June General Assembly meeting highlights

SEMCOG's General Assembly met on Thursday, June 21, 2007, at the Sheraton Novi. Officers for 2007-2008 and delegates-at-large were elected. The following is the complete list of SEMCOG leadership for 2007-2008:

• William Roberts, Chairperson; Mayor, City of Walled Lake;
• Mary Blackmon, First Vice Chair; Trustee, Wayne County Regional Education Service Agency (will become Chairperson in 2008);
• Robert Cannon, Vice Chair; Supervisor, Clinton Township;
• Philip Cavanagh, Vice Chair; Commissioner, Wayne County;
• Robert Hison, Vice Chair; Mayor, City of St. Clair Shores; and
• Michael Sedlak, Vice Chair; Clerk, Green Oak Township.

SEMCOG's highest honor — the Regional Ambassador Award — is given to individuals and organizations for their contributions to making Southeast Michigan a better place to live, work, and raise a family. This year's recipients are:

• Dave Herrington, Mount Clemons City Commissioner — Herrington has been active at SEMCOG in a variety of roles — serving on the Environmental Policy Advisory Council, the Bylaws and Legal Committee, and the Executive Committee. During his nearly 10 years of service on the Mt. Clemens City Commission, he has played an active role in solving the city's financial challenges. One of those actions was contracting with Macomb County for policing services in Mt. Clemens. This resulted in substantial cost savings to Mt. Clemens, while still maintaining a high quality of service for residents. The decision required great amounts of political courage. Herrington is not seeking re-election in the fall.
• Susan Rowe, Wayne City Councilperson — As chair of SEMCOG's Community and Economic Development Advisory Council, and active member of the Executive Committee, as well as the Education Advisory Council and the Workforce Development Task Force, Rowe has clearly taken her local position and expanded it regionally. She began her political career in 1985 on the Madison Heights City Council and was elected to the Wayne City Council in 2003. She also works in intergovernmental affairs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Wayne Mayor Al Haidous said, "Since joining City Council, Susan has brought a regional perspective to our discussions."
• Dan Dirks, General Manager of SMART, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation — After over 30 years with SMART, Dirks is retiring after working his way up the ranks from student intern to the longest-serving General Manager in the history of the agency. In nearly 10 years as General Manager, Dirks has guided SMART through three successful millage elections, bolstered ridership, and has elevated the awareness of SMART's role in public transit.

Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Membership Manager.

View highlights of General Assembly on SEMCOG's Web site

Highlights of SEMCOG's June 21 General Assembly can be viewed on www.semcog.org. From the home page, link to News & Notices in the upper bar, then look for the link in the right column. Highlights include featured speaker Tom Lewand, Regional Ambassador Awards, 2006-2007 highlights and annual membership report, report from the Bylaws Committee, and election of officers.

Contact: Sue Stetler, SEMCOG Communications Director.

TIP amendments announced

The public is invited to comment on projects being considered for amendment to the FY 2006-2008 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the 2008-2011 TIP. The TIP implements projects from the 2030 long-range plan using federal transportation funding.

The amendment to the 2006-2008 TIP adds 60 projects [view list] to the TIP and removes 5 projects [view list]. The net cost of projects being added is $70.1 million, funded from federal, state, and local transportation agencies. The FY 2008-2011 TIP contains 546 projects [view list]with an estimated expenditure of $1.4 billion.

Projects in a TIP amendment must undergo the same scrutiny as original projects ¾ an air quality conformity analysis, an environmental justice review, and a public comment process (details are available from SEMCOG).

A complete list of all projects complete list of all projects, including amendment, is available from SEMCOG Information Services or on www.semcog.org.

Comments on projects should be mailed, phoned, or faxed to SEMCOG Information Services; contact information is available in the box below. Address e-mail comments to infoservices@semcog.org. Comments can be made in person at the following meetings, all held at SEMCOG offices:

• Transportation Improvement Program Development Committee Meeting, Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at 10 a.m.;
• Transportation Advisory Council, Wednesday, July 25, 2007, 9:30 a.m.; and
• Executive Committee, Thursday, July 26, 2007, at 1 p.m.

Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.

Upcoming SEMCOG Universities focus on visual communication and economic development

Tools and Resources for Economic Development: Partnering with MEDC to promote community vitality — July 24, 2007, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.). SEMCOG and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will present the tools available to improve some of the economic challenges facing local governments. Economic development professionals and community officials are invited to learn the tools and incentives for creating vibrant and sustainable communities. Contact: Ken Bishop, SEMCOG Community and Economic Development Administrative Assistant.

SEMCOG University workshops, held in SEMCOG's Ambassador Room, are free-of-charge for members; there is a $75 charge for nonmember local governments. Seating is limited. Please respond as soon as possible. You can also register online at www.semcog.org via the Meeting Calendar.

SEMCOG hosts grant writing workshop on
July 16-17

SEMCOG and Grant Wring USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop on Monday and Tuesday, July 16-17, 2007, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. in SEMCOG’s 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.

Contact: Cathy Rittenhouse, Grant Writing Registrar, (800) 814-8191 or cathy@grantwritingusa.com.

SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving 4.9 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan striving to enhance the region's quality of life.  Regional Update is a publication of SEMCOG, financed through funds from state and federal grants and dues from member communities. John F. Jones, Chairperson Supervisor, Ira Township Paul E. Tait, Executive Director  Susan L. Stetler, Editor  SEMCOG contact information:  Southeast Michigan Council of Governments 535 Griswold Street, Suite 300 Detroit, MI 48226-3602 313-961-4266 - Fax 313-961-4869 staff e-mail:lastname@semcog.org  www.semcog.org

Read past issues of SEMCOG's Regional Update

Local Governments Advancing Southeast Michigan