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General Assembly meets on June 21 The General Assembly (GA) of SEMCOG will meet on Thursday, June 21, 2007, at the Sheraton Novi (21111 Haggerty Road, Novi 48375) beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Bloc caucuses will meet prior to the GA, beginning at 3:30 p.m., to elect the important positions of Bloc Chairs and Vice Chairs, and members of the Regional Clearinghouse Review Committee and the Transportation Improvement Program Development Committee. Also on the agenda is the adoption of amendments to SEMCOG's Bylaws. The Past Chairs' Reception will follow the meeting (at approximately 6 p.m.). Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
Nominating Committee recommends slate of officers for 2007-2008 SEMCOG's Nominating Committee — Township Bloc representative Richard Henningsen, Northville Township Treasurer; County Bloc representative Joan Flynn, Macomb County Commissioner; City and Village Bloc representative Ronald Gillham, Huntington Woods Mayor; and Education Bloc representative Max McCullough, Macomb ISD Board of Education Vice President — have recommended the following slate of SEMCOG officers:
Officers will be elected at the June 21 General Assembly. Delegates can also recommend an officer candidate from the floor at the meeting. Pursuant to the Bylaws, the Chairperson serves one year and is automatically succeeded by the First Vice Chairperson as long as he/she remains eligible. Current SEMCOG Chairperson John Jones, Supervisor of Ira Township, will serve as Immediate Past Chairperson. The four additional Vice Chairpersons are elected annually to one-year terms. Vice Chairs can serve more than one term. Contact: Kathleen Lomako, SEMCOG Deputy Executive Director.
Bus tour highlights regional projects for Executive Committee SEMCOG's Executive Committee hit the road for its May 17, 2007 meeting, taking a bus tour that enabled them to strategically visualize regional projects. "Sometimes it is useful to see a project and its potential impact on the community before it is brought before the Executive Committee for approval," noted Paul Tait, SEMCOG Executive Director. Executive Committee members on the tour saw the Ambassador Bridge, Zug Island, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Marathon Refinery, Severstal Steel, and the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal. SEMCOG staff and representatives from these entities added context on how upcoming projects would impact the community. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
SEMCOG testifies in support of increased funding for public transportation On May 23, 2007, the Michigan House Transportation Public Transit Subcommittee met to discuss possible future legislation to improve public transportation. Carmine Palombo, Director of SEMCOG Transportation Programs, testified that although it may be controversial, additional funding from a gas-tax increase is long overdue for public transit. He added that in order to get over the largest hurdles against public transit — perceptions that it’s unsafe and unreliable — the transportation industry needs support from the state to add technology and safety measures. The subcommittee will take the funding recommendations under advisement. Contact: Carmine Palombo, SEMCOG Transportation Programs Director.
SEMCOG University: Regional Traffic Safety Forum SEMCOG invites traffic safety stakeholders to a half-day forum to learn the many resources and safety trends in Southeast Michigan. SEMCOG University presents Regional Traffic Safety Forum on Friday, June 15, 2007, from 9 a.m. - noon (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) in SEMCOG’s Buhl Building office in downtown Detroit. It is critically important to provide our region's motorists with a safe and efficient roadway system. The forum will present a variety of information on traffic safety including the latest crash trends; Michigan's process for adopting and setting speed limits; pedestrian safety and Michigan's new Safe Routes to Schools program; and the importance of child restraints and improved passenger safety. This SEMCOG University workshop is free-of-charge for members. Seating is limited. You are encouraged to reserve a spot by Friday, June 8, 2007. Contact: Sally Walt, SEMCOG Transportation Administrative Assistant, to RSVP, or register online via the Meeting Calendar on www.semcog.org.
Choose earth-friendly landscaping With an estimated 70 million pounds of pesticides applied to lawns nationwide annually, SEMCOG suggests the use of earth-friendly landscaping to protect kids, pets, and the environment from the harmful effects of herbicides and pesticides. Chemicals in herbicides and pesticides pollute our waterways when washed from our lawns and gardens into storm drains and roadside ditches. Here are some ways residents can care for their lawns and gardens to help keep our water clean:
Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
SEMCOG and Grant Wring USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop on July 16-17, 2007, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. in SEMCOG’s downtown Detroit office. Participants will learn how to write and review winning proposals, as well as how to find and track relevant grant opportunities. The cost of this two-day workshop is $425 per person, which includes all materials and full alumni benefits, (one year of free proposal review). For more information visit www.grantwritingusa.com. Please register before June 31, 2007. Contact: Cathy Rittenhouse, Grant Writing Registrar, (800) 814-8191 or cathy@grantwritingusa.com.
SEMPeople Monroe County won first place in the IMAGIN Map Gallery Awards for their analytical presentation entitled, "The Vulnerability of Groundwater to Contamination in Monroe County."
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