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Executive Committee meets May 21 SEMCOG's Executive Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 21, 2004, in SEMCOG's downtown Detroit office. Summer Minnick,
Manager of Finance and Tax Policy, Michigan Municipal League (MML),
and Frank Audia, CPA and Partner, Plante & Moran, will present
the report, System Failure: Michigan's Broken Municipal Finance Model.
The report was written by Plante & Moran at the request of MML.
This analysis is part of MML's effort to demonstrate the structural
financial problems facing local communities.
Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Legislative Affairs Coordinator.
As local communities continue to grapple with the financial challenges of funding essential services for their citizens, six reports on joint public services recently updated by SEMCOG offer important guidelines on how local governments can work together to provide services. Making Joint Public Services Work in the 21st Century is a series of reports that outline the most important issues of concern when local government consider joint public services or intergovernmental cooperation. The six reports are:
While joint public services were a "nice to have" option in years past, they may soon become a necessity. Paul Tait, SEMCOG Executive Director, said, "I am convinced that the local government budgetary challenges are the new reality, not just the result of a temporary economic downturn. As such, we need to challenge ourselves to look for further opportunities to jointly and cost effectively provide services. Local governments need to look at their neighbors with a different view æ not how can we compete, but how can we cooperate." The six reports are available from SEMCOG Information Services and in PDF format on SEMCOG's Web site æ www.semcog.org. Link to "Publications" from the Products tab. Contact: SEMCOG Information Services
Nonresidential floorspace either under construction or completed in Southeast Michigan in 2003 totaled nearly 35 million square feet, according to data released by SEMCOG on its Web site at www.semcog.org. Nonresidential Development in Southeast Michigan, Summary 2003 tracks projects which were completed or under construction in the seven-county Southeast Michigan region during 2003. Completed projects contributed nearly 14 million square feet of new floorspace. Nearly 21 million square feet were under construction in 2003. Leading the region, Oakland County had 11 million square feet of floorspace either completed or under construction in 2003, accounting for 32 percent of Southeast Michigan's total nonresidential development. Wayne County followed next with nearly 10 million square feet of floorspace completed or under construction (28 percent of region), and Washtenaw County, at nearly six million square feet of new floorspace, was third (18 percent of region). Data are available in PDF format on SEMCOG's Web site. Under the "Data" tab at the top of the home page, look for "Nonresidential Development." Other data available include nonresidential development by community, nonresidential development projects by county and community, and a comparison of nonresidential development from 1994-2003. Contact: SEMCOG Information Services. Federal funding for ash tree removal available to Southeast Michigan communities Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), the exotic pest from eastern Asia that has caused significant ash tree death and destruction in Southeast Michigan, has placed severe financial demands on communities for tree removal and sanitation. Federal funding ($1.2 million) is now available to communities in the six-county core area (Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties). The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) will distribute this funding based on the number of ash trees removed due to EAB since March 1, 2004 and trees to be removed by November 30, 2004. A letter from SEMCOG and MDA containing an application for this funding and outlining the process was mailed to the local elected official in each community in the six-county core area on May 14, 2004. To receive this funding, communities must complete and return the application to MDA by June 15, 2004. Contact: Sandy Winans, MDA, (517) 373-4123, or winanss@michigan.gov. Emerald Mills Inc. will buy ash logs from Southeast Michigan communities Communities that have to remove ash trees that are dead or dying from Emerald Ash Borer infestation now have the option of selling them to Emerald Mills Inc. (EMI), in Flat Rock, Michigan. This mill is unique in that it is the only one currently located within the infested area and is approved by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. As significant numbers of trees are being removed in parks, along streets, and in other public areas, local communities are using municipal parks and recreation funds to ensure the safety of these public areas. Ash sawlogs that are at least 12 inches in diameter and four feet long are accepted. They can either be delivered to EMI or picked up in your community by EMI (pricing differs for each of these scenarios). Contact: Steven Lamier or Darren Bradbury of EMI, (734) 782-0881, (260) 438-2180 (cell), or e-mail emi.Michigan@sbcglobal.net. Returning member Cottrellville Township in St. Clair County (population 3,909; SEMCOG estimate, May 2004) has rejoined SEMCOG, bringing membership to 144. Contact: Durene Brown, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
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