Michigan Counties magazine now on way to you
The print version of the December 2024 Michigan Counties should start arriving in mailboxes this weekend.
The magazine features a roundup of the “lame duck” legislative session that went right up to the edge of Christmas. A digital version of the magazine is immediately available, however, via this link.
Every two months, the magazine is mailed to all 619 county commissioners, all 83 county board offices and to all county administrators and countywide elected officials. Please note that due to the delay in release of the magazine, commissioners whose service ended on Dec. 31, 2024, will still receive a print edition, while commissioners whose service began on Jan. 1, 2025, will not receive their first printed magazine until the February 2025 edition.
For any questions regarding the magazine or MAC communications, contact Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org.
State allocates $10 million in opioid funds to work with local governments
As part of the state of Michigan’s share of the national opioid settlements, the Michigan Legislature has allocated $10 million in funding directly to the 10 Pre-Paid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs) through the Healing and Recovery Fund regional appropriations for fiscal year 2025.
This funding is to help with a variety of infrastructure needs for substance use service providers working along the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. These funds are also to be used to assist with collaboration with local governments to support community engagement with planning efforts related to settlement funding efforts.
To find out more about these funds or to coordinate with your local PIHP, please contact the Substance Use Disorder Director for your region found below.
MAC announces staff changes
Dolinky
The end of 2024 brought changes to the composition of county boards and the Michigan Legislature and to the staff of the Michigan Association of Counties. For 2025, Executive Director Stephan Currie announced the following staff moves:
The departure of Amy Dolinky as technical adviser, opioid settlement funds planning and capacity building. Dolinky spearheaded MAC’s highly successful and nationally recognized program starting in 2022. Since its inception, the program engaged 72 of 83 counties and fulfilled 339 requests for technical assistance in the deployment of legal funds to address substance abuse disorder.
Fata
Dolinky is moving on to a national opportunity, but not before leading a MAC webinar on Jan. 14 aimed at newly elected commissioners who are unfamiliar with the opioid settlement process.
Also moving on from MAC is Governmental Affairs Associate Madeline Fata. She joined MAC in 2022 from the Michigan Legislature and helped lead advocacy efforts on infrastructure and environmental issues. In her last weeks with MAC, Fata helped fend off potentially disastrous septic code legislation. Fata will continue her advocacy career with the firm of Karoub in Lansing.
Despins
Changing hats at MAC is Amanda Despins. She has been named MAC’s events coordinator, part of an expansion of services at MAC via its new Association Management Solutions (AMS) department.
Despins will work with Director of Member Events Tammi Connell on MAC events and assist clients of AMS.
Despins joined MAC in 2023 as Governmental Affairs Assistant. Prior to joining MAC, she served as a constituent relations liaison and legislative director in the Michigan House of Representatives.
St
aff picks
- Governor signs bill expanding use of therapy dogs in court (WOOD-TV)
- Transparency in opioid settlement planning and spending (Bloomberg School of Public Health)
- How are states spending opioid settlement cash? (Kaiser Health News)
- Flooding Is a $400 billion problem that’s getting worse (Governing)