through Coulter’s leadership, the county’s Department of Health and Human Services issued three public health orders on March 21 to reduce transmission of the disease:

• All shopping malls were closed.
• Indoor and outdoor playground equipment was closed. Playground equipment in childcare centers and areas without playground equipment such as walking trails and grassy areas are exempt from the order.
• All childcare centers were required to develop and implement a daily screening protocol for children, staff, parents and visitors to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus.
• Required essential businesses to develop and implement daily screening protocol for all employees to reduce the transmission of the disease and institute social distancing to protect employees and customers.
• Created a map searchable down to the Zip code level on case data in the county.

“The steps we take today – as individuals, businesses and government – will save lives,” Coulter said. “We have to protect our hospital systems so they stay equipped to help the very sickest. We can get through this together, but we have to act together.”

The orders are effective until April 17.

Coulter, assisted by Kathy Forzley, health and human services director, conducted a series of telephone town hall meetings with Oakland County residents, answering questions about any concerns they may have about the disease and how it might affect the individually.

Among the questions:

• My husband and I are both 70. Should I go to a birthday party for one of my grandchildren? (No.)
• I have a routine appointment with my doctor scheduled. Should I keep it? (Call your doctor.)
• I have the flu, with a temperature of 101.9. Should I be tested? (Call your doctor.)

During the three sessions, more than 12,000 county residents took part in the town hall calls.

Coulter dedicated and staffed two telephone lines to answer questions from residents: Nurse on Call for health-related questions and the Oakland County Hotline for questions not related to health. Nurse on Call staff took more than 1,000 calls in a three-day period.

Coulter offered residents the option of receiving text messages from the county with the latest updates on the outbreak. More than 18,000 residents texted oakgov to 28748 to receive daily updates.

Finally, the county is collaborating with area restaurants and caterers to supply meals for some shelters, food pantries and a community food program. We are also working with local caterer to provide meals for the inevitable frontline first responders and hospital workers that will need to be quarantined, likely in hotels, and fed.

Grand Traverse County: Daily calls with community stakeholders

On March 13, Grand Traverse County stood up our own Joint Operations Center (or community task force if you would prefer) to address issues surrounding COVID-19. We have approximately 100 community stakeholders in the group. We hold daily meetings at 10 a.m. with this group that is geared towards receiving updates, addressing issues and pushing out unified information. To that end, Grand Traverse County engaged a web provider and stood up our own COVID-19 response website that you can see HERE and our own Facebook page that you can see HERE.

Allegan County: Collaboration with neighboring counties

Like many counties, we have set up web resources off our home page (allegancounty.org) for both organizational information and COVID-19. We always appreciate regional efforts. We have been in contact with our surrounding neighbors. We have been sharing ideas with Ottawa and Kent regularly. We thank them both and our other neighbors for their collaboration.

Livingston County: The 1/3 principle

About 1/3 of the workforce were mandated to stay home and about 1/3 are working remotely or rotating so there is at least one person in the office. The other 1/3 are our first responders, and they are working business as usual. We are doing our best to keep people at home and getting our most essential work done. Our Health Officer and Emergency Manager are providing daily updates to the Board Chair and county administrator.

Branch County: Virtual tools keep county engaged

Branch County in south-central Michigan has taken the following actions:

• Implemented Physical Distancing and Enhanced Sanitation measures effective beginning of March 2020.
• Canceled and-or instituted virtual meetings effective March 12, 2020.
• Closed to public effective March 17, 2020.
• Stood up virtual EOC effective March 18, 2020.
• Reinstated Working and Board Meeting using Zoom on March 19, 2020.
• Transitioned to “Essential Services” on March 23, 2020.

Osceola County: County buildings closed to public through April 21

Osceola County has information and a link on our website. We have activated our Emergency Management Department and have updates issued through Nixle. The Board of Commissioners closed the county buildings to the public March 18-April 21. Offices are holding limited work hours for staff in order to maintain functions but limit person-to-person contact. Information is being processed through emails, phone conversations and over online services.

Macomb County: Coordinating with businesses on economic issues

Macomb County began formulating a community response to Coronavirus during the second week of March by activating its Emergency Operations Center. When the first COVID-19 case in Michigan was announced, the Joint Information Center was as prepared as possible to begin communicating with the public and our employees. One of the first activities to keep our community safe and informed was to activate a special Health Department helpline which is answered seven days a week by public health professionals. Other activities to date have included:

• Created a COVID-19 resource page which is easily found from the county’s website featuring information for individuals, businesses and communities.
• Activated a warning banner on the county website to advise residents about COVID-19 testing and to reduce the number of people visiting the Health Department to request a test.
• Created and shared daily videos featuring the County Executive via social and traditional media. The videos provide updates on the situation in Macomb County along with helpful information to keep the public safe.
• Developed and sent several emails to all employees to keep them informed.
• Hosted twice-weekly virtual department leaders meeting to share pertinent information about COVID-19 and ask that each review and update their Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) to ensure that the county continues to provide vital services as needed.
• Created a dedicated email address for employees with questions or comments about COVID-19 and their role as an employee. Each is reviewed by a team comprised of Health, Emergency Management, Human Resources and IT employees to ensure that an appropriate and accurate answer was provided as quickly as possible.
• Created a dedicated page on the employee Intranet to convey information about the county’s response to COVID-19. The page is updated regularly and features a FAQ section where commonly asked questions are sent to the dedicated email address to share the most commonly asked questions received through the dedicated email address.
• While many departments have modified their hours and reduced access to services by asking residents to call first and make an appointment, idled staff are being redeployed to assist in providing critical services.
• The County’s economic development team continues to share relevant information to businesses via email and social media. We are currently collecting information from Macomb County manufacturers that are stepping up to produce desperately needed medical supplies for our health care providers and first responders.

Kent County: Daily videos, surveys of needs to nonprofits

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kent County has worked with our community and has:

• Produced and distributed daily videos via social media channels about COVID-19 from the Kent County Health Department offices
• Coordinated communitywide COVID-19 testing protocols with the three major hospital systems via the Kent County Population Health Consortium
• Coordinated countywide law enforcement guidance regarding social distancing practices
• Established a process whereby local manufacturers begin making necessary health supplies like face shields, gowns, swabs, and ventilators
• Conducted surveys of nonprofit organizations seeking feedback on necessary supplies and finances
• Identified grocery bags to deliver food throughout the Essential Needs Task Force food pantry network
• Distributed 2,000 food boxes to senior residents and at-risk families through the Kent County Community Action program