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John Jones is new SEMCOG Chairperson Ira Township Supervisor John Jones is SEMCOG's new Chairperson. As his first official act, he presided over the December 2, 2005 Executive Committee meeting. Jones was previously SEMCOG's First Vice Chair and scheduled to become Chair in June 2006. He assumes the unexpired portion of Chairperson Gregory Pitoniak's term, as he is no longer eligible to serve. Jones will also serve his own term as Chair beginning in June. A Vice Chair vacancy now exists; pursuant to SEMCOG Bylaws, a call for nominations to fill this vacancy has been mailed to SEMCOG membership. A Nominating Committee will convene shortly to recommend a candidate for Vice Chair. The Executive Committee will elect the Vice Chair at its January 20, 2006 meeting. While the Executive Committee will fill a Vice Chair position, the First Vice Chair position will be filled when the full membership, through the General Assembly, elects the 2006-2007 slate of officers. John Jones has been involved in Ira Township government (located in southern-most St. Clair County) since 1975 and has been Supervisor since 1992. He co-chairs the St. Clair-Macomb County Water Quality Advisory Board and is a board member of the Michigan Township Participating Plan. Prior becoming a SEMCOG officer, Jones chaired the agency's Environmental Policy Advisory Council. In addition to his township duties, Jones is also a farmer who raises beef, cattle, dairy heifers, and heirloom vegetables. "I am honored to be SEMCOG Chair," Jones said at the December 2 Executive Committee meeting. "I want to thank Greg Pitoniak for his leadership at SEMCOG and across the region. Among the issues he particularly championed were local government finance reform and public transit. I pledge to continue to move forward on those issues and I look forward to leading SEMCOG during a time when working together is more important than ever. I ask for everyone's support." Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Executive Office Coordinator.
SEMCOG University on January 18 focuses on context sensitive solutions to transportation challenges SEMCOG, along with the Road Commission for Oakland County, and the Michigan Department of Transportation are teaming up to educate local government representatives, road and transit agencies, community and economic development officials, and consultants about context sensitive solutions ¾ designing transportation projects that are sensitive to the community's values. SEMCOG University presents Thinking Beyond the Pavement: Context Sensitive Solutions to Transportation Challenges on Wednesday, January 18, 2006, from 9 a.m.-noon (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) in SEMCOG's Buhl Building office in downtown Detroit. In 1998, a national conference set a new course for transportation planning by introducing the first concepts of context sensitive solutions to transportation. Stressing effective community-based design and collaborative decision making, transportation professionals learned how to develop transportation actions sensitive to community values while simultaneously advancing safety, mobility, and enhancement of the natural environment. The workshop will discuss the effects transportation actions have on the human environment; how transportation projects help sustain community values without significantly compromising safety and system performance; and how public involvement can be used to shape a transportation project to reflect community values. This SEMCOG University workshop is free-of-charge to SEMCOG members and partners; there is a $75 charge for nonmember local governments. Seating is limited, so you are encouraged to reserve a spot by Wednesday, January 11, 2006. Contact: Sally Walt, SEMCOG Transportation Administrative Assistant, to RSVP. You can also register online at www.semcog.org; the link to the workshop is under Planning Issues on the home page.
New SEMCOG member SEMCOG welcomes new member, the Village of Dundee (population 4,171, SEMCOG November 2005 estimate), located in northwestern Monroe County. SEMCOG membership now totals 150. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Executive Office Coordinator.
Manufactured housing report available online A new report, Manufactured Housing Parks and Sites in Southeast Michigan, 2000-2005, is now available on SEMCOG's Web site. The report documents the number of manufactured housing parks and the number of sites within those parks for communities in the seven-county Southeast Michigan region. According to the report, manufactured housing has grown 7.2 percent since 2000, adding 5,241 new sites. In comparison, total housing units in the region increased 5.4 percent over the same time period. Manufactured housing accounted for 3.6 percent of total housing units in the region in 2005. Southeast Michigan has 25 percent of the total parks in Michigan and 42 percent of the sites. The complete report can be found under Data at www.semcog.org. Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
Public forums scheduled for Michigan State Housing Development Authority Forums have been scheduled throughout the state to receive public feedback on the draft Michigan Affordable Housing Community Five-Year Action Plan, and the roles and responsibilities of the Community Assistance Team recently transferred from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The initial recommendation on the five-year plan can be reviewed at www.michigan.gov/mshda; under "Spotlight," select Michigan Affordable Housing Community Five-Year Action Plan. In Southeast Michigan, the public forum is scheduled for Friday, December 9, 2005, from 2-4 p.m. at Focus: HOPE, Center for Advanced Technologies, 1400 Oakman Blvd., Detroit (313-494-4390). Those unable to attend the forum may comment in writing to Martha Baumgart, MSHDA, 735 East Michigan Avenue, Box 30044, Lansing, MI 48909, or e-mail baumgartm@michigan.gov. Written comments are due by December 31, 2005.
Tree planting grants available The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in cooperation with DTE Energy Foundation, announce that applications are available for this year's tree planting grant program. DTE Energy Foundation is providing funds for tree planting grants that are administered by the DNR's Urban and Community Forestry Program. The purpose of this program is to increase the number and variety of properly planted and maintained trees in communities. The program reflects DTE Energy's ongoing commitment to assisting communities in replacing ash trees lost to infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer. Eligible applicants include local units of government, nonprofit organizations, and schools within the service territory of DTE Energy's utility subsidiaries ¾ Detroit Edison and MichCon. Eligible projects include tree planting activities on public lands such as parks, rights-of-way, nature study areas, and school grounds. Matching grants of up to $3,000 each are awarded on a competitive basis. All grants require a dollar-for-dollar match, which can be made up of cash contributions or in-kind services, but may not include federal or state funds. Grant applications must be received by December 31, 2005. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2006. For more information and a grant application, visit the DNR's Urban and Community Forestry Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrucf. Contact: Kevin Sayers, Urban Forestry Coordinator, (517) 241-4632.
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