Vol. 11, No. 14

July 3, 2006

June General Assembly meeting highlights

SEMCOG's General Assembly met on Thursday, June 22, 2006, at the Hotel Pontchartrain in Detroit, MI. Officers for 2006-2007 and delegates-at-large were elected. The following is the complete list of SEMCOG leadership for 2006-2007:

• John Jones, Chairperson; Supervisor, Ira Township;
• William Roberts, First Vice Chair; Mayor, City of Walled Lake (will become Chairperson in 2007);
• Mary Blackmon, Vice Chair; Vice President, Wayne County Regional Education Service Agency;
• Robert Cannon, Vice Chair; Supervisor, Clinton Township;
• Philip Cavanagh, Vice Chair; Commissioner, Wayne County; and
• Robert Hison, Vice Chair; Mayor, City of St. Clair Shores.

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:

• Patricia Anger, St. Clair County Commissioner — Since her election, Anger has been an active and inquisitive member of SEMCOG's Executive Committee and General Assembly. She is also a member of the Local Government Finance Task Force and helps guide that group's activities and educational programs. Anger is now Chairperson of the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners. She remains active in the regional arena because she is aware of the importance of St. Clair County to Southeast Michigan and vice versa.
• Richard Henningsen, Northville Township Treasurer — Henningsen played an important role in helping promote local elected officials willing and able to advance SEMCOG's mission. He is Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, is an active member of the Township Bloc, and has served on numerous other SEMCOG committees. To all of these positions, Henningsen has applied his common sense and no nonsense approach to guide SEMCOG policy and identify those who have the most to offer in helping SEMCOG enhance the quality of life in Southeast Michigan.
• Richard Blouse, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber — Since Blouse joined the chamber in 1994, it has emerged as the voice of business in Southeast Michigan and has played a large role in important regional initiatives. Those regional initiatives include transportation, passage of the stadium ballot proposal, and border crossing safety and efficiency. The Detroit Regional Chamber has long been an important partner of SEMCOG, working to advance our region.

Contact: Sue Stetler, SEMCOG Communications Director.

 

View highlights of General Assembly on SEMCOG's Web site

Highlights of SEMCOG's June 22 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 Tim Skubick, Regional Ambassador Awards, 2005-2006 highlights and annual membership report, report on the Ann Arbor to Detroit rapid transit study, 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). The TIP is a short-range planning tool used to implement the goals, objectives, and projects of the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan. Projects must appear in the TIP in order to receive federal transportation funding.

The amendment adds 52 projects to the TIP and removes 27 projects. The net cost of projects being added is $135.4 million, funded from federal, state, and local transportation agencies. Of the 52 projects being amended to the TIP, 19 provide funding for roadway preservation; 11 improve traffic safety/operations; nine address transit; seven rehabilitate or replace bridges; three increase the capacity of the road network; two are roadside improvements (pumps, retaining wall); and one improves a nonmotorized corridor.

Projects in a TIP amendment must undergo the same scrutiny as original projects — an air quality conformity analysis, an environmental justice review, and a public comment process (details are available from SEMCOG). The TIP as amended, estimates $2.8 billion in expenditures.

A 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, Thursday, July 13, 2006, at 10 a.m.;
• Transportation Advisory Council, Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 9:30 a.m.; and
• Executive Committee, Friday, July 28, 2006, at 1 p.m.

Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.

 

SEMCOG offers municipal training for clean water in July

Local governments have the opportunity to protect the region's water resources while working in their maintenance garages and storage yards. SEMCOG will offer Keeping it Clean: Municipal Operations for Clean Water on the following days and locations:

• Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Macomb Intermediate School District, Clinton Township;
• Tuesday, July 25, 2006, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Novi City Hall;
• Thursday, July 27, 2006, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Melvin G. Bailey Recreation Center, Westland.

Training on maintaining municipally owned property is another requirement of the federal Phase II Stormwater Regulations. Over 160 communities in Southeast Michigan, including most SEMCOG members, that operate a separate stormwater drainage system, are required to obtain a stormwater permit.

This municipal training will first address pollution prevention practices at maintenance garages and storage yards, and will specifically deal with vehicle maintenance; fueling, parking, and washing; chemical management; sanding, grinding, and painting; pavement cleaning; and dumpster and loading dock activities. The workshop will be helpful to supervisors and staff of municipal departments (including municipal contractors) that have a maintenance garage or storage yard.

There is no cost for this workshop, but registration is required. Contact: Ken Bishop, Administrative Assistant, Environmental Programs, to RSVP. You can also register online at www.semcog.org. Find the link to the workshop under Planning Issues on the home page.

 

SEMCOG U focuses on workforce development

A half-day workshop focusing on preparing Michigan's workforce for the future is scheduled for Thursday, July 20, 2006, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at SEMCOG. The session will consider the needs and challenges facing government, education, and business in planning for success in the knowledge economy. Doug Rothwell (Detroit Renaissance) and Lou Glazer (Michigan Futures) are scheduled to speak. Contact: Ken Bishop, Community and Economic Development Administrative Assistant, to RSVP. You can also register online under Planning Issues on the home page.